Inshore Playbook Final

CAPT. MIKE’S INSHORE PLAYBOOK

Light Tackle Edition

NOTES FROM 10+ YEARS OF FILMING VIDEOS FOR SALTY CAPE.

POWERED BY

CAPT. MIKE HOGAN

Fish Smart. Fish Simple.

By Capt. Mike Hogan

Understanding how and why they are feeding

Approach

Tactical Approach that complements the situation

Outfits

The right tool for the job

Lures

A

Systematic Approach

The Hogy Playbook

I remember striper fishing in the 1980s when a “keeper” striped bass in Massachusetts was 36” but the limit may as well have been 68” there were so few around. Striper times were tough. Believe it or not, sea bass were hard to catch too To make inshore matters seem even less fun, trolling with wire line on heavy outfits was the most common method to target big stripers and blues on artificials and the hot spinning outfit at the time was a very heavy-duty fiberglass 7’ Spinning outfit loaded with HI-Vis yellow line

Oh, how times are different today! Thanks to several federal and state fisheries management success stories, fishing in New England offers one of those rare instances in life where something is actually “better today” than it was in the good-ole days Yes, I understand we’re off some of our peak numbers and we all need to work on our best practices, but I still argue we are living in the golden age of inshore fishing

A new angler today can easily find some great topwater angling at more civilized hours than the “the good ole days” with just a little guidance Cruise at maybe twice the speed on more reliable boats We have sea bass everywhere and the biggest fluke I have ever seen in my life. The gear we use today is a million % lighter, stronger, and more fun to use Who knew you could vertical jig for stripers with such light outfits? That groundfish would eat 100% artificial lures?

Yes, you still need to learn how to find and target fish and the true joy of fishing is figuring them out, but when we do find them, modern gear and techniques make the sport so much more pleasurable (in my opinion) and accessible to more folks

The flip side to today’s modern gear is that there are almost too many great options out there. It’s daunting when I think about what a new angler must see when trying to figure it all out Today, there’s seemingly a lure and rod paired for each other for every possible situation you might encounter. If that’s your thing: Go For it! But if you’re like me, an angler that just wants to focus on the fishing and count on your gear to deliver, today’s gear proliferation is simply too much So much so, I’ve purged all my outfits down to just a handful and carry an essential collection of lures that comprise a well thought out system. I know each lure like the back of my hand - allowing my eyes more time on the water finding fish

Example: Albie & Bonito Mastery Course with Capt. Mike

The tips and techniques inside have served me well over the last 40 years. THAT SAID, I am fully aware that if you ask 10 other Captains, you’ll likely get 10 different playbooks that fish at least as well as this one. The one thing I promise here is that you’ll learn a simplified approach to inshore fishing that hopefully frees up more focus on fishing and less time fussing with complicated gear

Fish Smart. Fish Simple.

A few Thoughts on Tactics + Tackle...

The New (Old) Me

I now focus on a collection of simple processes and the core lures that support them.

I make a commitment to what my intentions are for each trip. I know my core lure selection offers me more than enough options and audibles. I am confident. Decks are clear, and fishing is better I have contingency plans but with more focus and deliberate intent I reduced how much gear I bring by 2/3rds and my fishing game greatly improved as a result

Why?

I greatly increased my time focusing on hunting fish. I think about my “tools” much less. I easily estimate this approach cuts carried gear value by 2/3s for me. Our company inventory levels did too! In the same tune, my lure company cut 2/3s of our SKUs that didn’t directly map to our playbooks and our core mission. Just like my fishing game, business was better without all the bloat caused by gearing for every micro situation.

Does this mean I think there is no place for highly technical techniques?

Absolutely not The point I’m trying to make here is that if you are super busy (like me), regardless of whether you’re balancing a hectic family-work-life balance -or- your running 150 charters in a short season, simple always wins when push comes to shove.

So what does “Fish Smart. Fish Simple.” mean anyway?

Fish Simple means we cut out unnecessary complexity. Hold the BS. Fish Simple means lures are pre-rigged the way a pro-guide would legitimately fish it out of the package Regardless of cost

My rule today is that my lures must fit in one milk crate and my rods should be carried by one person in one trip to the boat.

Fish Simple means we focus on “core” everything Size, Shape, Action, and Color Fish Simple means we make lures that catch fish, not fishermen Ask any charter captain and they’ll agree: 9 times out of 10 a simple design with good action is more effective that an “exact replica baitfish” style lure. Fish Simple means we have a system around a minimalist selection of lures that work seamlessly with relevant techniques. Fish Simple means we treat lures like a craftsman does tools. If you’re thinking too much about how and when to use it, this playbook has failed you.

I read once in a book by Clay Christensen where he defined Capability: as the culmination of priorities, processes, and resources; each of which were mutually exclusive but collectively exhaustive That definition always stuck with me

While it’s a great code for just about everything you could imagine in life, it’s perfect here for fishing.

Priorities: What are you focusing on? What’s important for this trip?

Targeting Big fish? Any fish? Relaxing day on water?

Processes: How are you going to execute? This is where Clay might ask if your actions are reconciled with your intent? Are you well poised for success?

Resources: Are you sourced to execute? Have right lures? Outfits? Do you have the knowledge you need? Information?

By asking yourself these questions in reference to your fishing system, you'll be well poised to fish like a professional.

If you haven't done so already, by taking the time to fully automate your “processes” and systematize your gear as much as possible - you'll be blown away by how much "deeper" you'll fish and how many more fish you catch with less gear AKA more fun, less B S !

Fish Samrt. Sish Simplee Capt. Mike

MESH CRATE SYSTEM

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

ABOUT THIS PLAYBOOK

I love the simplicity playbooks bring I invite you to check out my own personal playbook that serves as my “recipe book” of sorts, letting me know what gear to have in my “pantry” and what lures to bring out to “cook with" But as importantly, a good playbook establishes a fast filter to process information quickly when on scene and low on sleep…

This playbook breaks down fishing by:

Outfits: Light enough to enjoy, heavy enough to land fish responsibly.

Lures: The Hogy System AKA "The Mesh Crate System" :)

Approaches: Simple & easy to execute approaches proven for decades by locale captains.

Techniques: Fast and Slow. Top and Deep. We hit all the spots!

You'll find that these are the same chapters we employ in every episode we film for Salty Cape As we all know, there is more than a few ways to “skin a catfish” The playbooks we publish here are “my” versions of how to “do it” on the water Ask ten lifelong anglers you might get ten entirely different playbooks The important thing is to find “your” playbook that works for you I certainly hope mine helps you catch a few more fish

Fish Smart. Fish Simple. ...and enjoy!

-Capt. Mike

Golf Bag Approach:

"Obviously you're not a golfer " I do like the golf analogy here. The crate based system reminds me a little of golf in the sense that when a golfer leaves the house in the morning, it's just one bag to grab with minimal thought on gear You know what's in there Your focus is on the game #simplicity

Capt. Mike's Hogy System Gear Filter

Fast to “scramble” a trip. Time is short Green means go! Simple selection where it’s always ready and easy to restock A minimalist gear approach No, I’m not MacGyver, but still I know too much clutter works against me

Resilient: I want options when I’m out there That means lures and outfits with multiple jobs to be done Even if I must rely on secondary strengths here and there

Easy to Replace: You want to be able to replace your “favorite tools” when you need them Fast and conveniently

Highly Fishy: Goes without saying I know it or plan on knowing it like the back of my hand

Easy to Use: I often have guests with me on a personal day (i.e. not filming). I want lures that fish themselves with minimal thought.

Durable: I need my gear to stand up to abuse, professional grade both literally and figuratively. I am bad at taking care of my gear. If it stands up for me, I’m impressed.

Entire Lure Collection: Fit's inside a milk crate or roll up bag (Trolling).

Rod Collection: I can carry it to the boat in one trip.

CAPT. MIKE HOGAN

Publisher: Salty Cape Founder CEO - Hogy Lures

BOAT CASTING: BASS + BLUES

I just love the highly interactive nature of light tackle inshore fishing When casting, you’re likely directly targeting fish that you know exist in the area or at structure known to hold them. The “eats” are highly visual, and the action is often hot!

Casting Factors to Crack the Code:

Range vs Accuracy: If site-casting, obviously lures that are designed for accuracy like Epoxy Jigs, small plugs, and weighted softbaits are key Other situations like blind casting, range trumps accuracy, and often goes hand in hand with noisy top water plugs

Matching The Hatch: This is an easy enough concept for example if they are eating sand eels, small and skinny does the job This “usually works” but sometimes you need an attractor, likely in a situation where you are competing with too much bait

Depth: Take the game to where they are.

I leave the dock each morning with outfits rigged with different lure styles In a perfect world, I would have six casting setups as follows: Multiple Imitators: Varies shapes, sizes, and colors. e g , softbaits, poppers and sliders At least One Attractor to call them in, e g , big poppers and dog walkers All levels of water column covered: Top water and sinking e g, Hogy Epoxy Jig Lure and Pro Tail Paddles.

POWERED BY

Capt. Mike's Inshore Casting Playlist

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

HOGY TUNA JIGGING PLAYBOOK

GEAR GUIDE

CASTING OUTFITS

HEAVY OUTFIT

5-8’ Spinning Rod: Heavy I like to have a heavy setup in the mix for big plugs, heavy jigs, and weighted soft plastics. This rod can cast heavy lures up to 4ounces This rod will also do double duty on tarpon and small tuna up to 85-pounds.

Length: 7'-8'

Action: Moderate

Power: Medium-Heavy

Reel Size: 6000 to 8000 Class

Lure Sizes 2oz to 4oz

Typical Line: 40lb Braid

MEDIUM-HEAVY OUTFIT MEDIUM OUTFIT

7’ Spinning Rod Medium Heavy: This rod will be your workhorse for when the keeper size stripers show up and you start using larger lures to mimic the larger baits they are feeding on This rod is great for casting larger soft plastics, jigs and plugs. I like a moderate rod action for a rod in this class as it will give me the flexibility to lob bigger lures and will handle vertical jigging with ease and comfort

Length: 7'

Action: Moderate

7’ Spinning Rod Medium: This outfit is suitable for spring schoolie fishing when you are likely to be using small soft plastics, jigs, and plugs near the shoreline This rod is a good candidate for a fast action where you can be casting light lures off the tip and ensure a good hook set at long range or need quick access to backbone when setting the hook on a fish that takes a topwater plug Other uses for this rod would include freshwater fishing, light bottom fishing, and Albie and bonito fishing!

JIGGING OUTFITS

Leader: 48” of 40lb Fluorocarbon

Power: Medium-Heavy

Reel Size: 5000 to 6000 Class

Lure Sizes: 3/4oz to 2oz

Typical Line: 40lb Braid

Leader: 36” of 30lb Fluorocarbon

Capt. Mike's Casting Rods

Length: 7’

Action: Fast

Power: Medium

Reel Size: 4000 to 5000 Class

Lure Sizes: 3/8oz to 1oz

Typical Line: 30lb Braid

Leader: 36” of 15lb Fluorocarbon

I carry three different outfits that allow me to cast the entire spectrum of striper and albie lures which boil down to #1 my "heavy rod" (big plug/swim-baits (1 5 to 4oz), #2 my "medium rod" (3/4 to 1 5oz) and #3, my "all things under 1oz " outfit in no particular order I frequently use each of the three on the same trip as I might be trying to imitate different baitfish in different situations I might encounter during a single trip My outfits are based around lure size They can all handle very big fish! While makes and models have changed for me over thee years, I've relied on these 3 outfit sizes over the for years for 95% of my inshore fishing

Check out this video featuring Capt. Rob Lowell as we cast big topwater plugs to bass up to 40"

Check out this video we filmed during the 2022 season. We were casting 5.5" Charter Grade Poppers in the rips off Monomoy and catching bass up to 35"

Check out this video targeting finicky stripers keyed in on small silversides. We were casting small 3/8oz Epoxy Jigs into wads of striped bass

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

This situation usually occurs just after or just before large feeds that have been in the area or at slack tide when the bait has scattered Often this situation occurs early in the morning or on low light days

3 BEST BETS

Popper: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish Pop the lure with a series of pauses to drive them crazy!

Slider: Good for fishing the swing, windy conditions and covering ground throughout peak periods of tide Hold the rod at 45 degrees to let the slider's slow wobble do the work Vary retrieve speed, accelerate on missed strikes.

Weighted Softbaits: Great imitator of small baits such as peanut bunker and juvenile herring Simply cast and reel for action.

Typically blitzes occur during the peak portions of the tides; at times when there are large amounts of baitfish concentrated in the area

3 BEST BETS

Popper: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish Pop the lure with a series of pauses to drive them crazy!

Long Drifts Study wind and tide to determine the drifts trajectory This may be in an area with lots of birds hovering, baitfish marks on the finder, or slicks associated with bait Blind casting in open water is a numbers game The more casts you make = the more commotion in your area = more fish in your area.

Avoid running over the area that you want to fish in order to position your drift.

Tip: If there is more than one angler casting. Each angler should be using a different lure to more quickly “crack the code”

Slider: Slow and steady retrieve Great for imitating herring and pogies

rotail Eel: A shore caster's vorite for bouncing bottom or finicky stripers feeding n eels and sand eels

1 2 3

You want to get in front of the school but also give them a wide birth so they don’t sense your approach Typically, your best option is to cast in front of the school or the edges, allowing the fish to find your lure. If possible, approach from the windward side which will allow you the greatest distance from the school while still maintaining reachability.

One common mistake is to run boat right up on the school; even though the fish are feeding heavily, getting too close too aggressively can put the fish down.

Having a number of rods set up with different lures is helpful as you can switch quickly and efficiently from one option to another to find out what they are “dialed in”

APPROACHES

BOULDERS & REEFS

Stripers use the structure as it supports a whole food chain, providing the opportunity to ambush unsuspecting baitfish swept by the current 85% of the fish you catch in or around the structure will be during the peak portions of the tides but the other 15% caught at slack tide might be your biggest!

3 BEST BETS

BOULDERS & REEFS

CHARTERGRADEPOPPER

Popper: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish Pop the lure with a series of pauses to drive them crazy!

WATCH VIDEO

CHARTERGRADESLIDER

Slider: Good for fishing the swing, windy conditions and covering ground throughout peak periods of tide Hold the rod at 45 degrees to let the slider's slow wobble do the work Vary retrieve speed, accelerate on missed strikes.

Weighted Softbaits: Great imitator of small baits such as peanut bunker and juvenile herring Simply cast and reel for action.

BOULDER FIELDS & REEFS CASTING APPROACH

ONSHORE winds also tend to produce more waves or the kind of “white water” that bass, especially larger ones, prefer If the tide is moving over the structure, the smaller fish will be upfront and on top and often the larger fish will be a little deeper and farther back into the structure

Be tactical, notice EVERYTHING For example, a bunch of birds sitting on rocks “watching” suggests that “something” recently happened (which means it might happen again) or the birds think something is about to happen based on their past experience

PROTAILPADDLESWIMBAIT

CASTING A RIP

In a rip line caused by a sand bar, schools of baitfish are getting swept by the tide over the sand bar or reef and made vulnerable by the commotion of the rip Stripers who like to make eating as easy as possible will lie right on or behind that rip line in ambush, picking off unsuspecting prey

3 BEST BETS

CASTING A RIP

CHARTERGRADEPOPPER

Popper: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish. Pop the lure with a series of pauses to drive them crazy!

Slider: Slow and steady retrieve Great for imitating herring and pogies.

WATCH VIDEO

CASTING A RIP APPROACH

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CHARTERGRADESLIDER

3

PROTAILEEL

Protail Eel: A shore caster's favorite for bouncing bottom for finicky stripers feeding on eels and sand eels.

Stem the tide with your boat just in gear with enough thrust so as to just hold your position

Pick a good spot in the rip where a u-shaped gully with points on either side of it have formed Cast uptide and somewhere between parallel and 30-degrees toward the rip line Once the lure hits the water, your focus is to get control of the line with minimal slack between you and your lure

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Now let current move the bait toward the stripers that are waiting in ambush While the bait is drifting down tide impart action in the lure and your reeling is more for eliminating slack than to propel the lure forward If you time it perfectly, the lure will start swinging into the rip and directly behind your boat just at or behind the rip line

APPROACHES

BACK BAY

Lures in back bays tend to be very small and light. If the depth is less than 10-feet, small softbait paddles are ideal. If the water is a bit deeper, poppers are very effective in estuaries as their noise will travel larger distances than in open water.

3 BEST BETS

Popper: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish Pop the lure with a series of pauses to drive them crazy!

Slider: Good for fishing the swing, windy conditions and covering ground throughout peak periods of tide Hold the rod at 45 degrees to let the slider's slow wobble do the work Vary retrieve speed, accelerate on missed strikes.

Weighted Softbaits: Great imitator of small baits such as peanut bunker and juvenile herring Simply cast and reel for action.

