Each fall massive
schools of peanut bunker leave the rivers and bays, swarming the New Jersey
beaches on their migration southward.
Striped bass and other gamefish converge
on this gathering of bite sized morsels.
There are many ways this link of the
food chain can be used to the angler’s advantage.
Fishing with a small spoon
that imitates the small baitfish is one option. Peanut bunker come in a range of
sizes, from barely 2 inches to over four inches. Your artificial offering may
not be a close enough match to the bait schools in front of you.
There are times
when the fish will settle for nothing but the real thing.
Live peanut bunker can
be purchased at many bait shops and marinas,This adds another expense to your
surf outing.
More importantly, transporting the baits and keeping them alive can
be difficult and cumbersome. Netting the peanuts with a cast net is another way
to procure live bait. If you own a cast net and know how to use it, this is a
quick way to get a lot of live bait. One drawback is keeping the extra baits
alive.
Constant water replacement is required to keep them cool and well
aerated. You are also tied to one location - the spot you keep your bait pail. most flexible way to catch and fish with peanut bunker is the snag rig,Carry this rig with you at all times. It doesn’t take up much space. Best of all, it catches the bait and presents the bait all in one cast.
Tie a size 1 bronze finish treble hook to the end of your main line or monofilament leader. Attach a rubber core sinker two feet above the treble hook, You will want to use the lightest sinker that you can comfortably cast with your tackle. Usually, the weight is between ¼ and 1 ounce. That’s all you need. It’s ready to fish.
Cast into a school of bunker and give the rig a couple snaps of the rod tip. After a snap or two, you will feel the weight of the snagged baitfish, sometimes more than one. Retrieving the bait is not necessary. Let it drop to the bottom. You can be certain predators are close by.
The wounded peanut bunker tethered to the bottom sticks out like a sore thumb.
When a fish strikes, set the hook right away to avoid deep hooking with the treble. Concern for the fish is also why we use a bronze finish hook. If you happen to break off a fish, the bronzed hook will rust out and do less harm to the fish than a corrosion resistant tinned hook.
If a fish doesn’t pick up within a couple of minutes, start a slow “stop & go” retrieve. Move it just a couple of feet at a time. Sometimes this added action gets their attention.
When your bait reaches the beach, pull off the old bait or baits and start the process over again.
This simple rig can save the day when fish are finicky.
always have the snag rig components in my surf bag.
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Posted on Friday, July 28 @ 10:20:49 EDT by 
