raritan bay and ocean area temps

[cowherder]

Lets see some water temps for Raritan here. I need something to look forward to. I'm looking for 45-50 as the magic number for striped bass action. Any thoughts?:fishing:

[cowherder]

Today it reached 36 degrees at Keansburg. That's pretty good, considering all last week it was around 33. :wheeeee:

[finchaser]

It will drop like a rock when all the snow run off from upstate comes down the husdon

[storminsteve]

Oh come on finchaser you're such a party pooper! At that rate we will have nothing in the bay but winter flounder and stray coney island whitefish. Some of us want to fish on Mar 1, keep hope alive will you!:fishing:

[finchaser]

Oh come on finchaser you're such a party pooper! At that rate we will have nothing in the bay but winter flounder and stray coney island whitefish. Some of us want to fish on Mar 1, keep hope alive will you!:fishing:

For your sake I hope so, but I wouldn't bet on it

[rip316]

It will drop like a rock when all the snow run off from upstate comes down the husdon

This is what Cardoc and I were discussing the other day. For any chance on getting fish March 1st there will have to be no more storms and the sun better come out more often like it has been. The water will be cold and muddy too. Unless this happens it won't be good for an early beginning. JMO

[storminsteve]

I agree, but if you fish the incoming tide to the top, the water coming in from the ocean might actually be warmer. I did this as a pattern for the first month last year and caught fish. Today the back bay temp registered 47 degrees. It will be windy for the next few days so I imagine those temps will shoot right back down. Still, 47 degrees makes me drool a little.

[rip316]

I agree, but if you fish the incoming tide to the top, the water coming in from the ocean might actually be warmer. I did this as a pattern for the first month last year and caught fish. Today the back bay temp registered 47 degrees. It will be windy for the next few days so I imagine those temps will shoot right back down. Still, 47 degrees makes me drool a little.

Hey Steve I can't wait to get back out there again either. We should exchange info because I won't be on the site anymore. Someone is pist at me for going and meeting a fellow site member so I am out of here.

[speedy]

Hey Steve I can't wait to get back out there again either. We should exchange info because I won't be on the site anymore. Someone is pist at me for going and meeting a fellow site member so I am out of here.

if you stay i will buy you a samminch what do ya say bro

[finchaser]

if you stay i will by you a samminch what do ya say bro

:huh:trying to kill him now, with food from that place Dark eats at

[cardoc765]

Yesterday the bay temp got up to 43 and is around 40 today at keansberg. However, i'm looking for it to be a bit more steady over 45. March 17th was my start date last year and that is what I am looking forward too.

[cowherder]

Barnegat bay temps are 36today. After getting back up to 41.5 on the 18th. Finchaser is right, there won't be many bass in water that cold. The season opens in less than 2 weeks. Thats depressing.

[finchaser]

Snow tonight and teens tomorrow night won't help. Saw some lagoons on Sunday that feed into Barnegat Bay still iced over

[VSdreams]

Yeah at this rate fishing will start heating up in June, right when its time for them to move further north.

[storminsteve]

Water temps for rb got up to 42 yesterday, getting close!

[rip316]

Raritan Bay went from 42 all the way down to 34 last last night. With rain expected this weekend will only delay any kind of action. I will be staying home til next week.

[baitstealer]

The water was freezing today. I went this morning with clams and it was about 42. No fish around, small taps on the hook which were probably flounder. The guy at the tackle shop said it got to 50 yesterday, but not this morning it was like ice!

[finchaser]

Manasquan river today 38 and brown
Barnegat bay 40 and clear
Beaver dam had skim ice this AM

both taken by me

The tackle store with the 50 BS is just trying to sell bait

[ledhead36]

The USGS gauge at Keansburg finally touched 50, for real, yesterday. As finchaser said the rain dropped those temps like a rock. Now they are trending up a little and should honestly (tackle shop liers be damned) be into the 50's this week. I am liking the first few days of next week. The temp will be trending up and might produce some results.

[storminsteve]

50 deg in the rb, just hit it!
Won't be long now!

[finchaser]

50
Won't be long now!

Ah Rabbi jokes^^

[cardoc765]

Went out tonight and the water was cold. I waded in and is was like crap. A lil longer yet

[lostatsea]

Ah Rabbi jokes^^

That would be after the circumcision, no?:laugh:
Poor kid, he could have been a John Holmes. Now he's just a little "short". Hey cardoc at least you gave it a try.

[rip316]

Fished the incoming yesterday. One fat short (do not know what they could have been feeding on with no bait around, this thing had a football shaped belly) 23" on sandworm.

[storminsteve]

Nice, rip!
The temps hit 57 in the back of rb today woo hoo!

