Anyone ever see a striper jump?

[zwiggles]

As in jump completely out of the water like a rainbow or salmon?

Not just busting bait on the surface and flipping a tail out, but full on great white “style” with the whole fish exposed above the surface?

Curious to hear from some people with more experience on the salt than I (I don’t have any).

[SHaRPS]

Not completely but partially. Just enough to tell that it was a striped fish and not a bluefish or other species. They were busting bait but a few were coming out a bit higher than normal. I actually wonder if it had anything to do with the thousands of birds attacking the same bait. However, this was not even close to being completely out of the water.

[JDK]

Twice but neither time in New Hampshire

First time was on the Watch Hill reefs,  My brother and I were drifting plugs just before dark and there was a pile of bass and blues feeding on squid.  You'd hook a fish and they would almost immediately jump.  Not sure if it continued after dark.

Second time was when my wife and I lived on Block Island.  We were fishing the North rip and the fish were again feeding on squid.  We were fishing poppers and they would jump out of the water, completely, to hit the lure and often jumped after hooking them. 

In neither case were the bass overly large and those were only the two times I have seen it.

[Bartman44]

Yes, but not often.  Last one was a 3 pounder last fall on the CT coast. Full clearance, smallmouth wanna-be.  Always  a surprise.

[fish wayniac]

I’m not sure about stripers but I see Atlantic Sturgeon launch out of the water.

[lowaccord66]

Not frequently.  They much prefer to go head down into whatever junk they can get you tangled in.  Ive had them come out of the water pretty good when they miss a plug but not so much when hooked. 

[zwiggles]

Thanks for the replies.

I’m trying to decide if my eyes were playing tricks on me or not... I was lucky enough to catch a ride on a friend of a friends boat on the salt. We had a great day drifting mackerel filets at the mouth of a big river between the jetties. Many schoolies came boat side, I got my first striper, and everyone had a blast.

About 3pm on the outgoing side of high tide we were on what turned out to be the final drift. About 100-200 yds out in front of us in the middle of the mouth I saw a massive striper come clear out of the water. It was not attached to anyone’s line, and no boats anywhere around.

 I saw the stripes and was awestruck with the size, and immediately asked if anyone saw that without response. I frantically got my rig off the bottom, removed the weight, and floated out a whole mackerel to no avail. I was still pumped up none the less.

I felt 100% confident that it was a striper. Then everyone who knows the salt said, “sounds like a sturgeon”.

Now I’m not sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me, but I had zero doubt when it happened what it was.

[Roccus]

Many times... I've seen them jump like a sturgeon when a school was disturbed at high speed ( basically run over in a shallow flats).....  I've seen them grey hound like a marlin when hooked in shallow water...usually right after hook set..... it doesn't happen often, but it's what I like most about striped bass... each and every one of them have their own personality... although I have never had one jump like a fresh water bass or blue fish with the head shake...

[Roccus]

 on a side note.. a lot of sturgeon around right now... last night I spend half of the incoming tide listening to them jump out on the channel...

[SHaRPS]

Joe,

How has the fishing been lately for you?

[Fishermantim]

I've seen them "porpoise" in front of me while surf casting, probably chasing bait.

First time it was estimated to be a 40"+ fish breaching 15' in front of me.
I took two steps back out of impulse until reality slapped me back and I said OUTLOUD "Wait a second, I WANT to catch that thing!"
I stepped back in and after a number of casts later I hauled in either that fish or one just as big.
Ever since, when I hear loud splashes in the water around me I stand my ground and fish even harder.
Much more interesting when you fish at night!

[Jschumacher]

Yes. I used to fish Pine Point by Old Orchard Beach. Every time I fished it off the wall I would see stripers  (big ones)  come clean out of the water.
Several at a time. Blew my mind the 1st time I saw it. Quite the sight.

[Seahunt]

Have seen them jump out of water while they have herring trapped tight to the dam in brackish water.

[lowaccord66]

Many times... I've seen them jump like a sturgeon when a school was disturbed at high speed ( basically run over in a shallow flats).....  I've seen them grey hound like a marlin when hooked in shallow water...usually right after hook set..... it doesn't happen often, but it's what I like most about striped bass... each and every one of them have their own personality... although I have never had one jump like a fresh water bass or blue fish with the head shake...

What kills me is I tangle with what Ive always felt were the same big fish in one spot at the canal.  Just the way they know where the big rocks and kelp strands are and how you can feel your braid rubbing as this smart cow weaves it through all sorts of obstacles.  They definetly seem to have personality and I like the ones I hook and get worried immediately because I realize I have no control.  I remember getting on in close definetly over 50" and all of a sudden she decided enough was enough and went on the most amazing run never to be seen again.  I live for that feeling of helplessness.  Hope your smashing them Joe.  Ill be on the prowl tonight.

[taxid]

I have seen species jump when hooked that I would have never guessed would. Once thought I had a smallmouth on by the acrobatics, which turned out to be a yellow perch. The other believe it or not was a bluegill on a fly rod. So I think they are all capable of jumping unless they are a bottom diving fish species.