Striped Bass migration makes fall the most amazing for fishing
OC Mag’s Brandon Smith throws us a line with tips and tricks to reel ’em in around Ocean City, NJ.
Ahhhhh the fall. For lots of reasons, it is a favorite time of year for many. The holidays, the weather, the sports, they’re all amazing. But this time of year for local anglers is special for another reason (okay, a TON of reasons), fall fishing is AMAZING. Usually fishing is associated with warm weather, and for good reason. But here in the Northeast, specifically Ocean City, when the cool air takes over during the fall, the fishing starts to turn on and gives us the opportunity to make some serious angling memories. Pair that with the lower boat and beach traffic, the opportunities to work on your fishing bucket list are almost endless!
Striped Bass Migration
The biggest thing shaking up the fishing world in November and December is the striped bass migration. This is prime time for striper to head south to warmer waters for the winter before making their triumphant comeback in the spring. From Cape May to Sandy Hook, the beaches will be lined with 4×4 vehicles and surf rods from sun up to sun down. Anglers will be chasing flocks of birds who are chasing surfacing bait that are being pushed up by these apex predator bass (quite the chain of events!). Ocean City gets in on this action just like the rest of the state, especially closer to the inlets at either end of the island. Find the birds, find the fish, at least that’s what the pros say. These fish are far from finicky during the migration and will eat almost anything from live bait, to soft plastics, to hard lures. Tapping into some local knowledge at one of the local tackle shops is the best way to figure out what is working best at the exact time you’re looking to make a cast or two. As always, Finatics (Instagram: @finaticsoc), The Tenth Street Wharf (Instagram: @10thstwharf) and Tight Lines Bait and Tackle (Instagram:@tightlinesbtnj) will make sure you are ready to go when you hit the beach.
As the bass start to migrate so does the bait they love to feed on. Bunker (or menhaden) of all sizes, mullet, and various other small forages all take off and run south both to warmer waters, and from those fierce striped predators. This causes a HUGE increase of bait schools in our local bays as well making bay fishing just as amazing as it is in the ocean this time of year.
Unforgettable fishing conditions
Striper and bluefish will chase these schools all day and night in the shallow waters looking for a quick and easy way to fill their bellies before swimming further south. This brings unforgettable fishing conditions for back bay anglers. Bucktails, soft plastics, and hard topwater baits can all but guarantee a catch. Tog (or blackfish) also fire up this time of year and can be found around structures like bridges and jetties in large numbers. Tog need to be 15 inches to keep, and up until November 15, you can only keep one fish per angler.
While the bay and surf are hot, the offshore fishing couldn’t just sit by and let the inshore fishing steal all of the fall thunder. Sea bass and tog are all the talk at the wrecks and reefs this time of year. Tog bumps up to 4 fish per angler from November 16 to December 31 and anglers can keep 15 sea bass (that are 12 and a half inches long or larger) from November 1 until December 31. These bumps in the limits makes this the time of year to target these fish.
Dropping some fresh clam on a structure jig, bucktails with your favorite teaser (I prefer Berkley GULP! Curly tail grubs), or a metal jig will do the trick and then some. Hiring a charter who knows our waters best is a surefire way to get right on the fish so no time is wasted filling those bigger limits. Jersey Boy Charters (Instagram: @jerseyboycharters), Moover Fishing Adventures (Instagram: moover_fishing_adventures) and Mighty Heron Charters (Instagram: @mighty_heron_charters) are just a few of the names locally who have these fisheries dialed in completely. Our local shops can also steer you towards a few others as well. Their books fill up fast, so waste no time locking in your spot so you don’t miss any of this amazing fall NJ action.
Last but certainly not least, fall is also a great time to check a less talked about species off your list, and that’s the swordfish. Jersey Boy Charters (Instagram: @jerseyboycharters) are the absolute kings when it comes to finding these beasts in the deep. No matter what you decide, this time of year has no shortage of action for anglers of all skill levels. And while you’re at it, make sure to check reports in previous issues of Ocean City Magazine as well as the yearlong comprehensive report that can be seen in the annual hardback Welcome to Ocean City guidebook. Tight lines, and happy memories!
This article was originally published in the November/December issue of Ocean City Magazine.