Why The striped bass?

[J Barbosa]

I have asked myself this so many times but I would like to hear others opinions.

Why is there so much fascination with the striped bass compared to other species?

[surfstix1963]

I think for the most part that bass get so big, the thrill of the hunt for the trophy for me a blue or weakfish even fluke is just fine I just like what I do.

[storminsteve]

Look at freshwater fishing. You catch a bass you know it will prob be 2-5 lbs. Pickerel 2-5lbs. Yellow perch 1-2lbs, sometimes one that goes 2 1/2 but thats a biggun.

It's one of the only fish for surf fishermen that when you are fishing for it you could catch a 5 lb bass, and the next one to come along might be 50 lbs. That thrill of how big will the next one be, that's part of the game I like to play when I am out there. There are other fish like that bluefish for example. I get excited about them too.. What other saltwater fish you can catch from shore will have the size range of the striped bass?

[cowherder]

I agree with what Steve said. The thrill of not knowing how big your catch will be. It is like winning the lotterry when there are a lot of small school bass and all of the sudden someone catches a cow.

[bababooey]

Sorry don't mean to be a buzzkiller here but as far as eating fish I think tog and seabass taste better.

[surfstix1963]

Hell yeah they are eating a good non oily diet...Bunker although a primary food source for bass,blues&weaks makes everything that eats it taste like crap...

Sorry don't mean to be a buzzkiller here but as far as eating fish I think tog and seabass taste better.

[J Barbosa]

There are other species that get bigger and are accessible from shore like drum.

There seems to be a halo around striper fishing though. In FW you also have your "bass only" guys when there are much bigger species available but I can understand that with all the tournament $ to go around.

[Pebbles]

I am wondering if anyone knows what the ratio is for fisherman participating in tournaments vs. those who don't?

I am not very good a catching bass. For some reason I have trouble setting the hook. I would love a catch a something over 30 lbs then throw it back. Maybe this is my year!

[Monty]

Look at freshwater fishing. You catch a bass you know it will prob be 2-5 lbs. Pickerel 2-5lbs. Yellow perch 1-2lbs, sometimes one that goes 2 1/2 but thats a biggun.

It's one of the only fish for surf fishermen that when you are fishing for it you could catch a 5 lb bass, and the next one to come along might be 50 lbs. That thrill of how big will the next one be, that's part of the game I like to play when I am out there. There are other fish like that bluefish for example. I get excited about them too.. What other saltwater fish you can catch from shore will have the size range of the striped bass?

I'm with ya on this, I used to fly fish streams for trout. Walking stream banks,wading into the streams and rivers, looking for eddys, under cuts in banks, deep pools, rapids where trout would await a meal. Could always find solitude out there. I do the same ocean or bay side, but the fish are bigger. No more streams or rivers for me.

[finchaser]

What baba said much better things to eat as the bigger ones are almost up there with bluefish from eating bunker . The thrill of the hunt and they should be a game fish to ensure there survival for generations to come

[surfstix1963]

Try waiting a few more seconds before you set the hook Pebbles and it takes a bit more to penetrate the bass jaw I know you have a bad shoulder so that may be hindering you also.For the record I don't fish tournaments I only need to prove to myself what I can do.I also fish alone 90% of the time.

I am wondering if anyone knows what the ratio is for fisherman participating in tournaments vs. those who don't?

I am not very good a catching bass. For some reason I have trouble setting the hook. I would love a catch a something over 30 lbs then throw it back. Maybe this is my year!

[dogfish]

The thrill of the hunt and they should be a game fish to ensure there survival for generations to come

Agree on the gamefish status. Would save them overall as a species. I like fishing for them over some other species because of the variety. One fish could be 22" annd the next could be 22 pounds.

[DarkSkies]

Was searching for an older thread and came across this. I thought it was a good discussion and wondered if anyone had anything they might like to add. Thanks.

I have asked myself this so many times but I would like to hear others opinions.

Why is there so much fascination with the striped bass compared to other species?

[captnemo]

What baba said much better things to eat as the bigger ones are almost up there with bluefish from eating bunker . The thrill of the hunt and they should be a game fish to ensure there survival for generations to come

Agreed. What would the state of New Jersey fishing economy be if there were no striped bass to fish for?

[plugginpete]

A great video that talks about why

[cowherder]

Fishing is like a drug. Well put!