Delaware Bay holds white perch and kingfish as stripers lag

What's biting

What's next

Warm bay water explains why summer holdovers like weakfish and kingfish are still around, and it may delay the full fall striper push into the bay itself. Per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf, Hands Too Bait and Tackle describes good striper fishing in the back bays, with soft plastics on 3/8-ounce leadheads working around sod banks and bridges. That is the pattern to watch for the next few days.

Per The Fisherman — Southern NJ, Pier 47 Marina anglers found stripers to 29 inches in the Wildwood back bays. Bone or blue Mag Darters worked in daylight, and dark paddletails or small topwater baits worked at night as bait got crushed at the surface. Expect the best chances around dawn and dusk. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake reports weather has been controlling the fishing, so check marine forecasts closely before running open water.

For tautog, per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf, green crabs are the bait producing blackfish at the Brigantine jetty and the Atlantic City jetties. Per The Fisherman — Southern NJ, Cape May wrecks and reefs have been giving up keeper tog, and sea bass have been very good in the same area. Check state regulations for current size and bag limits before keeping fish.

Context

Mid-October is typically the transition period for the Mid-Atlantic. Warm-water species begin to fade while striped bass and tautog take over, and baitfish move south along the coast. A bay still near 67°F points to the changeover running a little behind. Per The Fisherman — Central NJ, anglers on Long Beach Island are still waiting on the major fall run, which fits that picture. As water cools through late October and November, the striper and tog bite should consolidate. Stripers typically move into bays and along beaches as baitfish push through.