Collection: Schoolie Essentials

When the first migratory striped bass is caught each season it's a big deal on Nantucket; so big in fact that we have an entire tournament pretty much dedicated to just that. That first striper indicates to us locals that winter is over and the fishing season has finally started!

Fishing for schoolies (slot-sized stripers) is a lot different than surfcasting for 40" bass in August. The first thing you're going to want to do is tone down your equipment, no need to be throwing huge bombers just yet. A small soft plastic, like an Albie Snax, is where I like to begin. We like to texas rig these with any EWG hook to maximize the presentation. You're going to need some fluorocarbon leader material as well. Unlike bluefish, stripers are line shy and they won't hit your plug if they see a long string coming out of it. Fluorocarbon is invisible in the water so it'll give your lure a more realistic presentation. 

The highlight of any Nantucket fisherman's schoolie session is nailing them on the top water. A few of our favorite plugs to use when targeting those early basses are Hogy poppers and the Rapala Twitchin' Minnow. 

One of the most important things to remember is to just slow it down. People get a little ahead of themselves when they're looking for their first fish and they forget that these fish are young and skittish. Slow down your rate of retrieve, let your lures do the work, and enjoy those chilly May evenings.