The Best & Easiest To Fish Plug For Striped Bass Ever Made - The View From The Beach

[@patcurcio1379]

Thank you, Rich. Next time the surf is up, I’ll give it a shot; and I’ll let you know…

[@richtroxler]

Sorry for the late reply, this one slipped through. I think you'll love this plug.

[@marcelorubilar223]

Hi Rich!!! Im very happy you are back and Ireally wish you are doing well. Thank you once again for your awesome information.

[@richtroxler]

My pleasure!

[@raymondthompson1476]

Hi Old Sport. Your videos are the most informed, and informative of any others on KZbin. Many thanks. Raymondo.

[@richtroxler]

Hi Raymondo. I hope my videos have helped you out. Thanks for watching!

[@craighealy6186]

Always a great video!

[@richtroxler]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the sub.

[@gosnest]

Thank you for your detailed video, and your previous videos, they have helped me learn more about lures, the reading of the beach and fish behaviour, even though my target species is the European sea bass it is all related to what i do with lures, keep them coming, regards, Keith. Irish Republic.

[@richtroxler]

Hi Keith. Is that beast your holding in your avatar a European Sea Bass? Looks like fun! Thanks for your comment, your sub, and for watching.

[@gosnest]

Hello Rich yes it is ine of my better ones my biggest measured 80cm, Dicentrachus Labrax is the latin name.

[@richtroxler]

Awesome!

[@striperhunter-ic2wt]

Very informative, thanks

[@richtroxler]

Thanks for watching!

[@tonyfleck236]

Great video Rich. You mention one of the best tips I ever received when I first started surf casting as to the placement of the lure behind a crashing wave. And I'll add my 2 cents if you don't mind. I troll these from a kayak from time to time (with success) and if fishing the beach at night I carry an Amber colored bottle with a black flag..

[@richtroxler]

Hi Tony. Thanks for watching. I'm sure they would troll well but I'm not sure I understand what the black flag is. Can you explain that to me please?

[@kellyr8230]

I'll chime in. I believe it to be black bucktail hair with a little strand of flash, sort of like a teaser for the back hook

[@tonyfleck236]

I remove the rear treble or swash and put a wire tail flag (no hook) that is dressed with either bucktail or feather hackle.

[@richtroxler]

Thanks Kelly. Nice looking cat. I have 4 myself, kept a whole litter.

[@richtroxler]

Thanks for the explanation Tony. I learn something new everyday.

[@alexdolly6077]

Great Video!!!! thank you .

[@richtroxler]

Hi alex. Sorry for the late reply. I've been working on some music projects and getting some of it out on streaming platforms. I wish I could clone myself LOL. Bottle plug is a great plug. Thanks for watching

[@alexdolly6077]

@@richtroxler I told myself that I going to learn how to fish this plug more effectively next season. Question, there seems to be to my understanding two bottle makers, Super Strike is one and Gibb's is the other. There seems to be a lot of lure Manufactures doing Darter's, Metal Lips, Pencil popper's even glide baits, But Bottle lip plugs, not that many, do you have an opinion to why this is? and Gibb's make a 1oz bottle lip plug, could you see yourself using that size, say midsummer on a clam beach OR is it just the 2 3/8 size from Super strike all the way?? Thanks for any info given.

[@richtroxler]

While the SS is my go to, I have also used all 3 sizes of the Gibbs bottles. They are good plugs. Just don't let the Bluefish turn them into tooth picks LOL.

[@LouBalestriere]

Hi Rich, hope you're feeling better. Thanks for another gem of a video. I'm fishing in your old stomping grounds....the construction dock at Jones Beach up the inlet, hitting the jetty and then around to the front. All the old salts there recommend and love the Super Strike Little Neck Popper. What are your thoughts on the popper and how it compares to the swimmer? Finally, what are your feelings of going out with a minimalist plug bag that contains only a couple plugs (swimmer or popper and SP minnow), couple bucktails, couple rubber shads and a couple tins and diamond jigs? Change the colors of the plugs and bucktails for night fishing....and that's it??

[@richtroxler]

Hi Lou. While the Little Neck Popper is designed to be exactly that, a popper, it can also be fished on retrieve. Some swear by it, and I always believe that you fish what you know best, and you get the best results from what you have confidence in. I've never been much of a top water guy, at least for Striped Bass, so while I've owned a few Little Neck Poppers in my day, and have used them, and caught on them, I've never seen any reason to move off of the bottle plug, which I have soooo much faith in. It's just so damn easy to fish and the bass just smack them so hard. Every year there's the next great plug (I remember the SP Minnow craze lol), but fish don't care about stuff like that. The bottle plus is a flat out bass killer. As for my feelings on a small plug bag, I've written a lot of posts back in my days on noreast and other fishing sites about minimizing what you carry. When I go out, I already know where I going and what the probable bait is going to be, so my night bag has only a few plugs / baits in it. My day bag never changes much unless I know there are mullet in the wash. Carrying half a tackle store around with you is not going catch you bass. Learn to fish a few plugs / profiles well. Learn to make good presentations. Learn to fish bucktails in deep water and in the surf. Learn how to fish tins properly, and yes, there are techniques for tins. Learn to fish live eels. And yes, the dark side, learn how to chunk bunker for bass. Learn those things and where to do them (ocean, inlet and bay) and you will always be able to catch bass as long as there are bass around to catch. Have a good fall and thanks for the post.

