Striper on weight treble

[Needlefish]

Yesterday, caught a striper on a weighted treble, not baited, not snagged.

While surf fishing in Monmouth County I noticed a dark mass off the beach, looked like a school of bait. Put on a weighted treble, cast it to the far side, took up the slack, and swept the rod tip back. Felt the weight immediately and thought cool I snagged a bunker. But it was no bunker, lots more weight and it took off. Then I thought, did I snag a striper or some other fish? Long story short, landed a 29” striper hooked in the lip.

I know it’s not legal to snag bait then leave it swimming for a striper to inhale. But if no bait was snagged and the striper is hooked in the mouth, I guess its like fishing with any lure with treble hooks. I was trying to imagine how a conservation officer might view it. There was definitely no bait involved.


I’ve been surf fishing since the 80’s and this is another first for me.

[NJ219bands]

I did the same thing to a big bluefish while fishing 🎣 from a boat a long time ago.

[bulletbob]

lets face facts, most fish really aren't that smart. I have had some nice fish of various species hit sinkers as I was reeling them up, recently had a nice smallmouth come up and try to eat a bobber,,They are forever hitting swivels, sinkers, bare hooks....The fish you caught saw fast movement in the midst of a maelstrom of darting swirling baitfish, and hit a chunk of lead with hooks in it instead of the rapidly moving baitfish he had been targeting.... Fish get pretty stupid when they feeding aggressively, and there is a lot of competition around...... bob

[Tuna Tales]

FYI from NJ Fish, Game and Wildlife website:

What if I snag a bunker and as I am reeling in the bunker to transfer it to a circle hook, I catch and land a striped bass?


A. The striped bass incidentally caught on the treble hook must be returned to the water immediately without unnecessary injury.


Joe T.