It’s a fishing day

Fortescue fishing conditions · New Jersey

Tomorrow 5 am to Monday 4 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 55. Water is 61°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window. Wind builds to 20 mph out of the northwest by today at 4:00 pm.

Small Craft Advisory until Sunday 9 am
Log a trip here
Right now: 32 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. 324 pm
  2. 55
  3. 55
  4. 327 pm
  5. 32
  6. 32
  7. 3210 pm
  8. 55
  9. 55Sun
  10. 321 am
  11. 32
  12. 55
  13. 324 am
  14. 55
  15. 55
  16. 557 am
  17. 55
  18. 55
  19. 5510 am
  20. 55
  21. 55
  22. 551 pm
  23. 55
  24. 55
  25. 554 pm
  26. 55
  27. 55
  28. 557 pm
  29. 55
  30. 55
  31. 5510 pm
  32. 55
  33. 55Mon
  34. 551 am
  35. 55
  36. 55
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
61°F

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

55MarginalTomorrow 5 am to Monday 4 am

Water

61°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. 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". Delaware Bay and other marine waters open Mar 1–Dec 31; the Delaware River from Trenton to the Salem River is open Mar 1–31 and Jun 1–Dec 31. Circle hooks required with natural bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New Jersey

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov (no water record for Jul–Sep), from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

61°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside bluefish's active range. 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–Jun, Oct (no water record for Jul–Sep), 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

61°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Summer flounder prefers outgoing tide. Inside summer flounder's active range. Strong wind — chop and difficult casting. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

17" minimum · 3 a day

Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. Delaware Bay and tributaries: 3 fish at 17", May 4–Sep 25.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · New Jersey

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Jun, Oct (no water record for Jul–Sep), from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on summer flounder

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer29.87 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:53 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:36 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

A Delaware Bay fishing village in Cumberland County, long known for weakfish and party boats. Striped bass in spring and fall, bluefish and summer flounder in summer.

Nearby

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

Port Mahon13 mi · DelawareBest tomorrow 6 am to Monday 4 am
100Go
Woodland Beach Wildlife Area15 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go
Kitts Hummock Beach15 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
75Worth the trip
Bowers Beach17 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go
South Bowers Beach18 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go
Slaughter Beach23 mi · DelawareBest now until Monday 4 am
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Fortescue?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Fortescue?

Fortescue 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 Fortescue?

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 Fortescue 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 Fortescue have?

Fortescue has shoreline / wading access. There is no pier or boat ramp at this location.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Fortescue?

state agency regulations apply at Fortescue. 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 Fortescue tidal water?

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