Tog and sheepshead bite holds as Delaware Bay cools

What's biting

What's next

Cooling nights and falling water temps are what turn the fall striper push on. The Fisherman (Northeast) reports striped bass in all four coastal New Jersey counties this week, with adult bunker along the oceanfront and an improving sod bank bite on soft plastics and topwater. Expect that movement to work toward the bay as temperatures keep dropping, though the Southern NJ reports say stripers are still mostly limited to back bays from Ocean City down to Wildwood.

Plan around weather windows. Wind has controlled the bay and the offshore grounds recently, so the first calm stretch is the one to use. Today's CO-OPS data shows a low tide at about 7:39 PM local time, so evening hours here are on the falling and slack water. Check tide tables for tomorrow's high and low.

For weakfish, small fish are still being picked off in the bay channels, and Golden Eagle Fishing reported small blues and weakfish just off the beaches in New Jersey. Tautog should keep improving as water cools, with The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf noting a strong chew on green crabs and sand fleas at nearby jetties.

Context

Mid-October is the transition point for Delaware Bay. Summer species like kingfish and croaker are tapering while tautog, black sea bass and migrating striped bass take over. A mid-60s reading is on the warm side for the date, so the striper run may build later and more gradually than in colder falls. Check state regulations for current seasons and size limits before keeping any fish.