Southern New Jersey Fishing Report- November 6, 2025

Southern New Jersey Fishing Report

Welcome November, but can someone please turn down the fan?! The west winds have been so strong that some of the flat-calm bay lagoons look as if you could almost walk across them. But the winds have also brought large striped bass into our area with copious schools of fish feeding on bunker schools. Anglers snagging bunker and re-hooking live ones on circle hooks are finding some success, as are anglers casting large darters, swimming plugs, and glidebaits into feeding schools. If you’re out there, don’t be surprised to see big bluefin busting through schools of bunker; several surfcasters off IBSP and boats witnessed the melee.

Togging seems to be getting a tad better with the colder water temperatures as bigger fish have started to bite. The Beaver moon, November’s full moon, has begun to push a lot of fish into our area, and it’s only a matter of time before some of the slot- and tagged-size schools begin to infiltrate southern New Jersey. 

Here is this week’s rundown: 

Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported better action off the surf for anglers working large plugs and needlefish during the first few hours of daylight off IBSP and Seaside Park. Most of the fish being caught are over-slots, but put up a great fight and make for some excellent catch and release pics. Schoolie bass are still being caught in the Toms River and around the bridges leading into Seaside Park. 

Salty Love Sportfishing in Forked River has been busy doing some routine maintenance on the vessel, but the crew is gearing up for the November striped bass run. 

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported striped bass to 30 pounds being landed off IBSP on live bunker tight to the beach. Surf anglers working plugs off IBSP and LBI also found some striped bass feeding along the beach in the stiff northwest winds. Togging with green crabs from the Barnegat Light rocks has been solid on parts of the incoming and outgoing tides. 

Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown reported good bay action on striped bass to 40 inches over the past few days.  The skipper has been putting charters on their limits of tagged and slot fish along with limits of tautog up to 20 inches. The crew has some weekday openings for striped bass, which start in the early afternoon in November, as well as the two weekend dates remaining.  The skipper said 2026 dates are beginning to fill up, so if you want to get on the schedule, start booking your trips! 

The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light fished a few days for sea bass, but the winds and seas have not cooperated with most boats over the last week. They reported good striped bass action north of inlet over the past few days with most of the fish being caught on live bunker. 

Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported a solid influx of ocean fish making their way into the back bays, which is evident by hitchhiking sea lice. Most of these fish are taking soft plastics or dragged live spot during the day while nighttime anglers reported decent action on eels. Tautog fishing continued at last week’s pace with keepers being caught at the bridges and inshore reef sites. It’s been an all-out green crab bite on rigs and jigs. 

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Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point reported some good striped bass action around the area bridges. The best bite has been at night, with soft-plastic shads and live eels working on striped bass to 35-inches plus. There has been much better activity in the bay compared to the beaches or out front, but the shop hopes things will change in the coming weeks. Tautog remained solid for another straight week as anglers caught them off the rocks and at the inshore reef sites. Rigs and jigs worked for most of the fish and a few keepers to 6 pounds were caught. 

Waterfront Marine in Somers Point said the tog fishing at the reef was steady with a pick of nice fish and a huge triggerfish. Striped bass are being caught along most of the bridges during the night tides on live spot and jigs paired with soft plastics. Most of the large striped bass have been north of Long Beach Island, but it’s a matter of time before Brigantine begins firing. 

Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City reported a nice influx of migratory fish in the bay and the shallow flats are holding quite a few migratory striped bass. Topwater and soft plastics (like Fin-S Fish and swim shads, etc.) are producing good results. Most of the fish seem to be feeding on small bait, like peanut bunker, with bay water temperatures hovering in the mid 50s. The skipper has a few dates open in November, so give him a ring to book. 

Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City arrived back in New Jersey for the fall striped bass run, but the skipper had to take care of some boat-moving duties down in Mississippi. He hopes to be back at it again in southern Jersey next week.  

The Cape May and Fortescue area had some serious wind over the past week, but hardy anglers have been working the backwaters for schoolie striped bass along the marshes.  Soft-plastic shads and plugs in the 4- to 5-inch range have been working along some of the tidal creek entrances. Meanwhile, bloodworms are producing stripers and white perch along some of the major rivers which empty into Delaware Bay. Green crabs tipped on 3/4- to 1-ounce jigs have been the ticket to larger tog off the rocks and bridges.

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The best bet for the weekend, especially on Saturday, will be to work the beaches during the early morning or night hours for migrating striped bass. I would advise throwing large plugs, like darters or metal-lipped swimmers, for a chance to tangle with fish to 40 inches. Once the sun is high, head for the nearest rocky area with a bucket full of green crabs to catch some of the many tautog that are lining our jetties. Boat fishermen should hit the areas from Seaside Park to Brigantine in search of striped bass feeding on bunker. Most of these fish are being caught on live bunker or large swimming and topwater plugs, so keep the smaller soft plastics and jigs dry for the next schools of migrating bass, which are currently off parts of Long Island. It’s a great time to get out and enjoy the November striped bass fishing scene. Good luck, be safe and tight lines!