Fall striper run kicks off at the Jersey Shore as nor'easter clears

What's biting

What's next

Expect the striper bite to build over the next few days as boats sidelined by the storm, including the Miss Belmar Princess, Skylarker and Big Mohawk III per The Fisherman — Northern NJ, get back out once seas lay down, likely Tuesday or Wednesday. That should put more rods on the bass already showing along the north coast.

The sod-bank flood-tide bite The Fisherman — Southern NJ described should return as back-bay water clears, and the mullet-type plug pattern Jingles Bait and Tackle had going pre-storm is worth revisiting first. Black sea bass should hold reliable on the bottom regardless of how fast the striper bite turns on.

With the moon at last quarter, tide swings will run moderate rather than the extremes of a full or new moon, a steadier window for working structure before the next big tide cycle. Watch for tautog to keep strengthening along the rocks and jetties as water temperatures continue easing off the current 68°F mark.

Context

This fits the normal Jersey Shore calendar: early October is when the fall striped bass migration typically gets moving in earnest, as baitfish clear the back bays ahead of cooling water. A nor'easter disrupting the opening act is a common pattern for the region and tends to mark a turning point rather than a setback, since the wind and surge often push bait and predators together once the storm passes. Black sea bass remains a dependable bottom fishery into the fall before later-season closures tighten, and tautog typically strengthens as water continues cooling toward its preferred range.