How-To: Small Soft Baits for Summertime Bass in Woods Hole

We spent 15 minutes on the phone with Capt. Dave Peros to discuss casting small soft baits for summertime striped bass in Woods Hole with the Hogy Sand Eel Series. Here's what we learned... 

Capt. Dave Peros
Website: www.captdaveperos.com

Location: Woods Hole, MA

Tides: It is best to fish on a dropping or west tide. As the water levels go down, bass will concentrate along structure near the main channel.

Approach: Fishing the ledges and rock piles while stemming the tide and casting across current over rock piles. At times you will need to fish breaking water. There can be fish pushing small squid and baitfish on the surface; other times working all the structure to locate fish.

Fishing Woods Hole with light tackle requires constant boat handling. Once a fish is hooked, you will need to maneuver the boat toward the main channel to avoid running into rock piles.

Rigging Selection: 1/8, ¼-ounce 1/0 X-Strong Hogy Jig Heads

Bait Selection: 4.6″ Hogy Sand Eel, 4″ Skinny Series

Why This Bait? These bass are feeding on squid, big sand eels and butterfish and the large profile makes it easy for stripers to locate the bait in murky or turbulent water. During midday sun, the bone color has been the most productive.

Colors: Bone, Bubble Gum and Amber are great for the Skinny Series. Light or Dark Sand Eel for the Sand Eels.

Retrieve: While stemming the tide, cast and let the bait drift through the rip. A twitch/pause retrieve works very well, though sometimes a dead stick drift and retrieve on a taunt line will be very effective as the bait drifts through the current and wiggles from wave action.

OUTFIT

Rod: St. Croix TIS 76LM Light moderate action rod

Reel: Shimano Sustain 5000

Line: 12-pound test Silver Thread

Leader: 20-pound test Seaguar Fluorocarbon tied with a blood knot non slip loop knot to rigging.