Fall striper run builds up the coast as Shore water cools

What's biting

What's next

Tides set the schedule this week. The flood runs from the 11:21 AM low to the 6:01 PM high at station 8631044, and station 8632200 runs about 20 to 30 minutes later. Late afternoon into the first hour of dusk is the stretch to plan around. The Fisherman's NJ/DE forecast says winds swung out of the west and northwest after the nor'easter, and cooler, clearer air typically moves baitfish and striped bass along the coast. If that push reaches the Eastern Shore, bait showing on the surface will likely come before the fish reports do.

Context

Early October is when the fall migration usually starts to build along the Mid-Atlantic coast, as water cools from summer highs and baitfish begin to move. Water at 67°F sits in the range where that movement typically picks up on the Eastern Shore, so this week looks on schedule rather than early or late. Water temperatures usually keep falling through October, and the bite tends to concentrate as they do.