BACK BAYS APPROACH

Outgoing Tide: You want to be on the open water side when the tide is flushing out the baitfish that were up inside during high tide, serving as a buffet for bass waiting in ambush. Fan casting either side of the opening will do the trick If the current swings to one side over the other, you want to be on that side.

Incoming Tide: Typically one area inside the bay will fish better than the other, especially if there is a turn or bend in the channel Learning to jig or bounce a lure at or near the bottom as the tide rises will help increase your catch rate as the tide rises since fish will often drop deeper in the water column as the tide rises

SLOWTAIL SWIMBAIT

FISH SMART. FISH SIMPLE. FISH HOGY.

Many pros carry fewer different types of lures but higher quantiles of each Why? They bring the lures that work for their particular methodology and use a systematic approach to the various situations they may encounter (+backups)

The Hogy 1+2 Striper Casting Mindset

Lean Tackle Box: Carry just a handful of purposeful and effective lures that you know like the back of your hand that you can easily adapt in continuously changing conditions Focus on the situation, not your lures.

Some Rules of Thumb

Match the hatch when possible Think size and color

Calm Conditions = Topwater

Windy Conditions = sub-Surface

Bright Conditions = Bright Lures

Dark Conditions = Dark lures

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System Mindset: Each structure/situation covered in this document has its own dynamic Take the time to understand it Playing the tide/current, weather, bait and your surroundings all matter at least as much as your lures. Maybe more! (p.s. you didn’t hear this from us! :)

Stripers tend to hang “down tide” of structure in ambush of prey

Stripers will often start feeding “up-tide” and move “down” in the direction of the tide over time. Especially in open water.

If fish aren’t here today but were yesterday Follow the wind and/or tide If birds are hanging around, wait.

Flouro Leaders are ideal Avoid snaps and tie direct if possible

If they are not biting but clearly visible: try going way up in lure size and/or way down

CAPT. MIKE HOGAN OWNER - HOGY LURES

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

INSHORE CASTING ESSENTIALS

Theactionis“built-in ”The HogySliderfeaturesawider, moreerraticswimming movementasopposedtothe frantic,vibratingactionofa lippedbillplug.

Rodtipata45-degreeangle

Castandreel

Thislurehasneutral buoyancy,meaningithasa horizontaldescentwhen sinking Thisisaverynatural presentation,soaseriesof pausesarerecommendedon theretrieve

Excellentherringandbunker match

Thesehighlyimitativehard bodybaitsaredesignedto closelyimitatevibrantfleeing squid

Availableinafloating topwaterandlongcasting slowsinkingmodelisideal fortrollinginripsandoffers exceptionalcastingdistance inwindyconditions.

Ourcloseattentiontodetail andfishablityofferincredible squidcolorationandaction.

LaserSharpVMCIn-Line BucktailTeaserHook

Through-WiredAssembly

Withitscup-facednose,it createsatonofcommotion witheachtwitchoftherod Regardlessofhowyoufisha popper,mostanglerslove watchingabigstripercome upandsmashthelure

Unfortunately,poppersless effectiveinroughwateras theirnoise-makingabilityis lostinthesurf

Rodtipata45-degreeangle

“Pop,Pop,pause;Pop,Pop, Pause”

Highlyversatilegeneral baitfish-shapedprofile

Built-inactionwithpaddle tail Justcastandreel Keep rodtipata45degreeangle, loweritastheluregets closer

Fishedjustbelowthesurface bykeepingyourrodtipup andmaintainingafaster, steadierretrieve

Depthisdeterminedby weight,sinktimeand retrieve

Playwithretrievespeeds

Often,intermittentsurges willdrawreactionstrikes

Fishatanyrodtipangle A 45-degreeanglerodrip “up”willeliminatebottom snags

RetrievethislureSLOWLY!

Butplaywithyouraction

Twitchit Jigit Straitstick it

Bounceinthesandto simulateahidingordigging sandeel

Excellentimitatorsofsand eelsandsquidduetotheir longslenderprofile

Ourbestsellingcolorsare olive,pinkandwhite

Designedforultra-slow presentationsinshallow waterornearthesurface

Featuringtwinaction-packed ribbontailsforalifelike swimmingactionatveryslow speeds,thesebaitsareideal fortargetinglethargic, pressured,orgenerally finickygamefishbyofferinga slower,morenatural presentation.

Ideallyfishedwithslow steadyswimmingaction,ora slightlystopandgoretrieve, thesebaitseffectivelyimitate unassumingmullet,herring, menhaden,shad,andmore

Theclearcoatassociated withtheresinusedforThe HogyEpoxyJig®Lure mimicsthegel-like appearanceofmanybaitfish includingsandeels, silversides,bayanchovies, andpeanutbunker

Longcastsandslowersink ratethanametaljig

Thelength/weightratioof theHogyEpoxyJigis carefullybalancedsuchthat thereisnowrongwaytofish it YoucanmakeanEpoxyJig cometolifebyvarying retrievespeedandrod movementsandpositioning

Myfavoritetimetofisha spookisincalmconditions

Aspookwithagoodrattle willdrawattentionfrom prettyfaraway.Anideal situationwouldbeworkingit slowlyoverbigbouldersor somesortofstructure.For whateverreason,Idobest withspooksearlyinthe morningoratsunset

CastingRetrieve:Twitch Twitch,Pause,Twitch TwitchPause

Downside:Theydon’tfish wellinroughwater

XL DOG WALKER

CHARTER GRADE SLIDER CHARTER GRADE SQUID PLUG CHARTER GRADE POPPER

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Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

Slow surface presentations for stripers feeding near the surface.

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

When working expansive areas blind casting structure, large presentations can be used to draw in strikes from a distance

THE SOLUTION

For nearly 15 years, the Hogy Original Series has been a mainstay in the large softbait spectrum. With a wide variety of rigging options available, the Original Series can be rigged as a topwater or subsurface presentation For slow and low methodical presentations, an unweighted swimbait hook will allow an angler to wiggle and dart the eel just below the surface, drawing savage strikes from the most finicky of stripers.

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

Stripers keyed in on baitfish loosely scattered over larger areas.

When Stripers are spread out over large areas, find a quick and effective method for covering water quickly is crucial for success.

THE SOLUTION

The Hogy Protail Paddle series offers a variety of lure sizes, weights and colors to easily match the hatch. Choose an appropriate size swimbait and begin fan casting areas where stripers are holding The Protail Paddle offers a heavy thumping action at medium to medium fast retrieves, perfect for calling fish in from a distance. Impart short pauses to allow the bait to drop and stop.

Hogy Original 7"-10" Protail Paddle

Suspended stripers feeding in the upper water column

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

How to target fish you’re marking in the upper water column, with limited surface & bird activity.

THE SOLUTION

The Hogy Protail Eel offers versatility for working the entire water column, perfect for suspended fish feeding on bait schools. The narrow profile of the Protail Eel closely imitates stripers favorite forage; Sand Eels. Position yourself so your casting up or across the tide and allow your bait to sink to the desired depth Begin a twitchtwitch-pause retrieve, allowing the bait to sink and flutter Pay close attention on the drop as most bites occur on slack line.

Hogy Epoxy Jig®

Ultra - Flex Softbait. Heavy Thumping Action. Ultra-Imitative Jig.

Finicky Stripers keyed in on juvenile forage

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

Imitating micro-forage while maintaining casting distance and trophy grade rigging.

THE SOLUTION

The Hogy Epoxy Jig® shines when gamefish become keyed in on micro-forage. Available in a variety of sizes and imitative colors, it’s easy to match the hatch and dial in a picky striper bite. We recommend down sizing tackle and utilizing light leaders for best results The Epoxy Jig can be fished across the water column, but excels when jigged or retrieved near the surface. Vary retrieves from slow and steady to fast and skippy to dial in a finicky bite.

CHARTER GRADE SUBSURFACE SLIDERS

Trouble Shooting Inshore: Casting

Openwater Stripers feeding on large mackerel and herring near the surface.

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

When Stripers are keyed in on oversized forage, they often ignore smaller offerings. Presenting large profile baits in the feeding zone offers the best chance for success

THE SOLUTION

The Charter Grade Slider is an ideal option for casting to Stripers feeding on large baits near the surface. The Charter Grade Sliders classic side-toside kick imitates a wounded baitfish on a steady retrieve is irresistible to big Stripers. Due to the Charter Grade Sliders large size, we recommend casting on heavier outfits Pro Tip: Keep your rod tip low during the retrieve for consistent swimming action right to the boat.

Charter Slider

Stripers feeding on small squid in rips

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

When Stripers on keyed in on squid, usually early in the season, they can be very finicky and require matching the hatch.

THE SOLUTION

Find pockets of fish staging in rips. Position yourself up-tide from the rip and use a holding pattern by keeping the boat in gear Cast the Charter Grade Squid Plug diagonal towards the rips and allow the Squid Plug to swing into the face of the rip Focus on the first two to three waves in the rip while using a medium speed twitch retrieve to skip and dart the Squid Plug near the surface.

Subsurface Swimmer. Skipping Squid Action.

Aggressive topwater feeding Stripers on big baits

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

Big topwater feeds of oversized Stripers is often exciting and short lived Matching the profile of available forage and long casting distance can be needed.

THE SOLUTION

The Charter Grade Dog Walker offers excellent castablity with classic topwater walk-the-dog action perfect for targeting big stripers feeding on the surface Utilize a traditional side-toside rod tip twitch with short pauses to easily work the bait in a seductive motion across the surface. We recommend tying direct with a jam or cinch knot for best results.

Mixed class Stripers feeding over shallows & open water

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

Low light conditions often offer excellent opportunities for topwater presentations THE SOLUTION

Few lures are as fun to fish as a topwater popper Our Charter Grade Popper offers excellent casting distance and easy-to-pop action on a variety of tackle outfits. The smaller 4-inch popper is ideal for imitating smaller forage, while the 5.5-inch model is great when larger baitfish are around Work the popper with a series of short upward rod tip pops for classic popping action When fish are finicky, quickly work the popper across the surface.

Classic Walk The Dog Action. Surface Popping Action.

BOAT CASTING: ALBIES & BONITO

Gear Guide

Blind Casting

Walk & Gun

Run & Gun

Skippy Retrieve

Slow Retrieve

Tip Down

Retrieve

Albie Etiquette

POWERED BY

Capt. Mike's Albie & Bonito Playlist

ALBIE FISHING APPROACHES

BLIND CASTING

I wish I kept a log of the methods used for each albie I have caught over the years I suspect that a shocking percentage of fish I have caught have been on a blind cast. If you believe that fish are spooked by boat traffic, it makes sense Seeing that you are in an area with bait and feeding fish, you are already 75 percent of the way to success.

3 BEST BETS

BLIND CASTING

Hogy Epoxy Jig Lure®: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish Skip the lure across the surface to call in scattered fish.

lider: Good for fishing the wing, windy conditions and overing ground throughout eak periods of tide Hold the od at 45 degrees to let the lider's slow wobble do the work Vary retrieve speed, accelerate on missed strikes.

Weighted Softbaits: Great imitator of small baits such as peanut bunker and juvenile herring Simply cast and reel for action.

SLOWTAILSWIMBAIT

WALK AND GUN

The slow approach is the ideal way to target albie and is usually associated with good fishing where there are numerous schools and plenty for everyone

3 BEST BETS

WALK AND GUN

HOGYEPOXYJIGLURE®

Hogy Epoxy Jig Lure®: A top choice for imitating small forage Experiment using one of our three recommended retrieves near the surface

HOGYHEAVYMINNOWJIG

Heavy Minnow Jig: Offering long range casting in windy conditions Utilize a medium fast retrieve speed with rod tip up for a surface skipping action

Peanut Jig: This highly imitative jig is ideal when Albies are feeding on peanut bunker and small herring Retrieve at a medium-fast speed, using short pauses to allow the jig to flutter

WATCH VIDEO

BOAT BLIND CASTING APPROACH

Half of the effectiveness of blind casting comes from just sitting quietly and waiting and studying what you can see above water. You are looking for circling birds – especially shearwaters – nervous water from bait that is not comfortable, wakes from cruising fish and even rip lines that might pen bait in a certain area making them an easy target that would draw fish in I’ll stop for good bait marks on the finder, birds circling, funky water that might be nervous bait or water that might be a disturbance from moving fish. You might notice a general direction the fish are following, If so, you can start to follow in that direction, too Meanwhile, everyone on board should be beating the water to a froth. One angler should be casting a large top-water slider to create some commotion as the plug lands while other anglers should focus on sub-surface retrieves until you crack the code.

WATCH VIDEO

WALK AND GUN APPROACH 1 2

Keep it slow and easy No need for hard running Idling up to a school at 10 knots or less is ideal There is no need to hurry in this situation as there are plenty of scattered feeds and they are popping up and down. If you go slow and happy, you might not even get to the school before seeing fish The main goal is to be slow and deliberate to keep from spooking fish as you close in on the distance

Approach slowly when a nearby school pops up. This is a great approach when there are a number of fish breaking in a wide area

Blind cast and believe! 3

ALBIE FISHING APPROACHES

RUN AND GUN

To many people, running and gunning is the name of the game but it is highly disruptive to both Albies and baitfish due to loud hull noise, engines screaming and changing RPM's with boats running through schools Unfortunately, this happens way too often, even when there are plenty of fish Resist the temptation to charge around if unnecessary

3 BEST BETS

RUN AND GUN

HOGYEPOXYJIGLURE®

Hogy Epoxy Jig Lure®: A top choice for imitating small forage Experiment using one of our three recommended retrieves near the surface

CHARTERGRADESLIDER

SANDEELJIG

Slider: Good for fishing the swing, windy conditions and covering ground throughout peak periods of tide Hold the rod at 45 degrees to let the slider's slow wobble do the work Vary retrieve speed, accelerate on missed strikes.

Sand Eel Jigs: Great imitator of small sand eels Long range casting metal perfect for reaching fast moving schools Use a fast retrieve along the surface

3 RETRIEVES FOR ALBIES

Paying attention to your retrieves becomes key in landing false albies There are three retrieval techniques that should be considered when targeting finicky albacore

A

WATCH VIDEO Skippy Retrieve: Reel “reel”-y fast on topwater so the baits are skipping across the surface

B Slow Retrieve: reel slow through the school to create a wobble-like presentation and slowly work your way through the school your targeting

C Tip Down Twitch Retrieve: Sink your baits under the school and with the tip in the water, burning it super-fast through the school

CASTING OUTFITS

RUN AND GUN APPROACH

Once you have identified good fish to come up on, be very mindful on how you are doing so Long hang time: 10 seconds a good rule of thumb You can make it pretty far in 10 seconds. Play it cool: Charge to close the distance but back off the throttle 100 yards out from the fish I expect anglers to start casting when fish are about 50-60 yards out Upwind: Ideally you are approaching the school upwind and are able to get ahead of the fish. Upwind will allow you to make longer casts, which will allow you to stay further away from the school, spooking them less. Go around: Take the time to power around to the outside and lead the school from the front You will spook the fish if you troll or motor across the front or through the school Golden Rule: Etiquette is always important if you believe in the golden rule but even if you are a true narcissist, you are still better off keeping it classy as too much boat noise will kill the fishing.

1

St Croix Extreme XIS70MHF 7′ M: This rod is a rocket and as I mentioned above, does really well with lures from 3/8 to 1.25oz. This rod is a blast on Albies Not much else to say about this rod as an albie machine

Length: 7’

Action: Fast

Power: Medium

Reel Size: 4000 to 5000 Class

Lure Sizes: 3/8oz to 1oz

Typical Line: 15lb Braid

Leader: 36” of 15lb Fluorocarbon Leade

Shimano TZSW-70MH 7′: Sometimes you just get outgunned by the strong 2oz Heavy this is the the trick

Length: 7

Action: Fa

Power: M

Reel Size: Lure Sizes

Typical Li Leader: 36

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

ALBIE TECH.

POP N' FLY FOR ALBIES

TERMINAL GEAR FOR ALBIES

BraidedLine: Ability to cast long distances with accuracy is essential and the use of braid is a no brainer I will often use my lighter striper outfits for Albies (if that’s what’s handy) that are loaded with 30lb test braid, which “does the trick ” That said, I find the extra distance associated with 20lb braid is well worth the cost and effort to ready for albie season.

LeaderMaterial: Bonito and Albies have keen eyesight IMO, Fluorocarbon leaders will outperform mono by 30% Wire leaders will easily reduce your lure’s effectiveness by 85%.

LeaderSize: The lighter the better You can expect to catch fish with 30lb flouro leaders, more with 20lb test and the most with 15lb test.

The Protail Flys are designed to imitate micro-forage with an ultra-life-like swimming action and profile Several years in the making, the Hogy Protail Fly has deep roots from Capt. Mike's time as an Orvis-endorsed fly fishing guide on Cape Cod These heavy-duty softbait flys are made with the same durable soft plastic as our popular pre-rigged Protail Series

APPROACH

Once the surface activity has been located, slowly motor to the outside edge of the feeding area, making sure to quietly approach the school

Make a long cast towards the outside edge of the surface activity

Use a slow, sharp twitching motion for surface popping action Utilize occasional 5-10 second pauses for finicky fish

TIPS

1. When albies are spread out and holding deep working poppers on the surface can bring them up from the depths

2 Use a variety of retrieves from a slow pop and stop, to a fast “scoot” and walk the dog style retrieve.

3. Protail Flies are perfect for traditional fly fishing presentations!

Check out this video targeting finicky false albacore using the Pop N' Fly technique.

