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Bield:Fish
Single-species migration calendar

Weakfish in New Jersey Coast may fishing.

Cynoscion regalisMigratoryGood

Best month historically — population currently reduced.

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 Wintering off NC. Typical water temp: 40–46°FFeb — Absent Not yet in region. Typical water temp: 42–48°FMar — Possible Earliest scattered fish. Typical water temp: 50–56°FPossibleApr — Fair Spring arrival in southern bays — Peconic, Great South Bay. Typical water temp: 56–62°FFairMay — Good Best month historically — population currently reduced. Typical water temp: 60–66°FGoodJun — Fair Fish moving onto deeper structure. Typical water temp: 64–70°FFairJul — Fair Summer fish on offshore structure. Typical water temp: 70–76°FFairAug — Fair Same pattern. Typical water temp: 70–78°FFairSep — Good Fall return to bays — feeding heavily before migration. Typical water temp: 64–70°FGoodOct — Fair Fish moving south out of the region. Typical water temp: 56–62°FFairNov — Absent Most fish have departed. Typical water temp: 50–56°FDec — Absent Wintering south of region. Typical water temp: 44–50°F

Migration pattern

Spring arrival from the south April–May into Long Island and NJ bays; summer fish on structure; fall return in September before pushing south. Population is well below historical highs.

Best locations

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

Top lures

  • Small soft plastics on light jigheads
  • Live shrimp under popping cork
  • Bay anchovy imitations
  • Bucktails tipped with squid
Verify with current conditions

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

Weakfish in other regions

Get a notification when weakfish 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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