[DarkSkies]

Went out tonight and the water was cold. I waded in and is was like crap. A lil longer yet


Nice, rip!
The temps hit 57 in the back of rb today woo hoo!


The tackle store with the 50 BS is just trying to sell bait

I brought these comments to light because I wanted to give a little depth to this issue here. It's great that these temps are edging upward. :headbang:I check the guages every day for several areas as well and get pumped when I see the water reaching the 50 degree mark.

However, I wanted to get people to think about the fact that as fin and others have said, those are surface water temps. Moreover, those temps exist for a static period in time as the sun heats the water near the data stations.

The fish are still sluggish at this point. I know guys are bragging about catching, and I'm happy for them. :thumbsup:

I met several groups of people today who travel 2-4 hours (one way) to out NJ bays to fish. While we complain about wasting our time out there, these guys will spend a minimum of 8 hours a night fishing when you take their commuting time into account.

So while I'm happy to see the tackle shops sell clams and worms (cause they certainly need the business, they really do!) it's more accurate to say fishing is spotty right now. I know there are no guarantees in fishing. But if you're driving 2 hours or more one-way to get to the bayshore and anticipating fish, it's not likely right now. http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/images/icons/icon3.png

If you're going just to get out of the house and have to be away from the wife, ;) or because your son or daughter is begging to go fishing, then by all means don't let my cautions stop you from going. :fishing:

The gas crisis has made people more picky about making trips for nothing. All I'm trying to do is save folks who live far away a few dollars in these tough times.

In a week or 2, the action should really be worthwhile.
Even the bunker that people are harping about in the bays can't help most fishermen right now, as the largest majority of fish that are available aren't big enough to swallow a bunker. Most of those resident fish are keyed in on worms, crabs, small marine life, grass shrimp, and the winter spearing that have shown up.

So, without seeming too negative, just trying to keep it real for the folks who live furthest from the surf. :HappyWave:

[cardoc765]

I have heard so many stories from tackle shops saying people are getting fish. But it is interesting how there are no weigh ins. Who wouldn't want a gift certificate for the first weigh in of the year. I agree with Dark's water temps. What you read is not waht the temp is deeper in the water column. My comment of the water being crap was a reference to how cold it was. Looking at my logs from last year, the ouside temp was 60 for several days. Yes, i started to catch fish consitently starting March 17th. but the water temps low and high were hovering around 50 to 52. It was not a drastic change between high and low tides. That is what you want, more consistency in the water temps. Middle or end of next week show start to show more signs of fish. There have been a few shorts caught so far, so it's looking good.

[rip316]

Snow showers Wed. into Thurs. and temps dropping into the low 30's is not a good comnbination. We will have to wait a bit longer fellas for this year to be kicked off into a more consistent feeding pattern.

[finchaser]

Snow showers Wed. into Thurs. and temps dropping into the low 30's is not a good comnbination. We will have to wait a bit longer fellas for this year to be kicked off into a more consistent feeding pattern.

fishing is returning to how it use to be less fish and real winters you newbies are spoiled, when the dogwoods bloom they will be there can't go by dates. Temps that cause dogwoods to bloom are also the temps needed to warm the water. Been usng this since it was given to me over 40 years ago I never go by dates I follow nature


Tulips – arrival of winter flounder
Dogwood – arrival of striped bass
Lilac – weakfish are in town
Forsythia – bluefish and fluke are on the move
September’s full harvest moon has a tremendous effect on both weakfish and striped bass which take it as a sign to start their annual southern migration. During this lunar period juvenile species of both predator and prey are driven outward along the shoreline.

[cowherder]

Hey guys the water temps in raritan bay dropped about 10 degrees in the last 3 days, they are now around 70.:cool:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/uv?cb_00065=on&cb_00011=on&cb_00010=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=01407081

[cowherder]

raritan bay temps were around 68 this morning!

[basshunter]

65 today.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/uv?cb_00065=on&cb_00011=on&cb_00010=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=01407081

[storminsteve]

It went down to 56 this week

[cowherder]

46 in raritan bay
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/uv?cb_00065=on&cb_00011=on&cb_00010=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=01407081

[storminsteve]

Go south, young man, go south.;)

[VSdreams]

It went from 37 last night to 46 today, woo hoo!

