Fall striper run builds as bottom bite stays steady

What's biting

What's next

Expect the striper bite to keep building as the water slides off its highs. Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands is waiting on cooler water before stripers show up in numbers, so each cold, clear night that nudges the 66.6°F reading downward moves the run closer. OTW Northern New Jersey describes the run as starting to percolate, which usually means a few good tides before a real push arrives.

Today's CO-OPS predictions put low tide near 6:57 AM and high tide near 12:58 PM Eastern. The last of the falling tide into the morning low and the push back toward the midday high are the windows to plan around, and low light at either end of the day is typically best for striped bass. A waxing crescent moon sets early, so the later evening stays dark.

For bottom fishermen, black sea bass and tautog are the dependable plan. Capt Ron's reports plenty of action but mostly small fish, so patience and moving to find larger ones matters. Fishermans HQ LBI singled out tautog as one of the better targets right now. Bluefish and fluke remain possible bonus fish, and Fishermans HQ LBI noted fluke still hanging around. Check state regs on size and season before keeping anything.

Context

Mid-October is the hinge of the season along the Jersey coast. Summer species are thinning out while the fall migration of striped bass builds, and a bay still in the mid-60s is on the warm side, which tends to delay the main push by a week or two. The pattern typically unfolds as bait moves out of the back waters on falling temperatures, with predators following close behind. Tautog usually pick up as water cools, and black sea bass stay catchable until the cold really arrives. Treat this as a transitional stretch: good fishing is available now, with the best striper action generally still ahead as temps settle.