Fall bite builds in Raritan Bay as bluefish and sea bass turn on

What's biting

What's next

Tide favors an early push today, with low around 6:17 AM and high near 12:48 PM at the Sandy Hook station. With seas settling behind last week's nor'easter, boats sidelined by the blow should be back working bottom structure for sea bass through midweek. Grumpys Tackle's bucktail promotion points to stripers getting an early push through the bay as water continues easing down from the 67°F reading logged this morning; watch for that bite to build through the week if blues keep holding, per the shop's latest report.

Fluke anglers should check current regulations, since reports out of Atlantic Highlands suggest the 2026 season may already be closed or closing there. The last quarter moon keeps tidal swings moderate this week, a window worth working around the midday high for sea bass and blues alike.

Context

Early October in Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook typically marks the handoff from summer fluke fishing to the fall striper and bluefish run, as bait pushes out of the back bays and migrating fish follow behind it. This year's transition lines up with that pattern, with bluefish already showing per local shop reports and tackle shops gearing up inventory for the striper push, though last week's nor'easter compressed the usual ramp up into a tighter window. Black sea bass fishing on nearshore structure is typical for this stretch of the calendar and should hold through fall as water temperatures ease down from the mid 60s.