Fluke season closes as false albacore and blues keep surf busy

What's biting

What's next

High tide at the Atlantic City station lands around 5:58 PM this evening, with the Cape May station peaking near 7:04 PM, worth planning an evening surf session around that push for bluefish and false albacore working bait against the beach. With the moon waxing toward full, expect stronger tidal movement through the week, which typically means more consistent bait pushes and better blitz activity along the beachfront.

Fluke anglers are on a deadline: OTW Northern New Jersey notes only a week remains in the season, so this warm-water window on the reefs is the last realistic shot before it closes, check state regs for the exact date.

Saltwater Edge's regional forecast out of Rhode Island describes the fall run accelerating to the north, with striped bass expected to strengthen as nights turn colder; if that pattern pushes south on schedule, look for striper interest to build off the Jersey beaches in the coming weeks as water temps ease down from the mid-60s.

Context

Late September is the seasonal hinge on the Jersey Shore: fluke season is closing while the surf's cool-weather migrants stack up behind it. Surface temperatures in the mid-to-upper 60s sit within the normal range for this transition, if slightly warm, which is keeping species like false albacore and bluefish active in the surf zone as expected for the date. The next several weeks are typically when the Jersey fall run builds toward its peak, usually running into November.