NJ coastal Small Craft Advisory extended to 10 AM Tuesday; new zones south to Fenwick Island DE through 4 AM

NWS Mount Holly NJ reissued Small Craft Advisories at 11:41 PM EDT Monday, October 5, replacing and extending the earlier 9:50 PM EDT products. The updated advisory covers Coastal Waters from Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet NJ out 20 nautical miles and Coastal Waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 nautical miles, now through 10:00 AM EDT Tuesday, October 6, four hours later than the earlier 6:00 AM EDT expiration. In the same issuance, NWS Mount Holly added new advisories for four southern zones: Coastal Waters from Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet NJ out 20 nautical miles, Coastal Waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 nautical miles, Coastal Waters from Cape May NJ to Cape Henlopen DE out 20 nautical miles, and Coastal Waters from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island DE out 20 nautical miles. All four expire at 4:00 AM EDT Tuesday, October 6.

This stretch of coast is near the center of the fall false albacore and striped bass runs on the Jersey shore. Boats out of Barnegat Light, Point Pleasant Beach, Belmar, and Highlands work the inshore reefs and nearshore structure from late September into November as albies push south and stripers begin their fall migration from the Hudson estuary. An advisory running to 10 AM covers the standard morning departure window for the northern ports. Anglers targeting a mid-morning or later tide out of those ports should check the NWS zone forecast update after 10 AM.

This is a conditions notice, not a go/no-go recommendation for any vessel. NWS Mount Holly NJ marine zone forecasts and active products for NJ coastal waters are at weather.gov/phi.

On the water: Rules and conditions can change quickly. Confirm current regulations and official marine forecasts for your exact trip.