Weakfish, also called squeteague, sea trout, and “tiderunners,” are beautiful fish of the Atlantic coast. They have a lavender and green sheen, yellow fins, and spots. They have small fangs, so don’t use a lip grip.
Learn to catch weakfish with the right timing, tuned drags, and quiet presentations.
This guide will tell you when to fish for weakfish and where to find them. You’ll learn the best bait for each time. We’ll also cover the gear you need and how to catch them.
Average weakfish are 15 to 23 inches long. Big ones are 24 to 27 inches. The biggest one was 19 pounds, 12 ounces, caught in 2008.
There are good and bad years for catching weakfish. Lately, it’s getting better.
Get simple tips for catching weakfish. Learn about tides, light setups, and how to handle them. If you want to catch weakfish easily, you’re in the right place.
Understanding weakfish behavior and seasonal movement
To read the water well, start with weakfish behavior across the year. The arc of weakfish migration tracks temperature, salinity, and light. Adult fish school along sandy shores, bays, and estuaries, shifting from surf zones to deeper edges as seasons change. A concise field summary in this weakfish behavior guide notes their shallow-to-100 m range and nighttime spawning in larger estuaries.
Why weakfish are called “unicorns” and their cyclical abundance
The nickname weakfish “unicorns” comes from patchy bites and hush-hush spots. Years of feast are often followed by lean stretches, a pattern tied to pressure and shifting forage. Bag-limit moves have lined up with rebounds in some bays, yet the cycle shows.
During strong years, schools push in thick for a month, then thin out. During down cycles, fewer but bigger fish roam main channels. Tracking this helps plan around a weakfish fall movement or a brief weakfish spring run.
Spring arrivals: mid- to late April through early June in Long Island Sound
In Long Island Sound, the weakfish spring run often starts mid- to late April. Fish filter in from offshore wintering areas and set up in shallows to feed and spawn through late May into early June. Larger fish tend to spawn first, with younger fish trailing.
Stable 50s-to-low-60s water draws schools onto sand and marsh edges. Expect quick shifts with late cold snaps. This is the sweet spot for light tackle before traffic and heat move fish deeper.
Summer and fall patterns in New Jersey back bays and along the coast
New Jersey’s weakfish summer pattern centers on grass shrimp, spearing, and small crabs in back-bay creeks. Spikes of 8 to 12 inches flood the shallows, while big “tiderunners” prowl deeper confluences and channel bends. Most action holds in the upper 10 meters on warm, calm nights.
As bait shifts, the weakfish fall movement slides toward coastal corridors. Look to 25 to 45 feet for sand eel feeds, with heavier fish staging in 35 to 70 feet off Delaware Bay and Raritan Bay. Tides that move clean water through inlets help concentrate schools.
Nighttime and low-light feeding tendencies
Weakfish are wary by day but turn bold with a weakfish low-light bite. Dusk through the first half of the ebb is prime around docks with lights, bridge pilings, and canal edges. Pre-dawn often rivals evening if bait stacks.
In bright sun, fish slide deeper and spread out. At night, they pin bait to current seams, making precise drifts matter. This window often aligns with the most reliable weakfish migration shots inside the bays.
| Seasonal Window | Location Focus | Depth & Habitat | Key Behaviors | Best Low-Light Plays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mid–Late April to Early June | Long Island Sound | Shallows, marsh creeks, sandy flats | Spawning, staging, schooling | Evening into night along flats and creek mouths |
| June–August | NJ back bays | Upper 10 m, channels, grass edges | Weakfish summer pattern, shrimp/spearing feeds | Dock lights, bridges, canal systems after sunset |
| September–November | NJ coast, Raritan/Delaware corridors | 25–45 ft nearshore; 35–70 ft staging | Weakfish fall movement on sand eels | Pre-dawn drifts over channel lips and confluences |
how to catch weakfish
Dial in the details and the fish follow. Read the water and feel the weakfish current. Keep your moves subtle. The plan below keeps you on the bite across changing weakfish tides and shifting light.
