The striped bass run really kicked into gear for Long Beach Island anglers once November hit! The first week of the month delivered outstanding fishing, with big striped bass, abundant bunker schools with excellent conditions and weather. But what a difference a day or two can make! Friday’s stormy weather (southerly blow with rain) disrupted the fishing and so far today (Saturday 11/7/26) reports have been slow to nil.
Don’t count the fall run out just because of a storm-driven slowdown. Undoubtably a large body of big striped bass moved through the local water this week. Additional waves of fish will still move through as November progresses. The water is still relatively warm in the upper 50º’s. The mid-50s have historically been an important temperature range during productive November fishing, although there’s no exact threshold that guarantees a bite.
With west winds ahead for several days we are optimistic and I’m looking forward to being out fishing in the days and weeks ahead. West Is Best!
Big Striped Bass Hit The LBI Beaches
November kicked off with some great striped bass fishing. Schools of bunker stretched along the Central Jersey coast, with concentrations from Island Beach State Park south along Long Beach Island. Bunker schools were reported today from our bunker guy off mid-Island out in about 30′ of water.
The main theme has been big bass on bunker… Lunkers On Bunkers! Quality striped bass in the 40-inch class and larger have been caught, with numerous reports coming from local anglers, customers and the team at Fisherman’s Headquarters. We’ve also seen a few slot-sized fish showing up (in the inlet and bay), which is an encouraging sign that different sizes of striped bass are in the mix and moving.
On Wednesday, November 4, I spent time fishing along LBI and southern Island Beach State Park. There was plenty of bunker, some whales feeding nearby and quality striped bass in several areas. We found stretches with bait but no bass, bait with doggies and bait with bass. The action wasn’t widespread blitz fishing like reported in previous days, but anglers willing to put in the time and fish the bait schools had some outstanding catches.
Importantly, this wasn’t just a boat fishing bite. Surfcasters caught some beautiful striped bass right from the beaches of LBI! The LBI Surf Fishing Classic has had quality fish entered into its catch-photo-release division.
The Storm Hits the Reset Button
What a difference a couple of days makes!
Saturday, November 7 has brought clear skies, breezy west winds and an otherwise beautiful fall day. There’s a southeast swell in the water from a low-pressure system south of Bermuda which is putting the surf conditions in the 3′ range today. The swell is expected to linger in the 2–3-foot-plus range for the next couple of days.
After several days of excellent fishing and beautiful weather, Friday’s windy, soaking southerly storm changed the picture. We’ve already received several reports from surf anglers who struggled this morning. One customer summed it up perfectly: “What a difference a couple days makes! Dead as door nail this morning!” We did hear of a small bluefish that was caught, a hickory shad as well as a couple bay anchovies and peanut bunker in the wash.
This is a shift in gears, but unfortunately a downshift. The storm, swell and changing winds have disrupted the fishing pattern, scattering bait and changed things up. That’s life and that’s fishing.
The bunker haven’t disappeared. One of our bunker guys who was catching bait for us today reported large schools in 30 feet of water off Harvey Cedars and down toward Ship Bottom. Rather than being tight to the beach and within casting distance, much of the bunker is currently holding a bit off the beach.
With alittle time things will settle and the next pattern will emerge.
West Is Best! Looking Ahead…
One of my favorite conditions for fall surf fishing is a west wind. Especially several days of consistent westerlies. West is best!
With westerly winds in the forecast, I’m optimistic. The weather looks good and with the offshore winds the bunker schools should push into the wind and toward the beaches. If the bait returns within casting distance, the striped bass should be on tap for surf casters.
There are no guarantees in fishing. But we’ve got a bunch of bunker in the area, striped bass moving through with more to our north… and November is historically a great month for fishing the LBI surf.
Water Temperatures Remain Unseasonably Warm
Another important part of the story is the water temperature. On November 4, I recorded temperatures ranging from 58° to 60°F while fishing. Local water temperatures have lingered around the upper 50s to 60-degree mark for a couple of weeks, unusually warm for this point in the fall season.