[finchaser]

Sorry pal that ones really hard to believe

[storminsteve]

^He's right. It's here all in black and white, finchaser. Grouchy much? Maybe dark has a point.:laugh: :HappyWave: Look at the chart for mar 6.The bay seemed warmed up last night, early pm,, but it was still no action.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/uv?cb_00065=on&cb_00011=on&cb_00010=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=01407081

[finchaser]

OK but my friends who fish there nightly said the water temps when they take it was 38 to 40 and void of life. Really makes no never mind to me as I don't fish there not into clams and commando fishing. Looks to me on your chart nights are in the low 40's and daytime highs rise, then again it has to do with water depth and in that area what flows down the rivers on the tide .The water went up to almost 55 degrees today according to them another 10 degree rise. Remember you are on the moon tide at low tide the extremely low waters warm quickly and give a semi false reading which drops like a rock on the flood tide. Should be in the 80's by the weekend.:) I'm not grouchy just report what I see or hear to try and help people as DS asked me to :don't know why:

[bababooey]

OK but my friends who fish there nightly said the water temps when they take it was 38 to 40 and void of life. Really makes no never mind to me as I don't fish there not into clams and commando fishing.
Finchaser no disrespect meant but I understood you to be a guy who doesn't fish bait. Yet you have friends who fish there nightly. Would they be using clams? From your posts I understood that you didn't associate with anyone who fishes bait, so why the friends who are clam fishers.
It makes no difference to me as I will fish clams bunker or whatever else it takes it put them in the boat, just curious?:huh:

[finchaser]

No disrespect taken. No they are plugging,I associate with many people that fish bait some from this sight. I just don't fish with them when they use bait but have been known to plug next to them. Many times this time of year, fish will hit a plug or rubber worked slow over clams because they are chasing herring and other bait that the bass push north as the waters warm. Remember the bass stay with bait schools to survive, they don't chase clams. Plugs also cover more water.

Now to try and cure your curiosity:

Before the new breed of bass fisherman arrived on the scene clams were only fished after strom's in the surf,when they broke up and covered the beaches before the inshore clamming fleet wiped most of them out. Many beaches had to be closed until they could clean up the clams because of the stench, flies and health risks.

The preferred spring bait in the bays and rivers was blood and sand worms which were dirt cheap. Sand worms were like $10.00 a flat (12 dozen). Anglers put 2 and 3 whole worms on at a time on a 4/0 hook . Most people use clams today because they are much cheaper than worms .

The preferred boat method in the spring was drifting a whole worm on a 3' leader with a dipsey sinker just heavy enough to reach and bounce bottom. This was done in the rivers or channels in the bay. Caught quite a few 20 to 30 pound fish that way in the 60's and 70's. Big weakfish in the 10# to 18# range were common a little later on.

Hope this cures your curiosity

By the way live lining bunker ,eels and( herring when we were allowed to)from a boat on a circle hook for easy release is still one of favorite things to do. That's my idea of bait fishing not slinging snot.

[ledhead36]

The preferred spring bait in the bays and rivers was blood and sand worms which were dirt cheap. Sand worms were like $10.00 a flat (12 dozen). Anglers put 2 and 3 whole worms on at a time on a 4/0 hook . Most people use clams today because they are much cheaper than worms .

The preferred boat method in the spring was drifting a whole worm on a 3' leader with a dipsey sinker just heavy enough to reach and bounce bottom. This was done in the rivers or channels in the bay. Caught quite a few 20 to 30 pound fish that way in the 60's and 70's. Big weakfish in the 10# to 18# range were common a little later on.

.


Thanks for the memories finchaser. Sand worms $10/flat, weakfish 10-18lbs, sounds like a land far removed from the nj we know now.
The bay temps went up to 54 yesterday, are now around 47. It can only get better from here.

[Monty]

The bay temps went up to 54 yesterday, are now around 47. It can only get better from here.
Is this any where near normal for this time of the year?

[ledhead36]

monty not to my knowledge. The March bay temps are usually in the range of 35-45 according to my logs. The last time things were this warm this quickly was around 2006. This year we didn't have snow in the area, so I would think that has a lot to do with it. Maybe someone else here has some other figures?

[finchaser]

abnormally low tides from moon and wind the temps as per there site are being taken in like 2-3 which warm and cool quickly main thing it's void of life except for spanish speaking folk as it was told to me.

[hookset]

Bay hit 56 today time to fish hard.

[finchaser]

before the algae blooms invade the rivers and bay since nothing got cold or froze this so called winter to kill it

[surferman]

I am not looking forward to the algae invasion.

[baitstealer]

before the algae blooms invade the rivers and bay since nothing got cold or froze this so called winter to kill it

The raritan bay temperatures hit 60 degrees today. Finchaser do you think if there is a lot of algae that will affect the bunker?

[finchaser]

too much algea depletes oxegen and kills everything,you seem really hung up on bunker one thing i can assure you they won't make you a good bass fisherman

[stripermania]

too much algea depletes oxegen and kills everything,you seem really hung up on bunker one thing i can assure you they won't make you a good bass fisherman


Yeah but they make some of the netters rich. They can make a lotta cheese selling them to tackle shops.
RB temperature went down 9 degrees in the last 2 days from 63 to 55

[basshunter]

stripermania I fished it last night and I think the water temp got down to 45 degrees, very chilly!