LeaderLength: The simple answer is the longer the better A good baseline is 36” but I will often go to 48”, especially with 15lb or 12lb test leaders that have minimal casting interference

TerminalConnection: My rig is hardware free I go from braid to fluoro with a uni to uni knot and connect my lure with a loop knot

TIPS ON ALBIE ETIQUETTE

DoRespectCommonDecency:Commondecencyonroadsandsidewalksappliesto thewater Youwouldn’tcutsomeoneoffonthestreetoratyourkid’ssoccergame, youshouldn’tdothatonthewater

DoKeepCalm:Frenziedanglingwillleadtobadknots,closedbailcasts–andworstofall,badboatingmannerswhichwillmessthefishingforeveryone.It’s justfishing!Havefun Relax

Don’tbeaSpooker:Runningandgunningandchargingintofishworksforashort whilebuteventuallyspooksthefish Inmyexperience,randomchangesinRPMs disturbsBOTH albiesandbaitfish.

Don’tBeaCutter:Donotpositionyourboatbetweenanotherboatandthreecast lengthstoaschool Theotherboatmaybeslowly(andproperly)leadingaschool

Don’tBeaGunner:Neverdriveyourboatintotheactualschool Slowdowntoidle speedwhenwithin3castlengthsaway Ifyouleadtheschoolproperly,and approachupwind,youcanidleupslowlywithoutspookingtheschool.

DobeanIdler:ApproachtheschoolslowlyatconstantRPMs Bestwaytodothisis toapproachaschoolatquickerspeedsfromafar,getinfrontofit,andproceed moreslowlyastheschooldrawsclosertoyourmark Idlerscatchmorefishthan gunners.

DobeaDrifter:Whenthereareloadsoffishandloadsofboats,everyoneisa winnerifweallmakelongdriftswiththeenginesoff Thealbieswillstay interestedlonger Studyfishmovementsforpatternedreoccurringruns Getthe gistoftheschool,goup-windorup-tide,killtheengineanddrift.Don’tforgetto blindcast.

DogowiththeFlow:Whenindoubt,gowiththeflow Yes,everyonehasthesame righttotheocean,butifagroupofboatsfindsanaturalrhythmthatisworkingfor everyone,pleasedon’tdeviate Forexample,ifeveryoneisdrifting,don’tanchor orviceversa.Ifeveryoneisbeingabully,justfollowrulenumberone,andpost videosofbadetiquetteonSaltyCape

DoShare:Ifyouhavetheopportunitytoapproachaschooloffishwithyour spinningrodwhileanotherboatisapproachingthesameschoolwithflyroads,it’s classytolettheflyguygetaheadstart.Heorshehas1/3therangeofaspinning rod.

WatchyourBackCast:Flyguystakeupabigfootprint Justbecauseflyanglers havediminishedrange,itdoesn’tmeanyoudon’thaveanyresponsiblyforyour actions Pleasemindyourbackcast,andunderstandthevalueofknowingwhento holdthemandwhentofoldthemonaschool.

Superior Long Range Casting. Oversized Swimming Action. Calm Water Sofbaits. Ultra-Imitative Jig.

Theactionis“built-in ”The HogySliderfeaturesawider, moreerraticswimming movementasopposedtothe frantic,vibratingactionofa lippedbillplug.

Rodtipata45-degreeangle

Castandreel

Thislurehasneutral buoyancy,meaningithasa horizontaldescentwhen sinking Thisisaverynatural presentation,soaseriesof pausesarerecommendedon theretrieve

Excellentherringandbunker match

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

ALBIE ESSENTIALS

Simplyput,thislureisa castingmachinebuthasless actionthatEpoxyJigLures. Thislurelikestobefished fastforbestaction

Anytime“guststo20+”are intheforecast,IhaveHeavy Minnowstiedonhalfmy rods

Notidealforcalmconditions

Ithasathickerprofileand imitatesbothsmallanchovies andsmallbutterfish.Itisalso goodforverticaljiggingfor scupandseabassunder albies

Smallprofilebutaheavy long-rangelure

Designedforultra-slow presentationsinshallow waterornearthesurface

Featuringtwinaction-packed ribbontailsforalifelike swimmingactionatveryslow speeds,thesebaitsareideal fortargetinglethargic, pressured,orgenerally finickygamefishbyofferinga slower,morenatural presentation

Ideallyfishedwithslow steadyswimmingaction,ora slightlystopandgoretrieve, thesebaitseffectivelyimitate unassumingmullet,herring, menhaden,shad,andmore.

Mothernaturereally designedourhighlyimitative SandEeljigbutwedidtweak theshapejustabitforlong rangecastingandaflutteron thedrop

Theseslimcastingmachines aredesignedtoaccurately imitatesandeelsandsand lance,theirfinishand colorationisunbeatable. Offshoregradeheavyduty through-wiredframeand holographicbaitfishfinish. HeavyDutyStainlessSplit Ring

ImitativeLaserEye

TheProtailFlysare designedtoimitatemicroforagewithanultra-lifelikeswimmingactionand profile.

Severalyearsinthemaking, theHogyProtailFlyhas deeprootsfromCapt Mike's timeasanOrvis-endorsed flyfishingguideonCape Cod

Theseheavy-dutysoftbait flysaremadewiththesame durablesoftplasticasour popularpre-riggedProtail Series

WeightedKeelFor HorizontalSwimming Action

Weletnaturedothe designingonourPeanut

BunkerJig

Thesetinyjigsareperfect imitatorsofbabybunker

It'sflatsidedbodyshape offersaseductivesideto sidewobbleonasteady surfaceretrieve,greatfor targetingfinickyAlbies

Whenfishgodeep,theBaby BunkerJigoffersan excellentflutterfishedona dropslackjiggingretrieve

SolidMetalCoreFor

ExceptionalCasting Distance

Theclearcoatassociated withtheresinusedforThe HogyEpoxyJig®Lure mimicsthegel-like appearanceofmanybaitfish includingsandeels, silversides,bayanchovies, andpeanutbunker Longcastsandslowersink ratethanametaljig

Thelength/weightratioof theHogyEpoxyJigis carefullybalancedsuchthat thereisnowrongwaytofish it YoucanmakeanEpoxyJig cometolifebyvarying retrievespeedandrod movementsandpositioning

Withitscup-facednose,it createsatonofcommotion witheachtwitchoftherod Regardlessofhowyoufisha popper,mostanglerslove watchingabigstripercome upandsmashthelure

Unfortunately,poppersless effectiveinroughwateras theirnoise-makingabilityis lostinthesurf

Rodtipata45-degreeangle “Pop,Pop,pause;Pop,Pop, Pause”

PEANUT JIG

EPOXY JIG

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CHARTER GRADE POPPER

ALL PURPOSE

Classic blitzing Albie surface feeding on micro forage

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

Getting picky Albies to commit to biting when keyed in on Micro-Forage.

THE SOLUTION

The quintessential Albie casting jig. Hogy Epoxy Jigs® offer incredible versatility, excelling in a variety of applications. These ultra imitative surface swimming jigs are ideal imitators of Anchovy, Silversides, Glass Minnows and Peanut Bunker A balanced weight/size ratio allows the Epoxy Jig to be fished at a variety of speeds and retrieve styles. Pro Tip: Drop down to ultra light fluorocarbon leader when Albies are super finicky.

Super finicky Albies keyed in on specific forage and long range casting in the wind.

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

When micro-forage is abundant, Albies can become very finicky, ignoring traditional baits

THE SOLUTION

The Hogy Metal Series is our goto when tiny forage is abundant. Featuring long range metals as small as 1” long. It’s easy to imitate even the smallest of anchovy, sand eel and rain bait. We recommend downsizing tackle appropriately Dropping down to long 10-12lb fluorocarbon leaders and utilizing long casts can crack the code The jigs can be fished with a stop and drop retrieve at medium to medium-fast speeds. Short rod tip twitches imitate wounded baitfish.

Surface feeding Albies have spread out and show limited surface activity.

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

When surface Albie feeds die down due to boat traffic, tide changes or lack of forage, it can be tricky to stay on top of feeding schools of Albies This is the best time to deploy a low and slow retrieve.

THE SOLUTION

Improving upon our classic low and slow retrieve using the 7inch Original Amber Eel The new Charter Grade Sliders offer incredible durability for all day casting. Simply run a fan casting search pattern with the slider. Utilize a low and slow, steady retrieve allowing the slider to kick seductively side to side. This action is dynamite when the bite slows down.

Surface feeding Albies have spread out and show limited surface activity.

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

Aggressive Albie feeds have slowed down due to a variety of factors. Fish are in the area, but not feeding aggressively. Utilizing a the Slowtail Swimbait is a great way to work the edges of bait schools.

THE SOLUTION

Smaller Slowtail Swimbaits are a go-to when targeting ultra finicky Albies. The smaller profile, natural swimming action and imitative colors produce exceptionally well on a medium to medium-slow surface retrieve. We suggest working these soft baits along the edges of bait schools, imitating a disoriented baitfish Top colors are Bone and Olive

POWERED BY

SURF CASTING

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

HOGY TUNA JIGGING PLAYBOOK

GEAR GUIDE

SHORE OUTFITS

ESTUARY OUTFIT

Estuary – Light Lures: In an estuary or flats type situation, long-distance is not needed as the fish are practically at your feet, using the contours and structure near the shoreline as their ambush points for bait that is flowing with the tide. You want an outfit that can be fished with a wide range of light lures with different actions

Length: 7’

Action: Fast

Power: Medium

Reel Size: 4000 to 5000 Class

Lure Sizes: 3/8oz to 1oz

Typical Line: 30lb Braid

OPEN BEACH OUTFIT HEAVY CANAL OUTFIT

Light Duty Open Beach - Medium Lures: While this outfit may seem heavy on a boat, it is at home on a beach where you are casting heavy lures for extra profile and distance A MH/H outfit will cast lures up to 3oz with ease. If you lighten up your braid to 30lb test, you will have ample distance on lighter lures, less than 2 ounces. This rod has the necessary backbone required to turn and land a large striper that has been running with the tide

Medium/Medium-Heavy Duty Beach/Canal – Heavier Lures: The longer length is simply necessary to reach over 100 yards with relative ease.

Length: 9’

Action: Moderate

Power: Medium-Heavy

Reel Size: 6000 to 8000 Class

Lure Sizes: 1 5oz to 4oz

Typical Line: 40lb Braid

JIGGING OUTFITS

Leader: 36” of 15lb Fluorocarbon

Length: 7-8’

Action: Moderate

Power: Medium to Medium-Heavy

Reel Size: 4000 to 5000 Class

Lure Sizes: 3/4oz to 1 3/4oz

Typical Line: 40lb Braid

Leader: 48” of 40lb Fluorocarbon

SURF VS BOAT RODS?

Leader: 48” of 40lb Fluorocarbon

Surf fishing spinning outfits and boat spinning outfits are similar in terms of the rating system used to describe action and power as they relate to the various types of lures you will be casting. Surf rods, however, tend to be longer overall and especially in their butt sections to help the shore angler increase their casting distance in to reach fish Like a boater’s collection, you can go crazy selecting outfits for all the different situations you might encounter but a simple and smart selection of four basic set ups will serve you well in any situation you might encounter

To fish most, you need about four rods, two of which overlap with our recommended boat collection

Estuary – Light Lures: Medium Power, Fast Action 7’ Light Duty Open Beach – Medium Lures: Heavy Power, Fast Action 8’ Medium Long Range Open: 9’ Medium Heavy Power, Fast Action, 9

Check out this 60 second How-To video on shore fishing for striped bass with Charter Grade Sliders

Check out this video on surf fishing for false albacore from the beaches of Martha's Vineyard

Check out this video featuring an in-depth breakdown for shore fishing jetties for striped bass

SHORE FISHING APPROACHES

SHORELINE RIPS

Shoreline rips that occur around structure or points are often great spots to find big fish on light tackle close to the beach. The best shoreline rips have some sort of mix or combination of deep areas, holes; drop-offs, rocks, boulders, and deep basins Moving water means confused bait so blind casting in an organized manner is the ticket.

3 BEST BETS

SHORELINE RIPS

CHARTERGRADEPOPPER

Popper: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish Pop the lure with a series of pauses to drive them crazy!

CHARTERGRADESLIDER

Slider: Good for fishing the swing, windy conditions and covering ground throughout peak periods of tide Hold the rod at 45 degrees to let the slider's slow wobble do the work Vary retrieve speed, accelerate on missed strikes.

Weighted Softbaits: Great imitator of small baits such as peanut bunker and juvenile herring Simply cast and reel for action.

Jetties are serious producers, although they can be fished around the clock, they often produce best at night The best jetties offer some sort of rip line and give you access to get behind some sand bars.

3 BEST BETS

Popper: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish Pop the lure with a series of pauses to drive them crazy!

SHORELINE RIPS APPROACH

PRIMETIDES

Shoreline rips are best fished working your lures with the current, imitating naturally drifting forage. Work your lures at a 45-degree angle, swimming them across the current Work a variety of depths from the surface to the bottom to locate feeding fish

Begin your first series of casts well above the rip and continue working closer to the rip

As you drop into the rip, extend your casts

As you extend your casts, let your bait sink deeper Working the entire water column

Slider: Slow and steady retrieve Great for imitating herring and pogies

Jetties often extend offshore and offer shore anglers the easiest access to deepwater haunts These areas offer an abundance of current and structure. Fishy areas include high current area, sand bars and the adjacent beach surf

PRIMETIDES

Protail Eel: A shore caster's avorite for bouncing bottom or finicky stripers feeding on eels and sand eels

Fish the swing in the rip Often the rip on a jetty will be light Sub-surface paddle tails creates commotion and turbulence

Work the surf created by sand bars Fan cast around them

If there are multiple bars, inside the jetty, a slowly retrieved paddle tail can help find scattered fish.

Fan cast the open water, distance is often needed, but don’t forget fish can be at your feet, especially at high tide

WATCH VIDEO

WATCH VIDEO

SHORE FISHING APPROACHES

BEACH

There is often more than meets the eye at an open beach Structure-wise, you have gradual drop-offs, fast dropoffs, sand bars, deep troughs, rocks and boulders

CHARTERPOPPER CHARTERSLIDER PROTAILEEL

Popper: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish.

Slider: Slow and steady retrieve Great for imitating herring and pogies.

Soft-Eel: A shore caster's favorite for bouncing bottom for finicky stripers feeding on eels and sand eels

OPEN OPEN BEACH APPROACH

tween the beach and sand bars has probably g 5 shore anglers throughout the Northeast A dropping tide is ideal. This is the perfect place to fish a lightly or unweighted soft bait A light entry to the water is ideal

Fish a gradual rise at low tide, incoming. You can wade out to get in deeper water where fish will be running along the edge Fish all water level columns. Vary retrieve speed between fast and slow.

The other side of the surf rolling onto a sand bar fishes best on a dropping tide.

BACK BAY

The first step is identifying the tide direction. You want to fish on the side the tide is moving toward Although this is a light tackle fishery, big fish get inside, particularly in the spring and fall.

Popper: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish. Pop the lure with a series of pauses to drive them crazy!

Hogy Epoxy Casting Jig: These versatile casting jigs can be worked along the upper water column Utilize a medium fast retrieve with rod twitches and pauses for erratic action

Weighted Softbaits: Great imitator of small baits such as peanut bunker and juvenile herring. Simply cast and reel for action

If you’re lucky enough to find a beach with a good feedline, fish the 180-degree span between the two structure points. A paddle tail makes a good search bait

Boulders are simple and easy to fish Cast over and around all sides of the structure. Boulders can be super effective at slack high tide

Often fish will be breaking outside of reach from a second set of bars A long range metal or epoxy jig will help you reach those fish.

You want to be on the open water side when the tide is flushing out the baitfish that were up and inside during high tide, serving as a buffet for bass outside waiting in ambush Fan casting either side of the opening will do the trick. If the tide banks to one side over the other, you want to be on the inside opening, but if that is inaccessible, both sides will fish 1 hour into high tide is ideal The water needs to be really moving to set up the “buffet”.

The inverse is true on the incoming tide.

SHORE FISHING APPROACHES

CANAL

With such high volumes of water running by your feet each minute, there is endless potential for bait and fish to blowby. The challenge here is how to deal with such fast-moving water If fish are holding deep, which they are in canals 85% of the time, you’ll be required to fish the swing

3 BEST BETS

CANAL

CHARTERPOPPER

Popper: Best used in calm water, slack tide and scattered fish Pop the lure with a series of pauses to drive them crazy!

