What Is The Fall Run?
As the days shorten and the air cools, the focus of many Northeast anglers shifts to just one thing - the “Fall Run.” Around the same time, millions of Striped Bass that have made their annual journey North a few months prior begin to descend back down the coast. Where are they going you ask? The largest estuary in the United States: the Chesapeake Bay. Migrating Striped Bass, or Stripers, move around quite a bit throughout the year. These fish spend the harsh winter months in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, then in the early spring, they spawn in the tributaries of Mid-Atlantic States before heading up North for the warmer months. In the fall, the fish migrate South, heading back from as far as Canada and gorging themselves along their trek. The Fall Run is alluring to any surf fisherman, with huge schools of trophy fish feeding as aggressively as they ever do, just feet from dry sand. The Fall Run is a coveted fishery, nationally referenced and renowned. Montauk, NY, a fishing epicenter for both the Spring and Fall runs, affectionately holds the title of the “Surf Fishing Capital of the World.” This time of year, anglers flock to the coast, many traveling hundreds of miles, braving the cold, in pursuit of massive cow stripers. This time of year embodies the very essence of why Tsunami and SaltX exist; to supply you with everything you could possibly need, from rods and reels to hooks, plugs, and fluoro, so that you can get in on the action.
When Does the Fall Run Happen In Each State?
When water temperatures reach their peak in Late August and Early September, migrating Striped Bass have made it as far North as Nova Scotia. Come mid-September, typically after the first “cool” night, Striped Bass feel the temperature change and instinctually begin their journey down the coast. Along their migration, they encounter Surfcasters from Maine down to New Jersey, capitalizing on their shot at a fleeting, but incredibly productive bite-window.
In late September and early October, the action heats up in Southern Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Eastern Connecticut. By mid-October, Long Island comes to life, with peak fishing lasting through early November. As the month comes to a close, stripers make their way down the New Jersey coastline, before reaching Delaware waters by early December, then, finally, their wintering grounds in Maryland and Virginia. These fish are constantly moving, covering many miles each day, so peak fishing windows in localized areas are transient. Those who fish the Fall Run each year say that the stripers can be “here one day, and gone the next,” so it is important to stay updated with where the fish are as best you can. A key resource for many anglers is “Striper Migration Reports” or local fishing reports; these help anglers who aren’t able to be on the beach every day have a better idea of where fish likely are. Our favorite Striper Reports come from our friends at On the Water Magazine - they post reliable reports weekly. At the end of the day, nothing beats putting time in on the beach, so if you are able to sneak out before or after work during the week as much as possible, you’ll have the best shot at dialing them in.
Due to the beaches’ inundation with bait, Stripers are not the only predators that can be caught. Most notably, anglers also target 10-15 lb “Gator” Bluefish mixed in with the Stripers. Bluefish prefer slightly warmer water than the stripers which means that they will disappear before the stripers, but catching these fish together is a common occurrence. Luckily, bluefish can be targeted using the same techniques used for stripers, so anglers can fish as they would for Stripers and catch Bluefish or vice versa.
What To Look For From the Sand
As with any type of fishing, success during the Fall Run comes down to a few key factors: bait, current, and structure. The Northeast coastline is incredibly diverse, with habitats ranging from gravel beaches and boulder fields to sandy shores lined with troughs and sandbars. To find fish, focus on choke points like sandbars, drop-offs, and jetties—prime ambush zones for predators. Look for deep water with strong currents near irregularities in the shoreline; these spots are a proven recipe for success.
This type of fishing is fast-paced and visual, so keep your eyes on the water - scanning for diving birds and surface blitzes where baitfish are being driven up by feeding fish. Additionally, do your best to read the water, looking for atypical surface movements or current flows; this can reveal eddies or current seams where big fish often hold.
Best Rods and Reels for the Job
Salt, sand, and rocks are absolutely brutal on surf fishing gear, which makes using a fully sealed reel paramount. The brand new SaltX II is engineered for the demands of the Fall Run; with 20 Internal Seals to keep grit and water out, and 40 pounds of drag to crank big fish out of heavy currents, the SaltX II is universally a top choice among surf anglers. Size-wise, the SaltX II 4000 or 6000 is perfect for the job. Most surfcasters opt for a longer rod with a strong backbone to launch large plugs and put the brakes on big fish near current and structure. The new SaltX II Surf Rod in 9’7” or 10’7” is a top choice, along with the Tsunami Airwave Elite and Forged rods in the 9’6” to 11-foot range. Spool your SaltX II with 20-40 lb braid and tie on 4-5 feet of 30-50 lb Tsunami Pro Fluorocarbon Leader, and you’ll be ready to hit the sand and start landing fish.
How to Entice a Bite
During the Fall Run, “matching the hatch” is the name of the game. This time of year, there are a plethora of bait species on a striper’s metaphorical menu, including bunker (menhaden), sand eels, mackerel, and tiny bait fish like spearing and glass minnows. To crack the code on what the fish are keyed into, keep your eyes peeled on the surf for pods of menhaden making their way through. Oftentimes, bait gets pushed into the wash by the predators, so study up on what each looks like both in and out of the water. If you're lucky, a landed fish might even spit up its last meal—a dead giveaway of what they’re keyed in on.
Don't hesitate to experiment with various profiles and sizes until you find the magic number that gets those stripers biting. When it comes to surfcasting, your arsenal should include topwater, subsurface, and diving plugs, soft baits, and tins or “metals.” Topwater lures are a showstopper, drawing fish in when the surface is alive with action. Go-to choices for many surf anglers are the Tsunami Talking Poppers, Surface Blasters, Timberlure Bottle Style Popper, Timberlure Striper Popper, Timberlure Pencil Popper, and Tidal Pro IPop.
For covering ground and tracking down fish, subsurface and diving plugs like the Tsunami Timber Lure Flat Nose Swimmer Plug, Round Nose Swimmer Plug, and Tidal Pro 5” Twitch Bait are your best bet. Additionally, soft baits, such as the Tsunami Holographic Sand Eel, are hyper-realistic and should be in your tackle box when the fish are after sand eels. If fish are locked in on bait fish profiles, the various Tsunami Swim Shad models are hard to beat, with the Swim Shad Deep models perfectly weighted for navigating deep channels and strong currents.
Last but not least, make sure you don’t overlook the final category: tins, or metals. With flashy finishes and a streamlined design, metals like the Tsunami Diamond Jig with Tube Tail, Slim Wave Jig, and Shockwave Spoon cast like a bullet and sink quickly, making them perfect for when fish are focused on smaller baitfish. Plus, diamond jigs are a fantastic sand eel imitation!
Good Luck Out There!
The bite this time of year is one that anglers dream of throughout all other times of the year. Just because the air temperatures are dropping doesn’t mean the fishing is slowing down! In fact, fall through early winter is when some of the hottest action happens in the Northeast. So, gear up, grab your waders and cold weather gear, and hit the sand—your shot at a cow striper awaits!
