Striped Bass Bite Heats Up Off Jersey Shore
Boat and surf anglers are landing large striped bass along the Jersey Shore as sea bass limits rise to 15 fish.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Fishing
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Anglers caught large striped bass outside Manasquan Inlet on the Jersey Shore before 10 a.m. Monday, while the New Jersey sea bass daily bag limit increased to 15 fish at 12½ inches as of Nov. 1.
Why it matters
The fall striped bass run and expanded sea bass limit give anglers more opportunity as sea bass begin migrating to deeper water. Fishing conditions remain active along the Jersey Shore from Manasquan Inlet to Sandy Hook.
New Jersey's sea bass daily bag limit is now 15 fish at a minimum of 12½ inches as of Nov. 1. Boat anglers reported striped bass in the 50-inch class, while surf water in Belmar measured in the low 60s °F on Monday.
The players
Capt. Rich Falcone
Captain of the Golden Eagle party boat, whose crew landed jumbo striped bass on live bunker.
Grumpy's Bait & Tackle
Seaside Park tackle shop serving local anglers on the Jersey Shore.
The details
Boat fishermen netted and released striped bass on live bunker, cut bunker, pencil poppers, bucktails and Tsunami sand eels, though heavy boat traffic made it hard to hold position around bunker pods. Surf anglers landed bass from Lavallette through Island Beach State Park, and Capt. Rich Falcone's Golden Eagle party boat caught jumbo striped bass on live bunker.
Timeline
Saturday: The Big Jamaica's 12-hour sea bass trip returned with a 10-fish limit plus porgies.
Sunday: The Golden Eagle party boat caught jumbo striped bass.
Monday, Nov. 3: Striped bass were caught outside Manasquan Inlet before 10 a.m.
Friday, Nov. 6: Seas are forecast to build to 7 feet by late in the day.
Season Trajectory
New Jersey's sea bass limit now stands at 15 fish at 12½ inches under the state's current recreational regulations. The striped bass run and expanded sea bass allowance mark a strong end to the 2026 saltwater season along the Jersey Shore.
Anglers planning trips should check the 15-fish sea bass limit and 12½-inch minimum before heading out. Forecast seas near 7 feet by Friday may limit boat trips, so surf anglers should watch conditions closely.
The takeaway
Anglers should keep an eye on the forecast, since building seas later this week could shorten the fishing window. Checking the current sea bass rules before a trip helps avoid keeping undersized or over-limit fish.
What happens next
Seas are forecast to build to 7 feet by late Friday, Nov. 6, and rain is expected Thursday, which could make surf and boat fishing conditions rougher.
Further reading
For more on saltwater angling conditions, see Fishing coverage across New Jersey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MyCentralJersey.
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