CANAL APPROACH

EPOXYJIG

Hogy Epoxy Casting Jig: These versatile casting jigs can be worked along the upper water column. Utilize a medium fast retrieve with rod twitches and pauses for erratic action

PROTAILPADDLE

Heavily Weighted Softbaits: Great imitator of small baits such as peanut bunker and juvenile herring. Simply cast and reel for action Up to 6oz

SHORE ALBIES

One of fall’s more anticipated migrations, the false albacore make their presence felt from late September to November Commonly targeted near coastal jetties, inlets and open stretches of beaches. The most productive shore fishing techniques utilize surface retrieves with Epoxy Jigs™ and small profile Sand Eel Jigs, Peanut Bunker Jigs and Heavy Minnows.

3 BEST BETS

SHORE ALBIES

Epoxy Jig: Perfect for long range casting to surface feeding albies. Utilize a fast "Skippy" retrieve or swim low and slow with twitches

PRIMETIDES

1 Cast up tide and let your bait sink to the bottom How far you cast up tide will be dictated by the current conditions and the amount of lead you are throwing The goal is to situate your cast so that the lure is touching the bottom when it’s perpendicular to you The fishing really starts when the lure begins to “swing.” If you are having trouble getting down with a paddle, switch to an eel or a metal

When fish are feeding near the surface. Utilize topwater presentations using the Popper or Epoxy Jig skipped along the surface Be sure to cast well up tide and retrieve your lure through the swing.

SHORE ALBIES

PRIMETIDES

Peanut Jig: These imitative jigs offer a perfect imitator of small peanut bunker Ideal for matching the hatch while offering ultra long range casting distance. PEANUTJIG

EPOXYJIG

Heavy Minnow Jig: Available in several small sizes, perfect for imitating small anchovy and glass minnows. Best for super finicky albies

1 2

When Albies are actively feeding on the surface, utilize the “Skippy Retrieve” to accurately imitate fleeing baitfish near the outside edges of the surface feeding area This naturally erratic action is irresistible to nearby Albies. To execute properly, keep your rod tip at 10’o clock while using a medium speed retrieve, the Epoxy Jig™ should break the surface of the water every 3-4 reel rotations

As a surface feed subsides, the “Low and Slow” retrieve is perfect for searching out individual fish still lurking in the area. Maintaining an 8’o clock rod position, use a slow-medium speed retrieve to work your bait in a naturally swimming motion. This non-erratic action work perfectly with the Sand Eel Jig and Peanut Bunker Metals

Theactionis“built-in ”The HogySliderfeaturesawider, moreerraticswimming movementasopposedtothe frantic,vibratingactionofa lippedbillplug.

Rodtipata45-degreeangle Castandreel

Thislurehasneutral buoyancy,meaningithasa horizontaldescentwhen sinking Thisisaverynatural presentation,soaseriesof pausesarerecommendedon theretrieve

Excellentherringandbunker match

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

SURFACE PENCIL

Thesesimple,effective surfaceplugsaredesignedfor ultra-durable,longrange, trophysurfaceaction

Canberetrievedusing multiplemethodsforsideto sideswimmingaction,quick fleeing/dartingmovement, orerraticsurfacesplashing action

ClassicSurfacePencilDarting /SwimmingAction

HorizontalFloating

Orientation(FloatingModel)

HorizontalSlowSink

Orientation(LongRange Model)

Withitscup-facednose,it createsatonofcommotion witheachtwitchoftherod Regardlessofhowyoufisha popper,mostanglerslove watchingabigstripercome upandsmashthelure

Unfortunately,poppersless effectiveinroughwateras theirnoise-makingabilityis lostinthesurf Rodtipata45-degreeangle “Pop,Pop,pause;Pop,Pop, Pause”

Highlyversatilegeneral baitfish-shapedprofile

Built-inactionwithpaddle tail Justcastandreel Keep rodtipata45degreeangle, loweritastheluregets closer

Fishedjustbelowthesurface bykeepingyourrodtipup andmaintainingafaster, steadierretrieve

Depthisdeterminedby weight,sinktimeand retrieve

Playwithretrievespeeds

Often,intermittentsurges willdrawreactionstrikes

Fishatanyrodtipangle A 45-degreeanglerodrip “up”willeliminatebottom snags

RetrievethislureSLOWLY!

Butplaywithyouraction

Twitchit Jigit Straitstick it

Bounceinthesandto simulateahidingordigging sandeel

Excellentimitatorsofsand eelsandsquidduetotheir longslenderprofile

Ourbestsellingcolorsare olive,pinkandwhite

Weletnaturedothe designingonourPeanut BunkerJig

Thesetinyjigsareperfect imitatorsofbabybunker

It'sflatsidedbodyshape offersaseductivesideto sidewobbleonasteady surfaceretrieve,greatfor targetingfinickyAlbies

Whenfishgodeep,theBaby BunkerJigoffersan excellentflutterfishedona dropslackjiggingretrieve

SolidMetalCoreFor

ExceptionalCasting

Distance

Theclearcoatassociated withtheresinusedforThe HogyEpoxyJig®Lure mimicsthegel-like appearanceofmanybaitfish includingsandeels, silversides,bayanchovies, andpeanutbunker

Longcastsandslowersink ratethanametaljig

Thelength/weightratioof theHogyEpoxyJigis carefullybalancedsuchthat thereisnowrongwaytofish it YoucanmakeanEpoxyJig cometolifebyvarying retrievespeedandrod movementsandpositioning

Myfavoritetimetofisha spookisincalmconditions

Aspookwithagoodrattle willdrawattentionfrom prettyfaraway.Anideal situationwouldbeworkingit slowlyoverbigbouldersor somesortofstructure.For whateverreason,Idobest withspooksearlyinthe morningoratsunset

CastingRetrieve:Twitch Twitch,Pause,Twitch TwitchPause

Downside:Theydon’tfish wellinroughwater

XL DOG WALKER

CHARTER GRADE SLIDER CHARTER GRADE POPPER

PROTAIL EEL

EPOXY JIG

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CHAPTER: JIGGING

There is something magical about jigging. Perhaps it’s the simplicity of it? Maybe it’s the “jack in the box” factor One minute you are jigging, the next the rod jigs back!! Stopping and dropping on fish you see on the finder and immediately hooking up never gets old but in all seriousness, there are days when jigging is “the only way” for bass and blues, particularly during the dog days of summer Sure, you can get specific jigging outfits, but if you’re like me, your striper casting outfits are suitable in most cases unless fishing with very heavy jigs. I also want to mention groundfish here. I have gone almost fully bait-less when I pop a jig-biki rig in front of my favorite striper jigs

Jigging Factors to Crack the Code:

Fast or Slow: A simple rule of thumb is fast jig when fish are all over the water column. Slow jigging when targets are holding at consistent depths

Matching The Hatch: Like casting, this is an easy enough concept for example if they are eating sand eels, small and skinny does the job. With stripers it will be sand eels at least 65% of the time Be sure to have a hi-vis option as an attractor

Depth: You’ll want some water under you to fully capitalize on jigging, at least 40’. Jigging becomes increasingly difficult in more shallow waters as you quickly jig lure out of the zone

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Capt. Mike's Inshore Jigging Playlist

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

HOGY TUNA JIGGING PLAYBOOK

REPURPOSED OUTFIT

JIGGING OUTFITS

GEAR GUIDE

The first will be familiar if you have read the section on casting outfits: the Shimano TZSW-70MH (seven-foot/heavy power/moderate action) I mentioned above that this rod has a very slow action… As you might gather from my videos, I am a big fan of slow vertical jigging with weighted soft plastics This rod imparts a deadly action to a jig and it can also handle jigs up to four-ounces without overloading or over-stressing the blank You obviously want a rod with some back-bone, but a steady parabolic bend will handle a strike better and result in better hook ups. Rods that are too stiff on a vertical strike will often pop the hook and result in dropped fish.Unfortunately, this rod is no longer available via Shimano

When to Use: Casting & Jigging

Action: Moderate Slow

Power: Heavy

Length: 7'

Reel Size: 6000 size

Lure Sizes: 1oz to 4oz

Typical Line: 40lb Braid

Leader: 30-40lb Fluoro

DEDICATED JIGGING OUTFIT

My dedicated jigging rod is the St Croix Mojo Jigging MJJS66MMF (6.5-foot/I bought this rod on a whim after seeing it at the 2016 ICAST show It has a relatively moderate action, but it is not overly “slow” and sloppy. I would call this rod more of a hybrid in terms of length because it is a little shorter than average for casting and a little longer than average for jigging It handles vertical jigging with heavier Epoxy Jigs and soft plastics such as the Pro Tail Paddles and Eels, but it can also cast them if necessary It has the ability to fish heavy enough lures at target depths. I often jig in up to 80’ of water in heavy currents and regularly fish with 4 to 6oz jigs at peak tides and often as light as 2oz at slack.

JIGGING OUTFITS

When to use: Vertical Jigging Heavy Baits

Action: Moderate

Power: Medium

Length: 6'6"

Reel Size: 5000-6000 size

Lure Sizes: 2oz to 6oz

Typical Line: 30lb Braid

Leader: 20-40lb Fluoro

Why Use Rods Specifically For Jigging?

Your casting gear will work acceptably for vertical jigging in a pinch, but a good dedicated striper jigging rod will make it easier and more enjoyable when using this technique. The very nature of vertical jigging makes selecting a rod designed for this technique a wise decision For example, a true vertical jigging rod is typically shorter and features a more parabolic action than a rod used for casting

The shorter length allows for better control when vertical jigging since, as the name suggests, the goal is to keep contact with your lure when it is straight below you A longer rod simply extends the distance you are away from the ideal vertical orientation, making it more cumbersome to control the jigging action and feel subtle pick-ups Vertical jigging rods not only have to feature sufficient backbone or power to control and bring a fish to the surface, often from significant depths, but their more moderate, parabolic action will handle a strike better Rods that are too stiff will often result in popped hooks when a fish hits a lure that is being vertically jigged

As mentioned above, vertical jigging is often practiced in deep water; I often use this technique in 80 or more feet of water that features heavy currents The use of four to six-ounces jigs is common practice and a shorter rod handles that weight more efficiently, while also allowing an angler to scale back to lighter jigs when the current eases or slacks off

Check out this video filmed in NJ We were snap jigging Hogy Sand Eel Jigs for suspended stripers.

Check out this video where Capt Mike Hogan and Capt Cullen Lundhold of Cape Star Charters heads out to deep water in Cape Cod Bay targeting finicky Stripers feeding on Sand Eels suspended in 70' - 90' depths

JIGGING APPROACHES

FAST JIGGING

Fast jigging is associated mostly with metals The bites tend to be more aggressive but you need to also pay careful attention to bites on the drop

3 BEST BETS

FAST JIGGING

Green Teaser Assist Sand Eel Jig: Our top choice for imitating mackerel throughout the water column

Olive In-Line Sand Eel Jig: Stripers love sand eels, the Olive Sand Eel Jig offers the perfect profile for imitating a variety of sand eel sizes.

The 2oz Hogy Epoxy Jig is an ideal “fast” jig in depths under 60 feet of water This lure will make commotion on the drop and come “alive” with just a medium retrieve speed, allowing for adequate time “in play” before reaching the surface

SLOW JIGGING

Thebestjiggingtechniqueforfishingwithsoftbaits,often underutilized It’sagreattechniqueforfishyouseeonthefish finderthat“won’tbiteanything”

3 BEST BETS

SLOW JIGGING

SOFTBAITS

Softbaits:averynaturaloption forslowjiggingastheyoffer tremendousactinattheslowest speeds,regardlessoftheshape Paddletailversionswillthump withshortsweepsofarodtip Eel tailversionsbody’swillquiver evenwhenleftintheholderat drift.

BOAT FAST JIGGING APPROACH

WATCH VIDEO

Drop to the bottom or below targets identified on fish finder Engage and reel quickly while jerking the rod - cranking fast a furiously to the surface

FAST JIGGING BENEFITS

Cover all levels of the water column. Speed allows coverage of all depths of the water column quickly Speed elicits reaction strikes from finicky fish Ideal for heavy current – frequent resets.

EPOXYJIG

eHogyEpoxyJig:Thelight dydesignresultsinaslowand terydecenttothebottom.As epoxyjigrequireverylittle orttofishinunder80’of slowjigging

FLUTTERPITCH

BENEFITS

FlutterPitchJig:Thisjighasa “flattened”designanda latitudinalcenterofgravity whichallowsforeventhe heaviestofversionsgreataction atslowspeedsasitshiftsits centerofgravityincurrent The flutterPitchJigisidealatthe deepestofstriperdepthinheavy current Largersizesimitate herring,pogiesandmackerel

You’reabletostayinakeystrikezoneforaverylongtime Naturalandsubtlemovementsusedtopresentaslowandeasybaitforalazy stripertoeatisamethodthatisdeadly,especiallywithasoftbaittail Aneasytechniqueforinexperiencedguestsonyourboat

SLOW JIGGING APPROACH

Drop to a specific depth that you are targeting

Slowly raise your rod tip and let the lure fall slowly

3

WATCH VIDEO

Every few moments, change the depth by 10-feet using slow cranks, and repeat the slow jig method.

Drop back to the bottom and repeat

JIGGING APPROACHES

TWITCH JIGGING

Twitch jigging is a variation of the Slow Jig with the only difference being a series of sharp fast twitches in the rod. It’s almost like you are vibrating the lure with rapid rod tip twitches This technique works particularly well with the Hogy Sand Eel Jig.

Its long, slender profile responds with a lot of jerking rod tip motions. The huge benefit of this technique is that you can really dial in a certain depth This is a useful method when “sniping” fish you have identified on the fish finder

3 BEST BETS

Protail Eel: Long tails on eel bodied softabaits quiver all the way through the tip of the tail Top sand eel imitator. Not an ideal option when numerous bluefish are in the area

Sand Eel Jigs: The sand eel jig is a tough duty sand eel imitator. What this lure lacks in finesse is made up for in its ability to sink quickly, stands up to bluefish and rig in a variety of conf.

Epoxy Jig: Hogy Epoxy Jig’s light body design results in a jig that is highly responsive to twitch jigging Ideal in depths 60’ and under

FAST JIGGING BENEFITS

You’re able to stay in a key strike zone for a very long time Faster motions might trigger a reaction strike Allows metal lure depth and softbait action.

TWITCH JIGGING APPROACH

Drop to a specific depth that you are targeting

Twitch your rod with fast, short movements

3 4

Every few moments, change the depth by 10-feet and repeat

Once you have too much line out from the boat drifting away from your lure, reel in and repeat.

DEAD STICKING

If you are drifting for an extended period while blind casting, it’s often a good idea to drop a softbait down deep and park it in the rod in the holder It’s truly embarrassing to think about how effective this technique is as compared to all the energy and efforts anglers put into fooling striper.

While dead sticking you are literally just putting the rod in the holder and letting the boat do EVERYTHING. This is 100% a soft bait method as the plastic is flexing with each rock of the boat

WATCH VIDEO

JIGGING APPROACHES

STRUCTURE JIGGING

You could argue that stripers and trout are similar in how they stage on structure in heavy current. While in bigger, deeper waters, a striper might behave like a trout waiting for a fly when it stages behind drop-offs, boulders, wrecks or whatever large structure might be present, eagerly waiting for a bait fish to be swept down by the tide

2 OPTIONS

STRUCTURE JIGGING

1

Anchor/Positioned in front of the structure and drift backwards.

2

Make repeated drifts over the structure

In either case, the key point here is that you are attempting to imitate a bait fish being swept down with the tide, over the available structure -- all with your rod and lure

Anchored/Positioned: Positioning yourself in front of the structure is a great method to focus on just one point of the structure you are targeting Be sure to have a plan for hooking up with a large fish that requires you to drift off anchor quickly

1.

Anchor or maintain enough forward gear to hold the boat in position about 50 feet in front of the structure Drop your lure to the bottom and jig it upwards four or five times.

3

Once you feel the lure rising off the bottom, drop it back down

SEARCH & DROP

With the recent developments of fish-finding technology, this technique is becoming more and more popular In this technique, you are literally cruising around looking for targets to drop on. Search and Drop is the most tactical variation of jigging in that the captain and crew work hand in hand ready to coordinate the drop Each angler is poised and ready for the drop at a moment’s notice.

Go-To Hogy Imitations: If you are dropping on fish that you are marking on the fish finder, you'll want to get the lure down as quickly as you can to catch the fish while it is still close to being under the boat

Hogy Pro Tail Eel: I like eel tail softbaits for tactical drops, as you don't want the "parachute" effect of a paddle to slow you down

Jig Head on a Slappy Eel: This rig is quite popular for anglers looking to substitute for a live eel The bait is so long and slender, it has incredible action with hardly any rod movement. A simple rise and fall of the rod tip is deadly

BENEFITS

Pinpoints finicky fish

The steady RPM’s of the boat will not spook the fish Covers ground while still being able to study topwater and fish finder

STRUCTURE JIGGING APPROACH

WATCH

Drifting: I tend to favor drifting, personally, over anchored structure jigging, as you can fish all areas around a piece of structure In many cases, stripers will position themselves in a number of different places around the structure. Drifting is also ideal when vertically jigging rips caused by a shoal. By not being tethered to the bottom, you are able to move around more easily and try different spots.

