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Bield:Fish
Single-species migration calendar

Black Sea Bass in New Jersey Coast may fishing.

Centropristis striataMigratoryGood

Spring sea bass on inshore wrecks and structure.

Year-round calendar

Each month encodes typical migration status. The current month is outlined in gold. Tap a cell for the month-specific note and water temperature.

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JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJan — Absent Offshore wintering. Typical water temp: 40–46°FFeb — Absent Same. Typical water temp: 42–48°FMar — Absent Closed season pre-migration. Typical water temp: 46–52°FApr — Possible Migration arriving in southern part of region. Typical water temp: 52–58°FPossibleMay — Good Spring sea bass on inshore wrecks and structure. Typical water temp: 58–64°FGoodJun — Peak Peak inshore season — wrecks, reefs, and rock piles. Typical water temp: 64–70°FPeakJul — Peak Same — best month for keeper-size fish on structure. Typical water temp: 68–76°FPeakAug — Good Summer fish holding on structure. Typical water temp: 72–78°FGoodSep — Good Fall season — fish active on structure. Typical water temp: 66–72°FGoodOct — Fair Fish moving offshore. Typical water temp: 58–64°FFairNov — Absent Most fish have moved offshore. Typical water temp: 50–58°FDec — Absent Offshore wintering. Typical water temp: 44–52°F

Migration pattern

Spring inshore migration to wrecks and reef structure April–May, peak summer fishing on wrecks, fall offshore migration October–November. Stock has expanded northward in recent decades.

Best locations

  • Sandy Hook
  • Manasquan Inlet
  • Cape May rips
  • Barnegat Inlet

Top lures

  • Squid strips on hi-lo rig
  • Clam chunks
  • Diamond jigs
  • Bucktails on wreck structure
  • Sea bass jigs
Verify with current conditions

Migration timing varies year to year. Cross-reference NOAA marine forecasts and a local source the week of your trip.

Black Sea Bass in other regions

Get a notification when black sea bass show up.

Bield: Fish ties NOAA buoy data and water temperature readings to species arrival windows so you're on the water the day they arrive in New Jersey Coast.

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