Striper Pursuit: Surf Fishing Beyond the Basics

I've been on a role with John's books lately. First reading Fishing the Bucktail, then Season on the Edge and now Striper Pursuit. For me, growing up on LI was about fishing snappers in Great South Bay. If only I knew what was going on on the ocean side...sigh. Once I was grown and started making my way to the surf, it was more about seeing the sunrise than the actual catch. It wasn't until recently I decided to get serious and, thankfully, John's books and YouTube channel were waiting.John has a melodic, unforced style that evokes vivid images. He combines intricate details about pork rind trailers, felt soles and crushed barbs with dramatic tension about the cow just waiting for him on a moonless night. The amount of information he shares about fishing techniques more than makes up for his unwillingness to share exact locations, though he'll tell you the general area. In fact, you'll learn that the spot is just one variable in a complex equation.This is a guy who will be annoyed by your headlights as you drive up to the jetty, won't be interested in exchanging pleasantries and will tell you the bite is terrible while hiding the 40 pounder on the end of his line. But he admits this freely and in a way that makes you realize that he's a focused craftsman; his goal is to find a way to catch fish even if they aren't helping. And if that means he doesn't want to share his rock with some weekend warrior fumbling to unpack his new yellow darter, that's ok. But if that same guy studies the craft and shares John's passion, he might just offer a home-made bucktail (but I'm not holding my breath).

I've only been surf/inlet/back bay fishing seriously for about five years, moving from fly fishing for trout, as I've had more time for the longer trips to the coast.John Skinner's Fishing the Bucktail taught me how to "swim" bucktails and soft plastics on jig heads.Zeno Hromin's The Art of Surfcasting with Lures made sense of the myriad lures available, and strategies to fish them.John Skinner's fine on-line videos demonstrated exactly how to fish these lures and in what conditions.Now John has this fabulous book to go into depth about how, when, where, and in what conditions using the full arsenal of lures and baits (mainly eels) - and integrates the book with his many free videos that are readily accessed on line.His writing style is clear and direct. He gets to the point without a lot of fluff, sharing his well reasoned strategies with just enough examples to get the point across.The bonus is the chapters on fluke and false albacore.Well done, John. Well done.

I liked this book because it was very straightforward and presented different situations with actual stories that illustrate the information clearly. I am new to striper fishing having moved from Louisiana and I could appreciate the universal language of fishers that was presented. I will probably buy the other book on bucktails as well.

This is the second excellent Skinner book I have read recently. The other was "Season on the Edge". In both of these books, Skinner writes very well. His books are well-organized, entertaining, and useful. He also demonstrates clearly that he has amassed a considerable amount of very worthwhile experience, knowledge, and wisdom in surf-fishing for stripers. Both books are loaded with practical information and tips. "Striper Pursuit" is more advanced. In rigging eels, for example, my brothers and I have been trying a few different methods over the years that we had collectively learned from other locals, including commercial guys; but Skinner's excellent tutorial on the subject has put us on course for much better rigs and techniques. His chapters are accompanied by on-line videos, which further clarify his techniques very well. Skinner seems to have documented over the decades what has worked and what has not worked; he seems to be open-minded about trying new techniques and products, but is not trendy about it; and he seems to recognize that there are often multiple techniques or materials that can be employed (Too many other fishing experts have too often claimed that only one method -- theirs -- is what works. Skinner doesn't do that.) There is a very level-headedness in the tone of Skinner's books. I plan to buy soon his book on fishing with bucktails.

There's a reason this book has 5 stars and theres not much I can say about this book that hasn't already been said before. With that being said, let me just say that John may have been the single best outlet I've ever found for learning about fish and fishing. If you've come to this page and are reading the reviews before you make a purchase, just go ahead and buy it. I promise you wont be disappointed.

I've been surf fishing since I was about 14, that was 40 some years ago. I'm learning things reading and watching the videos in the chapters I've never considered.

The go to and must have stripper fishing handbook!

Bought this as a gift for my fiancée. He has read it numerous times and employed a number of the tactics and strategies in there. It's caused him to go fishing much more frequently to try this stuff out....so just a warning for the partners ;)Author is very knowledgeable.