[finchaser]

bay was 40 this AM 15 degree drop

[Monty]

Are the temperature changes of the water normal? They sound extreme but I have nothing to base that on.

[finchaser]

shallow water heats and cools quickly it's 48 today

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/uv?cb_00065=on&cb_00011=on&cb_00010=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=01407081

[cowherder]

Today it registered 53, so maybe we are finally on a warming trend.

[ledhead36]

shallow water heats and cools quickly it's 48 today

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/uv?cb_00065=on&cb_00011=on&cb_00010=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=01407081


Yes but today it went from 51 to 59 degrees. 9 degrees in one day is definitely going to heat the mud flats up. Get ready boys:drool:

[hookset]

raritan bay gauge broken? It has not registered for the last 3 days.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/uv?cb_00065=on&cb_00011=on&cb_00010=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=01407081

[ledhead36]

^ hook I think it is kaput for now.

[storminsteve]

The ocean temps are around 48 and the bay is close to 50.

[buckethead]

What a difference 2 months make. Bay = 68, ocean = 64. As of this morning.

[fishinmission78]

Ocean is 71, thank God it went down a few degrees. Was getting like a cesspool.

[jigfreak]

Ocean def cooled down a little. Felt like october out there tonight. Hardly anyone out there, sweet.

[buckethead]

These sunny days are not good and will push it up even more.

[cowherder]

The ocean temperatures are down to 72 degrees at monmouth beach. Hooray!

[jigfreak]

Still 72 and holding. The fish are active.

[storminsteve]

Raritan bay has gone down 5 degrees in the last week to around 75.

[finchaser]

So your saying the hot chocolate water is becoming chocolate milk:HappyWave:

[storminsteve]

:clapping:^Ha ha! Well like dark says not everyone can have there own private pond to fish in like you do. We have to fish the water that is closer to where we live and can't go gallivanting all over to find fish like "some" people do. I know the bay is going to blow up soon, the question is how soon.

[finchaser]

I fish up up there a few times a year waiting for it to clear so I can mug DS ,water down here hasn't been a thing of beauty lately either .Yeah i'll be covering my pool next weekend and will have to fish else where:HappyWave:

[DarkSkies]

:clapping:^Ha ha! Well like dark says not everyone can have there own private pond to fish in like you do.

Let's get this straight Steve...

Not only does he have a private pond, he has a private helicopter to take them there....he's connected.....:laugh: :HappyWave:

[cowherder]

Going down!
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/uv?cb_00065=on&cb_00011=on&cb_00010=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=01407081

[cowherder]

The bay temps went down 7 degrees in the last 24 hours! that should push some bait out for sure!
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nj/nwis/uv?cb_00065=on&cb_00011=on&cb_00010=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=01407081

[ledhead36]

Down 10 in the last week, to 58. It has to turn on soon.

[storminsteve]

Countdown

[voyager35]

RB went to 50 last night and now is back up around 55 at the end of today. Let the games begin.

[storminsteve]

They rose 8 degrees yesterday. Crazy

[plugcrazy]

Raritan bay temp maxed out today at 44 degrees. Barnegat at 49. Still cold but it makes sense that more bass are in the barnegat area right now.

[finchaser]

:waaah:Fat lady gonna sing soon

[DarkSkies]

^^ The fall run is not officially over till Monty gets :skunk: on 4 fall trips in a row.....
Or until he starts fishing with clams.....:kooky: :laugh:

She may be warming up.....
I really see things winding down....
Although I've been very discouraged lately out there.....not ready to pack it in,,,,,just yet.....:fishing:

[storminsteve]

:waaah:Fat lady gonna sing soon



sssshhhhhhhhhhhhh! :beatin:

[ledhead36]

rb temps were down to 36 last night. I am done with the bay till the spring I think. May take a ride to the ocean this week with some clams.

[finchaser]

For the bay she sings especially with snow and very cold nights for the rest of the week.

[buckethead]

I just checked the raritan bay temperature on the USGS site. 28 degrees.
Took a ride to the ocean this morning because I was bored. Not a soul out there. The ocean temperature was 34 degrees.

[ledhead36]

rb went up to 41 yesterday. A few more days in the row like that and it may get those mudworms moving. Will be out on the 1st giving it a try

[ledhead36]

Terrible water and temps today it went down to 36 in the morning. I was out scouting and decided to bag it for later on because it only went up to 39. Mr sunshine please come out.

[ledhead36]

Readings were 32 degrees at the keansburg station this morning. That's damn cold.

