New Jersey · United States

Barnegat Light NJ fishing forecast

86 Good of 100

Barnegat Light NJ is a saltwater fishing spot in New Jersey, United States. Anglers here target Striped Bass, Bluefish, Weakfish. The most productive months are typically April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November.

Quick answer

Best monthsApril, May, June, July

Top speciesStriped Bass, Bluefish, Weakfish

Score now86/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

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Today’s verdict

Ranks #101 of 409 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

In line with this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+25.0Chlorophyll+12.6Wind+7.7

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

05:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

minor 08:29

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	16.8 °C
Wind	21 km/h from NNW, gusting 33 km/h
Wave height	1.8 m at 8 s
Current	0.03 m/s toward SSW
Pressure	1020 hPa
Depth	3 m
Cloud cover	0%
Chlorophyll	5.04 mg/m³
Salinity	32.1 PSU
Mixed-layer depth	15 m
UV index	0
Wind sea	0.2 m at 2 s
Ground swell	0.8 m at 8 s from E
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)	0.03 → 0.00 m/s

Nearest buoy: Barnegat, NJ (209) (29 km): water 16.8 °C, waves 1.8 m

The water here is 2.8 °C cooler than the October average of 19.6 °C. Cooler-than-normal water slows the bite for warm-water species and holds cool-water species shallower for longer. The water is mixed to about 45.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.

Tide now: Rising · turns in 326 minTide is an approximate harmonic prediction — confirm with local tide tables.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Barnegat Light NJ

Barnegat Light NJ currently scores 86 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 16.8 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +25.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Chlorophyll +12.6: plankton density — the base of the food chain
Wind +7.7: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Waves +7.2: swell energy stirring the water column
Current +3.4: moving water concentrates bait
Barometric pressure +3.3: falling pressure often triggers feeding

What’s biting now

The model expects today: bluefish, striped-bass, bluefin-tuna, weakfish, chub-mackerel, tautog, atlantic-bonito, scup

[object Object] — Protected here — release immediately

Bite windows

Moon

Waxing Gibbous · 90% lit

Solunar day rating

50 / 100

Best months for Barnegat Light NJ:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-10-19, 94/100

29 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

About this spot

Water type

Sea

Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · offshore ground

What you can catch

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis
Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix
Weakfish

Cynoscion regalis

Best months by species at Barnegat Light NJ

Striped BassMorone saxatilis
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix
WeakfishCynoscion regalis

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

U.S. federal fisheries authority

United States — Federal Waters

Species	Bag limit	Min size	Open season
Striped Bass	1/day	71.1–78.7 cm slot	Jan 1 – Dec 31
Federal Atlantic EEZ: 1 fish, 28–31" slot limit. State waters have separate rules.

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.

Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.

FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.