Fall striper push builds as tog and sea bass hold steady
Water temps sit in the mid-60s, with CO-OPS station 8534720 reading 66.2°F and station 8536110 at 66.6°F, and the fall run is starting to percolate. On The Water's Northern New Jersey report from October 8 calls it better news on the striper front, and The Fisherman's Southern NJ column says stripers had no trouble finding baits in the Wildwood back bays, with bone or blue Mag Darters taking fish to 29 inches in daylight. Per The Fisherman's NJ/DE Surf column, Hands Too Bait and Tackle heard of stripers from 40 to 46 inches on 3/8-ounce leadhead soft plastics off sod banks and bridges, plus an honest bass blitz at Hereford Inlet. Tautog are the most dependable shore option. Riptide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine says the jetty bite is strong on green crabs, and One Stop Bait and Tackle in Atlantic City reports blackfish on a chew off the jetties with green crabs and sand fleas. Kingfish are still nibbling bloodworms and Fishbites along the surf from Beach Haven to Atlantic City, and Fishermans HQ LBI names kingfish and tautog as the better targets right now.
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What's biting
What's next
The big surf stripers have not fully arrived, and Boulevard Bait and Tackle in Sea Isle said the beachfront has not produced keeper bass yet. Several sources point the same way, though. Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands notes the water has to cool a bit more before stripers show up locally, and The Fisherman's Northern NJ column says stripers and baitfish moved into northern waters last week. The Fisherman's NJ/DE Offshore column calls the Mud Hole and canyon grounds slow so far, with an upbeat October outlook once the weather settles. With temps still in the mid-60s, expect the next cool snap and a few settled days to be what switches the beaches on.
Keep an eye on the tide. Station 8534720 shows the next high at about 10:21 AM local and the next low at about 4:51 PM. Station 8536110 shows high at about 11:34 AM and low at about 5:49 PM. Fishermans HQ LBI says conditions turned sour over the weekend, so check marine forecasts closely before committing to a boat trip. Waxing crescent moon means darker evenings, which fits the night-time plug and paddletail bite Pier 47 Marina describes in the Wildwood back bays.
Offshore boats get relief from the sea bass fishing, where the Mary M IV hit limits nearly every day, per The Fisherman's Central NJ column. Hands Too Bait and Tackle reports very good nearshore and offshore wreck action in Cape May.
Context
Mid-October is normally when the Jersey Shore flips from late-summer species to the fall striper run, and this year looks roughly on schedule, perhaps a little behind with warm water lingering. Kingfish and spike weakfish hang on in the surf while tog move onto jetties and structure, which is typical for the season. Short sea bass are a constant complaint for headboats this time of year, and Capt Ron's trips report plenty of undersized fish with a few keepers mixed in. Tog bag limits typically rise in mid-November, and Ol' Salty II notes the same, so check current state regulations before keeping fish.
Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.
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