Striped bass chunk rig (circle hook required)

Bait a non-offset circle hook, cast/drop to the bottom or the depth you're marking fish, and let the rod load up on its own

Best for: Striped Bass
Water: bayriverbridgeinlet

Schematic, not to scale. Hover, tap, or tab through the parts; the drawing isolates each one.

Terms usedMain line Fish-finder rig Sinker Bead Swivel Leader Hook sizes Circle hook

Components

As listed in the rig record, top to bottom.

Main line to a fish-finder or three-way rigMain line
Leader to a single non-offset circle hookHook
Live or cut bait (bunker chunk, eel, or finger mullet)Bait

Setup

Hook: Legally required, not optional: Virginia mandates a non-offset, corrodible (non-stainless-steel) circle hook whenever fishing recreationally for striped bass with live or chunk bait in Virginia's tidal waters (4VAC20-252, in effect since August 1, 2020). A circle hook also tends to hook fish in the corner of the jaw rather than deep, which matters if you plan to release the fish.
Weight: Enough to hold bottom or the depth you're fishing in current — a sliding fish-finder rig lets a striper pick up the bait without immediately feeling resistance.
Leader: Heavier leader (30–50 lb mono or fluorocarbon) holds up to a striper's mouth and any structure nearby.

How to fish it

Bait a non-offset circle hook, cast/drop to the bottom or the depth you're marking fish, and let the rod load up on its own — don't set the hook hard the way you would with a J-hook; let the circle hook do its job as the fish turns away.

When to use it

Bridge pilings, channel edges, and river bends in spring and fall
Cool water, when stripers stay deep and want bait held still
Any bait fishing for striped bass in Virginia tidal waters — the circle hook is required

Common mistakes

Using a J-hook or an offset circle hook with bait for striped bass — both are illegal under this rule, not just suboptimal
Setting the hook hard on the strike, which can pull a circle hook out before it rotates into place
This is a legal requirement, not just best practice — see the source link for the exact regulation text before you fish bait for striped bass.