"It's the most wonderful time of the year," is how the happy Christmas song goes. If you're a fisherman or more specifically, a kayak fisherman, you will be singing the song for a different reason. The big striper migration is coming to the bay and the waters off Kiptopeke, which are known as the striper capital of the world and the easiest place for a kayak angler to land a trophy striper.

What makes this fishery so easy for kayaking trophy striper hunters is its location and its ridiculously easy technique. The row of nine concrete ships off Kiptopeke were sunk in place as breakwaters for the ferry that carried vehicles from VA Beach to the Eastern Shore before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel was built. The ships are an awesome big striper attractor. A kayak angler can hide in the lee of the wind behind the massive ship walls. The entire area is fishable in an east wind, which are very frequent this time of year.
The technique for this striper fishery is easy, no trolling, casting or complex rigs. There is no need for an anchor or a multiple rod spread. In fact, when I fish the ships, I only use one rod.

The ships are lined up end to end. When the current hits the large out-of-the-water structure it pushes water through and around the ends and alleys (the openings between the ship ends.) This creates great bait trapping eddies and deep channels. This is where we target them.

Live eels are the name of the game in the waters of Kiptopeke. We hook the eels up through the jaw and out an eye with 10/0 Owner SSW cutting point hooks snelled to 60 to 80 lb. leader to a barrel swivel. On my 50lb. braided main line I use a 3 to 6 oz. egg sinker to hold it down in the current. I place a bead between the weight and the swivel to protect the knot. I use a custom heavy rod from Jesse Buky (JB rods) called the Striper Stopper. The heavy tackle keeps me close to the fish during the fight when it makes a run to the alley. With a heavy rod I can rein them away from a sure break off.

When I have the fish beat and it’s next to my kayak, I don't use a net or a lip-griper to land them. I use the leg scoop. I put my left leg into the water, leader the fish with my left hand. When I have the fish facing me between my leg and the kayak, I put the rod down in my right hand, reach over and grab the lower jaw of the striper with a firm grip. I lift with the hand on the jaw, the leader and with my leg to slide the fish into my foot well. Just remember; Leg, Leader, Lip and Lift and the fish will be in you kayak.

They can bite at any time of the day, but what seemed to be the best time to get 'em was the change of the current. If the current change is around dusk, dawn or at night, that’s even better.

The trophy striper fishery is water temperature sensitive. If the winds blow too much of the cold Canadian air, the Bay temperature will drop below 42 degrees and the fish will move out. If the weather stays steady, it is the most wonderful time of the year for kayak anglers to GET ON'EM.  
 
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