Well, spring is here. I'm still waiting for the big snow to fall, I still think it's coming. I hope the highest places in New Jersey and the Catskills get some snow to trickle down into the Delware and other rivers, or it's going to be a low hot-drought like late spring and summer.
Fresh water in the Delaware keeps the salt line where it should be. So far we're good. Remember, striped bass need to spawn well above the salt line and embryo need to grow before hitting the brackish water. Water follows salt, and salt will cause osmosis and the embryo to swell, burst and die. The line line is around river mile 70, which is 60 miles from where I am near Washington's Crossing.
Above is the Delaware from the second week in March 2022. On the 6th it hit 45, and then a cold spell dropped it down to 39. We then hit over 50 on St. Patrick's Day, then had a hard cold snap that dropped the river in April to 46. Once the river warms the fish move, and then they have to deal with
the cold air and cold water fluctuations. Today in the Raritan Bay the waters on the swing up in temperatrure hitting just under 48 degrees. That's warm for this time of year and no doubt all of the
birds that have been reported dive bombing in the bay are on herring or bunker, and I would bet the fish are there already. Ocean temps in Asbury Park are 44.6 degrees and I wouldn't be surprised if some bass, albeit smaller ones, aren't starting to search for some kind of swimmy meal on the right tides.