Talk to me about Peanut Bunker

[Pat Smith]

Someone recently advised me to emulate the Peanut Bunker this time of year.. seems like good advice.

I had a chrome rattle trap that looked a bit like them, I had good luck with it until an errant crab pot stole it from me.

What do you guys use to emulate peanut bunker? I have looked and found a few products but most are a green or bronze-ish color.
bunker.jpg

I have even been considering learning how to toss a cast net from my kayak to get live bunker.. but that seems like just one more thing to mess with in the kayak.

[Mark]

What do you guys use to emulate peanut bunker?

Each of these 3 inch paddletails has caught stripers for me -- some by trolling, some by casting:

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The jig heads range from 1/8 oz. to 1/2 oz.

I don't worry much about color unless reports on the water on Channel 68 indicate a distinct color is hot at that particular moment.

[J.A. Veil]

I agree with Mark. A few weeks ago I posted this photo of a dead peanut bunker I found floating near a ramp. The photo shows the dead fish next to two of the Fat Sam mullet paddletails Mark shows.

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I have caught numerous stripers to 23" over the past week using that lure.

The Rat-L-Trap type lure in Pat's post also mimics the shape of the peanut bunker. If you are using a lure that looks good to you, and are not getting bites, try downsizing the lure. You can use the same style of lure (e.g., paddletail, crankbait) but sometimes you may want to match the size range of the bait in the water where you are fishing.

[kevinfry]

my only comment.....peanut bunker don't taste anything like peanuts. Be advised

[ronaultmtd]

I agree with Mark. A few weeks ago I posted this photo of a dead peanut bunker I found floating near a ramp. The photo shows the dead fish next to two of the Fat Sam mullet paddletails Mark shows.

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I have caught numerous stripers to 23" over the past week using that lure.

The Rat-L-Trap type lure in Pat's post also mimics the shape of the peanut bunker. If you are using a lure that looks good to you, and are not getting bites, try downsizing the lure. You can use the same style of lure (e.g., paddletail, crankbait) but sometimes you may want to match the size range of the bait in the water where you are fishing.

When you downsize your lure it is important to pay attention to your hooks...I change out factory trebles and go with Eagle Claw Lazer 4X hooks...lost too many fish to inferior, bendable hooks...pretty much stuck with the jighead hooks (no pun intended) so I just sharpen then to a fine point and loosen the drag a bit when I have a big fish on...good luck

[Pat Smith]

Looking at the picture of that dead peanut bunker.. you can totally see how the Opening Night paddle tail does so well. I love that picture J.A. Veil

So paddle tails are the go to lure.. I have been using those almost exclusively. And rattle traps are good too, got that. Is anyone doing anything else? Anyone getting live peanut bunker and hooking those up? any other hard or soft bait people use?

[Romo]

Don't forget topwater! When you find peanuts you will usually see them splashing around on top (and hopefully bass splashing around too). I've had good success with the small rapala skitterwalks and x-walks and the smaller rebel jumpin minnows. I don't think color matters too much with topwater because I throw bone or white 90% of the time.

[kevinfry]

Small Tony spoons with feathers are also killer peanut imitators. ....and bluefish tolerant

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[kevinfry]

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easy to see bunker profile and feather imitates tail motion

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[Slobber Bob]

Is anyone doing anything else? Anyone getting live peanut bunker and hooking those up?

The effort required to keep peanut bunker alive to live line is not worth it. They aren't very hardy compared to say mullet, spot, or perch and will die fairly quickly if you don't give them a steady supply of oxygen or new water. You'll do plenty fine throwing topwater or any small lure with a deep profile. If there are fish on the peanuts, they'll find your lure!

[chimo]

Anyone getting live peanut bunker and hooking those up?

Not peanuts exactly but I've cast netted bunker in the 4-6 inch range and live lined 'em just like I would spot. They def aren't as hardy as spot like Slobber Bob mentioned but you can do it if you can net close to where you are fishing and its not too hot. I generally use a fish finder rig with an appropriate for the current/depth sinker and a 2/0 - 4/0 circle. Throw any that die in the cooler and freeze them for the next time you go catfishing. Bunker is great catfish bait in the lower Potomac as well.

[Crotalus]

I'm sure these guys are right about downsizing this time of year, given the abundance of small bait fish. But if you are only catching dinks, maybe upsizing is a way to target keepers? A 22" fish I caught last week had this sticking out out of it's mouth (how it was hungry enough to take my 3" paddle tail, I do not know).

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[Shady]

I had great luck last week snagging 3-4" bunker and live lining them next to a nearby piling. This week the same technique and location yielded nothing...