It’s a fishing day

Cape May fishing conditions · New Jersey

Sit it outno striped bass window clears the bar in 36 hours

Wind builds to 25 mph out of the northwest by tonight at 8:00 pm.

Small Craft Advisory until Sunday 9 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 14 for striped bass, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 144 pm
  2. 14
  3. 14
  4. 147 pm
  5. 0
  6. 0
  7. 010 pm
  8. 0
  9. 14Sun
  10. 141 am
  11. 14
  12. 14
  13. 144 am
  14. 14
  15. 14
  16. 147 am
  17. 14
  18. 14
  19. 1410 am
  20. 37
  21. 14
  22. 141 pm
  23. 37
  24. 37
  25. 144 pm
  26. 14
  27. 14
  28. 377 pm
  29. 37
  30. 37
  31. 3710 pm
  32. 37
  33. 37Mon
  34. 371 am
  35. 37
  36. 37
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
20 mph

From the northwest · rough for small boats

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:53 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
57°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are New Jersey regulations for these waters.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

37Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Striped bass bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 1 fish at 28–31". Atlantic Ocean 0–3 miles: no closed season; beyond 3 miles closed. Circle hooks required with natural bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New Jersey

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

2Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Bluefish bite in 60–80° water, best near 70°.

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Bluefish is here May–Oct. Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. No minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat; 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New Jersey

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on bluefish

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

–Not scoredOut of season

Out of seasonOut of season here today. Check the agency before fishing.

Water

No water reading here right now. Summer flounder bite in 58–75° water, best near 65°.

Why

Summer flounder prefers outgoing tide. Summer flounder is here Jun–Sep. Strong wind — chop and difficult casting. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 3 a day

Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. 3 fish at 18", May 4–Sep 25.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New Jersey

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Sep, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on summer flounder

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.87 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:53 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:34 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:50 pm–11:50 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. NJ Fish & Wildlife has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The southern tip of New Jersey where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic — a striped bass, bluefish, and summer flounder (fluke) hot spot through the rips, the inlet, and the surf, with a legendary fall striper run as fish funnel south. Live tide and water temperature from the Cape May station.

NJ: striped bass 28–31" slot, 1 a day; fluke and bluefish per the NJ limits. The fall run concentrates fish at the point.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Cape Henlopen State Park14 mi · DelawareBest tonight 12 am to Monday 4 am
92Go
Lewes Canal16 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
75Worth the trip
Broadkill Beach18 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go
Slaughter Beach21 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Indian River Inlet24 mi · DelawareBest tomorrow 7 am to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
67Marginal
Delaware Seashore State Park24 mi · DelawareBest tomorrow 7 am to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
67Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Cape May?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Cape May you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Cape May?

Cape May is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Cape May?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Cape May against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Cape May have?

Cape May has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. NJ: striped bass 28–31" slot, 1 a day; fluke and bluefish per the NJ limits. The fall run concentrates fish at the point.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Cape May?

state agency regulations apply at Cape May. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Cape May tidal water?

Yes. Cape May sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.