[hookset]

Barnegat was 37.5, Raritan was 35.5 Will only get worse as the snow melts.

[finchaser]

yep

[ledhead36]

raritan bay hit 42.5 today.

[ledhead36]

went up to 46 this afternoon. didn't help the fishing much though.

[storminsteve]

Wow, down to 37 in the morning, ice cold!

[cowherder]

This is getting depressing. I checked that site and it was 33 when I got up today. I see it went back to 39. They say march comes in like a lion out like a lamb. can't wait for the lamb part, lol.

[finchaser]

cold and snow on it's way again

[hookset]

shot up to 44 degrees today back of the bay.

[ledhead36]

Temps for the rb and bb hit 48 ysterday the first time in a while. The next 2 days will be iffy but we're in the ballpark. Today back down to 44.Time to get out there fellas.

[ledhead36]

RB temp hit 44 this afternoon. Still feels a little chilly with all this wind.

[hookedonbass]

Raritan bay says 44 right now we shoud get close to 48 today woo hoo!

[VSdreams]

49 at 5pm bazaam:headbang:

[fishinmission78]

Interesting that the raritan got to 49 and the barnegat only got to 44 today. Must have something to do with where they placed the temperature guages.

[cowherder]

44 was the lowest today it's only goint to get better I say we hit 50 by the end of the day woo hoo!

[plugcrazy]

Snapshot of the ocean temps. Seems a little cold but we are getting there.

http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/show/?file=../../regions/nybight/sst/noaa/2013/img/130407.097.0030.n16.jpg

[cowherder]

I checked that site while I was fishing today it said the temps went from 48-58 woo hoo!

[hookset]

Wow all you need is some stiff wind to drop the bay temps like a rock. Barnegat was 46 this morning, Raritan was 50. Need some sun and steady mild w wind to even things out.

[finchaser]

3 day heavy NE on its way

This Afternoon
NE winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Mainly in se swell with a dominant period of 9 seconds.
Tonight
E winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt...becoming NE 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt late. Seas 3 to 4 ft...building to 4 to 6 ft late. Mainly in se swell with a dominant period of 8 seconds.
Mon
E winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
Mon Night
NE winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
Tue
NE winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas 5 to 8 ft.
Tue Night
NE winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt... diminishing to 5 to 10 kt after midnight. Seas 4 to 7 ft.
Wed
S winds 5 to 10 kt...increasing to 15 to 20 kt in the afternoon...then becoming SW in the evening...becoming NW after midnight. Seas 4 to 6 ft. A chance of showers.
Thu
NE winds 10 to 15 kt...becoming SW in the evening...then becoming NW after midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft. A chance of showers in the morning with vsby 1 to 3 nm.

[ledhead36]

NE sucks! Not so terrible for the bay fishing though, much worse for the ocean. Took a look and the ocean looked like a washing maching before. The barnegat bay was 46 today, raritan was 50 - brrrrr!

[ledhead36]

Bay temps went from 66 yesterday to 56 this morning. 10 degree drop won't be good

[hookset]

RB down to 58 from 66. Shut fishing off where I was. I bass on shad. Sucks.

[ledhead36]

The rb temps dipped from 67 to 54 in the last 24 hours. 13 degrees in that time will give the bass lockjaw. This morning I took a drive to an inlet in moco and checked it out to see what they were catching. Not much lots of sea robins. I was there early and it was still incoming so it might be different later on. Stuck my hand in the water and it felt cold! Both ocean and inlet water. I didn't have a thermometer but ti seems the same as the bay water. A site I check said 58 degrees. it seemed colder than that. I would bet both the bay and ocean are now at 54 degrees.

[ledhead36]

Raritan bay temps dropped 8 degrees in 2 days from 72 to 64. Checked internet and the ocean is 60. Seems they are a little closer together in temp now

[ledhead36]

They dropped 7 degrees in 2 days. The back bay is setting up nicely only a matter of time now. Even some bluefish have started to come back in.

[ledhead36]

Keansburg temps went up to 70 today. Not good. we need some rainy days and northwest winds

[ledhead36]

Finally in a good trend. Bay temps have dropped 10 degrees in the last 10 days. Stabilizing around 60. Should not be long now before some bigger fish show up.

[ledhead36]

What a difference a week makes. Have been still catching spot and small blues and bass but the water temps have really taken a downturn. Dropped 7 degrees last night alone to 47 this morning. In the last week they have dropped 17 degrees. Every living creature except for the raccoons and rats will soon clear out of the bay. Time to hit the front.

[ledhead36]

raritan bay temps dropped to 35 degrees tonight. 10 degree drop in 2 days. This should push out the last of any remaining bass except for those in the hudson.

