On Location at J & M Seafood Tournament Chaos Striped Bass Gear and Fishing Strategy
March 22, 2026
BREAKING Fishing League Expands to NY, NJ & CT + Spring Striped Bass Bite is ON!
April 9, 2026Bay Rats & Buoys Episode 75 – Spring Stripers Are Almost Here! Gear Talk, Fishing League, and New Tackle Shop News
In this week’s episode of Bay Rats & Buoys Episode 75, Captain Gaige gets everyone fired up because we are now just two weeks away from striped bass opening day here on Long Island, and it’s officially time to get your gear ready and dialed in for the spring run.
Captain Gaige goes over some of the gear and lures we used last season to catch striped bass, including one of our absolute favorites from last year — No Live Bait Needed (NLBN) soft plastics. These lures were a huge producer for us last season and we expect them to be a major player again this spring when the bass start pushing into the Long Island Sound. You can find NLBN lures locally at Hi Hook Bait & Tackle in Huntington, and we highly recommend stocking up now before the season starts.
We’re already seeing the early signs of the migration starting, with birds working in Raritan Bay and New Jersey, which is always a great sign that the bass are on the move and heading our way. The water temperature is also starting to climb, now sitting around 42 degrees in our area, and once that temperature keeps rising, things are going to happen fast.
We also talk about TheFishingLeague.com, reminding everyone that registration is now open for teams that fish the Long Island Sound. The league officially kicks off April 15, opening day of striped bass season, and runs all season long. If you fish the Sound from New York or Connecticut, this league was built for you. Make sure to head over to TheFishingLeague.com and register your team now so you’re ready when the season starts.
We also shout out Justin and let everyone know about the new tackle shop opening in Port Jefferson called Port Tackle Co. Always great to see new tackle shops opening and supporting the local fishing community.
Opening day is right around the corner, the gear should be getting rigged, reels spooled, and boats getting ready. Spring striped bass season is almost here and we can’t wait to get back on the water.
Make sure to like, subscribe, and follow Bay Rats & Buoys for more fishing reports, gear talk, and Long Island fishing content all season long.