It’s a fishing day

Cape May fishing conditions · New Jersey

Now until tomorrow 3 pmStriped bass

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 60°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 100 for striped bass, go · inside the best windowTap 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. 1003 am
  2. 100
  3. 100
  4. 1006 am
  5. 96
  6. 100
  7. 969 am
  8. 96
  9. 96
  10. 10012 pm
  11. 100
  12. 100
  13. 963 pm
  14. 96
  15. 96
  16. 1006 pm
  17. 96
  18. 96
  19. 969 pm
  20. 96
  21. 96
  22. 96Tue
  23. 100
  24. 100
  25. 963 am
  26. 96
  27. 96
  28. 966 am
  29. 96
  30. 96
  31. 1009 am
  32. 96
  33. 96
  34. 9612 pm
  35. 100
  36. 100
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
60°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
5 mph

From the northwest

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:20 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
53°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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

100GoNow until tomorrow 3 pm

Water

60°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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

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

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

94GoNow until 7 am

Water

60°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

60°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside summer flounder's active range. 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

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

The water

  • Water temperature60°F
  • Barometer30.39 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:20 am
  • Sunset today6:06 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:20 am–8:20 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:40 pm–6:40 pm

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 now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Lewes Canal16 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Broadkill Beach18 mi · DelawareBest today 4 am–7 amFrost Advisory
93Go
Slaughter Beach21 mi · DelawareBest now until 7 amFrost Advisory
93Go
Indian River Inlet24 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Delaware Seashore State Park24 mi · DelawareBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go

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.