Best Jigs for April Schoolies

Spring striper fishing, especially in April, is not complicated. Jigs fished on light tackle pretty much rule the surf as the new arrivals and the holdovers are grubbing along the bottom for food. Here is a list of the three best bets pictured at the right from top to bottom:

This schoolie was landed last
evening on a Zoom fluke.

1.  Cocahoe on jighead- These are the hottest along the oceanfront. I like a light colored Cocahoe.  These come in three and four inch lengths and you will choose the size according to the size jighead you are using.  Three inch models work well with jigheads of half an ounce or less while four inch models are best suited to jigheads over 1/2 oz.
2.  Bucktail jigs-  These work well in both the Bay and along the oceanfront.  Go small with your jig with bucktail jigs of 3/8 and 1/2 ounce working the best.  Add three inch plastic grub tails to the jigs to make them even more effective. I especially like this flathead model.
3. Zoom flukes on jigheads- These are deadly in the bay, not so hot along the oceanfront.  I like the four inch models in an albino color.  These match up well with jigheads of 1/4, 3/8, or 1/2 ounce.

All the lures above can be fished on the bottom (most effective way to go) or off a float if you need to make a long cast.