If you are in the right place at the right time, the right technique could bring a remarkable, memory-making experience...

By DJ Muller

It won’t be long before the bunker schools will begin to show up again in force as it has happened every year now for so many consecutive years. Who really knows if it will happen again? No one can say for sure, but if they do...you need to be ready. Bass of the biggest kind have been launching massive, unconscionable assaults on these giant schools of bunker which could, at times, be measured by the acre. If you are in the right place at the right time you could be in for some remarkable memory making experiences or perhaps the biggest fish of your lifetime...the one you have always dreamed about. When the run of adult bunker brings the big bass along the beaches, surf anglers need to be ready to reap the extraordinary benefits. Let’s key in on the ways to catch big bass when they coincide with the large adult bunker schools. It is a surfcaster's dream...and it doesn't get much better than this!

When schools of BIG bunker are running in the spring along the Jersey Coast, your odds of landing a "cow" bass improve dramatically with the proper tactics.

Let’s look at four reliable ways to hit big bass during the spring bunker run...first, two artificial techniques and then two bait techniques:

1. Poppers - Poppers, both pencil and polaris are big time bass catchers. The way to do it is by going BIG! When big fish are present, I don’t use any poppers under 3 ounces and I always shoot for at least 3 ½ ounces as a minimum. When big schools of bunker come close enough to the beach, casting big ‘commotion-causing’ plugs often draws the attention of highly active bass that are in the mood to feed. A lot of the good casters usually get right to work when they see this opportunity. You have to act fast and be aggressive in this situation, as schools of bunker can move very quickly...and sometimes you may only get one or two shots at a school.

Now something that you should keep in mind is that just because you do not see an active school in front of you, it doesn't mean that poppers should not be considered. I do a lot of blind casting when the bunker schools are in the vicinity but not within casting distance. I have caught big bass this way both at dawn and in the mid-afternoon. Working a popper can draw bass from a considerable distance.

For this type of fishing, big equipment is in order. An 11' rod and loaded spool with substantial capacity is a must. Also, know how to use your equipment before going out. If you are unfamiliar with big equipment, practice and be ready for when the action arrives. Lure-wise, I like Gibbs 3 ½ ounce pencil and polaris poppers, Yozuri Surface Cruisers and Bulls, or a custom-made plug like Afterhours 4 ounce pencils.

Working a popper can draw bass from a considerable distance.

2. Big Wood Swimmers - These would be special-use lures to be used when the proper situation presents itself to you. As you know, big wood metal-lips do not cast nearly as far as a popper. Thus the time to throw one of these would be when you have fish right in the wash where you can reach them, or in the dark around inlets or jetty tips when the bass prowl close to the beach. This is probably my absolute favorite scenario...being able to cast to the "big girls"; and then watching them come up to hammer a big, metal-lipped surface swimmer.

When it comes to plugs to fish with, I again think BIG, and I go to great lengths to get "abnormal-sized" swimmers, which I do especially in the cold months when I have free time to hunt for them. I have some great large swimmers that I have found. My favorite big swimmer is made by Big Water Plugs and Gary Soldati. He makes humungous wood "pikies", that I am sure would get the attention of ANY big bass once it comes into their sight lines. His swimmer is 8 inches long and has a diameter of close to an inch and a half. The Ding Bats also make a huge swimmer that I like very much which measures close to nine inches. A big profile makes for an easy target for aggressive bass!

Equipment-wise you need to use a setup very similar to the popper set up, because of the weight of the lures and the size of the fish.

The time to throw big wood swimmers is when you have fish right in the wash where you can reach them, or in the dark around inlets or jetty tips when the bass prowl close to the beach.

3. Chunking - This may be one of the best ways to catch big gorilla bass on a regular basis...but it takes unwavering commitment. Once the bunker show up in force, I know that it is time for me to start chunking for big bass. Chunking for big fish takes a heavy toll on a relentless bassman, yet the rewards are usually always there and are usually always BIG! Chunking takes heavy equipment and long hours of waiting patiently for a visit. I will sometimes chunk nightly for a week or two before a big fish comes calling.

When I chunk, I usually go with two rods. I bait and wait on both of them. One of the secrets to your success here is that your bait absolutely has to be fresh...and I do mean fresh...as in caught the same day. I learned this the hard way through a sobering experience where I sat and watched guys down the beach from me whail on bass of size, while I sat hitless for a couple of hours watching (and weeping). I later found out that their secret was their bunker was fresh and mine wasn’t. You will know fresh bunker by color, by feel, and by slime coating. If the bunker looks silver with red eyes and is soft and slime-less, don’t bother wasting your time. You may need to go out of your way to get fresh bunker, but whatever you have to do…do it. It will pay off BIG time!

When chunking with bunker, it MUST be absolutely fresh and caught the same day. Stay away from red-eyed, silver and slimeless bait.

4. Snag and Drop -  Another good way to take a good soaker is to snag and drop your bunker to the bass. This is a fun way to get them but a little more complicated as timing can play a big hand in your success. The one thing that is guaranteed is that you stand a good chance to catch the "biggest of the big". Case in point...last year my fishing partner Geoff Turner and I came across a big school of bunker and there weren’t too many guys on the scene yet. We started off snag and dropping. On our very first casts, I caught a 22 pounder and he caught a 48 pounder. It goes to show that you never can tell what may happen.
For snagging and dropping large bunker to large bass you again need a rod large enough to throw heavy weights and handle heavy fish. On the business end, one option that you may want is a 10/0 or 12/0 weighted treble hook, most tackle dealers (should) have them. Stock up and keep them some where in your plug bag. I usually just snap one on to my duo lock and get to work…again you have to be quick and decisive. Cast out into the bunker school then come back hard sweeping your rod until you feel the connection with a bunker which will be a little more than obvious to say the least. Once you snag the bunker just let it sink, no need to open the bail, keep it closed. You will feel the vibration of the snagged wounded bait. If the vibration stops suddenly, or if you feel a hard hit, pause momentarily, reel up all your slack and then bang the fish mightily and quickly. If you did it right and timed it right a battle will ensue that will keep your thoughts warm for many winters to come.

REMEMBER...when the BIG bass show...please keep only what you need. Don’t kill just to kill, or to show. I always carry a camera, weigh the fish with the Boga, take a few shots and get the big fish back into the water to ensure the future of our fish. Be good to your fish! See you on the beach.