Striper Migration Report ft. John Skinner | May 3, 2024

In the 6th installment of our 14-week Striper Migration Report series, OTW's Assistant Editor Matt Haeffner talks with John Skinner about how he finds his first stripers of the season after wintering in Florida, when the fish will transition from the bays into open water on the North Fork of Long Island, and how John targets stripers in the rips of Eastern Long Island Sound around the second week of May. Then, Matt Stone fills us in on his approach to kayak fishing for stripers in the rivers, lures and tactics for stripers keyed in on herring, and when to expect the arrival of bigger bass on bunker schools in Long Island Sound.
This week, stripers in the 30-inch class pushed up and into Buzzards Bay while schoolies reached Boston, bass to 30 pounds pressed north and east along the coast of New Jersey and Long Island's south shore, and Rhode Island saw an influx of over-slot stripers as reports of squid in the area slowly improved.
» Check out John Skinner's KZbin Channel: / @johnskinnerfishing
» Explore John Skinner's library: www.amazon.com/John-Skinner-B...
» Follow Matt Stone on IG: / sunrisekayakfishing
For More Striper Migration Content:
• Follow On The Water’s Striper Cup: / stripercup
• Follow On The Water Magazine: / onthewatermagazine
Sign up for Striper Cup: www.stripercup.com/

[@udtghost3860]

It's great to see a class A fishermen like Mr. Skinner, he knows how and where to catch all our targeted fish. I learned so many techniques from his books and videos. Great series

[@karlneumann6833]

Keep dropping videos, thx for sharing Matt and OTW crew 🤙🏾

[@danielking3066]

I'm excited to get out on the water with my kayak and really start getting them this year. I've been building a list over the years of fishing spots on Cape Cod and this season is already produced a few nice fish.

[@seahad4744]

I really appreciate these videos. I dont need peoples secret spots, just what is generally going on and tips I can use when I am out putting time in. I got out to OCNJ on Monday. I found some schoolies schooled up by inlet rocks close to the ocean on the out going so they are out there! Now I need to get into bigger ones. This was my first time catching stripers and I see why people love them so much. I was using clam, but had success with white and yellow bucktail, mainly due to be moving around to find fish. My fishing technique besides moving to find fish was just a slow to medium fast jigging motion. Id let it fall then jerk rod and reel in slack. They usually hit it right after the jerk. This coming week doesnt look fun.

[@williamcarr1678]

The big ones are on the way from the Chesapeake fellas!!! Its just a matter of time now. This next week of warm weather should have those cows chewing!!! Best of luck!!!🎣💪😎

[@edwardmero9429]

GREAT !! to see/here your report on CT !, IMO we have been looked over far to long, it would be fantastic if you could get in more info in the NEW HAVEN area, we can get some pretty impressive bunker schools =BASS schools around here, thanks much good season guy's!!!

[@clandry138]

Good stuff Matt.

[@tim03b_48]

I love this! Thanks for doing this. I don’t want this to sound like complaining because it’s not. But i really enjoyed the way you did these last year better.

[@maritimeus]

Get Matt outta here and have Skinner join OTW permanently.

[@NickOnTheWater]

@@maritimeus Skinner's happily retired, so I don't think he'll be applying for a job at OTW anytime soon. That said, we definitely love having him on as a guest, author, or in any other capacity. Matt does a terrific job with these reports! It's a lot of work to put out on top of all the other responsibilities for the small crew at OTW.

[@maritimeus]

@@NickOnTheWaternick, got any trained monkeys? 😂

[@maritimeus]

@@NickOnTheWater the thing is, Matt doesn’t really do a good job in front of the camera. Oh well.

[@TalkFishTVHawaiianDan]

Great job Matt, I really like the way you give local anglers the time of day to methodically share their knowledge. Sure beats trying to share what we know in 60 seconds or less when we're trying to help everyone out. This year was my best striped bass opener ever on the Central North Shore of Long Island, with 7 bass in about an hour, one keeper at 29 1/2", and a follower that was even bigger! I was throwing the 3" NLBN (No Live Bait Needed) paddle tail. The next session produced 4 bass in the 25-26 1/2" class and the following session produced 3 bass in the 25-26 1/2" class with lice. However, I had to switch over to Kon Slick 5" sandeels. This morning 5/03/24 I scored another 29 1/2" keeper but on a topwater spook. The cold has definitely slowed the bite since opening day. However, as soon as we get a couple of warmer days I think it's going to be lights out. My name's Hawaiian Dan and I fish from everything. Shore, boats, skiffs, kayaks, SUPs, and I spearfish. If you're ever interested in having me on as a guest. I would love the opportunity. Great report! I'll be tuning in every week! Keep spreading da AaaLoHaa🤙

[@lizardal3377]

In ri and I’m catching high 30 inchers. And smaller schoolies. None with sea lice though

[@timothydavis6208]

Thanks for the Info it's greatly appreciated.

[@dbettis6477]

We still have tons of large rock fish here in Maryland Chesapeake bay chasing herring & hickory shad

[@jamesjannell8706]

Great content otw and Mr skinner.

[@squillium3091]

Dusk Striper bite slowed down in Lynnhaven backwaters for last 2 weeks, but has picked up for the last 3 days. Starting to see more sores on them tho

[@anthonydevillets3998]

I’m going out tomorrow hoping to get my first one of the season

[@DocB-vs8tc]

Nice work Matt! Do you believe that the stripers have reached the outer Cape Cod, Wellfleet, Truro?

[@user-id9uf4tp7w]

26 inch Cape cod bay schoolie yesterday

[@nomansjam3950]

Same here...outer Cape...first on top this year!!

[@mattstout856]

Anyone know when the Striper migration hits Maine? Vacationing over Memorial Day, have a charter booked, just wondering if the bigger fish would be in that early.

[@blackhills7626]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@hookdup1927]

No action yet in my usual haunts in great south bay ny

[@mintdigggity]

John Skinner lol

[@aaronnokaoi]

Who is John skinner?....

[@ATREZ0123]

Is that a joke? 🤔 or are you serious? 🙄

[@tristanfaucett3714]

No fish in buzzards bay yet 😢

[@joeg2286]

I haven’t caught either but fish been there few weeks now

[@ehayward3719]

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@Randy-nk2ne]

They have closed the spring trophy season in marylands chesapeake bay.the numbers of spawning fish in the chesapeake has dropped off.