Conditions: Water temps are now in the mid 70s upriver and in the low 60s downriver. Water clarity is slightly diminished in the River due to the runoff from inland rains. The clarity on the beaches is excellent. The River is holding several schools of striped bass ranging from 12" to 28". There are some larger fish staged up on the beaches and the south facing ledges from Indian Point to Cape Small.
Bait the fish are feeding on: River Herring, American eels, Alewives, Mackerel, Sea Herring and Sand eels
Fishing Tactics: Warmer water and bright sunlight is causing the striped bass to move into deeper water by mid morning. So go early, use topwater lures at first light and change to subsurface lures and flies as it brightens up.
Go early, use topwater lures at first light and change to subsurface lures and flies as it brightens up.
Fishing Report July 20, 2016
My fly fishing tip of the week: Use larger bulkier flies upriver where the visibility is reduced and smaller more lifelike flies downriver and on the beaches.
My spin fishing tip of the week: Bucktail jigs and soft plastics on jig heads are producing good results. Fish them near the surface early and when it gets bright out start bouncing them on bottom.
7 day outlook: Sunny and in the 80s this week with winds shifting from northwest to southerly. There's lots of bait and lots of stripers around but the bite has now shifted to dawn and dusk. Productive mid-day fishing will be in deep water where there's fast moving current.
Jeff McDaniel with a nice striped bass caught on a bucktail jig
Fishfinder screen shot of a school of striped bass
Noel Uzemack's 28" early morning striper
