Night Fishing for Striped Bass: A Guide to New Jersey’s Fall Surf
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By Nick Honachefsky, Published in sportfishingmag.com
As fall settles over the mid-Atlantic coast, experienced surf anglers know that some of the best striper fishing happens after dark. For boaters and shore-based fishermen working harbors and beaches from Sandy Hook to Cape May, understanding how striped bass behave at night can make the difference between a successful outing and going home empty-handed.
Nick Honachefsky, writing for Sport Fishing Magazine, explains how anglers can prepare for nighttime success by scouting during daylight hours:
Nighttime fishing requires some daytime reconnaissance. When the sun is up, pick a beach you like to fish and study where the cuts, sloughs and sandbars evince themselves at all stages of the tide. This way, when it gets too dark to see, you’ll know how to maximize your time at night to hit areas that will be most productive.
Watch during the day to see where the bunker, sand eel, spearing and bay anchovy schools situate. They will probably be in the same area later. Most times, bass congregate and move in during times of higher water, meaning the two hours up to the high tide and the first two hours of the outgoing tide. Striped bass feed on bait schools pushed into the sloughs when there is enough water for them to enter and feed.
Honachefsky emphasizes that night anglers should rely on senses beyond sight—listening for fish crashing on bait and noting the scent of baitfish in the air. His top lure choice? The classic black or blurple Bomber Long A plug, worked with a slow, steady retrieve.
Read the full article here: Fall Night Fishing for Jersey Striped Bass