[J Barbosa]

raritan bay temps dropped to 35 degrees tonight. 10 degree drop in 2 days. This should push out the last of any remaining bass except for those in the hudson.

Don't use the USGS Keansburg gauge as it's subject to large swings in temperature and doesn't reflect the true temperature of the bay. It is a much better gauge on the incoming tide as it reflects the bay temperatures more accurately. Natco Lake is very wide and shallow. Most of the lake is only 3-4ft deep and is subject to rapid cooling and warming hence the large temperature swings on the outgoing in the fall and spring.

I use NOAA buoy as that's on the back of the hook in the bay. That is reading 48.7 right now and it looks like there was a 3 degree drop overnight. That will also be influenced slightly by tides (but so is the rest of the bay!).

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/catl.html

[ledhead36]

^^^^^ Hey JB I might be quoting that gage because I fish there. Do you want me to give away all my fishing spots?:HappyWave:
Just teasing no worries. thanks for the info. Looks like I will be fishing closer to the ocean from now on tha bay back there is to cold.

[ledhead36]

I checked that site today jbarbosa thanks.
Today it was 37.6 at Sandy Hook and 35.6 in Brooklyn. Way too cold for a bass bite. It's ashame because we always do well on bass before the first noreaster of the season. This year its just too cold. Sucks.

[ledhead36]

After hitting 45 yesterday the r bay temps are down to 38. We had a small chance and now it may take a few days for the action to start again. The ocean is still 38 so the bay is the place to be.

[ledhead36]

I look at the temp chart and it is like a stock in the stock market. Last week they were trending upward today they shot down after last night. When you see like 3 days in a row of rising trends from now on I think it will be game on. Better hurry and get out there gents. At this rate the bluefish will be here when the bass action busts open.

[ledhead36]

Water temps back of the bay yesterday hit 40. I was out and about. Its cold, the stripers dont care its all about those temps. fri, sat, sun air temps will be 45-60. By monday or tues we should be into some nice fish.

[storminsteve]

Agree ledhead. 46 today guys it's on!:headbang:

[hookedonbass]

Spot on its time to fish. Noaa is reporting 46.5 at sandy hook and uscgs is reporting 44 so far at the back of the bay in keansburg. That is great news temperatures above 42 for 3 days in a row. Finally

[hookedonbass]

Water temps back of the bay yesterday hit 40. I was out and about. Its cold, the stripers dont care its all about those temps. fri, sat, sun air temps will be 45-60. By monday or tues we should be into some nice fish.


You definitely called that one thanks for sharing your insight.

[ledhead36]

^^^^^ Even a stopped clock is right twice a day hookedonbass. The water temps reached 48 in the afternoon yesterday. We were out and got blanked, go figure. Today it is trending down again. Need more sun.

[hookedonbass]

53 degrees at the back of the bay this afternoon woo hoo!

[baitstealer]

Hey fellas it went to a low of 49 this morning and is already back up at 53. Seems pretty positive.

[Homer S]

If you use the NOAA website click on the temp for an area then click on station info. It has a map showing where the temp is actually taken. Sandy Hook and Cape May are in the bay. The only real surf temp is Atlantic City which is on the steel pier.

[cowherder]

Thanks homer.

[ledhead36]

Back to the ice age temps of march. From a high of 56 yesterday it was 41 this morning for keyport. 15 degrees is too much for the fish to take in one day this will def put a kibosh on the activity.

[wish4fish]

in keansburg it went from 54 to 45. time for stinky smelly clams an bunker chunks!

[ledhead36]

It's time to start the temperature countdown again. Raritan bay temps dropped 10 degrees in the last 3 days from 78 to 68 this morning. We need things to clean up a bit and them just maybe there will be some fish.

[ledhead36]

rb temps are down to 65 boys game on.

[ledhead36]

update - over the weekend they spiked back up again with the sunny days. We need those temps to stay in the mid to lower 60 degree range for a solid bass bite. I have been fishing for bass now but it is tough.

[ledhead36]

Just a heads up the bay temps went down to 51 last nite and have been in the mid 50s all week with the strong northwest winds. its only a matter of time before all the bait from the back will be in the ocean and with fish blasting on it. We got some small bass last night but I may be switching to the ocean soon.

[ledhead36]

We were catching some small bass and then the bay temps dropped like a stone. Hovering in the 50's for a few few days and in last 2 nights dropped to 45. Beginning of the end for the bay bite. Just my .02

[ledhead36]

Temps dropped further. This morning they hit 40 in the back of the RB. There were bunker in the channels and the boats were hammering the bass a short ride from port. I would say within the next 48 hours a lot of those bunker and bass will come out of the bay and hit the surf side. Blitz city bring your binocs lol.