Dial in tide, current, and light conditions
Start on an outgoing tide at dusk and ride it into night. Bait flushes from creeks, and weakfish set up on the down-tide edge of drop-offs. Cast across the flow, let the lure swing the lip, then pause so it flutters on the seam.
Work slower as the weakfish current builds. Keep contact without dragging. Short lifts and controlled drops beat big hops. If the tide eases, add a touch of speed to trigger reaction bites.
Match forage with soft baits, bucktails, and subtle retrieves
Match what’s in the water: grass shrimp, bay anchovies, spearing, peanut bunker, and squid. Subsurface lures outproduce topwater most nights. When bunker schools push through, run your offer just under the pack and slightly faster.
Thread 3- to 4-inch paddletails like Al Gags Whip-It Fish or slim jerk shads such as Zoom Fluke in pink, chartreuse, or bubblegum. Use light jigheads and favor slow, steady weakfish retrieves with tiny twitches. In deeper holes, glide small white or white-pink weakfish bucktails tipped with weakfish soft plastics using soft lifts. Old-school purple jelly worms and Krocodile spoons, Mag Darters, Bombers, and RedFins can tempt larger fish. For a full tactics rundown, see this guide to Jersey weakfishing.
Use light-action tackle and loose drags to protect soft mouths
Fish weakfish light tackle to cushion headshakes. A 7- to 9-foot light-action spinning outfit keeps pressure even on lures under 2 ounces. Spool braid with a fluorocarbon leader for feel and stealth, then back off the drag so the “weak” mouth stays pinned.
Lift into the weight and keep a low rod angle. If a fish surges, let it run. Smooth pressure beats hard swings every time.
Target edges: bars, channel drops, bridge pilings, and creek mouths
Focus on weakfish structure that gathers flow and bait: sandbar lips, channel drops, confluences, bridge pilings, sedge points, docks with lights, and canal bends. Cast perpendicular to current to drift over the drop, then slow-crank against the flow.
At night, work the dark-to-light line near pilings and dock lights. During stronger weakfish tides, pin your casts to the seam and let the lure swing and flutter before a controlled pickup. Stay patient, read the swing, and adjust weight only as the tide demands.
Best times and tides for targeting weakfish
The best time to catch weakfish is in low light. This includes dusk into night and the early morning. In Long Island Sound, the shore bites get better from mid- to late April to early June. Then, the fish move deeper, showing the change in seasons.
Current is more important than time. The outgoing tide makes bait move, and the bite gets stronger as it gets darker. In New Jersey, like the Manasquan River, the middle of the tide is best. This is when the water moves just right, helping lures move straight and catch fish better.
Transitions are key. When the tide changes, the bite can turn on in Great South Bay and Moriches. Fishing at first light, when the tide changes, can be very good. Fish will also eat when the tide comes in and bait is high.
Night fishing for weakfish gets exciting in late spring. Look for them in deeper back-bay channels and where water meets. In summer, fishing near bridges and dock lights is good. In fall, fish along the coast at 25–45 feet, where sand eels are plentiful.
| Window | Region & Scenario | Tide Focus | Why It Produces | Quick Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-dawn | Long Island Sound, April–June | Outgoing to slack | Dawn weakfish bite builds as bait flushes from creeks during stronger weakfish tides. | Cast uptide and let the jig swing across the drop. |
| Dusk into night | Manasquan River and NJ back bays | Mid-tide flow | Steady current keeps lures in the zone; night fishing weakfish reduces boat pressure. | Use subtle paddletails on 1/4–3/8 oz heads. |
| Tide change + first light | Great South Bay and Moriches | Flood to ebb flip | Outgoing tide weakfish bite spikes as disoriented forage spills from flats. | Time arrival 30 minutes before the turn. |
| Late spring nights | Back-bay channels and confluences | Strong, clean sweep | Larger fish hunt edges under cover; seasonal weakfish timing favors deeper drifts. | Work a slow lift-drop along the seam. |
| Summer after dark | Bridges and dock lights | Incoming or outgoing | Light draws micro-bait; both directions work if current moves. | Match hatch with small soft plastics in pink or bone. |
| Fall moving water | Coastal lanes, 25–45 feet | Building to peak flow | Sand eels stack on edges; best time to catch weakfish overlaps with active sweeps. | Fish slim metals or bucktails near bottom without dragging. |
Weakfish hotspots in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
Look for travel lanes, tide seams, and quiet spots to catch weakfish. Move slowly and quietly. Watch your sounder for depth changes.
Use a light touch when you retrieve your line. Let the current help you.
Raritan Bay, Great Kills Harbor, and New Jersey back bays
Weakfish gather in deep spots in Raritan Bay. A world record was set here using a bunker head. This trick works in the Channels and Reach too.
In Great Kills Harbor, fish early morning drifts. Then, go to the Shrewsbury and Navesink near the Highlands Bridge on a rising tide.
New Jersey back bays are best with moving water. Fish the Manasquan River at mid-tide. Try Barnegat Bay and Great Bay ICW channels too.
South of Atlantic City, fish Townsends and Corsons Inlets. Don’t miss the Cape May Point jetties and the Cape May Ferry lanes at dusk.
Long Island’s Great South Bay, Moriches Bay, and key channels
Great South Bay weakfish are active early near Ocean Beach. Add the West Channel and Heckscher State Park flats to your list. Fish low and quiet in the shallow water.
Moriches Bay weakfish like structure. Check Smith Point Bridge and Narrows Bay. Fish the Forge River and Senix Creek mouths too.
On calm mornings, fish the Great Gun Channel with small lures. Pause on the drop.
River mouths, sedge points, and confluences in backwaters
River mouths attract bait and weakfish. Fish sedge points with the current. Let your lure swing across the seam.
Confluences, bridge pilings, and docks with lights are great ambush spots at sunset.
Canal systems can be good too. Fish the up-current corners. Use lighter jig heads and subtle retrieves when the water clears.
Deeper channels (35 to 70 feet) and fall sand eel bites offshore
Big weakfish are in 35 to 70 feet in Delaware and Raritan bays. Mark bait, then hover above drops. Use tight drifts and a loose drag.
As water cools, find weakfish in 25 to 45 feet off beaches. Bounce slim metals or small hoochies over marks. Stay mobile when the screen lights up.
Essential tackle: rods, reels, line, and leaders
Choosing the right weakfish tackle is key. Look for light, balanced gear that works well with small jigs. This setup helps control headshakes and keeps hooks in place.
Light- to medium-power spinning setups for finesse fights
A 7- to 9-foot spinning rod is perfect for small lures. Many prefer a 6.5- to 7-foot rod for bay fishing. Pair it with a 2500–3000 size reel for tight spots.
Penn Battle III, Shimano Stradic, and Daiwa BG are great choices. They offer smooth casts and steady pressure.
Line choices: 10-15 lb braid with 10-12 lb fluorocarbon leader
Use 10–15 lb braid and fluorocarbon for long casts. Add a 3-foot fluorocarbon leader for better feel. This setup works well with soft plastics.
For quick lure changes, use a simple knot. This keeps your tackle quiet and effective.
Drag settings and rod action to prevent “weak” mouth tear-outs
Set your drag to about one third of your line strength. This lets the rod handle headshakes. Never pull too hard on the fish.
When a fish jumps out of the water, lower your rod tip. This helps protect the fish and keeps your hook in place.
| Component | Recommended Spec | Why It Works | Real-World Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rod | 6.5–7 ft, medium power, moderate action (8–12 lb) | Cushions headshakes; precise casts with small jigs | Penn Battalion, Shimano Teramar, Daiwa Harrier |
| Reel | 2500–3000 for bays; 4000 for current and depth | Balanced retrieve and smooth drag for finesse fishing weakfish | Shimano Stradic 3000, Daiwa BG 3000, Penn Battle III 4000 |
| Main Line | 10–15 lb braid | Long casts, sensitivity to soft bites | PowerPro 10 lb, Sufix 832 15 lb, SpiderWire Stealth 10 lb |
| Leader | 10–12 lb fluorocarbon (up to 15 lb around structure) | Low visibility; abrasion resistance in tide | Seaguar Blue Label 12 lb, Yo-Zuri 10 lb |
| Knots/Terminal | FG or uni-to-uni; loop knot to lure | Strong connections; enhances lure action | FG to leader; Rapala loop to jighead |
| Drag | Set to ~1/3 of line strength; smooth startup | Prevents tear-outs on the “weak” mouth | Reels with carbon fiber washers and fine click adjustments |
Top weakfish lures that consistently produce
These picks earn bites when the tide slides and the current softens. Keep retrieves smooth and steady, let each bait swim in the seam, and the best weakfish lures will do the rest.
Soft plastics: paddletails, flukes, and slim jerk shads
A 3- to 4-inch paddletail like the Al Gags Whip-It Fish shines in chartreuse or pink. Zoom Flukes track better in stronger current or when a straight tail outperforms paddles. YUM Break’N Shad in Bubblegum and Houdini Shad in Pearl White cover clear water and dawn light.
Round out the box with YUM Pulse 3.5–4.5 in Arkansas Shiner and the Gene Larew 3-inch Long John Minnow in Pearl White or Crystal. Rig on light jigheads, keep contact with the seam, and let them glide.
Colors that trigger strikes: pink, purple, chartreuse, and bubblegum
Dial weakfish lure colors to match mood and light. Pink and bubblegum pop in stained water. Chartreuse rules at first light and around bait balls. White and baitfish hues like bunker and Arkansas Shiner play in bright sun.
Old-timers score with a purple “jelly worm,” such as a 7-inch Berkley Power Worm in Electric Grape on a light head. Subtle lifts, long pauses, and current do the work.
Hard baits and metals: Mag Darters, Bombers, RedFins, and Krocodile spoons
When fish push higher in the column, a Yo-Zuri Mag Darter weakfish setup—5/8 oz in orange/gold, bunker, or blue/black—draws crisp thumps. Bombers and Cotton Cordell RedFins track well on slow, even cranks along channel edges.
For small bunker feeds, a Krocodile spoon weakfish approach is deadly. Let the spoon flutter on the drop, then swim it steady through the school. Keep movements smooth.
Bucktails with curly tails for bottom-oriented fish
For bucktail weakfish tactics, go small and bright. White with pink or yellow works, tipped with a slim trailer. Add a lively curly tail to kick just above the sand without hopping too hard.
Fish bucktails across bar lips and along drops with a slow roll. The best weakfish lures here are the ones you barely move—let current bring them to life.
- Go-to weakfish soft plastics: Al Gags Whip-It Fish, Zoom Fluke, YUM Break’N Shad, YUM Houdini Shad, YUM Pulse, Gene Larew Long John Minnow
- Productive weakfish lure colors: pink, purple, chartreuse, bubblegum, white, bunker, Arkansas Shiner
- Hard-bait and metal staples: Yo-Zuri Mag Darter weakfish patterns, Bombers, Cotton Cordell RedFins, Krocodile spoon weakfish
- Bottom game: bucktail weakfish with curly tails and subtle, steady retrieves
Pro retrieves and presentations that get bit
Start with control. Use a slow roll retrieve to keep your lure steady. Hold the rod low and reel slow. Let the current help your bait look like an easy meal.
Cast across the tide and swing the lip of a bar or channel edge. As the lure reaches the down-current arc, let it flutter. Then, nudge it up-current in inches. This style is great for fishing where weakies wait just off the break.
Match the mood of the bait. Speed up your retrieve when peanut bunker get nervous near the surface. During shrimp flushes, use small lifts and pauses with a finesse retrieve weakfish can’t ignore.
Use the bar-drag move when fish glue to bottom. A 3/4-ounce jig with a 6-inch chartreuse shad body should tick sand as you sweep the rod 2 feet sideways. Pause, feel bottom, and resume the slow roll retrieve to keep contact without bouncing too high.
Break the rules when needed. If a hand-strip or twitchy cadence stalls, switch to a steady reel-in at the end of the tide. That abrupt change in weakfish presentation often flips the bite, making it great along a current seam fishing stretch.
Stay ready for soft takes. Keep light tension, trim slack on the fall, and watch the line for a small twitch. Set with a smooth lift to land more fish on a finesse retrieve weakfish setup.
Natural baits and how to fish them
Weakfish like scent, gentle movement, and steady water flow. Use light tackle and keep the drag loose. Let the bait sink slowly on a slack line.
Most bites happen when the bait drops. Keep in touch with the bait. Add small twitches and reel slowly to mimic natural movement.
Grass shrimp: collecting, chumming, and baiting tactics
Grass shrimp are great for catching weakfish in back bays. Hang a wet burlap bag from a dock to catch shrimp as the tide comes in. Use a small net to scoop them up.
Drop a steady chum line around dock lights, bridges, and canal mouths after dark. Thread one or two shrimp on a size 4–2 baitholder hook. Cast up tide and let the bait swing.
Keep the rod low and the line semi-tight. Short pops keep the bait lively. These baits work best on warm, calm nights.
Peanut bunker, squid strips, and sandworms across the season
In the early run, squid strips are effective from dawn to full tide. Use slim strips with a 1/4–1/2 oz egg sinker and a 10–12 lb fluorocarbon leader. Fish edges and slow rips, pausing often to trigger bites.
Sandworms are best when the current is steady. Hook once through the collar and drift along channel seams. As summer turns to fall, peanut bunker baits attract larger fish.
Live-line small bunker near bait schools or fish fresh chunks when predators crash pods. Weakfish prefer shrimp, squid, baitfish, and small crabs. These baits remain effective as conditions change.
When to fish bunker heads around deep channels
Big fish hide in deep spots, where currents meet. In places like Raritan Bay and Great Kills Harbor, a bunker head can surprise anglers. Target 35–70 feet along channel bends, drops, and confluences.
Use a stout circle hook, a short 30–40 lb fluoro leader, and enough weight to hold bottom. Set drags loose to protect soft mouths. Let the rod load before easing pressure. This bite is common in late spring and early summer, near bait-rich current breaks.
Where weakfish feed: structure and current breaks
Dial in moving water and you’ll find the pattern. Work classic weakfish structure with clean drifts, light taps, and patient swings. From back-bay cuts to ocean-side edges, fish stage where flow delivers food and cover.
Sandbars and drop-offs: working the lip and swing
On sandbars, set up on the down-tide edge and cast onto the high spot. Let the jig tick the crown, slide over the lip, and flutter into weakfish drop-offs. Pause, then creep the lure against the current to trigger the bite.
Keep your feet on the bar to hold a low line angle and cushion close hits. This swing-and-set tactic shines in Great South Bay near Ocean Beach and along the East–West Channel when bait washes across the edge.
Bridge pilings, docks with lights, and canal systems at night
Weakfish bridge pilings create seams where shrimp and spearing stack. Aim for the shadow line, sweep the jig through, and feed slack on the fall. Weakfish docks at night concentrate life; light bulbs draw bait, and the fish prowl the rim of the glow.
Long Island’s South Shore canals light up after dark, with steady shore shots despite limited daytime access. Check Smith Point Bridge and the Narrows Bay stretches when the tide makes and wind lays down.
Channel edges, confluences, and marsh banks
Work weakfish channels in 35 to 70 feet, specially when sand eels or peanut bunker ride the flow. Tap bottom, lift six inches, and glide. Raritan Bay, Great Kills Harbor, and the Manasquan River reward a patient, subtle retrieve.
Prime weakfish confluences form where two cuts meet—think Forge River or Senix Creek mouths, and ICW bends in Great Bay. Sedge points and marsh banks funnel forage on the move, turning small windows into fast flurries when tide and wind align.
