How I Target Jumbo Striped Bass Trolling 2023

This video I detail my late winter/early spring 2023 fishing season. It's a very short season in Maryland and I try to make the most of it. This video I tell you and show you how I do just that. The season never goes exactly how I expect but if you are lapping jumbo striped bass I always call that a good season. It was a good season. I hope you enjoy!
BTW I don’t know how to spell fourth.
Yo-zuri Crystal Minnow 4 3/8" (110mm)
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Yo-zuri Crystal Minnow 5 1/4" (130mm)
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Rapala Saltwater X-rap 12
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Rapala Saltwater X-rap 14
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Bomber Windcheater
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Kastking Braid (12lbs)
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Shimano Teramar Spinning Rod
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St Croix Avid Inshore 7' Medium
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STRADIC FL
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Penn Slammer 3
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Penn Slammer 4
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Tactical Angler Clip
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Spro Swivel #8
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[@TomyTekOutdoors]

Great informative and action packed video. Thanks for your help with getting me started with targeting giants this winter. This was my first year to really give it a good effort. It was grind, but paid off. I have a lot of content to edit. I fished somewhere else yesterday and had a decent trip. I learned a lot in unfamiliar water.

[@MDYakFishing]

That’s great. Looking forward to seeing the vid.

[@55thedits]

love these video, learned most of my fishing knowledge from these. like the longer ones too!

[@MDYakFishing]

I appreciate it…not many people like these long videos.

[@williampruitt8420]

awesome

[@MDYakFishing]

I always feel luckily reeling one in.

[@lonellrodgers8539]

Thank you for this video! I didn't get a chance to get out this winter/spring, but I'll be out on the bay this year for sure. Subscribed!

[@MDYakFishing]

I appreciate you. Best of luck on the water.

[@dsaavedra628]

Great video man, I watched it from start to finish. That 6th trip was something special!! Crazy how some days when the bite is on it's **on**. I had one day like that. This year was my first year targeting the big pre-spawn stripers and I had a stellar season. I got 10 fish in the kayak between 41-47", and lost 6 or 7 more in the 40" class. Also landed a couple 30-somethings and plenty of smaller schoolies. I actually saw you out on the water one day but was too far away to say hey, and you were torqueedoing fast in the opposite direction haha. Keep up the good work

[@MDYakFishing]

First thanks, I appreciate it! That is great! Landing 40”ers in a kayak is something special. This has been my worst statistical year. I only landed 58 fish in March. Last year I landed 311. Im not complaining. I’m thankful for lapping these fish but it looks like I was going the wrong way!

[@dsaavedra628]

@@MDYakFishing Haha that day I saw you was terrible, I got skunked and never marked any fish or bait. Now I'm second guessing though, that was a day in February and you said you only fished in March. If it wasn't you it was someone with the same color kayak, dry suit/jacket, torqueedo, and fishing in the same area as you lol

[@MDYakFishing]

@@dsaavedra628 I do fish February but not this year. I have a bunch of dopple-gangers.

[@swervomatic]

That cold water scares me. Im thinking about getting a drysuit and going after some trophies next year.

[@MDYakFishing]

That’s a good instinct. I never fish cold water without a dry suit. It’s not worth it.

[@TomKirkman1]

Good video. Two things I think have helped my striped bass trolling is using a Hobie Adventure Island (more speed getting to and back from the area i want to fish) and swapping out treble hooks for circle hooks. The latter don't miss fish and for whatever reason, fish can rarely throw them. Easy to release as well. Fingers, toes and neck - you hear alot about keeping your core warm but if you keep these three warm your core tends to be fine. If you don't, you'll be back in early.

[@MDYakFishing]

I put in-line hooks on some lures. I’ve tested all the lures I use with them but the action is negatively impacted on many so I switch back to trebles. I wish I could use all in-line hooks.

[@TomKirkman1]

@@MDYakFishing There's a trick to it - it's about weight. Adjust the size or wire diameter of the circle hook to give you the same weight as the trebles did and the lure will work as it did before. I have often gone to the heavier wire Owner circle hooks to give me the same weight as the supplied trebles to keep the lure moving as it did with the trebles.

[@TomKirkman1]

I appreciate that you get the fish back in the water quickly. Too many anglers keep the fish out for the camera way too long, reducing its chances of survival. My rule is this - when you pull the fish from the water, start holding your breath. When you need to take a breath, so does the fish. Time to put it back.

