Kayak Fishing - 40-pound Striped Bass

Supports my book tinyurl.com/sea.... A 40-pound plus striped bass caught from the Atlantic Ocean while kayak fishing on bunker pods.

[@EliasVFishing]

What a fish! A 48" bunker school fish should be in the mid forty pound range. In 2013 a kayak angler I fish with landed a back bay 49.5" bunker fish that came out over fifty pounds. The girth these long fish pick up on these bunker schools is incredible.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

EliasV Hopefully you'll have these in your neck of the woods any day. I'm hearing there's no shortage of bunker.

[@risenflame]

Was just in the garage re-rigging my hobie revo for the season, came in for a snack and some motivational viewing. Re-watched this. I smiled when I saw, I believe, your had shaking a little as you tried to get the gill plate. Never EVER want to lose that feeling! It's not long now John, and I am READY!!!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

CJ - The torque is an awesome reel. Best drag system I've ever used on a spinning reel. Solid all around. Penn should promote it more.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

***** Yes. Especially since I can use it in the cold. My VS gets too stiff in the cold. You can't go wrong either way. My VS200 has seen a lot of use and has held up well.

[@bbcasting]

I fought a 40 pounder once. My ex girlfriend was anorexic.

[@ia2835]

LOL

[@heroes9162007]

Their strong

[@chunkyfather29]

You are a blessed man, I honor your release of a prime cow breeder. Fishing community needs alot more folks like you.

[@vilramos]

This is a great video for kayak fishing! And it is very impressive for me to see you release the fish too. Thanks for sharing.

[@SRTKOVA]

He has to even if he didn't tho real fisherman will release these amazing giants

[@sky2k316]

Nice catch, nothing like a Striped bass' initial first run seems like they just go and go.

[@scottbecker940]

Hey john thanks posting. I am curious though why you didn't bring any single hooks like a 9/0 or 10/0 to re-rig the bunker? Normally snag and drop is from the surf.

[@georgeraymond2386]

hi john. i was just wondering what reel you would recommend to put on a 8/9 foot surf rod for stripers and blues. Thanks so much and i enjoy your videos so much.

[@RIYakFishing]

I noticed you did not bring the pogy in an re-hook it. I have had times where I snag pogies and just leave them like you did. What I didn't know was I snagged them towards the tail. I missed some good fish because of that. Now I always bring them in and re-hook them on a dedicated rod and reel for live bait. Also have you found a way to keep pogies alive on a kayak? I tried the mesh bait bag and it did not work at all. I will be making a pvc bait tube from 4" pvc and drilling holes for water flow. I have heard it works well. Thanks for another great video.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

As I said in the narration, this was a first attempt for me as I'm not much of a bait guy, except for live eels. This just seemed like a nice calm day to have fun on the yak. The boat guys I know were just snagging and swimming and doing well, so I just did that. Good tip about the rehooking. I've heard the same thing about the tail snagged ones not working well.

[@RIYakFishing]

When I fish from shore I have no choice but to snag them and leave them. Tough to cast a whole pogy. It's helped quite a bit bringing a dedicated bait rod with me.

[@lkb3rd]

I know a guy who live lines bunker a lot and he uses a stringer with large snaps and puts them through their mouth so they can swim alongside you. For livelining them, if you use a circle hook in the mouth and out the nostril you can troll them around. As long as they weren't gut snagged and bleeding, they will stay alive like this for a long time trolling. Many guys hook them through the back just behind the dorsal fin, but you can't troll them this way, they drag backwards and die. The back method probably has an advantage for hookups, but the mouth/nostril method works well too with the trolling option available.

[@TheFrankpet]

Do you loosen up the drag and let the bunker swim or do you basically leave him suspended as is?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

I was alternating between free-spooling an retrieving slowly

[@peterlipari9132]

Jhey John amazing video, it's just awesome watching you catch those fish. I'm actually from Stony Brook. I usually go fishing out in Montauk with my Wilderness System Ride. I was wondering what GPS& fish finder do you use and how are you powering it?? Looking to enhance my Bass Fishing experience!!!!!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

humminbird 383c. I use a small, like 4-pound, SLA battery. It will last about 6 hours but is rechargeable.

[@topsella20]

Where where u outside fishing fire island inlet ?moriches inlet?i was in bunker pods outside fi inlet pods all over but no fish under them it was weirld

[@MrNick-]

Hey John what kind of kayak is that? I see in your videos you use it in open water or around banks, but have you used it around bridges? I'm looking at the hobie mirage kayaks so I can kick pedal against the current but they are ao much... Thanks!

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

ocean kayak prowler trident. I've used it around the smith's point bridge. No issue in current.

[@robertrock1578]

And just like that a 40 lbs bass!

[@yakfisher8663]

do u like the spider wire because the last time i used it it was the worst line i have ever used. just wondering if there might have been a flaw in the making of it

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Spiderwire stealth (green) is the braid I've been using for years. Never an issue.

[@Tomatoman857]

Nice one, John!

[@brendankenny2981]

Hey John, how far off shore are you?

[@axlholmes]

What kind of kayak do you have I have been looking into buying a hobie pro fishing 14 for the sound should I get it because I really want the mirage foot powered motor

[@lkb3rd]

I'm not John obviously, but I have a Hobie with the mirage pedal system, and I use it in the sound and I love it. Works great because you can pedal and cast simultaneously.

