So Im gonna be relocating to Arizona in a few months, and they dont have bluecats in Arizona... so Im gonna have to learn how to target a new big game specie of fish, which happened to be Striper because Arizona is littered in lakes with big striper in them.

So my question, is what are some of the basics as far as gear, hook size, lures, and techniques to catch bigger striper?

I know they follow the same basic pattern blues do... find bait, and you find fish. But what sort of seasonal movements do they have?

And although it's probably unimportant, I will be fishing out of my kayak probably 100% of the time unless Im bank fishing.

You have essentially asked for an abridged version of an encyclopedia. Fishing varies from season to season and anglers like different techniques. This time of year, figure out where the wind is going to blow the shad, find the points and humps in that direction, look for fish on your sonar, turn on your splasher, thumper, hydrowave or all of the above. Watch the fish build on your screen, drop a live shad on a 3/4 oz weight Carolina rig to that depth and hang on. I use 20lb mono 20lb fluorocarbon and a 2/0 circle hook with a 2-3 foot leader. If you drop four shad in rod holders and don�t build fish on your graph or build fish but don�t get bit, then move to a new spot and repeat. I keep a popper in case I see birds working and fish on top. I am by no means an expert so hopefully those that are will chime in.

if your not proficient with a cast net become so. i have a little 5 gallon oval shaped minnow bucket that is insulated that will keep enough shad alive for one man on a kayak to catch fish.
half the trip is catching the shad sometimes. learn what they do so you can catch them faster. once you have the shad down you can spend more time fishin for striper than fishin for shad.

Stripers in Arizona? From a Kayak??
I fished for stripers since the 1980s
I don�t have a lot for this.
Stripers tend to hang downstream in summer and upstream in winter.
Water temps and flow would have a lot to do with winter fishing.
Fish points close to river channels during spring and fall.
Always match your lure and speed to the water temp. Slow in winter and faster in summer.

if water super clear better get ya some live bait

Talk to the striper fishermen in Arizona !

Appreciate it gentleman! I definitely am looking forward to the move and the new fishing challenges. Luckily for me I already know how to throw a cast net. Just gonna have to learn the lakes now it seems, and make mu own kayak bait tank

The one time I fished in AZ, I seem to recall that frozen anchovies were being used for bait. But, there was also alot of drinking going on, and my memory of that day is rather sunburnt.

Tough from a Kayak. If the lakes are clear and deep like most with stripers you really need shad. If you can figure out how to keep some shad alive so you can easily catch stripers once you find them.

You could spend a month on Lake Powell in your Yak and never see half of it. Do try to spend some time on that beauty of a lake while in Arizona. My experience with stripers is that live bait is King. Shad is best but 4-5 inch perch will work and even grande minnows if nothing else is available. A smart man said there is a thousand ways to fish and they will all work some time. I recommend what gborg says above, talk to some locals and even hire a guide occasionally to learn which one of those thousand ways works in Arizona.

Yep, Hire a guide for the lake you want to fish. Cut down the learning curve quickly.

I agree with that 100%.just let them know you want to stay close to shore .

Definitely some sound advice from both of you! I'll have to look into some guide services now