The mole crabs have moved onto the south shore beaches big time, and the stripers are after them. Wade in the surf in low tide beaches like East Matunuck, Narragansett or Scarborough and you can see keeper stripers just swimming around. They are grubbing for mole crabs.
You'll find these along the surf line or where the waves retreat along the beaches. Just dig in the sand to get them. Low tide is best to do this. At night they will actually move in very close and you will notice bumps in the sand. Sometimes they are so thick at night you can grab a handful of them in one grab.
I like to use them on the bottom using a fishfinder rig and a size 5/0 Gamakatzu Octopus Style hook. I impale two crabs on the hook and cast. I like to use a sinker that will move slowly along the bottom (1-3 oz. depending on surf conditions), and I like to keep moving and casting, not staying in one spot. They will catch both stripers and bluefish along most of the south shore beaches from Narragansett to Westerly. Right now, they are your number one bait, and nobody is using them!
