Striped Bar: Tips and Tricks for 2026

In 2025, I had the opportunity to fish for striped bass at several beaches in Quebec and New Brunswick. The season was rather unpredictable and challenging due to a multitude of factors. However, as I often mention, with a lot of hard work, perseverance, and, of course, the right gear, I managed to find success and land several magnificent specimens.

Tips for Striped Bass Fishing in 2026

For the 2026 season, here are a few tips to help you navigate challenging fishing conditions:

Focus on the best times of day

Concentrate your efforts at sunrise, sunset, and during night fishing. It is often during these times that striped bass come closest to shore, increasing your chances of success.

Vary your presentations and lures

When I fish after dark, I prefer slower presentations and very dark or fluorescent-colored lures. Black, dark purple, blue, and white are particularly effective, as they create a strong contrast in the water and attract more attention from the fish.

Vibrating lures or those equipped with rattles are also excellent options for attracting striped bass in low-light conditions.

Persevere and Adapt

Don’t hesitate to move to a different spot when the action slows down. However, avoid giving up too quickly, as the situation can change in just a few minutes. An ordinary fishing trip can quickly turn into a memorable evening.

Fishing Anecdote: The September Full Moon

Last September, during the full moon, I was in New Brunswick. I decided to meet up with a fishing buddy at Pointe Acadienne to take advantage of the evening’s outgoing tide.

We started fishing around 6 p.m. For the first two hours, the results were very modest: just one bite and a small striped bass between the two of us. So we took a break to eat and have a drink.

At that point, we were questioning our choice of spot. We were even wondering if we should move to a different area or just call it a day, since the action had been very slow for several days. Finally, we decided to stick it out and redouble our efforts.

Back on the water, we cast repeatedly and tried almost every lure in our tackle boxes, without much success. After more than an hour without a bite, the sun finally set. That’s when my friend decided to try a large lure like a black Paddle with a pink tail that had helped him catch a few nice fish the day before.

On the very first cast, as soon as it hit the water: a strike… then a striped bass.

Since I always carry this type of lure with me when I’m fishing for striped bass, I immediately rigged one up myself. And that’s when the evening became truly unforgettable.

With almost every cast, we were getting violent strikes. The catches came one after another, and the fish were getting bigger and bigger. In just 2.5 hours, we caught over 60 striped bass, including more than forty fish measuring between 70 and 90 cm.

We finally called it a day, completely exhausted by the intensity and quality of the last two hours of fishing.

That’s why I love striped bass fishing so much. And that’s also why, even when conditions are tough, I always have such a hard time making that famous “last cast.”