[Papasown]

Hi BulletBob, The principles of dwnrigger fishing is basically the same in salt water as in fresh water. I have fished salt water my entire life, and have gone through some techniques that are not as interesting to me any more, particularly dragging wire. After many years, it has become more like work than fun. I would much rather snag and drop bunker, but put the bunker on a large circle hook with a fish finder rig and 2oz. sinker to keep it down. The release of larger fish is less damaging with the circle hook. I don't care to keep the big cows as their flavor is different, and the meat is so muscled up, more so than smaller striped bass.
I got into downriggers so I could drag small plugs and spoons using light tackle, and enjoying the fight more. I also cut down the lip on stretch plugs, and enjoy draging them on the downrigger. When your fish finder marks fish or bait at a particular depth, you can immediately set to the depth, watch you rigger ball in the water colum, and even anticipate the hookup. These methods come from frshwater fishermen like yourself, Bob, but the salt water species go for it as well. There is a ton of info out there in all the fishing magazines, and media. Just adapt a little to the salt.
Being a fresh water fisherman, You probably are familiar with "Spoon Plugging made famous by Buck Perry. I also Spoon Plug in the Manasquan River, and back bay locations, and have had impressive catches. For those of you that have not read Buck Perry's book on SpoonPlugging, there is a wealth of info he put out that applies to all inland fisheries, salt and fresh. He was an amazing man that designed his own spoons that have a distinctive shape and porpose. OK, Who's gonna Google Buck Perry first, I would venture to guess it will be Gerry Zagorski, but I would suspect he knows about the SpoonPlugging Nation. LOL Be well, and catch 'em up......Papa