NJ Kayaker Catches 58-Pound Bass During Striper Migration
Raritan Bay is a stopping point for schools of stripers on their yearly migration north to waters in New England.
![Raritan Bay 58 Pound Striper](https://www.onthewater.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/165648645_467713244342416_3290907296330468200_n-480x600.jpg)
Bobby Read holding a 58-pound striper he caught while fishing in his Hobie kayak.
Launching out of Keyport, Bobby Read was making his first kayak fishing trip of the season for striped bass in the waters of Raritan Bay, an area in Northern New Jersey he has become well acquainted with since it’s close to home.
As water temperatures climb on the Atlantic coast in the spring, large schools of stripers migrate to Raritan Bay to feed heavily in April. When the time is right, they continue their striper migration north, swimming up the Hudson River to spawn in mid to late May, when water temperatures hit 58 to 60 degrees.
The sun was high in the sky and the bay was flat. As noon approached on Mar. 30, Read and his friends pedaled in 47-degree bay water through various depths, trying to find a striper willing to eat his homemade 10-inch wooden lure.
Built with Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Read’s homemade lures can be tuned to swim down to 15 feet deep, creating a formidable target for big stripers searching for food at the bottom of the bay.
While trolling towards a marker in the bay, Read spotted a large baitfish on the surface and decided to turn left to begin working his way back towards his group. During the change in direction, a gigantic striper smashed his stretched Atom 40 lure.
![Atom 40 Fishing Lure](https://www.onthewater.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/166713754_278058697215499_3527289608868426510_n.jpg)
“I told my buddies it’s a solid fish and to give me space,” says Read, who battled the bass for 15 minutes before it finally surfaced 15 feet away his kayak, with both hooks in the striper.
As it broke the surface, one of Read’s friends demonstratively said to him, “I’ve never seen a fish like this in my life!”
With the fish at the kayak and the wind picking up, the fish rolled on its side, signaling the end of the fight. As he prepared to bring the striper in the kayak, it found a second burst of energy, and headed straight back down to the bottoms of Raritan Bay.
![Kayak Fishing Striped Bass](https://www.onthewater.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/166585337_159501472703532_7662364742475056608_n.jpg)
After a second fight, Read found the fish at his kayak. “I held it up and everyone says it’s the biggest bass they’ve ever seen,” says Read, who has 9 years of kayak fishing experience.
Using a fish weighing tool called a Boga Grip, he held the striper up to determine its weight. The scale read 58 pounds, topping his previous personal best striper of 52 pounds. Not bad for the first trip and striper of the 2021 season.
As the tide began trickling in, Read revived the striper by swimming it alongside his kayak for several minutes. The fish took the hint, swimming away strong to continue the yearly striper migration to waters in the Northeast.
Read says he and his friends have been using this one lure since last season, breaking 14 personal bests along the way.
![Raritan Bay Map](https://www.onthewater.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Raritan-Bay-Map-750x465.jpg)
14 on “NJ Kayaker Catches 58-Pound Bass During Striper Migration”
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Creed Baxter Not trying to take anything away from this fish of a lifetime, but I think onthewater should have reconsidered posting this given that this fish was prespawn. In my opinion these fish should be protected until they finish that process and unfortunately this fish most likely died and was unable to unleash her million plus eggs. I’m sure this article resulted in a lot of anglers targeting similar fish and encouraging them to do so seems counterproductive. Again great fish, just too early.
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Mike Most fishing sites/companies as such only care about the buck and pretend to be an activist
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Snap He got his picture that’s all they care about
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James best That fish is nowhere near 58lbs
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Dave T. You Guys are just jealous! Kudos for Him!
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Nick I agree with you about this 100%
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Dogg I would like to know how he really weighed a fish of that length while still in a kayak on the water.
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King kat I agree the guys talking smack are jealous. Probably have never caught a nice size stripper if any at all. Thanks for the article.
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K He needs to check his scale.
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Mike Kayakers in MD catch them that big but they don’t weigh them. They just release them.
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Bobby read haters gonna hate its all good boys….go make a plug and catch a fish this big then u can say something I guss the 52 lber I got last season wasn’t 52 neither lmao ? stop haten and go fish 6 witness s is not enough I guss …legit boga aint enough….a video of the weight aint enough…come on already
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Tim Excellent fish buddy And super cool that you caught it on your own homemade lure anyone talking smack is definitely just jealous
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Daniel Dos Reis Nice fish,if that female was revived properly it should live to reproduce.
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Frank MaCaDoo Great catch Bobby, good for you & catching it on a Kayak makes it even a better tale. I can’t wait to hit the Jetty to try my luck. Thanks again!
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