Sea bass running hot on NJ drops as fall fish fill in

What's biting

What's next

The nor'easter that OTW Northern New Jersey and Fishermans HQ LBI (NJ) both described has passed, and the post-storm settle is where the next few days get fished. Fishermans HQ LBI (NJ) called the fall fishing good after the storm, and OTW Northern New Jersey expected fall-run striped bass to improve once conditions settled, so striped bass should build rather than fade. Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ said the weather looked good all week with winds shifting northwest, which keeps the sea bass drops fishable.

Plan around today's tide: low at 1:15 PM and high at 7:25 PM local, both predicted for station 8537121. Capt Ron's bite shut off when the tide turned late morning on a recent trip, so the change is the window to watch. Bluefish and false albacore were the last reported fall targets. Expect them to thin as the water cools, though that is a seasonal pattern, not a report.

For planning, fluke and black sea bass are the most consistently reported targets this week, so a bottom rig on the drops is the lowest-risk plan.

Context

Early October is the back half of the fall run in this part of New Jersey. A 67°F reading is typical for the season, and bottom species like black sea bass and fluke usually keep feeding until seasonal limits and season ends approach, so check state regs before harvesting. Fishermans HQ LBI (NJ) measured 75°F surf in mid-September, so the cool-down is on its normal path rather than a shock. Striped bass and false albacore typically chase the same baitfish through October, and the bite tends to be strongest around first light and tide changes. Recreational size and bag limits for these species are set by state and federal managers and change from year to year, so verify current limits before keeping fish.