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Fishing the Rips

A standing wave caused by a change in current over a shoaling bottom is called a rip. It's a good place to look for striped bass and bluefish.
S Junker
A standing wave caused by a change in current over a shoaling bottom is called a rip. It's a good place to look for striped bass and bluefish.

Rough water? Fish love it — that transition between smooth water and turbulent, typically marked by a standing wave, is called a rip. Around here it most often happens where current is rushing over a sandbar, with the bottom contour changing sharply.

Bigger fish, like stripers and blues, will hang in the rip, taking advantage of the confusion to prey on smaller fish that might get swept up in the current.

Fishing the rips requires a boat. It also requires an idea of what's happening inside that standing wave, and how to position you boat to best take advantage of the situation.

Kevin Blinkoff of On The Water magazine joins us to talk about strategies for fishing rips. And we roundup the local fishing action. Give a listen.

Steve is Managing Editor of News. He came to WCAI in 2007. He also hosts the weekly News Roundup on Friday mornings and produces The Fishing News.