New Jersey fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. The fall run is starting along the Jersey Shore. I spent years editing the New Jersey reports at The Fisherman, and October is when the reports started getting good every year. The mullet are moving, the bunker are schooling, and the stripers and blues are following.
What’s Hitting
This week on the water, stripers are getting started on the fall run, with fish showing in the surf, the back bays, and the inlets. Bluefish are blitzing mullet and bunker in the surf, and some big fish are mixed in. False albacore and bonito are along the beach in the central and southern parts of the state. Tautog are moving onto the rocks, the jetties, and the wrecks. Weakfish are in the back bays.
Where to Find Them
For stripers, fish the surf along the northern shore near Sandy Hook and Long Branch, the back bays near Barnegat, and the inlets. For bluefish, look for birds and blitzes along the surf from Island Beach State Park to Long Beach Island. For false albacore, the beaches near Manasquan and Barnegat inlets. For tautog, the jetties, the rock piles, and the nearshore wrecks. For weakfish, Barnegat Bay and the back bays of southern New Jersey.
Tides & Conditions
Tides are moderating with the last quarter moon this weekend. Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 60s and dropping. Northeast winds are common in October and can make the surf rough, but they also push bait and fish close to the beach. Watch the forecast and the tropics before planning a trip.
Tackle & Tactics
For stripers, a soft plastic swimbait, a bucktail, or a popper in the surf, and a live bunker or eel in the back bays. For bluefish, a metal lure or a popper with a wire leader. For false albacore, a small metal jig or epoxy jig retrieved fast. For tautog, a green crab or a piece of clam on a tog jig, fished tight to the rocks.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Leonardo State Marina, the Manasquan area ramps, and the Barnegat Light area ramps. Shore anglers have good access at Sandy Hook, Island Beach State Park (with a mobile sport fishing permit for buggy access), and the jetties along the shore. Fish are concentrated in the surf and the inlets for stripers and blues and on the rocks for tautog. Check current New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife regulations and seasons before keeping fish, since striped bass, tautog, and other rules change frequently.
This Week’s Tip
During the fall run, the stripers follow the bait, and the bait follows the wind and the water temperature. Pay attention to the water temperature and the wind direction. A northeast wind can push the bait close to the beach and bring the stripers with it.
More New Jersey Resources
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