September 2025 — New Jersey: Fall Run Begins — Stripers Return, False Albacore Everywhere. September is a early fall month with water in the 66-74°F range — false albacore and bonito arrive; fall striper begins; cobia continues. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — September 2025
Primary targets this month: False Albacore, Striped Bass, Fluke, Tuna.
False Albacore
False albacore (little tunny, albies) at the Manasquan and Barnegat inlets, the surf zone in late summer/early fall. Cast 1-2 oz epoxy jigs (Albie Snax, Hogy Epoxy Jig) and metals (Deadly Dick) ahead of breaking fish. Fast retrieve. Light tackle on a 4000-class reel with 20 lb braid and 20 lb fluoro leader.
Striped Bass
Striper around Raritan Bay (the spring spawning fishery), the surf from Sandy Hook through Cape May, the rips at Sandy Hook, the back bays (Barnegat, Great Bay), the LBI surf, and the offshore wrecks in fall. Live and chunked bait; bucktails and soft plastics on lighter tackle.
Fluke
Fluke (summer flounder) on Raritan Bay, Barnegat Bay, Great Bay, the inshore wrecks (Sea Girt Reef, Atlantic City Reef), and offshore in 60-120 feet. Drift over sandy bottom with a bucktail jig tipped with Berkley Gulp! 5-6″ or a strip of squid. Three-way rigs with a teaser and a large bucktail are deadly. Bigger fish hold in deeper water (60-120 ft).
Tuna
Yellowfin tuna on the Hudson, Toms, and Lindenkohl Canyons — yellowfin and bluefin in summer and fall. Chunking (cut sardine, butterfish) at anchor, live bait drifting, or trolled feathers and cedar plugs. Heavy stand-up tackle (50-80 lb class) for the bigger grades.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 66-74°F. False albacore and bonito arrive; fall striper begins; cobia continues. Raritan Bay striper fishing is tide-driven — outgoing concentrates fish at the rips off Sandy Hook and channel edges. Surf bite shifts with tide and time; pre-dawn and the first hour of darkness are universally strong. Manasquan and Barnegat inlets push hard on outgoing.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Fall blitz season. Striped bass and bluefish push schools of bait — surface action everywhere. Carry topwater plugs.
- False albacore arrive. Light tackle and epoxy jigs — chase breaking fish for explosive runs.
September Outlook
Transition month — snook season reopens, false albacore arrive, bait migrations begin.
Regulations Reminder
Striped Bass: Federal slot typically 28-31″ with state variations; verify ASMFC and state rules annually. Fluke (Summer Flounder): 17-19″ minimum (state-by-state), 3-4 per day. Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Brielle Bait & Tackle (Brielle, 732-528-5720); Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle (Seaside Park); Fisherman’s Den (Belmar); Surf City Bait & Tackle (LBI).
Public Boat Ramps: Cheesequake State Park (Raritan Bay), Manasquan River (numerous ramps), Forked River, Barnegat Light, Atlantic City marina district, Cape May.
Charter Fishing: $600-$900 inshore; $1,200-$2,500 canyon tuna; $700-$1,100 nearshore wrecks.
More New Jersey Resources
New Jersey Fishing Guide · New Jersey Seasonal Calendar · All New Jersey reports →
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