Striped Bass Fishing in New Jersey

New Jersey is a Striped Bass powerhouse with productive fishing stretching from Raritan Bay to Cape May. The state's position along the Atlantic migration route means stripers are passing through from early spring through late fall, giving party boat anglers one of the longest seasons on the coast.

During the spring migration, fish pour into Raritan Bay and the surf zone along the northern beaches. Party boats out of Belmar, Point Pleasant, and the Highlands work the inshore reefs, rocky ledges, and sand bars where stripers ambush bait. As summer progresses, the action shifts to deeper structure offshore before the fall run brings the most exciting fishing of the year.

The fall run in New Jersey is truly special. Massive schools of big stripers push south along the Jersey Shore, feeding heavily on bunker, herring, and sand eels. From September through December, party boats find fish stacked up on structure from Sandy Hook to Cape May. Surface feeding blitzes are common, with fish crashing bait in plain sight while the boat pulls up to the action.

New Jersey routinely produces trophy stripers in the 40 to 50 pound class, and the state-record fish weighed over 78 pounds. Party boats offer both bait fishing and jigging trips, with experienced mates on hand to assist. The Garden State's strong bag and size limits have helped maintain a thriving fishery.