Saltwater Fishing

Mid Atlantic Saltwater Fishing
Saltwater Fishing of the Mid-Atlantic
This page has information on saltwater fishing along the mid Atlantic coast of the USA. This includes surf, bay, inshore and offshore fishing from New York to North Carolina. Inshore anglers in the Mid Atlantic region catch species such as striped bass, seatrout, bluefish, tautog, sea bass, porgy, spot, croaker, kingfish, black drum, red drum and cobia. Offshore fishing of the region features trips to catch tuna, marlin, swordfish, mahi mahi, sharks, grouper, tilefish and other fish.

How to Tie a Fluke Rig
Drift a Lightweight Jig to Catch Fluke & Summer Flounder
Fluke, also known as summer flounder, is a bottom dwelling fish that is relatively easy to catch throughout most of its range. Small fluke resemble flounder in appearance but can grow considerably larger with 'doormat' fluke exceeding 10 pounds. More typically, fluke caught in shallow coastal waters average closer to a couple of pounds and around 18" in length. The standard technique to catching fluke involves using a baited hook attached to a heavy sinker to haul the bait down and drag it a...

Saltwater Fishing
Inshore, Offshore, Surf, Pier, Fly and Other Saltwater Fishing
Recreational fishing is the most popular outdoor activity in the USA and much of that is done in saltwater. In 2011, anglers caught approximately 324 million saltwater fish, of which 62% were released. An economic study showed that for 2009, saltwater anglers generated about $59 billion in sales and supported more than 385,000 jobs. Saltwater fishing has many forms with something for nearly everyone. The wide variety of saltwater fishing locations allows anglers of any age, sex or physical ...

How to Catch Blue Crabs
Simple Techniques for Catching & Cooking Blue Crabs
Blue claw crabs are found in tidal waters and coastal tributaries from New England down the coast to Florida and around to the Gulf of Mexico. They are fun to catch, and do not require a lot of skill or expensive equipment. Crabbing with the kids on a good afternoon can provide enough crabs for a tasty dinner. Blue crabs inhabit tidal mud flats, moving into the shallows with the incoming tides to feed in marshy areas and then back to deeper water as the tide recedes. They are caught either i...

Trolling for Stripers and Blues
Trolling a Tube & Worm Combo Lure to Trigger Big Strikes from Striped Bass and Bluefish!
Trolling for striped bass and bluefish is a very effective method for covering large areas in search of actively feeding fish, and trolling can be especially effective for targeting large stripers in shallow waters. One of my favorite methods of trolling for stripers uses a long tube lure, trolled very slowly along New England's rocky coastline near structure and drop offs. Tipping the tube lure with a live sand worm adds movement and leaves a scent trail in the water, and is a proven method ...

Catching Stripers with Sand Worms
When the Stripers Turn Finicky, Drift a Sand Worm
Striped bass are aggressive feeders, attacking plugs and lures when they are in the feeding mode. Though they are opportunistic feeders, there are times when striped bass refuse nearly every lure, jig and soft plastic bait in the tackle box. When the usual lures cannot trigger a strike, try drifting a sand worm. The scent and movement of a sand worm is an irresistible tasty treat to schoolie stripers and lunker bass. As their name implies, sand worms live in the sand and under rocks along t...

Drifting Bait to Catch Striped Bass
Fishing the Current with Light Tackle to Catch Stripers
Fishing for striped bass in fast moving water is a lot fun, and here is an effective method for catching stripers on light tackle. One of my favorite places to fish for striped bass is along an inlet with a fast running current during the incoming and outgoing tides. The current moves fast enough to require a fair amount of weight to hold the bait near the bottom with a traditional slip rig. So instead, I use a Cast --> Drift --> Retrieve technique on light tackle. Drifting bait through the ...

Catching Stripers with Sea Clams
When Lures and Plugs aren't working, try switching to Sea Clams
Catching Stripers with Sea Clams: Fishing for striped bass is challenging. There are times when the conditions seem right and the birds are working the baitfish, but the stripers will not hit any of the plugs, lures, soft plastics, or even chunks of mackerel thrown their way. It was during one of these maddening times when a kid at the local bait & tackle suggested trying clams. I've fished for stripers and other gamefish with many other types of bait, usually chunks of frozen mackerel, sal...