Historically, November is a prime month for the LBI striped bass migration, and some of our best fall fishing opportunities develop as ocean temperatures drop into the mid to lower 50s. We’re not quite there yet. This extended period of relatively warm water may help, although water temperature alone doesn’t determine the fishing.
Looking back at past fall seasons, the cooler water of mid to late November can offer greatness as new waves of striped bass move down.
Surf Fishing Tips… Find the Bait & Find the Bass
The most productive approach this week has been to locate bunker schools and fish them. Not every bunker school has bass on it, and even when fish are present, they aren’t necessarily feeding aggressively.
For anglers fishing from the beach, mobility is important. Don’t spend your entire trip locked into one spot waiting for the fish to come to you. Check multiple beaches, look for bait, watch for surface activity and pay attention to the cuts and troughs that formed following the erosion from our earlier fall storms.
Some of the most productive presentations have included:
- Glide baits and large swimming plugs: Excellent options for targeting quality striped bass feeding on bunker.
- Metal-lip swimmers and Red Fins: Great choices for working beach cuts, troughs and shallower water.
- Pencil Popper, Spooks, pencil poppers and Polaris-style poppers: Topwater presentations that can draw exciting strikes when bass are feeding near the surface.
- Fresh bunker chunks and live bunker: The best bait for striped bass.
One challenge has been the abundance of dogfish. Anglers chunking bunker from the surf have encountered plenty of them. Don’t get discouraged if you’re catching dogfish instead of bass. Try larger baits, bunker heads or a whole bunker with the tail removed. You can also switch to swimming plugs or topwater lures to reduce unwanted dogfish hookups.
Most importantly, don’t confuse the presence of bait with a guarantee of feeding striped bass. Keep searching until you find the right combination of bait, fish and conditions.
Barnegat Bay & Inlet Striped Bass Fishing
While the oceanfront bunker bite has captured most of the attention, there are also striped bass opportunities in the backwaters.
Recent reports include bass caught in the bay using live spot and live eels, along with fish holding around main channels, thoroughfares and sod banks. Bulkheads, bridges and accessible street ends can also provide opportunities for land-based anglers.
These areas are worth considering, particularly when ocean surf conditions become challenging. The backwaters offer an easier style of fishing when heavy lead is needed on surf and only light rod and reel outfits are in hard. It can be productive for most of November.
Barnegat Inlet Tautog Fishing Remains Productive
Let’s not forget about tautog!
Tog fishing around the Barnegat Inlet rocks has remained fairly consistent. The action hasn’t been an all out bite with huge numbers of fish, but anglers have caught quality keepers, including several nice fish recently weighed in.
November and December are traditionally excellent months for tautog fishing. As water temperatures decline, the land-based inlet bite will eventually slow as fish shift into deeper water. For now, there’s still a good opportunity to target quality blackfish from the rocks for atleast a couple more weeks
Green crabs have been particularly difficult to source this fall, but Fisherman’s Headquarters has been making special (LONG) trips to secure bait. We currently have green crabs available in quantities ranging from a dozen to larger bulk orders (15# and 30# bags ). Availability can change quickly, so call ahead for the latest inventory.
LBI Surf Fishing Classic Event
The 72nd Annual LBI Surf Fishing Classic is underway, and the arrival of quality striped bass has brought some excitement to the competition. For more details: https://www.lbisfc.com/live-results
The tournament’s catch, photo, release striped bass division has seen some impressive fish. With plenty of fishing remaining and multiple prize opportunities ahead, this is an excellent time to get involved and enjoy the fall surf fishing season.
Final Thoughts: November Is For Fishing
The first week of November proved that the fall striped bass run is on. Friday’s storm put a temporary damper on the action, but Saturday’s slow start shouldn’t discourage anglers. The bait is still here, the water is still relatively warm and the forecasted west winds offer hope for improving surf fishing conditions.
November is one of the best months of the year to fish Long Beach Island. Don’t miss it!
Need fresh bunker, green crabs, striped bass plugs or help getting geared up for the fall run? Stop by Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom, NJ, or visit FishermansHeadquarters.com.
Helping Anglers Catch More Fish Since 1962.