I plan my trips to the surf by selecting spots based on the migratory patterns of striped bass, the time of year, the moon phase, and tide. I tend select a spectrum of presentations (plugs, soft plastics, eels, jigs, and tins) that will fish the entire water column.
When I arrive at a spot (e.g. “Death Rock”), I start fishing my top water presentations. Then I move to my sub-subsurface and down low offerings. When conditions are right, I fish fly teasers on all my presentations (except poppers). I match the color of my teasers to my presentation.
The height of the water column is constantly changing as the tide floods or ebbs. Fish swim up and down this dynamic water column. There is no algorithm to predict where in the water column a fish will be at any given time. And so, I take a systematic approach. I fan cast each spot and fish the water entire column until I hook up.