[ledhead36]

Well its getting a lil better lads. Temps around sandy hook are up to the 38 degree range. I have seen some listed in the ocean for monmouth county for around 41. The temps at the back of the rb have been trending to around 41-42 end of day. Another 2 weeks and it should be prime time

[hookedonbass]

cowherd ledhead and others thanks so much for keeping us informed with this thread. Its the first thing I look for in the early season. I noticed other sites have recently started doing the temperature readings and you started this way back in 2011. Guess imitation is the best form of flattery. Keep up the good work and thanks!

[cowherder]

You are welcome man. These guys here have taught me so much so I just thought I would start some threads to give back. good luck to you and I hope we see some fish soon!

[bababooey]

Just read this on the net.
"The end of the incoming in the Manasquan River this AM dropped the temp guage on our boat to 44.5 deg."
thats pretty cold.

[porgy75]

I saw that at the monitor in keansburg the water tempure was around 64. If the ocean temperature is only around 44 or 45? thats a difference of about 20 degrees. I hope this doesn't sound stupid but to me it seems like a big difference. does anyone think that could be having an impact on the overall fishing as well?

[ledhead36]

Figured I would jump start this thread with some readings. Its still very hot in the back of the bay. The daily water temps have been up to 80 degrees in the back bay. The good news is that over the last week the morning temps are starting to go down. In some cases they dropped to 72 degrees when I took the readings. I was near belmar the other day and took a ocean reading it was around 72. So the bay has a little ways to go yet before the action gets better. The drops in the past week are better than nothing though. We should start seeing some decent stripers soon. There is too much bait for them not to come back there.

[ledhead36]

Just read this on the net.
"The end of the incoming in the Manasquan River this AM dropped the temp guage on our boat to 44.5 deg."
thats pretty cold.


That is an amazing statistic that at the end of may that water there was 44.5 degrees. Must have been some S/SE wind that week or something.

[plugcrazy]

Temperatures in the ocean have gone down to 66 degrees. anyone else think when this bad weather stops the ocean will be alive with bait, stripers, and blues?

[finchaser]

Hopefully this storm didn't push them out of the bays and flying south I've seen it happen before in the heyday when there was allot more fish:scared:

Usually around Saint Patrick's day the bay starts to empty which is next week I hope I'm wrong but this storm is not good especially after last week it's been NE for 2 weeks NW is what makes for a good fall

[bababooey]

Usually around Saint Patrick's day the bay starts to empty which is next week I hope I'm wrong but this storm is not good especially after last week it's been NE for 2 weeks NW is what makes for a good fall



St Patty's day? no offense but were you drinking green beer before you posted that? Perhaps you meant another holiday?:scared: :HappyWave:

[finchaser]

St Patty's day? no offense but were you drinking green beer before you posted that? Perhaps you meant another holiday?:scared: :HappyWave:

nope

[bababooey]

Try Glenlivet next time it is a lot smoother than cat in the hat beer.:HappyWave:

[hookset]

Ocean temperatures are almost perfect. Last night I took a reading of 66 degrees. Striper time.

[ledhead36]

Even better than that the temps are now in the zone. Ocean is 59. The bay temps have been hovering in the 50's. One bad set of days was around the 18th when temps plummetted over 15 degrees in one night with that cold northwest wind. Went from over 60 to 45 in one night and gave some of the fish lockjaw. This week they have been in the mid 50s perfect striper water. The problem is not too many fish are here.

[hookedonbass]

They are showing 51 degrees for monmouth and ocean county. I think it was like 50 last week. This noreaster should make it even warmer we may get to 52. Very warm for so late in the year. Hope after the rains some bass will still be around.

[baitstealer]

Saw this from the NWS- what a december to remember
"Warmest December on Record!
The monthly average at the Philadelphia International Airport was 51.2 degrees for December 2015, the next warmest was December 1923 which averaged 44.5 degrees.

Additionally, the December 2015 Monthly Average High Temperature was 58.2 degrees in Philadelphia. This also breaks the previous record of 51.0 degrees, which occurred back in 1889.

Finally, the month of December showed 13 days of temperatures which reached 60 degrees or higher. This exceeds the most number of 60 degree days in December prior to this year which was 8 in 1951 and 1998."

[jigfreak]

Last I saw the ocean temperatures were 42. Great for blackfishing n cod slow for many others.

[buckethead]

Took a walk along the surf in MC this morning. Would say that is about right.

[buckethead]

Have been taking a few morning and afternoon walks. Still getting readings around 40-41.

[ledhead36]

Temps are trending up this week in the bay folks. Just took a reading of 49. Won't be long now before it's mayhem.

