In becoming successful for striped bass from a party boat, there is another consideration which should be taken into account, which would not come into play from a private boat (most likely) or from the shore…the chum/scent line. As 20-30 people are throwing bait in the water, deck hands breaking clams and the boat sitting on anchor all creates a big scent line extending out from the boat in the direction the current is running.
On a day where fishing is easy and big schools are eager to bite, dropping the bait over the side can work. However, most of the time that is spent on a boat when there is a slower bite, it is a different story. Typically, to be successful your bait needs to be the first that the bass will come to in the scent line. In order to do this, you will need to be the furthest caster on the boat.
Other than practicing distance while keeping a clam on the hook, there are some other things you can do to better your chances to catching more fish.
First is to reduce the line diameter: A smaller diameter line casts further. This also means reducing the strength of the line (as almost all party boats do not allow braided line), so make sure the drag is set accordingly. Another added benefit is that the fish can not see a 15lb line as well as a 25lb line.
Next would be to match the rod/reel combo to the weight thrown: Fishing rods are rated for certain size weights. Typically, you can go over the weight slightly, but above and below that range performance quickly deteriorates. When I step onto a party boat I am typically carrying 2 combos. One rod which casts weights in the 1-3 oz range and another combo which handles weights on the 2-5 oz range. For me, this covers about 90% of the conditions I will run into.
Cast what is most comfortable to you: If you are used to casting a spinning reel, use that… a party boat is probably not the place to try something new.
Cast the furthest from anchor: A part boat is going to typically anchor from the front of the boat. The best place to start that cast is from the back of the boat. This is not a secret and is the reason why you need to get in line 2 hours before the trip sets sail to get one of the coveted spots.
Rod length: Rod length plays a big role in how far a cast will go. Due to space at the back of the boat coming at a premium, I would not exceed 7’6” but at the same time keep the rod length to a minimum 7’.
Hope this helps in your next time on the water!
