Striper run builds as sea bass and tog hold the bite

What's biting

What's next

Today's tide gives a low around 4:30 AM and a high near 10:44 AM Eastern. The incoming water through the morning is the window for bay edges and inlet mouths, with the turn near the high a good time to switch spots or tactics.

Capt Ron writes that it is not striper time just yet and that the water still has to come down a bit. He hopes it all plays out as it has the past two decades. With the station still near 65°F, expect the striper bite to improve gradually as readings fall, with dawn and dusk the best bets for anyone working the shoreline. His open boat trips run 7:00am to 2:30pm at $95, and his latest update says the weather looks good with winds shifting northwest. Expect the sea bass to keep sorting toward bigger fish as boats move around looking for them.

Blue Chip Sportfishing is still advertising Fluke and Black Sea Bass on half day and full day trips. Fishermans HQ LBI notes fluke still hanging around the bay and inlet. Those are sensible plans while stripers fill in. A waxing crescent moon sets early in the evening, so the late-night hours will be dark. Check state regs before keeping anything, since seasons and size limits change.

Context

Mid-October is typically the hinge of the Northeast fall season. Striped bass start moving along the beaches and through the bays as water cools and the forage heads for the exits. Bottom fish like sea bass and tautog stay steady while the migratory fish sort themselves out.

With water still in the mid-60s, this year looks on schedule to slightly behind for a full striper push, which fits what the shops and boats are describing. The coming weeks of cooling water, longer nights and shifting northwest winds are what usually turn a trickle of schoolies and keepers into consistent action. Anglers who log a few early trips now tend to be best placed when the run peaks.