Catching BIG Striped Bass on Big Plugs in New Jersey | S21 E6

The use of giant wood plugs made specifically for striped bass goes back to the 1940s, with some of the largest stripers ever caught falling to these lures. Captain Rob Radlof is keeping the giant metal-lip swimmer tradition alive by fishing them from his boat in the striper-rich waters of Monmouth County, New Jersey.
In this episode, Jimmy Fee joins Captain Rob and Shawn Matthews for a morning of throwing big swimmers. It's late May and a school of big stripers has just moved in from the Chesapeake Bay to feed before continuing their migration north.
Special Thanks to Captain Dave Torrick for lending out the lucky rod and reel.
Links:
Captain Rob Radlof Website: watermancharters.com/
Captain Rob Radlof Instagram: / rob_radlof
Shawn Matthews Instagram: / shwnyboy
Jimmy Fee Instagram: / jamestfee
Tackle:
Shimano Tranx 400HG
St. Croix Mojo Inshore 7'9" XH, Moderate Fast
175-Pound Tactical Anglers Power Clip
80-Pound Test Fluorocarbon Leader
65-Pound-Test Braided Line
Time and Tide Troller
Big Water Pikes Troller
0:00 The Tradition of Big Wooden Swimmers for Stripers
0:52 Captain Rob Radlof
1:52 Heading for Shrewsbury Rocks
3:20 Tackle and Technique for Big Metal Lip Trollers
7:40 Finding the Fish
17:02 The Biggest Striped Bass We've Ever Filmed
20:57 Captain Rob Gets a Big One Before Heading In

[@frety67]

Awesome fish! If only boat fish counted 😂😂

[@jcb3354]

Awesome fellas! my local water, can't wait to get out in the next few weeks!

[@michaelmarchetti3074]

right outta the home town, love to see it

[@ethanboucher5914]

Awesome catch! looking forward to the convention in providence this weekend! love your surf and on the rail videos too!

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Thanks Ethan, and thanks for watching our series! We'll be there all weekend - stop by the booth and say hi.

[@dodgenbuell]

Catch of a lifetime!!

[@loucat2779]

That's how a real fisherman does it! A hunk of wood with some hooks. Today's hologram, lazer finished, life like repros are almost unfair. Nothing beats my big Danny in the Westport surf.

[@lonellrodgers8539]

Such an amazing video! Love plugging from a boat! Nice work!

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Thanks Lonell!

[@ATREZ0123]

Congrats! That was a Beauty

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Thank you!

[@phillymanpete]

Jersey JUMBOS!!!

[@showmethefishing]

looking nice lure~

[@LongIslandLethals]

Nice fish Jim, great release too.

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Thank you!

[@MFourns]

Nice catch Jimmy!

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Thanks!

[@TJ89741]

Congrats Jimmy. That’s a 50 lb fish all day.

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Thank you!

[@user-uc8hr5vp1l]

If y'all love em big ol muskie baits you should try the shallow invader and the hell hound glider.

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Have a couple hell hounds rigged up for stripers, but haven't thrown them much. - Jimmy

[@Tog_Tastic]

Nice fish Jim. You gonna be tossing some metal lips in the canal this summer??

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Without a doubt.

[@jowhi9296]

Whats the most reliable casting reels for plugging? I plan to buy a new rod and reel for casting and seeing if i enjoy it better than with bail less... Thanks guys!

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Captain Rob was using the Shimano TranX 400HG, but Abu Garcia and Daiwa both make large baitcasters that can work as well.

[@michaeldwyer7615]

I love the bottle plugs but have trouble with the top treble hanging up on the leader. Any suggestions?

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Sometimes snubbing down the line at the end of the cast straightens out a plug and keeps the hooks from fouling on the line.

[@johnstypulkoski108]

Also guys remember how to hold a fish. Really?

[@josephgomes8543]

Great fishing fellas. I just wish you'd remember that when you hold the fish to TALK, she is HOLDING HER BREATH. Please be quick with the de-hooking and post fight photos.

[@MrEli204]

They were honestly pretty quick getting those fish back in the water.

[@garrettolson8142]

You sound like a girl

[@user-pc3tl8rw6t]

Shut the hell up

[@mulletoutdooradventures6286]

Let's see you handle a 50lb striper. People who whine about holding a big fish have never tried to hold a big fish

[@noblestsavage1742]

muskie fishing................ for bass!

[@showmethefishing]

any info for rods, reel, braid?

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Tackle: Shimano Tranx 400HG St. Croix Mojo Inshore 7'9" XH, Moderate Fast 175-Pound Tactical Anglers Power Clip 80-Pound Test Fluorocarbon Leader 65-Pound-Test Braided Line

[@tonynicoletti8161]

Would switching out the trebles for big singles negatively alter the action of the plugs and/or decrease hookup % ?

[@brendanwoerner3352]

They do decrease hookup percentage

[@skipman4735]

Inline singles and crush the barbs. By the time you try to unhook the trebles I'm unhooked and casting to another fish. Way less damage to the fish.

[@tonynicoletti8161]

@skipman4735 yea, im pretty fucking tired of mauling fish. Doesnt make me feel good to see a treble buried to the hilt in the face or body of a bass (or blue for that matter)

[@brianhartmann8077]

What rods are you guys using

[@younggunsangling2633]

Are they called time and tide plugs? can't find that name anywhere

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Time&Tide Lures made by Kevin Brennan. Here's a link to his instagram: instagram.com/timetidelure/

[@AS-cv4qz]

Wondering how many inches it was

[@thehamptonsbutcher3786]

That's what she said when 😎

[@jaybartow8769]

What low profile reel was used ? Thanks

[@jimflood2658]

Looked like a Tranx

[@jimflood2658]

Looked like a Tranx. I own a few - amazing saltwater baitcasters

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Shimano Tranx 400HG

[@Delta3111]

How many pound test using,and rod reel

[@webmoss]

My guess. Medium Heavy Rod with 50 lb braid and 60lb flouro on a Shimano 400 Tranx

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Rod was the St. Croix Mojo Inshore 7'9" XH, Reel was Shimano Tranx 400HG, line was 65 braid.

[@chrisgarcia5462]

What brand is the rod?

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

St. Croix Mojo Inshore 7'9" XH

[@chrisgarcia5462]

@@OnTheWaterMedia Is the action different from a XH bass rod the same length? I'm looking for something similar without the extra stiffness of a bass rod to cast 6in to 7in glide bait & swimbaits for Snook & Bullreds on southern Tx Gulf coast.

[@JohnGFish]

What were those reels?

[@jimflood2658]

Looked like a Tranx. I own a 200, 300 and 400 - all amazing

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

Shimano Tranx 400HG

[@grantd.5438]

Tossing metal lip plugs for big bass has always been a thing, on boat, on shore, day and night. Capt Rob might be one of the few guys having his clients work this approach, however, it is not unique by any means. Up and down the coast folks are doing it, even landlocked striped bass...and it is TRENDING #crushyourbarbs

[@frankiediaz4299]

I can almost guarantee you that a super strike little neck swimmer will do the job

[@m.a.t2008]

need to set the hook or sharpen your hooks.

[@crispychris9492]

A lot of times they swipe at the lure and get hooked in the side of the face and gills and hooks pull no matter what you do

[@516Spark]

Hey do u run charters highly intrested

[@gregwright5343]

Late May, why show now?

[@OnTheWaterMedia]

To concede with our TV season on NBC Sports Boston, which runs Jan to June

[@kevinmalavarca5468]

Hmm, 65# braid with an 80# leader... Wonder why you guys are straightening hooks and split rings, destroying expensive fancy plugs 🤔