[finchaser]

St Patty's day? no offense but were you drinking green beer before you posted that? Perhaps you meant another holiday?:scared: :HappyWave:

Just saw that meant Columbus day

[bababooey]

No worries it did cause me to think you were slightly plastered when posting tho.:HappyWave:

[lostatsea]

Temps are trending up this week in the bay folks. Just took a reading of 49. Won't be long now before it's mayhem.


I just checked the uscg raritan bay site and they have been between 45-49 degrees the last few days. I agree it won't be long and thanks for all of your insight.

[hookset]

Thanks for the updates, gents. It seems like 45 in the ocean, up to 50 in the bays. Holding steady. The storm on sunday may chill that down and it's back to square one.

[ledhead36]

Yeah its bee on the upswing last 2 days. 52 and up. Just took a temp reading of 51 this morning. Good signs ahead.

[ledhead36]

Got a reading of 50 earlier today. Temps in the bay jumped 10 degrees in the last 3 days. Fish are active.

[ledhead36]

Temps are going down to perfect levels. There is still a huge amount of bait in the rivers and harbors. we are starting to catch more keepers on bunker and peanuts. You can't catch them from the couch, get out there guys.

[ledhead36]

Down to 30 in the back with the cold winds. Its over.

[ledhead36]

And life is back again. Back bay water temperatures hit 50 degrees for one day last week. A good start for February.

[ledhead36]

Like a roller coaster, they are back down again. Bunker are still around though. Early spring for sure.

[fishinmission78]

Didn't take long for the big freeze to take over. Parts of Barney Bay look like a winter Ice palace.

[finchaser]

Upstate had close to 2 feet of snow the runoff when it melts should plummet the bay temp

[J Barbosa]

Upstate had close to 2 feet of snow the runoff when it melts should plummet the bay temp

It's over before it even started.

The fat lady has sung, see you guys next March.

[ledhead36]

Jbarbosa I think you are the only one who knows how to fish in cold weather besides us. Too many are pansies waiting for the perfect day. My crew and I caught some small stripers the first two days after opening day, but nothing big only runts on worms. We have been getting some herring before the snow as well. These are nice sea herring that you can catch and keep. Yep there are no fish in Jersey right now. Everyone should stay on the couch watching TV.:d

[finchaser]

nothing like shocking and killing little fish

The water temp is 37 deg at Keansburg gate right now during incoming tide

[hookset]

It's going to take 2 weeks for water temps to get to a decent level again. my two cents.

[cowherder]

I am so sick of this cold water and winter. I hereby declare it's over! I want to fish.

[hookedonbass]

thought you were saying it's over the other way- time to pack up the gear. Remind myself to read more closely next time. Yeah I'm getting pretty sick of this weather too. With all that cold water in the hudson, seems like it would take a while 4 things to heat up.

[ledhead36]

"Take a while to heat things up?" Well it only took 10 days. Temps are trending back up again, hit a high of 47 yesterday back at the gage. Today I checked early on in the rain. They dropped a few degrees, doesn't matter. Stripers are still on the feed, time to fish, gents.

[ledhead36]

The NW and west winds really locked down the bay temps. They hit 42 last night, coldest in 2 weeks. Should push most of the big stripes and bait out front.

[ledhead36]

Time to get this going again. Water temps in the back have been rising steadily since the snow. In a week they went from 39, to 44 yesterday, which I took near the top of the tide by a creek in the back. Within a day or so it should hit 45, and keep climbing.

[seamonkey]

Didn't see a thread for the Delaware river temps. Heads up they reached 48 at warmest point yesterday. Good deal!

[surferman]

Bet you those temperatures are going to drop like a stone with this. I am so done with winter.

[jigfreak]

The temperature in the Big D is rising fast. Even with the snow it only took a 4 degree hit. 44 and steady. Shad on the move.

[ledhead36]

Well that wind last night really sucked. Water down to 38, such is the life when you fish back bays.

[ledhead36]

Been a good week. RB will hit 55 on the surface today. good times.

[finchaser]

Been a good week. RB will hit 55 on the surface today. good times.

right:headbang:

[surferman]

I bet bay waters will get mighty cold after these 2 noreaster days. Really sucks!

[storminsteve]

I don't know exactly how cold but the water I was wading in felt as cold as ice last night. Bring on the sun, its time.

[ledhead36]

Severe temp drop in the last 3 days in the bay. Keansburg temp register dropped from 68 to 58. Hoping that will keep some of the bunker and stripers around. things have dried up, am now fishing different spots.

[baitstealer]

Thank you sir for your diligent reports. If I could ask one question of you or others do you think the bays and ocean have been colder this year and if that has affected the migration? thanks