4 weeks ago · Updated 2 weeks ago
Raritan Bay, located in northern New Jersey, is a renowned hotspot for fall fishing, drawing anglers for its productive striped bass, sea bass, and blackfish action. This week, the bay has seen an uptick in catches as cooler weather and abundant bait signal the start of the fall run.
Weekly Catches
The catches below cover the last 7 days.
Striped Bass
Striped bass activity surged in Raritan Bay this week, with reports of larger fish moving in and anglers landing impressive catches. Notable hotspots include the stretch from the Amboys down through Keansburg, as well as under the Highlands Bridge. Effective baits have been fresh bunker, worms, and live spot. Kayakers trolling metal-lip swimmers are also connecting with big bass, and some catches have reached up to 50 inches. A standout catch was a 40-pounder landed on Monday aboard a local boat, while another angler took a 38-inch striper off the beach on a bucktail.
- Big bass up to 50 inches caught on eels and bunker chunks.
- Kayakers trolling metal-lip swimmers reporting solid catches.
- Live spot producing under the Highlands Bridge.
- 38-inch striper caught off the beach on a bucktail.
Blackfish (Tautog)
Blackfishing has been very productive at the inlets, offshore rocks, local jetties, and especially in the Point Pleasant Canal. Anglers are seeing more keepers, with green crabs and sand fleas proving to be the top baits. The bite is steady, and small pieces of green crab are particularly effective for canal fish, with a 16-inch blackfish reported earlier in the week.
- Consistent keeper blackfish in Point Pleasant Canal and offshore rocks.
- Green crabs and sand fleas are the preferred baits.
- 16-inch blackfish landed in the canal.
Sea Bass
Sea bass fishing kicked off with excellent results on reefs and wrecks, with many anglers and boats reaching their limits. The Sandy Hook Reef is a standout area, and jigs and bait are both working well. Party boats have reported numerous sea bass limits, and the action is described as being as good as the spring season. There are also reports of big porgies and triggerfish mixed in.
- Limits of sea bass on reefs and wrecks, especially Sandy Hook Reef.
- Jigs and bait both producing well.
- Big porgies and triggerfish in the mix.
Bluefish
Bluefish are being picked up in the surf and around the bay, with some mixed in with the striped bass. The bite is steady, especially near the beaches and in the rivers. Mullet is a productive bait for blues off the beaches, and there are cocktail blues feeding on schools of bunker in the bay.
- Blues mixed with stripers in the surf and rivers.
- Mullet effective for beach catches.
- Cocktail blues feeding on bunker schools.
Porgies
Porgies have been reported alongside sea bass on reefs and wrecks, with some nice-sized fish in the mix. The bite is best when targeting bottom species, and party boats are seeing good numbers.
- Nice-sized porgies caught with sea bass on reefs and wrecks.
- Consistent action reported by party boats.
Other Species
There are still snappers and spot along the waterfront, and anglers drifting sandworms in the rivers are catching weakfish. Triggerfish are also appearing in bottom fishing catches.
- Snappers and spot present along the waterfront.
- Weakfish caught on sandworms in rivers.
- Triggerfish mixed in with sea bass and porgies.
Weather & Marine Conditions
This week saw a brief weather delay, but conditions have improved, allowing anglers to return to the bay and reefs. A storm is forecast for the upcoming weekend, which may further jump-start the fall run as cooler weather settles in. The abundance of bait in the bay and rivers is fueling fish activity, and water temperatures are dropping, signaling prime fall fishing.
Tides & Solunar Activity
Recent reports indicate that night fishing has been productive for striped bass in the rivers and canals, especially around bridges and structure. The presence of bait during tidal changes is attracting both bass and blues, with soft plastics and live spot working well after dark.
Fishing Conditions & Tips
Anglers targeting striped bass are finding success with fresh bunker, live eels, and metal-lip swimmers in the bay. For blackfish, small pieces of green crab and sand fleas are the top choices, especially in the canal and around rocky structure. Sea bass are responding to jigs and bait on reefs and wrecks, while bluefish are hitting mullet and plugs in the surf. The key is to follow the bait, as schools of bunker and spot are drawing in predators throughout the bay and rivers.
Regulations & Notices
Anglers should note that striped bass management measures are under review, with proposals for seasonal shutdowns and changes to size limits aimed at rebuilding the stock by 2029. For blackfish and sea bass, check current regulations before heading out, as seasons and limits may change. All anglers age 16 and older must have a valid New Jersey fishing license for freshwater fishing; marine regulations should be reviewed for updates before each trip.
Fishing Dashboard 🎣
Your one-stop hub for tides, catches, and weather — tailored to your favorite fishing spots
Raritan Bay
Loading...
--°F
Loading...
Temperature
--°F
Feels like
Range: --°F / --°F
Wind
-- mph
Direction: --
Quality: --
Precipitation
-- in
Chance: --%
Status: --
Humidity
--%
Relative humidity
Comfort: --
Pressure
-- inHg
Trend: --
Level: --
UV Index
--
Level: --
Protection: --
Visibility
-- mi
Distance visible
Quality: --
Water Conditions
--°F
Water temperature
Waves: -- ft
24-Hour Forecast
Raritan
Fishing Spots Map
Unable to load map
There was an error loading the map. Please try refreshing the page.
Leave a Reply