CTFishTalk.com: Keeper Striper at the Reef w/ pic - Connecticut Saltwater Reports ( CT Saltwater Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

Chris · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Trumbull

I got up early at 5am and was at the reef by 6am, low tide was around 6:30am. I walked all the way to the end of the reef by the lighthouse. I casted my popper in 4 or 5 spots on my way out with no luck. I didn't see any bait, or breaks, or even birds for the most part while I was out there, and if I did they were too far out there. My second cast up around the lighthouse I'm hooked hard into the biggest or second biggest blue I've had on the line this summer at the reef. Line flew off my drag, two runs later the fish manages his escape. I hate when that happens, but I don't know if I would do anything different, I guess its just part of the game. Next cast a blue jumps and misses. Then the action died down and I didn't get anymore hits for an hour or longer. I tried some lures but pretty much stuck with the poppers the whole morning.
Finally a big topwater crash on my popper, rod is bent, line is coming off(although not nearly as much as the first blue did, in fact that blue cracked my lure and had deep teeth imprints on both sides of my popper! This fish is decent and its splashing everywhere, it's not a blue, but a fat 28" keeper Striper!!! My first keeper at the reef this year! Between this striper and the 9 blues I caught in my last 2 times out I feel like I broke in my new Shimano Teramar rod and Stradic 6000 FJ reel!! Here's a pic of the striper I caught today., I was holding the fish and camera so its not the best photo.

samthefisherman · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 51

nice striper did u eat it?

OnTheBass · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 1:17 pm Post subject:

nice fish man...what kinda popper were u using?
_________________
when is it a bad time to go fishing??....never

clopes · Joined: 31 May 2010 Posts: 8

Nice fish. Gotta love those teramars. I got three now and can't imagine buying anything else.

fishingkid · Joined: 04 May 2011 Posts: 340

I was at the reef this evening and only caught 2 robins. I saw a fisherman who caught 2 nice porgy off a lure!

Chris · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Trumbull

Thanks Sam, I didn't eat her yet, she's in my freezer. Any good recipes? This is the first striper I've kept since I was a teen.

Chris · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Trumbull

Chris · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Trumbull

Chris · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Trumbull

sonamcobain · Joined: 09 Aug 2012 Posts: 106

thats what exactly happened to me too, i lost them like 6 times, the last bite left me with the reel all messed up and several gashes on my hand,Could tell them some of them were strippers as it must have alteast been 30 pounds or more from they way it was fighting. Oh well i went when the high tide was dying down, Although my rod is still in good condition need to get a new reel soon, WAs using bunker and spoon.

can wait to go there again.

anointed130 · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:37 am Post subject:

What lb line were you using, I find it really difficult to cast lures very far with heavy test. With big fish hitting those top waters iw ould imagine you had at least 20#?
_________________
"Come after Me, and i will make you to become fishers of men"

Can i be a fisher of fish too?

~Tony~

Chris · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Trumbull

[quote="anointed130"]What lb line were you using, I find it really difficult to cast lures very far with heavy test. With big fish hitting those top waters iw ould imagine you had at least 20#?[/

I was using 15lb test with 60lb leader.

anointed130 · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 5:16 pm Post subject:

Were you using the 60# leader for the blues?
_________________
"Come after Me, and i will make you to become fishers of men"

Can i be a fisher of fish too?

~Tony~

Chris · Joined: 19 Jun 2012 Posts: 85 Location: Trumbull

JustinSolak · Joined: 17 Jul 2011 Posts: 245 Location: East Hartford, CT

Sorry I couldnt respond with a recipe sooner.

But..

If you haven't eaten her yet, try this one. May seem weird but bare with me. Taste best with stripers for some reason.

Take your fillets, slap em on a plate, and pat em dry with a paper towel. Both sides. Really press on it to get as much moisture off as you can. This part is absolutely crucial. Next, coat the fillets in spicey brown mustard. Use this almost as your egg wash. Slather the fillets in a nice thin coat (told you it was odd). Next, dip em in bread crumbs. I like half panko half italian, but its up to you. Pan sear in some olive oil or butter on a med-hi heat. Cover in between flippin of you got that nice thick chunk. Golden brown, flakey and moist inside. It's phenomenal.

I like to coat one side with the mustard, put that side down in the bread crumbs, and then coat the other side. Less mess.

Don't knock it b4 ya try it Wink

_________________
...of all the liars among mankind, the fisherman is the most trustworthy.

Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught.