I am always surprised at how there are times when humans apply our own laws of seasonal change to the laws of nature, and then are surprised when that application fails to match up. For example, in spring, when it gets warm, we all (myself included) begin to feel like the fish should show up or be here, simply because there been a few 50-degree days. We’re all itchy for spring by that time of course, but the fish don’t give a hoot about a few 50-degree days. As I’ve been asked to write more of these fishing forecasts and reports over the better part of the last decade, one thing has become clear about seasonal change: it takes a slew of dramatic weather events to alter the arrival or departure of migratory species in our local waters. A few warm or cold days here or there, as much as they impact us as humans, don’t alter what’s genetically ingrained in these fish and has been for generations. To put it simply: they arrive when they want to, and depart when they want to, and do neither a moment sooner or later just because we wish it so.
Which leads me to the fall version of the above phenomenon: like clockwork, when the kids go back to school, anglers start asking me “if the stripers moved out”. This year I’ve gotten that question several times in July and August as well. In our local waters, striped bass are plentiful all the way up until roughly mid-November, when you’ll see a drop-off in the presence of active fish. Yes, this bigger fish tend to begin their migration south in September, but you can catch plenty of striped bass (and a few other species) all the way up until Thanksgiving. And, I’d argue, the best month for catching all of those species is in fact September.
I’m several years into my love affair with the month of September. Why? It has SO much of what we love about being New Englanders and being on the water. Let’s start with the weather. Often, the high heat of summer abates, and you’ll have sweatshirt weather in the mornings and evenings. During the day? Shorts and t-shirts, or maybe light pants a short sleeve. It’s the perfect mix of warm and cool. The leaves also begin to lazily change and that loamy smell of wet leaves and intoxicating decay creeps in, overpowering the summer smells of dampness and cut grass. We also, for those that celebrate, have the NFL and college football seasons kicking off, which adds a whole new dimension to our weekends. Plus, pumpkin everything hits the shelves. I am unashamedly a pumpkin everything fan. The muffins, the beer, the coffee, the pie, give me all of the pumpkin. And, of course, September is an absolutely phenomenal month to be on the water. So, let’s get into that.
Albies
One person’s trash is another’s treasure. And Florida’s trash (and shark bait) is our beloved treasure up here in New England in the form of the False Albacore or “albie”. Every year at my shop Black Hall Outfitters in Westbrook, Connecticut, I host a “Hardtail Happy Hour” night where I go over the details of how to catch albies and their less-challenging hardtail counterparts the Atlantic Bonito. September marks the arrival of albies to most New England shores. Places like the Vineyard Sound as well as Block, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard typically see them earlier than September. But by September they’re usually somewhere in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Albies provide a jolt of life to our fishery. They’re fast as hell, have an electric change of direction, are notoriously tough to trick, and offer what I’d say is the best fight on light tackle that you can get in New England. You’ll need light leader (12-15lb fluoro), small epoxies or metals, a keen eye, a sniper style cast, and a rod that can launch small lures while also bending and pulling at the albie once you’re hooked up to keep it pinned. If you’ve never chased them, or have chased them with no luck, have no fear. Every year is different, and like I alluded to before, often the years which have been a bit off for other species (such as 2026) can be a surprisingly good year for albies. So, let’s see what happens!
Striped Bass
You can get 40-inch and bigger striped bass in September in most parts of the New England fishery. Surfcasters in particularlove these fall months for the lesser crowds and the bigger cows. Their spots are often intercept points where they catch the large stripers on the move out to open water and eventually south. But until they leave our waters until the coming spring, they’re around! And often, September is when the “Fall Run” happens, providing a visual feast for anglers as bluefish, stripers, albies, bonito, and mackerel all blitz on the surface, sometimes even with a surprise seabass up there too (yes, it happens!). September for me is about trying for big bass early, but then inevitably downsizing to schoolie gear and having fun bending the rod on anything that bites before I inevitably crave that feeling over the cold winter months. Small topwater poppers, small soft plastics, diving baits, and tubes are fun fall baits. If I’m going for big bass in September, I’m using a metal lip, a live eel, or an imitation plastic eel. Then, downsize time. I have caught several large stripers in September on smaller baits, but generally by this month you’re looking at having fun and not setting personal bests, although many giants are caught in the fall.
Bait
The story of September and October is bait. The silversides, peanut bunker, and anchovies that have been growing steadily throughout summer in protected areas often wash out in to open water. Gasoline, meet lighter. It’s why the “Fall Run” happens. Predatory fish begin to bulk up for winter, and that need, coupled with the flushing of baitfish into near shore waters, is what creates those bird and fish tornados of awesomeness that we often try to find and chase down in September and October. It’s what drives the arrival of the albies and the bonito, and it’s what fuels the feasting fervor of the striped bass and bluefish.
Often, coves, beach fronts, and tidal creek or river mouths are great places to look for these blitzes to happen and to try and find the slashing splashes of false albacore and bonito. I usually prefer an outgoing tide for this time of year, as the water is warmer and also carries that previously mentioned bait out into vulnerable areas. I often find cloudy days with a light or medium wind to be the best for creating these blitz scenarios. The lack of sun makes everything feel a bit freer, and things can get pretty hectic.
Overall, September is my favorite month for so many reasons. If you’re someone who pulls the boat, stops finding fishing days, or hangs up the gear when school starts, I’m tellin’ ya, get out there in September on a cool-but-warm day and you just might have your best and most fun day of the year.