[@valg1135]

why didn't you keep it? i live in nyc and you could keep above 28in

[@MrNick-]

Just because it's a keeper doesn't mean you have to keep her

[@jw00dman]

Nick B He also is in a kayak. I don't think it would be easy to keep one that size in a kayak.

[@terrybleterry]

Jwood013 he rarely keeps bass. That's all he's said. I think it's his personal preference to conserve the species.

[@justintrimm3745]

what location? nova scotia?

[@arthurfelice1850]

Nice bass

[@0BigBear9]

I love you John.

[@Jrtoxic]

i love you videos

[@dunneryak]

superb!

[@SRTKOVA]

My idol

[@516Spark]

Wow awesome

[@Stubbsbitchinfishing]

thats a great technique.

[@elchumydefeas69]

Woooooww ... GREAAAT !!!!

[@jayg.2453]

What a great catch. I wish more people handled fish like the way you do. And what a great release. Awesome video!

[@mbs1234567]

Awesome job John. Catch and release. Love it.

[@timadams3486]

Why are all these old film clips from like 2011 1314 coming up on KZbin now take them down

[@michaelmorrone4323]

John I am losing sleep over a fish I lost this past friday!! It felt like a huge fish, it took 3 runs and on the 3rd run it headed for the rocks and broke me off from the 50# flouro leader right at the hook. Its driving me crazy because I don't think a blue would be smart like a bass and head for the rocks but i got cut off right at the hook. Should i go heavier on the leader? I don't want to make this mistake twice.

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

You're fine. If it didn't break the leader, it probably would have broken the main line. Big ones win sometimes. I'm still seething over having a big bass break 100# barrel swivel on me last month. Ten casts later one cut me off in the rocks. Stuff happens.

[@OnDayFiveFishing]

Nicely Done John. Good job being kind to the fish.

[@Alan-zn5jr]

John...i've been a surfcaster for 40 yrs primarily targeting striped bass on beaches & SS inlets and have been successful....now its my 1st season in the kayak in the bays & inlets. Not much success with the bass yet, I'm fishing like a surf fisherman from a kayak, reading visable surface conditions , inlets, rips and bunker schools and assuming they hold fish. Feel like i'm fishing blind . What am i missing to succeed.

[@willkoch208]

How do you foul hook a bunker, and know that the hook isn't coming off, and keep it in the water for a bass to bite???

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

It's mindless. Swing a snag hook through the school. If it falls off, do it again.

[@Alexvnder_Wood]

That was amazing by far. Overall the technique to catch strip bass that way is very interesting and obviously rewarding. Tight lines.

[@flukekiller1882]

Your right to penn torque 5 is awsome I have the same rod 7.5 not 7 foot 15 to 30 legion with a ssv 6500 ll (liveliner)but the torque has a really smooth drag and all your videos are awsome

[@bowsonly4025]

Great catch and release, kudos to you and a great video. Very instructional......

[@flukekiller1882]

A good combo for this kind of fishing is a penn fathom 15 lever drag 2 speed with a penn regiment conventional rod rated 15 to 30 pound line

[@ia2835]

I know a better rig, big vmc treble and a 2 ounce egg sinker. 50# floruo, or a circle hook if you already snagged one.

[@joserosario3568]

congrats on the catch and release SNAG and DROP

[@andrewhouse1795]

I think the camera u used I sold u a few years back lol nice fish john

[@nolankeyes6775]

I've seen all your videos all of them are sick!!

[@viktorakselrud9768]

Where do you launch your kayak for this location?

[@flukekiller1882]

It looks like you like spining gear

[@sunil838]

which kayak brand or model do you recommend ?

[@cjberg6740]

Nice torque! How do u like it?

[@ethanrichter9343]

What kind of kayak is that?

[@fishingtheeast4898]

Thanks . Are the prowler trident good for ocean and bays as well .?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

excellent for all waters.

[@Gotticrack17]

Nice bass man.

[@fahadahmed368]

Awesome dude

[@bdflavors1347]

u r the king

[@fishingtheeast4898]

Fist excellent video like always. Main question I wanna get into the kayak fishing after seeing how much u done it. What is the best one to use to start out with for bays and ocean . What type would u prefer to use with in a good budget range ?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Hobies are very well-liked, but pricey. This is an Ocean Kayak Prowler Trident, which I can highly recommend.

[@risenflame]

William Coder I had a perception pescador before I got my hobie. It was like $500, 12ft, very stable, I made some modifications to it and it was a great great boat. I paddled it miles and miles and had it in seas to 5ft. You can get them on Amazon

[@NickdFilo]

Hey awesome vids man. I was looking at a legion rod for fishing in my kayak. How do you like it? Does it have enough backbone for trolling an tube and worm from my kayak? Thanks

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Yes absolutely. The 7-ft Legion 15-30 in this video would be very good for this. I landed a tarpon with a calculated weight of 151 pounds on this rod from shore in the Florida keys. It will handle any striper you encounter.

[@1701alpha]

Would a sit in kayak have a better advantage than a sit on top model?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Not in my opinion. The sit-on is safer b/c water over the deck goes right out the scuppers. I wouldn't want to be in a sit-in.

[@deegs7104]

nice job, is this your pb?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

no

[@jw00dman]

John Skinner Fishing Mind telling what your PB is and a bit about the experience?

[@JohnSkinnerFishing]

Jwood013 52.8 and there's an entire chapter about it in A Season on the Edge