Run up tide about 200 feet in front of the structure you would like to fish. Drop your lure to the bottom and jig it upwards four or five times Once you feel the lure rising off the bottom, drop it back down.

SEARCH & DROP APPROACH

1 2 Identify an active area

3

4

Find a happy cruising speed, maybe 8-knots for searching

Have anglers holding their rods at all times, ready to free spool their lure at a moment’s notice.

Along with watching the electronics, constantly look for changes in the water and be ready to cast at any water that looks “pushed” or otherwise altered

TheHogySandEelhasa mediumfastsinkrate withperiodicflutters It fisheswellathighspeed, whichmakesitagotoin speedjigging

It’slongslenderdesign lendsitselfverywellto thetwitchyjig,a techniquewhereyoudrop theluretoaspecific depthandtwitchtherod withsharp,short,rapid snaps Oliveisforsandeels!

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

JIGGING ESSENTIALS

Theheavierversionsof theHogyProTailare designedforjigging

Thedropissloweronthe PaddlesthantheEelsdue tothevibratingtailon theformer,butfast enoughtocoverthewater columnonavertical presentation

Yougettwospeedsinone jig:slowonthewaydown withthepaddleandfast onthewayup

Dropthebaittothe desireddepth Slowly

raiseanddroptherodtip

Thiswillsimulatea woundedbaitfish.

TheHogyFlutterPitch Jigfeaturesavividscale finish,trophygrade through-wireddesign andsuperstrongteaser assisthooks

Theflat-sided,widebodyshapeoffers exceptionalflutterand thumpusingaslowto mediumspeedjigging retrieve

Designedtobeworkedat slowtomediumspeeds

Thesecretweaponof HogyAmbassadorEric "Slappy"Harrison TrophySizedSoftBait JigginEel

HandPouredClassic3X SoftPlastic LongTaperedWiggling

EelTail

DeadlyOnFishThatLove BigEels

DesignedForBarbarian SeriesJigHeads

Imitativebaitfishprofile Heavythumpingaction callsfishfromadistance

Thedepthatwhichone canbefishedis determinedbytheweight oftheProTailyouuse andhowlongyouallowit tosink,aswellasthe speedofyourretrieve Theheavierversions, typicallyfromthree ouncesonup,makegood verticaljigginglures

HogyProTailscomepreriggedandfeatureVMC hooksthatarestrong enoughforinshoreand offshoreapplications

Webroughtthissmall “peanut”intothefold withthelargeinfluxof peanutbunkerinrecent yearsbetweenCapeCod andNewJersey

Thislureisrelatively lightandisbestfishedin lessthan30’onaslowor twitchyjigretrieve.Find adepthandworkit

Colors:PeanutBunker andBlueareexcellent imitatorsofpeanut bunker,squid,and juvenileherring

Dototheirlightweight, jigging islimitedtosize 2ozandup

TheHogyEpoxyJig® Lureisaveryuniquejig inthatitslargelymade outofalightweightbut durableresin Theycomeinavarietyof lengths,weightsand colorsrangingfrom 3/8ozallthewayto4oz Colors:Pink,Olive,Silver andGreenaregreat imitatorsofsquid,sand eels,herringand mackerel

DiamondJigsareaclassic striperlurethathasbeen aroundforever

Withthehighlyimitative “dancing”HogySandEel behindthediamondjig, thepresentationis unbeatableintermsof imitativepresentation

Diamondjiggingcanbea deadlytechniquefor stripersthatareinlarge concentrationsfeeding onbaitfishonthebottom.

Diamondjigs3ozand largerarewellsuitedfor depthsof20feetormore.

SLAPPY

Trouble Shooting Inshore:

Jigging

HIGHLY IMITATIVE FLUTTER PITCH EPOXY H

SAND EEL JIGS

THE BITE

THE BITE

THE BITE

Open water Stripers feeding on plumes of Sand Eels in various levels of the water column.

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

Stripers bucket feeding on dense sand eel schools Matching the size, shape and color in a highly imitative fashion is essential if you want to compete.

THE SOLUTION

The Sand Eel Jigs have simplified the challange of "matching the hatch" by offering a variety of lengths, weights and imitative colors that shine when stripers are keyed in on sand eels. While the Hogy Sand Eel Jig is designed for all speeds, it's particularly deadly at high speeds zipping through all levels of the water column

Finicky stripers feeding on various finfish.

THE CHALLANGE

When Stripers on keyed in on herring, scup and butterfish the flutter pitch jig offers an imitative profile and excellent slow flutter fall action.

THE SOLUTION

The Flutter Pitch Jigs are perfect for working the lower to mid-water column for finicky stripers Using a simple lift, reel and fall on slack line kicks the Flutter Pitch Jig into action! Erratic flutter fall action triggers bites from finicky stripers feeding on larger baitfish species. Attractive teaser assist hooks add extra attraction when the bite gets tough!

Stripers keyed in on ultra-small forage like anchovy

THE CHALLANGE

When bass get keyed in on micro-forage hatches later in the summer, the bite can be downright tough to get dialed in! With a variety of sizes and colors, the Epoxy Jig can easily imitative the smallest baits.

THE SOLUTION

Adjust your jigging tackle to match the Epoxy Jig best suited to matching the abundant forage. Often times the smaller 3" - 3.5" Epoxy Jigs produce on the most finicky of stripers feeding on micro herring, anchovy and silversides. Be sure to drop down to light fluorocarbon leaders. 15lb - 20lb test can be the ticket!

Scattered Stripers feeding on large bait fish in open water

THE CHALLANGE

When bass are targeting big baitfish in open water, you'll need up up-size your offering.

THE SOLUTION

Specialized weighted softbaits are ideal for imitating large to jumbo sized baitfish Protail Paddle: When you need extra thumping action to call fish in from a distance, the paddle tail is a top choice. Work this lure on a lift and drop retrieve, paying close attention for any bites on the drop. Protail Eel: If you find yourself greeted with finicky stripers on big bait, slow twitching a Protail Eel in the water column is a sure-fire way to get bit

Slow Flutter Fall Action.

Sand Eel Jig

Flutter Pitch Jig

Hogy Epoxy Jig

JIGGING FOR GROUNDFISH

Whether you’re looking to catch black sea bass, scup, tautog, fluke or cod, this guide will provide you with the knowledge to select the right equipment, look for the right structure and deploy the most effective technique for catching these bottom-dwelling species in the Northeast

Gear Guide

Squid Scup

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Sea-bass

Tog

Fluke

Capt Mike's Inshore Groundfish Playlist

SCUP

Hogy Jig Biki Rig 3/0 : The heavy gauge wire makes it difficult to set the hook with an undersized fish, which will reduce the risk of injury to small, fragile fish and reduce the time spent catching undesirable fish

Tactical Jig: Hogy Squinnow Jig Scup are surprisingly aggressive when it comes to lures You’ll want to drop the jig to the bottom and target the bottom 10-feet of the water column You’ll find the best success with short and slow jigging motions; scup have small mouths and you want to give them the time to get the hook.

Sometimes, I will re-rig with an inline 1/0 Live Bait hook

Strategy: Using your fish finder, look for a rocky bottom with deep holes, ledges or drop offs You can count on finding scup or pogies around most structure in 100-feet or less. Like most other salt-water species, they’ll be moving with the current on both the incoming or outgoing tides. Some shore anglers do better on either side of high tide as water may get to shallow at the bottom stages.

SEABASS

Hogy Jig Biki Rig 3/0 or 5/0: When targeting sea bass, I upsize my hooks to 5/0 as sea bass are aggressive feeders and have huge mouths in comparison to their body size. Switching to a tube teaser style rig as the tubing will serve as chafe gear keeping the line from fraying due to their sandpaper-like mouths

Tactical Jig: Hogy Squinnow Jig (Shallow) In 25’ or less I tend to favor the slow rounded shape of the Hogy Squinnow jig Not only is the jig less prone to snags, but the lure also has a fluttery action with slow short jigging motions If the current gets too strong, the smaller more compact Heavy Minnow jig will hold bottom better.

Tactical Jig: Hogy Flutter Pitch Jig (Deep) 30’ Plus or when targeting large sea pass. The teaser assist on this jig will perfectly match the teasers on the Hogy Jig Biki Rig Fish the flutter Pitch with long slow sweeps of the rod for sea bass

Strategy: Sea bass love wrecks; any wreck you see on your chart would be a good place to start. Otherwise, similarly to scup, any bottom structure such as rocks, live bottom, drop offs, holes and ledges are also tell-tale, fishing hot spots when targeting sea bass

SIMPLE SEA BASS FISHING

WATCH VIDEO

DRIFTING STRUCTURE

Drifting over structure is a great way to begin targeting groundfish This simple technique can be achieved by reading your boat drift before positioning your boat ahead of bottom structure and allowing wind and current drift the boat over the structure

Tip: Do not run over the structure you intend to fish when setting up a new drift. Especially in shallow water.

SQUID JIGGING

The Hogy Hi Low Rig: Use empty Loops for Squid Jigs The typical squid rig consists of a “hi-lo- rig with two dropper loops with squid jigs connected to them connected with barrel swivel and 1to 2 oz bank sinkers for weight Some days squid can be finicky other less so. If you have it handy, 10-20 pound clear fluorocarbon is ideal for squid fishing on Cape Cod

Tactical Jig: The Hogy Squid Jig Pink is perhaps the most popular color but the four primary colors for squid jigging on Cape Cod are Amber, Pink, Glow and Green

Strategy: You’ll see the fleet if there is a concentration of squid Many of these boats will be anchored so be respectful Find your most productive spot and try to anchor right over it. That can be a small pile of rocks or structure where the squid lay their eggs You don’t have to be right in the fleet to catch the squid. Drift over the area until you start catching. Don't stay in the same spot all day Move around

ANCHOR STRUCTURE

Hogy Jig Biki Rig 3/0: Tautog have funny mouths with thick skin that can be difficult to hook. For that reason, I like needle sharp, live bait hooks for fast penetration Green crabs are the bait of choice; cut them in half with simple kitchen scissors and remove the hard top shell to increase hook up rations. Use the lightest weight as necessary to hold bottom – this will help reduce snags

Tactical Jig: Rounded

Strategy: It’s all abou Tautog I love rock p feet of water, particu are near other rock p bounce between spot

Tautog are very lazy not swim very far to eat Therefore, you want your bait to be right in front of their nose Rather than drifting, you’ll want to anchor directly over the structure you intend to fish. Moving tide is recommended but I have had a number of good outings at slack tide in low light Because of their funny mouths and laziness, they can be tricky to hook. I recommend using a long musky rod with moderate action, which is good for quick hook sets – the longer span of the 8-foot rod will drive the hook faster but the softness of the moderate action will not whip the hook of the tautogs mouth

TOG FLUKE

Hogy Jig Biki Rig 3/0 or 5/0: There are probably hundreds of different styles of fluke rigs on the market, each of which is very effective, and often come rigged with a series of spinners, floats and teasers that are designed to attract fluke off the bottom While I agree that these rigs are effective, I prefer a simpler rig with fewer tangles I tip my teasers with on on the short line and one long piece on the this rig is that the “biki” style teasers will s water and will continue to be fishing, even stolen.

Tactical Jig: Hogy Flutter Pitch Jig or Sand E Jig Either jig works particularly well for fluk and both com in sizes for the famously larg Nantucket fluke in 100’ of water in strong currents. (8.5 to 12oz) Each of these jigs feathers the same “sabiki” style assist hoo that matches the Hogy Jig Biki Rig. Many anglers will ad an inline single hook to the split ring and tip it with squid

Strategy: I typically find fluke around shoals and deep drop offs Fluke are aggressive feeders and spread out into areas where distracted baitfish are likely to be swept down with the tidal currents While some spots are better than others, textbooks suggest that a shallow shoal nearby a deep drop-off very close by will likely have fluke in season Fluke are active fish and move around a lot so drifting with the current is best I break down a fluke spot into two plays: the deep side of the rip and the rip itself, caused by tide running over the shoal I usually start in the shallow area and make a few drifts over the shoal. Sometimes you’ll find more action in the rip but sometimes the fish tend to be smaller

WATCH VIDEO

Tip: When try to catch tautog, anchoring directly over the rock pile is critical. Figure out your drift and how much scope you’ll need to let out on your anchor so that you can drop your rigs directly on top of the rocks

DRIFTING RIPS

Drifting over structure is a great way to begin targeting groundfish This simple technique can be achieved by reading your boat drift before positioning your boat ahead of bottom structure and allowing wind and current drift the boat over the structure.

Tip: Do not run over the structure you intend to fish when setting up a new drift. Especially in shallow water.

BAIT TIPS

Scup: Hair style teasers. Maybe squid, clam or sea worm, but bait is optional and unnecessary

Sea Bass: Hair or Tube style teasers Maybe squid, clam or sea worm, but bait is t optional and unnecessary.

Tautog: Hair style teasers Green Crabs cut in half Hair teaser still has you in the game.

WATCH VIDEO

Fluke: Hair or tube style teasers. Bait will up your game by 50% Squid is the most popular bait

Cod and Haddock: Hair or Tube style teasers. Maybe squid or clam, but bait is optional and unnecessary

Dototheirlightweight, jigging islimitedtosize 2ozandup

TheHogyEpoxyJig® Lureisaveryuniquejig inthatitslargelymade outofalightweightbut durableresin

Theycomeinavarietyof lengths,weightsand colorsrangingfrom 3/8ozallthewayto4oz Colors:Pink,Olive,Silver andGreenaregreat imitatorsofsquid,sand eels,herringand mackerel

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

GROUNDFISH ESSENTIALS

Designedforheavy-duty inshoregroundfishing, theHogySquinnowisa multi-purposejigthat excelsinlighttackle verticaljigging applications

Deadlyonsmall groundfishlikescup,sea bassandsnappers

It’sroundedbodywitha lowcenterofgravity resultsinaveryjuicy actionwhenjiggedslow

PremiumFinishCoat, ThruWire,HDSplitRings &3XVMCTeaserAssist

Hooks

Similarspecsasthe Squinnowjig.Major differenceisthatthislure isfishedfastandhas morebaitfishcolor patternsincludingthe widelypopularsilver side 25-to75’ofwater

PremiumFinishCoat, ThruWire,HDSplitRings &4XVMCTrebleHooks

Heavymetalcoremakes forafastsinkrate

Greatforerraticvertical jigging

TheHogySandEelhasa mediumfastsinkrate withperiodicflutters.It fisheswellathighspeed, whichmakesitagotoin speedjigging

It’slongslenderdesign lendsitselfverywellto thetwitchyjig,a techniquewhereyoudrop theluretoaspecific depthandtwitchtherod withsharp,short,rapid snaps Oliveisforsandeels!

TheHogyFlutterPitch

Jigfeaturesavividscale finish,trophygrade through-wireddesign andsuperstrongteaser assisthooks

Theflat-sided,widebodyshapeoffers

exceptionalflutterand thumpusingaslowto mediumspeedjigging retrieve.

Designedtobeworkedat slowtomediumspeeds

Designedforbalanced visibilityinavarietyof conditions

Featuringauniquesoft stylepaintfinishwhich providesanaturalfeelto thejigbody,encouraging squidtograbandhold

Lifelikelegsfeature10X strongsoftplasticfor extremedurability

Stickysharpstainless squidhooksgripandgrab quickly

UVinfusedplasticand glowpigmentsentice bitesfromfinicky cephalopods

HogyJig-BikiRigsare designedtobepaired withyourfavoritemetals fortargetingavarietyof groundfishspecies

Attractivecrystal-flash teaserscallfishinfroma distanceandgetfinicky fishtochew

Theserigsareidealfor seabass,scup,striper, cod,snappersandtog

HogyJig-BikiRigsare designedtobepaired withyourfavoritemetals fortargetingavarietyof groundfishspecies

Attractivecrystal-flash teaserscallfishinfroma distanceandgetfinicky fishtochew

Theserigsareidealfor seabass,scup,striper, cod,snappersandtog

INSHORE TROLLING

Trolling is often the most effective technique when fish are scattered in open water or holding over large stretches of structure. BUT Inshore trolling often gets a bad wrap as being “un-fun” due to the use of heavy gear and as a low-brow mindless technique I couldn’t disagree more! Not the way I approach trolling anyway.

