It’s fall « Atlantic Coast surf and shore fishing

It’s fall

With extended, strong N winds and unseasonably cold temperatures, the water temps have dropped about 10 degrees in a week. While people start freaking out that we’ll have a short fall and too quick a drop in water temperature putting a premature end to the season, everyone needs to be aware that this is just a temporary blip. There is a large, large mass of warm water just off the beach. Once the weather moderates, and onshore winds return, the surf temps will moderate and we’ll be back on track.

In the fall, wind and water temperature are THE number one driver of fishing. Each cold blow cranks the fishing up a notch or two. In fact, extended periods of calm weather can be the worst prescription for fall surf fishing as the fish get complacent again. The hard blows tell the fish its time to move, and time to gorge themselves on food in preparation for the long winter ahead. I love it.

Check out the Rutgers surface water temp radar image below (link to real time images from link weather webpage accessible on right). Water temps dropped so quickly that the scale/legend didn’t even have time to change – lots of coooold purple (in January, purple means like 40 degrees F!). But, check out all that really warm water a short fetch off the beach.