Sea Bass Limits and Stripers Running as Raritan Bay Enters June

What's Biting

What's Next

Sea bass are the standout story right now. Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands has been finding quality keepers all week, with the captain's logs noting that moving water is the key variable: flat-calm conditions produced a grind mid-week, while tidal current triggered a much better pick. Bait, including squid, clams, and cut fish, has been outperforming jigs on most drops, though jigging with a teaser worked late in at least one session. Plan reef trips around the first two hours of incoming or outgoing tide to maximize the bite window.

Striped bass should remain in the picture through at least mid-June. Grumpys Tackle reports that a larger class of fish has settled into the NJ surf, with clams and bunker chunks drawing the most strikes; soft plastic swimmers have also been productive once fish are located. Blue Chip Sportfishing says they have been crushing stripers on every trip. On The Water's June 5 striper migration map shows bass beginning to settle into summer grounds, but with water temperatures running below normal, migratory fish may linger in the Sandy Hook and Raritan Bay corridor longer than in a typical early June. That is a bonus window for surf casters before the summer slowdown takes hold.

Fluke are improving and worth a dedicated effort. OTW Northern New Jersey reported flatties to 8 pounds in the rivers on June 4, and Capt Ron's has been picking up keeper fluke alongside sea bass on reef structure. Bucktails tipped with Gulp! and strip baits along channel edges and river mouths should be productive as the season builds. Check current NJ state size and possession limits before harvesting.

Bluefish and black drum are also in play along the surf zone per OTW Northern New Jersey and Grumpys Tackle. Blues have been showing alongside stripers in the wash, responding to poppers, metal jigs, and cut bunker. The black drum presence, specifically called out by Grumpys Tackle, tends to be a short seasonal window and worth targeting while it lasts.

The Last Quarter moon this week brings quieter tidal swings and more gradual current changes. For Raritan Bay and the Sandy Hook inlet, that typically translates to easier anchoring on sea bass structure and more manageable drifts for fluke. Focus on the hour before and after each tide change, when current velocity hits the sweet spot.

Context

Early June historically marks a transitional phase for Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook: the spring striper run is winding down but not finished, sea bass fishing hits its stride on the nearshore reefs, and fluke begin to build toward their summer peak. That seasonal rhythm is broadly intact in 2026, with one notable caveat from On The Water's June 5 migration map: water temperatures are running a few degrees below seasonal average across the region. In most years, the bulk of the migratory striper push has cleared Sandy Hook by the first week of June, heading north toward Long Island Sound and the Hudson. A colder-than-normal water column may be holding fish in the area a little longer than usual, extending the productive spring surf window.

Sea bass fishing in early June typically delivers exactly what Capt Ron's and Blue Chip Sportfishing are describing: find the structure, present bait on a moving tide, and limits are achievable. The species remains accessible on local reefs well into summer, though fish tend to push deeper as surface temperatures climb through July.

Fluke to 8 pounds in the rivers at this stage of the season, as reported by OTW Northern New Jersey, is a solid showing for early June. The fishery typically builds through the month and peaks in July, so conditions for doormat flatties should only improve in coming weeks.

One signal worth watching is the squid movement off the Jersey coast referenced by Fishermans HQ LBI. Squid concentrations in late spring have historically been the trigger that draws bluefin tuna within range of short-run trips from Raritan Bay ports. Whether that materializes for local boats will depend on how long the squid school holds and whether fish follow it toward Sandy Hook Bight.