Hogy System Trolling:

Tactical: I troll when I see it as the most effective method Think slow trolling tubes for big striped bass in August Or high-speed trolling sliders for scattered Atlantic Bonito…

Interactive: I DO NOT just set it and forget it You could argue my brand of trolling is a hybridized jigging technique. On my boat, inshore outfits are in the angler’s hands When we stop on fish marks on the finder- anglers put reels in free spool and often high-speed crank to elicit strikes We often jig the rods when trolling LIGHT: No wire line outfits on my boat! Light braid. Sometimes some trolling weights My trolling outfits are soft, happy, and fun to use They also double as jigging outfits for deep water jigging for big stripers and groundfish

My inshore trolling lure collection consists of a tube kit and repurposing of plugs like sliders, jigs like the Hogy Epoxy Jig Lures and paddle tail softbaits like our Pro Tail paddles

Capt. Mike's Inshore Trolling Playlist

POWERED BY

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

SPINNING OUTFIT

TROLLING OUTFITS

GEAR GUIDE

Long Rod (Musky Rods): I think that musky rods are the best-kept secret in saltwater fishing. In this particular case, I like musky rods for trolling on boats with outboards as the added length helps clear propellers They are also great for clearing lobster pots when trolling in fishy areas. Another nice feature is that they are light, and have long butt sections which make it easier for youngsters to sit down and fight a fish. I pair my musky rod with lead core line, but they play great double-duty rods for bottom fishing, live bait for stripers, and throwing large wooden striper plugs.

CONVENTIONAL OUTFIT

Hogy Hybrid Trolling Rod: We've designed this ultra-fun rod to be the perfect blend of parabolic action, length, weight, and function for light tackle inshore and offshore trolling This no-frills workhorse conventional rod addresses the challenges we've had finding suitable tackle for trolling the Hogy Perfect Tube and Perfect Squid

JIGGING OUTFITS

Extra length ideal for clearing lines & The long butt section works well for

Double duty for bottom fishing, and

Best used with lead-core or in-line

Long Rod St. Croix Musky KD01910 8' : around obstructions seated fishing casting large plugs. trolling weights.

Why Parabolic Action and what is it? These rods offer a softer bend from the rod tip towards the butt section This forgiving utility allows the angler to feel every pull of the drag and stroke of the fish's tail This forgiveness is beneficial for trolling, allowing the rod to absorb the strike and offer firm hook sets while used for trolling applications

Hogy Perfect Trolling Rod Features:

Ultra-Flex Parabolic Action

Easy To Store 5'6" Length

Premium-Grade Cork Grip

Graphite Reel Seat

Fuji Guides

Recommended Reels:

TROLLING ROD TIPS

Avet JX6/3 2-Speed

Daiwa Saltist STTLD30-2SPD

Shimano Talica 16II TAC16II

Out of casting, jigging and trolling for striped bass, I would say that trolling is the most practiced technique for stripers The basics of trolling for stripers are easy for novices to pick up quickly, but there are also many advanced trolling techniques to learn that can help in catching more fish under specific conditions

Here’s what I love about trolling for stripers:

You can search large areas easily and easily adapt to a tactical approach

You can target deep moving fish most effectively.

Trolling is the ideal technique for larger boats with more than just one or two anglers

Trolling is a great technique for beginners because it requires less time to develop the skills needed to become proficient

Check out this video trolling Charter Grade Squid Plugs along the rips at MiddleGround for striped bass

Mike shows how to troll for bass using Hogy InLine Trolling Weights and Perfect Tubes

TROLLING APPROACHES

SHORELINE TROLLING

When fish are related to shoreline structure, this trolling technique is designed to cover the transition zone from deepwater haunts to the shallow feeding grounds Slow trolling the Hogy Perfect Tube or Charter Slider are top imitator presentations.

3 BEST BETS

SHORELINE TROLLING PERFECTTUBELURE

Perfect Tube: The large profile of the Perfect Tube is easily seen from a distance Very high return on energy. Imitates large sea worm or eel

Slider: Best option when large baitfish are dominant forage in the area Imitates large pogy, mackerel and herring

SHORELINE TROLLING (*TROLL SCAN) APPROACH

Find the depth stripers are hanging in relative to the shoreline Fish will be shallower in low light conditions, out deeper mid-day and high sun situations Use fish finder to dial in bait schools and mark fish

CHARTERGRADESLIDER

PROTAILPADDLESWIMBAIT

Weighted Softbaits: Imitative baitfish profile can be trolled at a variety of speeds. Heavy thumping tail calls fish in from a distance

RIPS TROLLING

Schools of baitfish get swept by the tide over the sand bar or reef, making them vulnerable to stripers that are lying right on or behind the tip line, waiting in ambush to pick off unsuspecting prey

3 BEST BETS

RIPS TROLLING

WEIGHTEDHOGYORIGINAL

Weighted Hogy Original: Effective imitator of squid and baitfish Erratic swimming action is ideal for finicky fish Top colors: Amber, Pink, Bone

Work the lower third of the water column Stripers will often reside close to the bottom, but can also suspend towards the mid water column Use fish finder to dial in best depth *Take boat out of gear, if needed to drop on a target.

Keep a keen eye out for bottom structure changes Reefs, boulders, mussel beds and other hard structure will hold fish at a higher frequency Mark these structures and adjust trolling direction to approach structure from all sides

CHARTERGRADESLIDER

Slider: Best option when large baitfish are dominant forage in the area Imitates large pogy, mackerel and herring.

Charter Squid Plug: Top choice for imitating small squid Durable plug body when bluefish are present.

CHARTERSQUIDPLUG

SWINGING A RIP TROLLING APPROACH 1 2 3

Approach the rip head on.

About 200 feet in front of the rip, begin a turn to start positioning the boat so that it is parallel to the rip

Keep heading this direction until the lines are almost parallel to the rip or maybe 20 feet in front of the rip

Turn up tide, and away for the rip. This will allow your lures to swing over the rip in a horizontal presentation before changing direction to follow the boat up tide This is where the strike will usually occur

Once the lures pull out of the rip, repeat the process NOTE: You can walk back and forth over a tight area.

WATCH VIDEO

PLUG TROLLING RIPS

SOFTBAIT TROLLING RIPS

TROLLING APPROACHES

CHANNEL TROLLING

Channels are tricky spots to troll. Not only do you often have super strong currents to deal with but you have boat traffic to contend to Even though you are fishing, the boats traveling through the channel have the total right of way. The burden is on you to move out of the way, even if you are hooked up to a very large fish

3 BEST BETS

Perfect Tube: The large profile of the Perfect Tube is easily seen from a distance

Very high return on energy.

Imitates large sea worm or eel

Weighted Hogy Original: Effective imitator of squid and baitfish. Erratic swimming action is ideal for finicky fish Top colors: Amber, Pink, Bone.

Weighted Softbaits: Imitative baitfish profile can be trolled at a variety of speeds Heavy thumping tail calls fish in from a distance.

Trolling open water areas can be very productive when good signs of fish activity are present This can be the obvious such as surface feeds, bird activity, or large bait schools. When fish are deep, bait pods can be located using electronics and fished at specific depths

3 BEST BETS

OPEN WATER TROLLING

Perfect Tube: The large profile of the Perfect Tube is easily seen from a distance Very high return on energy

Imitates large sea worm or eel.

Slider: Best option when large baitfish are dominant forage in the area Imitates large pogy, mackerel and herring

Weighted Softbaits: Imitative baitfish profile can be trolled at a variety of speeds. Heavy thumping tail calls fish in from a distance

CHANNEL TROLLING APPROACH

Troll with the Tide: Always. It will allow you the most control and the ability to drop on bottom dwellers It also looks the most natural in strong current since most baitfish have no option but to ride the tide Your lures, therefore, will look the most natural

Make A Lot of Short Passes: Your best bet is to reel in and run up tide and repeat.

Change Lure Colors Often: Since you will be going over the same spot again and again, be sure to change colors For whatever reason, I have noticed that stripers will often shut down on a color and fire back up on a new color I’ve had days where I needed to do this very three passes or so

VIDEO

WATCH VIDEO

OPEN WATER TROLLING APPROACH 1

Pound the signs & stay glued to the fish finder Tracking a surface feed or following suspended bait is imperative

When fish are located, drop the boat out of gear for a moment to allow baits to drop, then accelerate back into gear to trigger a reaction strike

Make frequent turns, doing so will move your baits up and down in the water column, assisting in locating active fish

Change colors often Finding the hot color, whether natural or attractor colors, can turn a cold bite into a hot one once dialed in

WATCH

Ultra-realistic,erratic swimmingaction

Highlyinteractive,can befishedwithseveral retrievestyles

Topchoiceforsquid imitationonfinickyfish

Lightweight,ultra-dart and,wriggle

Effectiveimitatorof squidandbaitfish.

Erraticswimmingaction

isidealforfinickyfish

Topcolors:Amber, Pink,Bone

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

TROLLING ESSENTIALS

Pre-tunedperfect swimmingaction No bendingneeded!

Heavy-dutyconstruction, ballbearing,premiumVMC Rigging

Designedfortacticalslow trollingonleadcore,wire orweighted

Canbetrollednakedor tippedwithseaworms.

Playwithtrollingspeeds

Often,intermittentsurges willdrawreactionstrikes.

Thelargeprofileofthe

PerfectTubeiseasilyseen fromadistance Veryhigh returnonenergy.Imitates largeseawormoreel

Ultra-HD220lb construction

Multipleweightsfor trollingdepthsto40 feet

Simplifiedinshore trollingonlighttackle conventionalsetups usingbraidormono line

Designedforadding additionalweightfor lighttackletrolling, thesecanbepairedwith theHogyPerfectTube, CharterGradeSliders, andavarietyofpreriggedsoftbaitsfor precisedepthtrolling

Imitativebaitfishprofile

Heavythumpingaction callsfishfromadistance

Excellentchoicefor quicklycoveringground usingtrollscantech

Multiplebaitfish

imitatingcolorpatterns available

Canbetrolledatavariety ofspeeds

Comesinavarietyof sizes,weightsandcolors andtheyareeasily swappedouttoadjustfor thedepth,speedof current,andevenhow largetheareaiswhenyou aretolling

TROLLING PATTERNS

Theactionis“built-in ”The HogySliderfeaturesawider, moreerraticswimming movementasopposedtothe frantic,vibratingactionofa lippedbillplug

Excellentfor"jigandtroll" presentations

Thislurehasneutral buoyancy,meaningithasa horizontaldescentwhen sinking.Thisisaverynatural presentation,soaseriesof pausesarerecommendedon theretrieve.

Excellentherringandbunker match

Topchoiceforimitating smallsquid Durable plugbodywhenbluefish arepresent

Thislurehasasleek profileanddoesn’t makemuchcommotion doingthroughthe water;ratherit’salure thatdrawsreaction strikesduetoit’s imitativefinish.

Thislurewillfishwell enoughwiththerodin theholder,ahandytrait whenyouhave youngstersontheboat withyou

TacticalTrolling:Thefocusontacticaltrollingistoput yourluresdirectlyinfrontoffishyouspecificallyknoware thereinsituationssuchasstriperyouaremarkingholding onstructure,staginginarip Inthissituation,alureshould becontrollableintermsofdepth,speedandaction

CanvasTrolling:Canvastrollingoccurswhenyouareinan areaofscatteredfishbutinadefinedarea.Yourfocushere istocoverenoughgroundwhereyourlurespassoverfish Inthissituation,yourrigsshouldhaveabigpresenceand behighlyvisible,withtheideabeingthatthebiggerthe target,theeasierthefishwillfindyourlure

TROLLING METHODS

SetItAndForgetIt:Asthenameimplies,thisstripertrollinglurecanhaveitsroddroppedintheholderwhile trolling.Noextraactionnecessary.

Interactive:Astriper-trollinglurethatisinteractiveisone wheretheanglerimpartssomesortofactiontoenhancethe lure’seffectivenesssuchasjigging,dropping(freespool, turnsoroutofgear)orsurgingtoimpacttheluresdepth, speedandmovementthroughthewater

DURABILITY

Trollingluresmustbeoverbuilttowithstandhoursinthe water,impactofheavyhitsagainstthedragandaboat movingintheoppositedirection.

LLERS TUBE BIG BAIT

Finicky Stripers staged tight to structure feeding on large squid or herring.

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

When stripers are hugging tight to structure, the Hogy Original offers a tactical, erratic presentation to trigger strikes from finicky fish

THE SOLUTION

For nearly 15 years, the Hogy Original Series has been a mainstay in the large softbait spectrum With a wide variety of rigging options available, the Original Series can be rigged as a topwater or subsurface presentation. For slow and low methodical presentations, an weighted swimbait hook will allow an angler to wiggle and dart the eel below the surface, drawing savage strikes from the most finicky of stripers

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

Stripers keyed in on baitfish loosely scattered over larger areas.

When Stripers are spread out over large areas, find a quick and effective method for covering water quickly is crucial for success.

THE SOLUTION

The Hogy Protail Paddle series offers a variety of lure sizes, weights and colors to easily match the hatch Choose an appropriate size swimbait and begin fan casting areas where stripers are holding. The Protail Paddle offers a heavy thumping action at medium to medium fast retrieves, perfect for calling fish in from a distance. Impart the jig a troll technique for pause and drop reaction strikes

Bottom hugging stripers feeding on eels or sea worms

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

When stripers head deep, the Perfect Tube's slow rolling action draws strikes in the toughest conditions

THE SOLUTION

Featuring a perfectly pre-tuned swimming action, the Hogy Perfect Tube has become a staple for deep water striper trolling. Best when trolled down or cross current, these tubes can be trolled past 40 foot depths. Designed for leadcore, wire line or in-line trolling weight applications. Impart speed pauses and pulses to trigger strikes from finicky fish Works fantastic with the jig and troll technique A perfect presentation for new nd veteran anglers alike

Stripers keyed in on large bunker, scup or herring

THE BITE THE CHALLANGE

Open water stripers, moving quickly following schools of large baitfish

THE SOLUTION

The Hogy Charter Grade Slider is our top choice for quickly covering open water areas when fish are keyed in on large profiled forage. Consistent side to side swimming motion at medium speeds, paired with speed pauses and "jig and troll" technique allows for a variety of retrieve styles Imitative baitfish colors for matching the hatch on a variety of forage. Heavy-duty trophy grade rigging for the season's biggest stripers & blues.

Hogy Original 7"-10"

Ultra-Flex Softbait.

Protail Paddle

Perfect Tube Charter Slider Heavy Thumping Action. Slow Rolling Action. Big Bait Trolling Imitator.

ALBIE & BONITO TROLLING APPROACHES

TROLL SCANNING FOR ALBIES

When you are drifting, your main focus – in addition to blind casting – is to study the above water life and watch the fish finder when you are cruising in between “sits.” I view troll scanning as taking this method to the next level in that you are seeing more water below the surface and the same amount of life above surface Furthermore, you are effectively getting two uber-blind casts with the lures trolling behind the boat. Lastly, if you mark fish down deep, you have the ability to drop those lures to the targets and have anglers cast while the lures sink

WHEN

I am a fan of troll scanning when the fish seem to get really scattered and there is no semblance of a pattern

HOW

I know some people will question the engine noise and the easily spooked fish in this situation. I run a diesel engine boat and feel my engine noise is not an issue; the pitch is different and quieter My RPMs are consistent but I also believe it to be important with gas or diesel engines. I think outboards but they are more likely to pick up and bury the throttle hence the bad rep on spooking fish I bet if anglers ran their outboards like diesels while cruising around, less spooking would occur.

3 BEST BETS

TROLL SCANNING FOR ALBIES & BONITO

Slider: Best option when large baitfish are dominant forage in the area Imitates large pogy, mackerel and herring.

CHARTERGRADESLIDER

Variable depths: You want lures that will fish close to the surface on the troll but drop quickly when the boat is out of gear For that reason, I like the Hogy Pro Tail Paddles series for the job. They have a lot of drag so they rise to the surface when trolling but they come in heavy weights up to 16oz, so they drop fast when out of gear .I will simply put (2) 6.5” Hogy Pro Tail Paddles way back and idle along, vectoring toward anything that looks juicy.

Look for signs: I “break for any targets” when troll scanning around scattered pods.

Flat line clips: I use flat line clips because it makes it easier to belt a cast off over the trolling lines Otherwise, you’ll have to maneuver around line at a 60-degree angle with a 7’ rod tip.

Cast on every stop: If you are stopping and dropping, chances are there’s a reason If it’s good enough to stop, it’s good enough to blind cast

EPOXYJIG

Epoxy Jig: Best option when sand eels are dominant forage in the area.

Doubles as a casting lure

HEAVYMINNOWJIG

Heavy Minnow Jig: Fast sink rate allows jig to drop quickly when marking fish lower in the column Great for blind casting as well

FINDING FISH INSHORE

I have access to a high number of fishing reports that I almost always rely on as my starting point, but more often than not, "yesterday's news" presents itself more as a clue than as a fishing prescription Conditions change so fast Yesterday’s reports are so often obsolete, and step 1 turns into studying “the forensics” to figure out where the fish went.

