All animals need rest, and striped bass on Cape Cod are no different. In fact, I think stripers, tuna and other fish species probably spend a lot of time resting and relaxing-just like people!
This past Friday I filmed 20-30 inch stripers as they were "sleeping". Some of the bass were barely moving - you could even say they were "sitting" or "laying" on the bottom.
The fish were basically motionless, until I got too close and spooked them into motion. After a brief swim away from me, the schools of stripers would once again settle back down and "go back to sleep" on the bottom.
More...
Please click play below to watch! 
Over the years I've observed "sleeping stripers" in different environments. Sometimes the bass will be finning on the surface. Other times they will be balled-up into tight schools suspended in deep water.
Yet my experience on Friday was unique because the fish were "sleeping" in water that was less than 10 feet deep. I think one of the main reasons the stripers chose this particular spot to rest and relax, is because there is very little boat traffic in this area.
It's a quiet oasis that is undisturbed by people and boats.
This past weekend I did not catch many fish. However, I really enjoyed swimming and observing the bass as they slept - even more so than hooking and catching them!
I hope you were able to learn something new by watching today's wildlife video clip. Good luck if you make it out fishing this week! As always, please LMK what you think by commenting below.
Tight lines! 
Ryan good on you for spreading the word about how much awesome snorkeling can be done on the Cape. Fantastic video!
I’m pumped you enjoyed that video Robert. Happy Fourth of July!
I did that over 20 years ago slightly north of where you live. So awesome but so cold!!
It is an awesome experience! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Sleepn beauties,the way the decline is happening(sad to say) you may want to think about future mfcc scuba trips.looks like another world,under the sea, vy nice work
Nice, no, beautiful video. I won’t even ask. I don’t want people going there either. Obviously stripers need their solitude and rest like we all do. Thank you.
Peace,
Curtis
It is a whole new world under the ocean. Aside from being beautiful, another observation I made was how perfectly silent it was underwater. There was basically no noise at all (at least no noise that I could hear).
Wonderful to watch, thanks!
NOT asking for secrets but I will be on the Cape in August and would like to snorkel. Can you tell generally where I can go and find that sort of bottom and depth. It would be a delight just to kick around such a pristine looking area.
Great video, thanks so much for sharing. Stripers sure are a beautiful species. We are lucky to have them here in MA.
We definitely are luck Joe! ??
Hey Ryan-
Nice to see that they really exist – lol; not sure what the general consensus is, but from my experience the striper population has steadily declined over the past three years. Cyclical, over-fishing, or what?
Thanks for sharing a great video!
Gary
I’m glad you enjoyed the video Gary!
I won’t speculate about over-fishing, cyclical changes etc., but I wills say that I am happy to see more big fish being released, due to the new slot limit regulation.
Ryan, the quality of this video is terrific. Thanks for sharing. Always interesting to see what goes on under the surface.
Glad you enjoyed it Vince. More to come soon!
that’s awesome! No sign of Luca Brasi down there?
LOL, fortunately no sign of Luca!
Awesome video, can’t wait to fish at the Cape
Thanks for watching! ??
Awesome footage Ryan!! Are you using scuba gear or just free diving? Have often seen similar behavior on the Shoal with the bass lying right up against grass patches completely motionless. Awesome site till you can’t get them to eat
Pumped you enjoyed this clip Rick! For this video I was snorkeling.
I’ve also heard about bass on the shoal doing the same thing. It’s definitely a remarkable sight to see!
Really well done Ryan! So natural, peaceful an a snap shot of our favorite fish.
Glad you enjoyed it Ron. It’s a little piece of paradise for sure.
Beautiful footage Ryan. My sister and I use to float over Billingsgate shoals in little whaler and would come upon large schools of stripers “suspended” in 5 ft of water. No interest in feeding, all oriented in the same direction and if we spooked some they would just return a few moments later. I think your idea that this is a safe place away from predators and boats makes a lot of sense.
Wow that must of been an awesome sight! Thanks for sharing. And yes I have to imagine stripers prefer “peace and quiet” over noisy boat engines. It was dead silent underwater as I filmed these fish, and was very calm and tranquil.
I too have seen this off sandy neck but they were just below the surface
I headed in to beach the boat when I noticed them
They were perfectly still an just drifted out of the way
Different for sure
Sounds like another cool experience Tad. Thanks for sharing! I have also witnessed similar behavior off Sandy Neck.
I have also many times marked big schools of on my sonar, which more or less stayed in the same spot, not eating anything we threw at them. Even though these fish were in deep water, I imagine they might be exhibiting the same type of behavior seen in this video.
Thanks again for the comment, and good luck out there this week! ?
Just beautiful! Perfect music too. I agree with Jake, that’s why we need to protect the ocean. Great job Ryan
Well said Leslie! ?? Thanks as always for watching.
This is why we need to protect the ocean. Great video and music.
Yes, exactly! Glad you enjoyed it. ?
Beautiful footage
Fish on an tight lines
Tight lines Kelvin, and thanks for watching! ?
Ryan, your image quality is wonderful, such crystal clear images of these stripers just “doing their thing”. Your underwater photography has added another fascinating dimension for all of us to view and enjoy.
Glad you enjoy it Mike! Bright, clear and calm sunny days are definitely the best for underwater video and photos.
How has your own fishing and filming been going recently?
Great video. Shoddy typing. :). At least it wasn’t “strippers.”
LOL, I just fixed the typo. Thanks for the heads up Jim. ?
With regards to the “stripper” misspellings, the 2020 season is on pace to set an all-time record. Everyday I open up emails and messages with people asking “the best way to catch a stripper” etc. I don’t even bat an eye lash at it anymore!
beautiful footage once again!!
Years ago I was standing on a rock, and below me was a school of bass, lined up in rows 10 across and ten deep, nose first, inches from the rock. I’ll never forget that image.