Sometimes the only way to get a strike from rock-hugging bass is to stick that popper right into the nooks and crannies of the rocks. Sure, you’ll get hung now and then, but it’s worth the risk. As you get to the end of the riprap, pay special attention to the downcurrent side. Make several casts to the last rock in the riprap and try to let the popper drift by the end before giving it a jerk. Big fish often hold on this spot. If all else fails, go upcurrent and work the flat section of rocks on that side. This requires either throwing anchor uptide, or stemming the current with the throttle. This spot is where you will most likely find smaller but still fun-sized fish by casting the popper right to the rocks.
Make sure that popper makes as much noise as it is capable of making. You should be able to hear that “pop!” and you should be able to see that quick splash of water shooting from the popper’s mouth. And always pause between single pops or a series of pops.
Big Rock "Love" Riprap
Anglers south of the Mason Dixon don’t call stripers rockfish or just plain “rock” for nothing. Throughout their range, rocky structure is prime striped bass habitat. Tide-swept rocky areas provide excellent staging and hunting ground for big stripers. Big bass get big for a reason—those that make it past that 20-pound mark consume as many calories as possible while expending as little energy as possible. They’re big, lazy and efficient. Outsized stripers wait behind rocks, or in the calm, inside seam of a rip line. When a baitfish, crustacean, eel or worm gets swept by, that striper is there waiting to dart out, grab it and move back into his spot in the lee.
Anglers approach marker riprap to begin casting to prime striper lies.
Riprap (rock groupings) creates especially prime lies for big-bellied stripers that can swallow a football. Whether riprap surrounds a day marker, lighthouse or bridge stanchion, the stuff has nooks and crannies for big bass to tuck into. And most of the time, riprap-strewn structures are in channels where the water really moves. Each side of the riprap offers current, a seam and back eddies. Upcurrent of the riprap, the water moves the fastest as it meets, bounces off of the rocks and peels around the structure. On the inside, a distinct seam is formed where the tide flows more slowly. On the inside of the seam are back eddies and calm water. Most fish, and the biggest, laziest bass will often wait in that calm back eddy in close proximity to the inside seam, as all sorts of bait comes around with the current. Stripers also have a tendency to stage behind or right up against the rocks along the downcurrent side. In addition, on the downcurrent side, big bass will wait out of the moving water for bait to come by. I often find smaller, yet quality fish in the current, specifically on the upcurrent or top side holding right against the rocks. These smaller fish also hold in the current that rips around the top portion, albeit a bit deeper.
It’s also worth mentioning that jetties, particularly those on or around inlets, are similar to riprap you find on the inside. Strong incoming and outgoing tides create the same current, seams and back eddies. Folks fishing from the beach can often out-fish the boat crowd ten to one on these jetties because they can access those seams better, and more safely, than folks who fish from boats. Elevated surf can generate even better conditions at the jetties as bass ambush prey that get caught up in the white water or smashed against the rocks. All-out blitzes often occur as bass push the bait against the rocks.
The pause gives an interested striper a chance to close in and find the noise-maker. Many times, that popper will get spanked during the pause, and sometimes you’ll just see it disappear.
Striper lie.
When small bait is around you have to be patient—fight the urge to set the hook every time you see a boil, and wait for the popper to completely disappear before driving it home.