As a lure maker, I must admit my bias toward focusing on how each of these factors impact what lure I select or recommend but if I am being honest with myself: “which lure to use" is likely the last very last question to address in “cracking the code ”

FACTORS AT PLAY: Seasonality - Migrations - Weather - Wind direction - Water clarity - Local forage types - Amount of said forage - Boat traffic

POWERED BY

TIMING

Likeallgoodthingsinlife,timingiseverythingbut whenfishingforstripers,thinkingabout“timing” canoftentellyouwheretheymightbenext Oftena “shouldhavebeenhereyesterday”situationcanbe pivotedtoa“fishon”situationbyextrapolatingthe conditionsbyunderstandingpatternsfrombefore, duringandafterthehotbite.Here’showIlookat timing:

1 SEASONALITY

Forstartersearlyseason’slowwatertempscome withtheterritoryandviceversaintheheatofthe summer.Also,manyspotsfollowthesamepatterns fromyeartoyear Learnwhichspotsfishbetterat thevariousstagesoftheseason Startthere Bait sizeandtypewillalsochangethroughoutthe season

"YESTERDAY" 2

Ifyouhavegoodreports,startthere Replicateas muchaspossibleiftheconditionsaresimilarto thoseadayortwopriortowhenyouarefishing, butbepreparedtoworkfromthereifwhatyou encounterisdifferent.Manytimestheplaybook remainsunchanged,butmanytimes,anewdayin thesamespotcallsforafewsmalladjustmentsto fullycapitalize

TIDE

Ifyouknowwhattimethefishingwasgood yesterday;consideradjustingforthetimingof today Oftenstripersandthebaitmovewithtide overthecycle.Thefishingcanmoveasmanyasa coupleofmilesoveracouplehoursoffishing Ifyou arefishingwithoutareport,usethissameconcept toyouradvantage Thestageofthetideathand mighthelpsuggestwhereto“putlinesin ”

FINDING FISH

TELLS

Afullonsurfaceblitzwithbreakingfishanddiving birdsdoesn’thappeneveryday Ninetimesoutof ten,weneedtoputalittleinvestigativeworkin playbeforewestartthehunt Somesignsare obvious,likefishwecansee.Othersaresubtler. Here’sthelistofpossiblesigns;themoreI recognizewhenfishinganarea,thelongerIwill tendtolingereveniffishingisslowsinceIhave greaterexpectationsthatitwillturnonatsome point

BIRDS

Size:Forstarters,birdsizewilllikelytellyou whatsizebaitfisharefeedingon.Smallterns oftenmeansandeels,silversides,anchovies, smallsquidandwhateverelsemightbesmall. Converselywithbiggullsandgannets,oddsare thatfishinareaarefeedingonadultsquid, herring,pogies(menhaden/bunker),largesand eelsormackerel

Activity:Althoughyouwillusuallyseebird activity,sometimesyouwillheartheirexcited criesthatcanleadyoutoblitzingfishbefore youseethem Whenyouareluckyenoughto encounter“happy”birds,itisanobrainer situationtoputlinesin Loitering:Abunchofbirds“hanging”outcan beagoodsign,meaningthatsomethingjust happenedandtheyarewaitingforittohappen again Itcouldalsomeanthatadraggerwentby earlier,leavingasupplyofbycatch Italso mightbethattheyaresimplyhangingoutand resting Whoknows!Onewaytotestwhat loiteringbirdsaredoingistoapproachthem;if theyareannoyedbuttrytostayclose,that’sa goodsign.Iftheysimplytakeoff,theycanbe writtenoff

BAIT

Doyouseebaitonthesurface?Onthefinder?

That’sagoodsign.Isthebaitclustered?It’sa goodsignifbaitistightlyballedupsincethat couldbeanindicationthattheyareemployinga strategythatsomefolkscall“thestrengthin numbers ”Byformingatightschool,individual baitfishdecreasetheoddsofthembeingsingled outandeatenbypredatorsinthearea

Whatdoyouknowaboutthebaityouare seeingormarking?Whatkindisit?Ifyou don’tknowthespecies,isitbigorsmall? Packed?Scattered?Answerstoanyofthese questionswillguideyou.

ELEMENTS

CURRENT SPEED

Let’ssayyouaremarkingfishand/orbaitand theyaretowardthebottom.Knowingyour currentspeedisimportantasitwillhelpyou selectlureweightandsize,linetype,andboat speedtogetdownthere Strongcurrentscan alsohelppointtowherethefishmightendup overthecourseofthetide Baitfishoftenwork theirwaydowntide

2 LIGHT

Thinkingaboutthelightingwillhelpyouina coupleofways.Ondarkerrainyorfoggydays, striperscanoftenfeedclosertothesurface throughouttheday,whichmightimpact trollingspeed Ahigherspeedoraseriesof turnswillraiseyourluresifyouareusing heavygear Also,sometimesswitchingtoa darkerlureforgreatercontrastinlowlight willhelpincreasethelure’svisibility Idefault tomatchingthehatch,butadaptinglurecolor tothelightconditionsismyfirstlure adjustment

3 TEMPERATURE

Intheearlyseason,aheatwavecanfireup coolsluggishfishandconversely,aheatwave inhighseasoncanpushfishintodeeperwater orshutthemdownbyday.

4 WIND

Ilookatwindinthreewayswhenassessinga trollingsituationforstripers

Direction:Diditchangefrom yesterday?Ifso,wheremightthatwind directionhavepushedthefishoverthe night?DiditchangetotheEastor Northeast?Wellthatjuststinks, becausethatwindkillsfishing.Inthat case,youmightbebetteroffgrindingit outwhereyouknowthefishare You’ll beinthesameboatinanyotherspot! WindPull:Crosswindscanpushand pullontrollinglines IfI’mfishingin heavywindsituations,Iwillletmore lineoutorswitchtoadeeperorheavier lure

TIME OF DAY

Obviouslyanon-issueifyouarereplicatinga report,butthere’safewgoodrulesofthumbhere

Earlymorningfishandsunsetfishtendtobefar moreaggressive,meaningthatafastertrollingor retrievespeedmightbethewaytogo.Stripersare sensitivetolightandoftengodeeperduringthe highsunportionsoftheday

Anotherfactortoconsiderishowthebaitis swimmingormoving.Withexperience,you willdevelopasenseofhoweachtypeof baitfishmoveswhenitisbeingharassedor not Thenagain,ifyouseebaitsprayingoutof thewater,quicklychangingdirection,orthe largerschoolsbreakingupintosmaller clusters,thereisagoodchancethattheyare beinghoundedbypredators.

3

BREAKING FISH

Obviously,thebestsigniswhenyoucansee “breaking”orfeedingpredatorfish Ifyousee legitimatestripertargetsonthefishfinderandno othersigns,you’reinprettygoodshape

ImpactonMigratingfish:Arefish followingthegeneraldirectionofthe wind?Askyourselfifthepastdayto dayvariationsonwheretheywerewas consistentwiththeprevailingwind direction Iftheyaremovingwiththe wind,usethisinteltoprojectwhere youmightstart

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

FINDING FISH

ELECTRONICS

Using sonar technology can be an effective way to locate fish that aren't showing on the surface. The use of sonar can help detect the location of gamefish, baitfish, structure and even birds The sonar emits a pulse of sound waves that bounce off the fish and surrounding objects, and the returning echoes are then displayed on the fishfinder's screen By analyzing the displayed data, anglers can determine the depth and location of the fish, as well as their size and proximity to other objects such as bait, the bottom, and underwater structures.

Using sonar technology to locate gamefish requires some skill and knowledge Experienced anglers often use a combination of visual observation, sea surface temperature readings, and sonar data to locate fish Additionally, the type of sonar device used can impact the accuracy of the results. For instance, side-scanning sonar provides a wider view of the water, making it easier to detect fish at a greater distance, while traditional sonar devices are better suited for finding fish directly beneath the boat It's also essential to understand the behavior and habits of your target specvies to predict where they might be located By combining sonar data with other fishing techniques and knowledge, anglers can increase their chances of successfully locating and catching fish.

School of Stripers

Onetypeofsonarthathasgainedsomeserioustractionoverthe pastfewyearsissideimaging Thebestandsimplestwayto describesideimagingisbypicturingyourtraditionaldown imagingsonar,andnowprojectthatoutoneachsideofyourvessel forupto300'bothways!Youcanimaginehowusefulthissonar canbe,especiallywhilesearchingforscatteredfish WhetherI knowfishareinageneralareabutIcan'tlocatethemwithmy eyes,orIamexploringunfamiliarwaters,Ialwaysmakesureto havemyscreensplittoshowmysideimaging. Myfavoritewayto usesidescanistositecastforfishyoucansee!

SIDE IMAGING DOWN IMAGING RADAR

Stripers

Looking for bait, birds, breaking fish, and nervous water is your number one best bet for finding fish But what if you don't see any immediate life? Does that mean that there aren't fish in the area? Maybe Or maybe it's because these fish aren't showing on the surface That is where your fish finders down imaging plays a crucial role. By observing your down imaging while drifting or slowly idling, you may reveal things you can't see from above Whether it's one or two fish on the bottom, or a school of bait being pursued by bass like the image above Down imaging is one of your best friends for locating fish

Birdsareyourbestbetforfindingfishfromadistance Knowing howtouseyourradartofindclustersofbirdsinthefogmaybe thedeterminingfactorinacatchingfish Nowadays,radarscome pre-setwitha"birdmode",whichisadesignatedsettingfor locatingclustersofbirdsonyourradar

Bait

&theIslands Amaturesilversidecanreachabout 6inchesbutareoftenfoundinschoolsoutinopen waterandarefrequentlybetween2and4inches long Silversidestendtomoveslowlyinlarge schools.Theirsilverylaterallineisverydistinctive andcanbeproblematiciffishcanbetookeyedin onthem Thebestretrievespeedformimicking silversidesisaslowtomediumretrieve

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Silver2ndChoice:Bone

TOP INSHORE FORAGE

Perhapsbyvariousdifferentnames,Ithinkthere aresandeelsineverybodyofwater Sandeelscan rangefrom2to9inches Nothingdrivesbassand albiescrazierthanbigballsofsandeels Theycan showupinalllevelsofthewatercolumnsobe readywithdifferentweights Sandeelsareolive andsilverandinlikekind,thosearethecolorsyou woulduse.Thatsaid,alongnarrowprofilegoesa longwayinimitatingsandeelsaswell

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Olive2ndChoice:Silver

Likethejuvenileherring,bassandalbiesgetvery aggressivewhenkeyedinonsmallmackerel.They arefastmovingschools,sobereadytobenimble Obviouslygreenisthetopcolorformatchingthe hatchformackerel Asfasttoveryfastretrieveis idealfortheselittlespeedsters

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Green2ndChoice:BlackandSilver

CHARTERGRADESLIDER

Youknowthefallhaseitherarrivedorimminent whenpeanutbunkershowup Likethebay anchovy,peanutbunkerballupingreatnumbers justunderthesurface Peanutbunkertypically rangefrom2to3inches.Likeboththebayanchovy andthesilversides,peanutbunkertoohaveavery distinctivecolorpatterns Whentheyaredead, theyappeartobesilverastheylosetheir colorationveryquickly Don’tbefooled!Butalive andwellintheirhabitat,Peanutbunkerhavean olivetwinge,withpinkcolorations Yourgoto colorpatternswillbeolive,ideallywithapink twinge

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Bone2ndChoice:Silver

SQUID

Aroundinshorestriperwaters,youwilloften encounterlargesquidinthespringthathave movedontotheshoalstospawn,followedby juvenilesquidrelativelysoonafterthespawning seasonisover Needlesstosay,smallsquidarea bassdelightinJuneandJuly Smallsquidschool up,butnotastightlyassomeoftheotherwehave covered

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Amber2ndChoice:Pink

Latesummerandfallarethetimeswhenthese smallbaitfishmaketheirwayoutintothebig ocean Juvenileherringgetballedupeasily,butin myopinionoftenseparatefasterthanother schooledbaitfish Whileschoolsofjuvenilesea herringcanappearatanytime,juvenileriver herringtypicallymoveoutoftheirbirthingwaters andoutintoopenwaterfollowingadayormoreof heavyrainfall.Ipersonallyfindthatpredators keyedinonherringtendtobetheeasiesttocatch

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Blue 2ndChoice:Bone

EPOXYJIG

EPOXYJIG

PROTAILPADDLE

PEANUTJIG

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Silver2ndChoice:Bone

TOP ALBIE FORAGE

Perhapsbyvariousdifferentnames,Ithinkthere aresandeelsineverybodyofwater Sandeelscan rangefrom2to9inches Nothingdrivesbassand albiescrazierthanbigballsofsandeels Theycan showupinalllevelsofthewatercolumnsobe readywithdifferentweights Sandeelsareolive andsilverandinlikekind,thosearethecolorsyou woulduse.Thatsaid,alongnarrowprofilegoesa longwayinimitatingsandeelsaswell

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Olive2ndChoice:Silver

Likethejuvenileherring,bassandalbiesgetvery aggressivewhenkeyedinonsmallmackerel.They arefastmovingschools,sobereadytobenimble Obviouslygreenisthetopcolorformatchingthe hatchformackerel Asfasttoveryfastretrieveis idealfortheselittlespeedsters

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Green2ndChoice:BlackandSilver

Youknowthefallhaseitherarrivedorimminent whenpeanutbunkershowup Likethebay anchovy,peanutbunkerballupingreatnumbers justunderthesurface Peanutbunkertypically rangefrom2to3inches.Likeboththebayanchovy andthesilversides,peanutbunkertoohaveavery distinctivecolorpatterns Whentheyaredead, theyappeartobesilverastheylosetheir colorationveryquickly Don’tbefooled!Butalive andwellintheirhabitat,Peanutbunkerhavean olivetwinge,withpinkcolorations Yourgoto colorpatternswillbeolive,ideallywithapink twinge

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Bone2ndChoice:Silver

BUTTERFISH

Tinybutterfishcanbefoundballedupalloverthe Cape&Islandsinthefall Butterfishhaveaunique profilethatishardtoreplicateandstillhaveagood swimmingactionwithametallure Asaresult small,fatandroundsoftbaitsinaboneorsilvery colorationisthewaytogo.Theyareslowmoving, soaslowtomediumretrieveisideal

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Silver2ndChoice:Blue

Schoolsofbayanchoviesareeasilyidentifiableby theorangeormuddybrownappearanceofthebait ballinthewater Theyaretypicallyabout2to4 incheslong Likethesilverside,theircolorationis verydistinctive,easilyidentifiedbytheirorangeor brownishappearanceandsilverstriping Alsolike thesilverside,bassandalbiescanreallykeyinon theirappearance,makingithardtocatchwithout therightprofile.Anchovyfeedscanoftenbethe mostexcitingastheyshowerthewater

TOP COLORS

1stChoice:Shrimp 2ndChoice:Silver

FISH SMART FISH SIMPLE.

INSHORE RIGGING

I tend to keep my rigging procedures and components as simple as possible and I try to do as much as possible at home prior to the trip. That said I often need something from my rigging kit Having a rigging kit as comprehensive as your first aid it will save more than one trip Below, find our up to date inshore rigging videos:

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Capt. Mike's Inshore Rigging Playlist

WHAT TO USE?

Inline hooks are ideal for casting on jigs of all sizes and shallow water jigging in up to 60’ of water

Treble hooks are popular on small casting jigs and for shallow water jigging for small groundfish such as porgy and sea bass

Bucktail hooks offer an additional length, flash and add extra action to your jigs & plugs

Assist hook rigging is ideal for jigging with water over 60' deep and for targeting larger gamefish like Striper, Tuna, Grouper and large Snapper.

TREBLE VS. INLINE RIGGING

Treble hooks should be approximately the width of the side of lure.

Inline hooks should be wide enough to cradle the lure at it's mid-section. Assist hooks should span 1/3 to 1/2 of the lure length.

CHARTER GRADE POPPER

RIGGING GUIDE: PLUGS

WHAT TO USE?

Q: Which is easiest to un-hook?

A: A single hook is easiest to unhook But, if using trebles, you can facilitate the release by mashing the barbs down with pliers.

Q: Which is most successful?

A: All hooks “do the job” to be done but treble hooks are hard to beat in terms of landing ratio

Q: What's a good teaser for my favorite plug?

A: Bucktail hooks make great teasers by adding length, flash and action to the lure. Bucktail is more durable than using a softbait teaser

WHEN TO USE?

A) A double treble hook configuration is the most popular rigging method for plugs and offers the best hook up ratios

B) Two “Single” style hooks are the easiest to “de-hook” but some anglers complain of missed fish

C) The "Single/Treble Combo" is a compromise Some anglers say this configuration enhances the action.

Treble hooks should be approximately the width of the side of lure.

A B C

DOUBLE TREBLE

Treble hooks should be about as wide as the lure body

Inline sytle hooks offer perfect articulation upward or downward

DOUBLE SINGLE

Center hook should face downwards.

The single / treble combo is an angler favorite for better hookups and easier releases.

Inline hooks should be wide enough to cradle the lure at it's mid-section

SINGLE / TREBLE

Bucktail hook adds extra flash, length and action to your favorite plugs.

BUCKTAIL HOOKS

POWEREDBY

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

RIGGING GUIDE: SOFTBAITS

BODY STYLE

EELS: Use to imitate live eels, slender baitfish and sand eels.