[@MDYakFishing]

I’m with you. I try my best to keep them out of the water for less than 60 seconds.

[@fish-o-rama]

1:42 Alan Battista’s pattern book explains this beautifully

[@MDYakFishing]

It’s great to get info from all angles. I’ve not read it but I’m glad he has stepped up his game and put out something useful. You can never have enough helpful perspectives.

[@YAYOSKAYAK]

Dang, that's a Zombie fish.

[@MDYakFishing]

lol. I thought that too.

[@seanhung14982]

What rod holders do you recommend? Looks like you have diff types, any specific quality you look for? Height/rocket style etc. Going to install some flush mounts on mine so want to be relatively certain I wont want to swap em out.

[@MDYakFishing]

I’ve tried several types. I have a track that i’m mounting to for customization ability. My favorite is YakAttack Zooka II Rod Holder. I swapped out the base it came with for YakAttack HD Mount LockNLoad Track Base. This ensures a fish won’t rip it out of the track. I adjust the height and position so that it doesn’t obstruct me. I don’t want to bump into it in the kayak. I adjust the so that i can touch the side of my leg to the rod in the rod holder so if i not paying attention i’ll feel the hit.

[@brianwentz8184]

Sweet Video! Have you ever tested out the 7 inch Magnum Yo Zuri’s? Maybe you’ve never felt the need, but figured I’d ask. Thanks!

[@MDYakFishing]

Thanks! I use it all the time. Yo-zuri has such a great lure line and that lure is one of their best.

[@brianwentz8184]

@@MDYakFishing good to hear! Was out yesterday and wasn’t sure I was getting deep enough to the fish. Still did catch a few. Might pick a couple of those up to get deeper. Thanks

[@swervomatic]

Do you use snap swivels to make switching out lures easier or do you think it affects the action?

[@MDYakFishing]

I use tactical angler clips. They have no adverse effect on action

[@conrad_M]

I live in Annapolis and was just wondering if there’s would be good action around there or if i would have to look farther down the bay?

[@MDYakFishing]

You can find them anywhere along the bay. I have another video talking about how to pattern where they will be. That could help you. My range for finding big fish is about 100 miles.

[@conrad_M]

@@MDYakFishingok thanks I think i’ll try for em this weekend from the yak

[@kanakoa74]

What lure was the hot one on your last session this video?

[@MDYakFishing]

This year I didn’t have a hot lure. I caught equally on Rapala Saltwater x-rap, 3D crystal minnow and mag minnow in the shallows, and the bomber windcheater. This is the first year I caught equally on all. Some days only one lure type caught but the next trip it would be another lure.

[@garlandalmarode6396]

If you were to fall in or tip over. How would you survive the cold water?

[@MDYakFishing]

Great question. I always have a dry suit on when the water hits 60F.

[@colinkelly279]

Not at all trying to be "that guy" when I ask, but do you scramble your backgrounds to avoid blowing up your locations or is that just the natural focus of your cams? Can't wait to get out soon as I get my Vibe fully rigged up and get onto some stripers.

[@MDYakFishing]

Lol. No problem. I was experimenting with bokeh in this video. I’ve never tried it before and wanted to see how it worked. Yeah, kayak e fishing for big stripers is an immersive experience that you don’t get from a boat or on the shoreline. Best of luck!

[@jlbaxe]

There is a Mesa (plateau) on the side with piers not far from the park. The top is 12’ deep on the flat then drops to 26’-30’. When the lure gets to the end of the 12’ top and starts to drop I usually get a hit. That is if you are where you were last year and launching out of the park.

[@fishingmidatlantic6610]

Is that Thomas point

[@sw20sleeper]

What kind of gloves are you using?

[@MDYakFishing]

They are called Palmyth Ice Fishing Gloves.

[@jimstrickler8959]

What motor do you use.

[@MDYakFishing]

I'm using a Torqueedo 403.

[@fishingmidatlantic6610]

What model is the fish finder

[@MDYakFishing]

Lowrance HDS LIVE 7

[@fishingmidatlantic6610]

@@MDYakFishing thanks

[@fishingmidatlantic6610]

Do you have a mapping chip installed or do you use the base map?