[@timmeyer8563]

Thanks, I learned something new.

[@richtroxler]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching.

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

Thanks for another concise explanation, that anyone can follow! Being in Europe, I'm not sure these plugs are available here, but I'll have a look.

[@richtroxler]

Thanks for watching. Google Super Strike Lures and contact Steve to see if he has a distributor in EU.

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

@@richtroxler OK. Thanks Rich!

[@richtroxler]

Sorry it took so long. Steve said no EU distributors.

[@JoseSilveira-newhandleforYT]

@@richtroxler Thank you for your care! No problem 🙂

[@theundisputedone5646]

Hello Mr. Troxler, you’ve done miracles 👍 helping me learn beach structure when surf fishing. When do you think the striped bass will start migrating south and hit nj this fall? 🤔

[@richtroxler]

It's hard for me to say now that I live in Virginia Beach lol. I still stay in touch with all my friends on Long Island and the last couple years have seen a seen a return of Striped Bass to some degree, but those are the 2011 and 2015 year class fish, and who knows how long they will last. There's a lot more to the Striped Bass story than meets the eye, but I won't go into that now. The runs are not widespread like they were in the late 90's and early 2K's, so they show up when they do and if you are lucky. Even on LI this spring, some areas had a ton of fish, other areas had squat, so the only thing I can say is that if your beaches have a great sand eel bloom this fall, then it'll probably pull the bass to them, so hope for that. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.

[@gabrielM1111]

I agree with you. Its my favorite. I wonder why its not a hot seller.

[@richtroxler]

Hi gabriel. Sorry for the late reply. I've been working on some music projects and getting some of it out on streaming platforms. I wish I could clone myself LOL. According to Steve at SS, it sells well, but everybody loves the Darter ;-) Thanks for watching!

[@NewMoonBlitz]

Most excellent .

[@richtroxler]

Hi New Moon. Sorry for the late reply. I've been working on some music projects and getting some of it out on streaming platforms. I wish I could clone myself LOL. Glad you enjoyed my video and thanks for watching!

[@NewMoonBlitz]

@ Oh no problem it’s all good Rich we gotta keep busy especially during the cold months.

[@daviddailey810]

Stan Gibbs is one hell of an innovator His G3...is the origin...of any Bottle

[@richtroxler]

I have several old Gibbs bottles, and yes, he was the originator. The reason I pitched the SS bottle is that they are molded, ergo fish consistent out of the package, and right sized for a beginner. No disrespect to Stan intended.

[@cotto22]

Good info Rick. I have a question about knots. What knot are you tying to the split ring? And if using the Tactical Power Clip instead, what knot are you tying? Thank you.

[@Peter-zg3em]

i wouldn't tie to a split ring. bunch of reasons, the knot can slip between the wraps, get pinched and lose strength, etc. tie direct or use a TA clip, the split is redundant unless the eye of the plug is recessed and hard to get to without a split ring. improved clinch is the only knot you need for leader for surfcasting striped bass. palomar for your braid. i use 40# braid, swivel, 40# flouro, 75# ta clip. this will handle 40# bass and 15# bluefish in the wash, but consider sizing up on your leader if you're in sharp rocks or the fish are particularly toothy. i will generally only size down in the very early spring, and during the heat of the summer when soft plastics might be the only thing getting a bite. you are leaving fish out there if you don't direct tie [and generally just go light] with small soft plastics, but i cheat and use a 50# ta and even 75#. 9' rod for the jetties and boulderfields, 10'6" for the beach and when the weather is bad. good luck, be safe, tight lines.