PADDLES: Use to attract scattered gamefish with tail vibrations or to imitate larger baitfish.

SOFTBAIT RIGGING

(A) Soft Circle: Topwater

PROS: Amazing action, super easy to rig. Simply screw the bait in. CONS: Can miss smaller fish.

(B) Swimbait Hook: Midwater

Often lightly weighted, this hook is typically known for a subsurface presentation. PROS: Weed Resistant, keels bait, aids with casting. CONS: Requires more rigging maintenance.

(C) Jig Head: Bottom

Best for deep water or near-bottom presentation.

PROS: Easy to rig CONS: Limited to a deeper presentation

SOFTBAIT RETRIEVES

Softbaits can be fished in a similarly to casting jigs (see page 1). Or visit hogylures.com/retrieves

TOPWATER: SOFT CIRCLE

MID-WATER: SWIMBAIT HOOK

BOTTOM: JIG HEAD

PRE-RIGGED VS RIG YOUR OWN

RIG YOUR OWN:

PROS: Allows for customization of presentation and may be more economical if you can repair baits.

CONS: Requires periodic rigging and “maintenance” throughout the day

PRE-RIGGED:

PROS: Easy to use, swims perfectly out of the package and more durable.

CONS: You are limited to the “built in” action that is not customizable.

Ultimate free-swinging topwater presentation.

Weedless rigging for surface and mid-water column walk the dog action

A B C

Jig head rigging for vertical jigging & casting presentations worked near the bottom

INSHORE FISH CARE

Regardless of whether you intend to release a fish or keep it for the table, it’s in everybody’s best interest to practice proper fish care I am a big advocate for utilizing the resources we are lucky enough to have here in the Northeast, but I also want to see future generations experience our beautiful fishery. Whether it's "Catch and Release" or "Catch and Cook", it is our job as anglers to help sustain the various fisheries the Northeast has to offer so we can share our burning passion for fishing with the future anglers to come.

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Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

CATCH & RELEASE TACTICS

PRACTICE CATCH & RELEASE

Tokeepthestripedbasspopulationhealthy,it'simportanttopracticeproperhandling andfishingtechniquestominimizedamagedonetoacaughtfish,andensurethefish weallloveisabletoswimoffstrongandhealthy Withalittlebitofplanningandgear modification,youcandoyourpartinensuringstripedbasscontinuetothrivehereon theeastcoast!

1 GO BARBLESS

Usingbarblesshooksishighlyrecommendedasitmakesthereleaseofyourcatch quickerandeasierwhileminimizingharmtothefish'smouth Youcanusepliersto flattenthebarbsonyourhooksorfilethemoffentirely,especiallyforlargerhooks You maybesurprisedathowfewfishyoulosewithbarblesshookscomparedtobarbed hooks It'snotuncommonforanglerstohookthemselveswhilefishing,soremoving thebarbscansaveyoufromunnecessarypainandinjury It'sbettertotakeprecautions nowandenjoyasuccessfulandhumanefishingexperience.

2 MINIMIZE FIGHT TIMES

It'scrucialtoavoidunnecessarilyprolongingthefightwithafishasitcancauseundue stressandharmtothefish.Exhaustedfishmayswimawayinitially,buttheycanendup dyingafewdayslaterduetotheaccumulationoflacticacidintheirsystem Thelonger thestruggle,themorelacticacidbuildsupandthehighertheriskoflong-termharm Therefore,it'sessentialtousetheappropriatelineteststrengthforthetypeoffish you'retargetingandtoreelinthefishquicklyandefficiently,whilestillhandlingit withcare Remember,thegoalistocatchthefishsuccessfully,butnotattheexpenseof itswell-being

3 KEEP FISH WET

It'sbesttoavoidliftingfishoutofthewaterandminimizetouchingthemasmuchas possible Manyfishcanbereleasedwithoutanyphysicalcontactbygentlyremovingthe hookwithyourhandorpliersandallowingthefishtoswimaway Studieshaveshown thatkeepingfishinthewatercansignificantlyincreasetheirchancesofsurvival Imaginefinishinganexhaustingactivitylikerunning,onlytohaveyourairsupplycut off-that'spreciselywhathappenswhenweremovefishfromthewater Fishthat remainoutofthewaterforoveraminuteareatahighriskofdiminishedsurvival,and oncetheyhavebeenoutforthreeminutesormore,theirsurvivalchancesarealmost non-existent,eveniftheyswimaway So,ifyouwanttohelpconservefishpopulations andpromoteethicalfishingpractices,keeptheminthewaterasmuchaspossibleand handlethemwithcarewhenyouneedto

Check out this video on how to rig a Charter Grade Popper for Catch & Release fishing!

4 CATCH - PHOTO - RELEASE (CPR)

Whilecatch-photo-release(CPR)isanadmirablepractice,it'scrucialtotakephotos quicklyandwithminimalimpactonthefish Afishwithadeeplyembeddedhookor linecansuffersevereinjuriesandhavealimitedchanceofsurvivalifleftdangling Takingphotosofanglersstandinginthewater,holdingafishjustabovethesurface, drippingwithwater,cancreatestunningimagesthatconveyapositivemessage.In contrast,photosoflongstringsofdeadfishorbucketsoffishareconsidereddistasteful andarebecomingincreasinglyfrownedupon Ifyoudokeepsomefish,it'sbesttolift onlyoneortwoofthebestonesandtakeaquickphotowhilestillnearthewater.This way,youcanhaveamemorythatyoucanbeproudof,andotherswillfindcomfortable tolookat Remember,thegoalistopromoteresponsiblefishingpracticesand conservation,andeveryactionwetakecanmakeadifference

FILLETING "FIN-FISH"

Soyou'vedecidedtokeepafishortwoforthetable Maybe limitedoutonBlackSeabass?OrafewscuptobakewithRitz crackersandbutter?Maybeevenabluefishforthesmoker Whilesomefishmayhavethickerortougherscales,and somemayhavedifferentbonestructures,theoverallprocess remainsthesame Withasharpknifeandafewsimple techniques,anyonecanlearnhowtofilletafishandcreate deliciousmealsinnotime!

1 ANGLE CUT

STRIPED BASS BLUEFISH

The best tasting stripers are those that are feeding on crustaceans in rocky areas The oiler their diet, the fishier they will test Stripers are best on day #3 in fridge as meat relaxes

Bluefish don't keep well in the fridge While all fish benefit from bleeding, it is especially the case with bluefish With soft flesh, blues should be well iced and cleaned promptly at the dock. Serve as soon a possible.

Yourfirstincisionwhenfilletinganyfin-fishwillbewhatwe liketocallyour"AngleCut".Thisisacutfromthetopofthe fisheshead,behindthepectoralfin,andtowardsthe stomach TIP:Ifyou'redealingwithafishwithtougher scales,likeaseabass,slightlyangleyourknifetoworkunder thescales,opposedtotryingtocutdireectlyontopofthem

2 TOP SHOULDER CUT

SEA BASS SCUP

Sea bass make excellent sushi! Like stripers, they can age a couple days in the fridge

New England's best kept fish secret Bake in casserole with buttery crackers

CAPT. MIKE'S FILLET KNIVES

Yournextincisionwillbeyour"TopShoulderCut" Rotate yourfishtohaveitsdorsalfinfacingyou Simplyinsertyour knifealongthetopshoulder,pointingtowardsthebellyand followthebackboneallthewaydowntowardsthetail, makingasfewsawingmotionsaspossible Thiswillresultin muchcleanerlookingfilets Onceyougettowardsthetail sectionofthefish,youcancomeouttheothersideofthe fishtoseparatethefillet

3

FINISH & SKIN

Create a little "nub" for a better grip when skinning

Thehardestpartisover!Nowit sjustamatterofcarefully passingovertheribcageofyourfishandcomingoutthe otherside. Flipyourfish,repeatthisprocessandyourin businessforcooking!TIP:Becarefulnottopuncturethe stomachcontentswhenfinishingoffthefillet

6" FILLET KNIFE = Groundfish

9" FILLET KNIFE = Tuna

8" FILLET KNIFE = Bass and Blues

INSHORE GEAR CHECKLISTS

For busy people like me, “over-packing” is deceptively easier because you don’t have to think Just load a bunch of stuff and go But that’s a trap!! You'll be all over the place A ready to go “perennial” system will save prep-time and fishing time because you did all your thinking at the beginning of the season which is why I love the "golf bag" analogy to the Mesh Crate system It's just "grab and go" knowing that you have a complete set of clubs but in our cases, we're better because we are talking about fishing! :)

The Hogy System:

Fishy: Should speak for itself here!! You want the best lures that catch the best fish

Simple: Gear that is so simple that a novice could use with 30 seconds of coaching but more importantly, completely understood by you to the nth degree. Like a golfer’s relationship to clubs You want to focus on the fishing Not the gear

Automatic: Like an inventoried arsenal. Ready before each trip. Your “go-bag”.

Durable: Gear that stands up to monster fish and lasts all season in your bag

POWERED BY

POWERED BY

Capt. Mike's Inshore Gear Walk-Through

Pros: Cons

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

GEAR CHECKLIST

CASTING LURES

SLIDERS

Bigbaitpresentation

Multiplespeeds

Limitedtosub-surface

Slow Tail Surface Pencil

PROTAIL PADDLE (UNIVERSAL)

Gethere:

POPPERS

Pros: Cons

Gethere:

Epichits

Bigbaitpresentation

Surface noise - Good for scattered fish and blindcasting

Mimicslargebaitfish

Aggressivebirdscanbeproblematic

Difficult to cover lots of ground at slow to mediumspeeds

Wind resistance when casting, distance maybelimited

DOG WALKER

Pros: Cons

Epichits

Bigbaitpresentation

Surface noise - Good for scattered fish and blindcasting.

Mimicslargebaitfish

Fasterthanpopper-covermoreground

Aggressivebirdscanbeproblematic

Lessnoisythanpopper

Gethere:

Bone, Black Silver, Olive

Pink, Orange,Bone, Olive Sliders Poppers

Gethere:

Pros: Cons

Small bait presentation. Ideal butterfish imitation

MultipleSpeeds

Can fish multiple depths including verticallyjigged

Bluefishwilltear

Olive, Pink, Blue, Bone

Olive, Pink, Blue, Bone, Chart. AC

Dog Walker Epoxy Jig

Olive, Pink, Blue, Bone, Chart

Olive, Pink, Blue, Bone, Silver

Pros: Cons

PerfectSquidimitation

Canbecasted,jiggedortrolled

PT Paddle Squid Plug Olive, Bone, Blue Butter

Floating, Sinking

Pros: Cons

Gethere:

Singlehookmaydecreasehookupratio

SQUID PLUG EPOXY JIG

Gethere:

Ultimatesandeelimitation

Multiplespeeds

Can fish multiple depths including skippy on surface

Canalsobeverticallyjigged

Limitedbyprofile

Pros: Cons

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

GEAR CHECKLIST

JIGGING LURES

SAND EEL JIG PROTAIL PADDLE (UNIVERSAL)

Ultimatesandeelimitation

Fastsink

Fishfastorslow

Multipleweights

Extremelystrong

Onlyjigging

FLUTTER PITCH JIG

FlutterSlowPitchStyle

Smallbaitpresentation

Challengetogetdowninheavycurrent

EPOXY JIG

Pros: Cons

Slowpitchstylejigging

Ultimatesandeelimitation

Castandjigged

Challengetogetdowninheavycurrent

Ideallyre-riggedwithassisthook

Pros: Cons

Smallbaitpresentation Idealbutterfishimitation

MultipleSpeeds

Canfishmultipledepthsincludingverticallyjigged

Bluefish willtear

Slowsinkwithpaddle

SLAPPY JIGGIN' EEL

Ultimateeelimitation

Bluefishcanteareasily

PROTAIL EEL

Pros:

Canfishmultipledepths

Ultimateslowaction

Ultimatesandeelimitation

Castandjigged

Bluefishcantearplasticovertime

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

GEAR CHECKLIST

GROUNDFISH LURES

SAND

HEAVY MINNOW JIG

Pros: Leader Rigging 30,40, 50lb Flouro. Leader

FLUTTER PITCH JIG

Assist hooks, Bucktail teasers S.E Jigs FP Jigs 2 5, 3 5, 4.5, 6.5oz Olive, Pink,Green

FlutterSlowPitchStyle

Smallbaitpresentation

Pros:

Slowpitchstylejigging

Gethere: Gethere: FISH SMART FISH SIMPLE. POWEREDBY

4.5oz Olive, Pink, Silver Epoxy Heavy Minnow Jig 2oz Olive, Pink, Blue, Bone, Silver

3/4, 1 1/4, 2oz Green, Olive, Pink, Silver Squid Jig Biki Rigs Amber, Glow, Pink, Green Crystal, Tube

BIKI RIGS

Gethere: Gethere: Gethere: Gethere:

Ultimatesandeelimitation

Castandjigged

Challengetogetdowninheavycurrent Ideallyre-riggedwithassisthook

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

GEAR CHECKLIST

ALBIE LURES

SAND EEL JIG PROTAIL PADDLE (UNIVERSAL)

Capt. Mike's Inshore Playbook

GEAR CHECKLIST

TROLLING CHECKLIST

CHARTER GRADE SLIDER

or a ts e. ve

colors the heart of the Hogy Perfect Tube is a pretuned solid stainless steel core designed to give the tubesperfect,slowturningaction

Pros:

PreTunedAction

HeavyDutyWire

DualWeightSystemfordeepwatertrolling

Cons

Bluefishwilltearovertime

Gethere:

Kee nam , y of fishy colors that catch fish, not fishermen. The rigged version comes pre-rigged the way a professional would fish them “out of the package”. The sliders are also available unrigged for those whorigtheirown.

Pros:

DeadlySidetosidewobble

TunaGradehooks

Through-wiredplatform

Cons:

Treblehookscanbedifficultwithbluefish

Gethere:

IN-LINE TROLLING WEIGHT PROTAIL PADDLES

Ourtopriggingrecommendationforinshoretrolling withoutleadcoreorwireline.Designedforadding additionalweightforlighttackletrolling,these ball-bearingin-linetrollingweightscanbepaired withtheHogyPerfectTube,CharterGradeSliders, andavarietyofpre-riggedsoftbaitsforprecise depthtrolling

Pros:

Doubleballbearingreduceslinetwists

ExtraHDOffshoresnapswivelconnection

Fastsinktaperedhead

Cons:

MoreDrag

Sinkstubewhenoutofgear/landingfish

Gethere:

Wine, Day Glow, BubbleGum Black 1.5, 4, 6oz In-Line Weight PT Paddle 3 and 4oz

2,3,4oz Bone, Olive, Black Silver

The Pre-Rigged Pro Tail Series was designed with big game inshore anglers in mind Featuring a specialized blend of tough, yet flexible soft plastic, professionally molded around the VMC Barbarian Jig Hooks UV infused soft plastic blend increases visibilityinlowlightconditions

Pros:

Swim in and out of the wake and have the appearanceofaconfused,lonebaitfish. Ability to be dropped down and jigged while fighting a fish. This has resulted in dozens of hookups on my boat over the years and why I like the lightness of my rod and reel combo so much It’seasyenoughtoswitchgearsandjig Tunagradebarbarianhooks

Cons:

SmallerFootprint

Bluefishtears

Gethere:

CAPT. MIKE’S INSHORE PLAYBOOK

Cape Cod is a magical place to be an angler. Serving as the nexus between the Southernmost reach of cool crisp Labrador Current and the Northernmost reach of The Gulfstream, the Cape hosts multiple groundfish species like black seabass, scup, fluke and tautog AND just about every highly migratory species worth catching like tuna, stripers, albies and more. Waters aside, Cape Cod also boasts just about every fishing terrain imaginable including crystal clear flats, boulders rips and wide open blue water Pretty much every fishery in the world can be replicated here on Cape Cod in some way.

You are holding in your hand my personal playbook for inshore fishing that I have developed over the years on the water. Many inshore species here Cape Cod behave similarly all along the coast. I deeply believe that the techniques you’ll learn here can be used anywhere around the world.

CCheers, apt Mike

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Salty Cape was established in 2012 as a spin off of Hogy Lure Co to serve as a blog for all things fishing on Cape Cod, helping anglers shorten the learning curve to the dozens of micro seasons here from groundfish to tuna. We also like to think there’s a “Cape” in all places "salty" which is why we feel so lucky that we can produce instructional videos for locals here and anglers abroad alike.

Hogy Lure Co was founded by Capt Mike Hogan in 2006. Originally based in Capt. Mike’s Basement as a side hustle, Hogy has since evolved into an international saltwater fishing company based around the mission to “simplify fishing” by developing “charter grade” products focused on catching fish, rather than fishermen! We fish hard. Have fun and especially enjoy helping people have a highly productive day playing “hooky”!

Watch The Salty Cape Trailer

Watch Hogy Lure Co. Mission Statement

WWW.HOGYLURES.COM