[@richtroxler]

Hi cotto and thanks for watching. You can't go wrong with what Peter said below. I do things a little different and I'll elaborate on the whole knot chain. I use 50 lb Power Pro braid, but you can use any reputable brand 40 or 50 lb test. I wouldn't go lower simply because of the risk of cut fingers should the drag go against wet fingers. I pre-tie different leaders. Generally, when fishing a plug like the bottle plug I too will go with about a 3 ft length of flouro. One end has 230 lb Spro swivel, the other nothing, because I tie direct and don't use quick clips. The Spro swivel is attached to the leader via a palomar knot. The pre-tied leader is attached to my 50 lb braid running line via a palomar knot. As for putting a split ring on a bottle plug, I don't agree with Peter that it is redundant because as stated in the video, I do believe it does allow the plug the swing more freely than if I tied my knot directly to the plug, eye, but that's my opinion and Peter is more than welcome to his. As for the knot slipping or getting pinched between the wraps, i make a point to tie my knot away from the end of the wrap and have never had any problem with this. Also, fluoro is very abrasion resistant so it doesn't "pinch" easily. Again, my opinion, I've never had any issues what so ever with this. I agree with the choice of knot, that being the improved clinch, which BTW, is easier to thread through the split ring than through the plug eye. I also tie lighter lb test leaders (25 lb flouro) the same way for smaller spring fishing in the bay with leadheads, small bucktails, maybe needlefish plugs or small mag darters, all depends, and on these I tie direct, and on any non-plug I use a palomar, and for plugs I use the improved clinch. I hope this provides you with the info you need.

[@cotto22]

Thanks for the reply. I normally use an FG knot to connect a 50# mono leader to my 40# braid main line. It runs freely through the guides. It's also thin and doesn't curl. With that, do you feel differently about this knot for surf fishing bigger stripers in the fall?

[@richtroxler]

The FG is the hottest thing since sliced bread when it comes to knots. I've tied it a few times, just so I can say that I have, but my vision isn't what it used to be, particularly my night vision, which is when I mostly fish, so I keep it simple for myself and stay with what I've always done. I know the FG tests out strong, but I will confess that being a plaited knot, it would make me nervous about leaning on a big fish. And I've always leaned on big fish. Down here in VB they fish for the big 40+ lb Redfish from the beach with 20 lb test (for cast distance) and a shock leader. They have to walk those fish down the beach and let them run all over the place. I load my conventional with 80 lb braid (slightly less diameter than 20 lb mono) and tie direct to my rig. No line to leader knot to catch and bird nest me and I can beach these fish in far less time and get them back in the water with their fins up. Of course, they would throw me off a pier and ban me from lineup at the point because my braid would cut everybody else's mono when the bite got hot, but I don't fish piers or line ups lol. Short version, do a snap test and see if your line or the knot goes first. If the knot holds, then you're tying it right and you're golden. I hope you get the chance to hook some big fish this fall.

[@InTheFlow66]

Great video - thank you! Would you still throw a bottle if they're on major sand eels?

[@richtroxler]

Hi ITF66. Nope. I would throw a Tsunami Sand Eel, SS Needlefish, or a tin lie a Deadly Dick. I did tell of a time when we had a massive sand eel bite about 13 years ago, but the heavy northerlies had brought bunker in close to shore and there were bigger fish on the bunker the nobody was fishing for. I was throwing a bottle then. This was all at night and under cover of darkness. But sand eels are sand eels, give'em what they want. Sand eels don't migrate, so they are the only bait that will hold fall migrating bass in one spot for a period of time. Thanks for watching.

[@patcurcio1379]

Thank you, Rich for another informative video. Question… Have you ever used this plug fishing down south for snook and Jack Cravalle? We’ve been experiencing some heavy surf and I was wondering if I should break this plug out.

[@richtroxler]

Hi Pat. I have not, but if you do, please let me know how you made out. I have some friends in FL. I should ask them to test it out for me. Thanks for watching.

[@robertedwardn]

Love it!

[@richtroxler]

Thanks!!

[@brucebainmatunucksurfrat7911]

Thanks rich

[@richtroxler]

Thanks for watching!

[@DI-wv6yp]

Just in time for Fall

[@richtroxler]

You betcha!

[@thehamptonsbutcher3786]

Still fishing west Hampton?

[@richtroxler]

West Hampton on LI? Not any more as I live in Virginia Beach now. Bit of a commute ;-) I do miss the Long Island coast though. I spent my life learning to fish it, now, only when I can up there. The beaches here are pretty bland compared to Long Island and they won't let you fish from any of the jetties, which really sucks. My korkers are dusty lol.

[@tonyfleck236]

Funny I was just thinking about putting my korkers up on Ebay. No where to use them on the Eastern Shore VA beaches I fish. Good memories using them to rock hop Sore Thumb when I lived on LI. @@richtroxler

[@richtroxler]

So you are a transplanted Long Islander living down here also?

[@deuteronimus750]

Are these plugs good for any other fish?

[@richtroxler]

Any fish that feeds on 6" size bait fish wouldn't turn their noses up at a bottle plug.

[@DrXKnows]

I hope your channel is monetized. Great work.

[@richtroxler]

It is. Thanks for the sub and for watching!