Weakies on the fly: gear, flies, and strategy
When fly fishing weakfish, match your setup to the water and wind. In calm back bays, an 8-weight feels right and keeps the fight fun. When river mouths rage or a sea breeze kicks up, bump to a 9- or 10-weight. An intermediate fly line weakfish approach covers the column with a controlled sink and steady feel.
8- to 10-weight setups and intermediate lines
Pick rods that cushion headshakes yet drive a clean loop. Pair a sealed-drag reel with a smooth startup to protect soft mouths. Use an intermediate fly line weakfish anglers trust for long, even drifts over bars and channel edges. In tight creeks, a short, clear tip helps keep fish from spooking.
Leaders should be simple: 20-pound butt to 12-pound fluoro tippet. Keep knots tidy. Set a light, steady drag and avoid sharp strikes. Stay patient; weakfish on the fly reward a calm hand.
Go-to flies: Clousers, Bunny flies, Flatwing Deceivers, and shrimp patterns
Weighted Clousers and lead-eyed Bunny flies reach depth fast and track straight. For subtle profiles, run sparse Flatwing Deceivers in 3 to 6 inches. A chartreuse-over-pink or red-over-yellow flatwing deceiver weakfish pattern often shines in green water.
Carry shrimp patterns for grass shrimp flushes under dock lights. A few floating options can ride high when fish sip. Touch head wraps with a drop of Super Glue to extend life during hot bites. Rotate weakfish fly patterns as the tide and bait shift.
Controlling depth with cast angle and current
Think in angles, not only distance. Cast well up-current to let the line sink before the strike zone. Use seams to swing the fly across the bar lip and pause to let it shimmy. The intermediate fly line weakfish setup keeps tension while the fly hovers.
Watch the belly of the line for cues. Tiny stalls often call for a two-inch bump, then another pause. Keep contact without yanking; steady pressure beats hard hits.
Fast reel-in vs. hand-strip: when to break the “rules”
Early in the tide, a smooth, short hand-strip is money. As current fades, switch tactics. A fast, steady reel-in can flip a slow pick into a flurry. Many anglers report quick doubles after making that shift when strips got ignored.
Stay ready for sudden weight and headshakes. Lower the rod to the side, keep the bend, and guide the fish off structure. With weakfish on the fly, small changes in speed and angle often decide the bite.
- Quick picks: 8-weight in calm bays; 9–10 in wind or heavy flow.
- Lines: intermediate fly line weakfish coverage for top-to-bottom drifts.
- Flies: Clousers, Bunny flies, and flatwing deceiver weakfish profiles; shrimp for selective feeds.
- Depth: cast up-current, swing seams, pause to hover.
- Retrieve: hand-strip early; reel-in fast late when fish get finicky.
Safety, handling, and ethical fishing practices
Handling weakfish safely starts with your hands. They have sharp jaws, so don’t use your bare hands. Use tools like Boga Grip, plastic grippers, and Rapala or Gerber pliers.
Use light-action rods and single-hook lures to protect their mouths. Keep the drag loose and apply gentle pressure. Wet your hands and support the belly when releasing them.
Follow local weakfish bag limits and consider releasing big ones. This helps the fish population grow. Avoid sharing exact fishing spots online to prevent overcrowding.
Night fishing needs extra care. Manage your gear to avoid getting tangled. Wear a headlamp with a red light to keep your night vision.
Use circle hooks and barbless lures to make releases easier. A rubber or knotless net helps keep the fish moist. If a fish swallows the hook, cut it close and release it.
Move to calmer spots when the current is strong or the water is warm. This helps the fish survive better. It’s all about keeping the fish safe and the fishing fun for everyone.
Local intel: timing, tide changes, and boat traffic realities
Local patterns are key, not rumors. The best weakfish fishing happens with the tide change. In Great South Bay and Moriches, fish best when the tide switches.
Look for the first light of day. Use gentle retrieves and let the jig swing. Watch how the current changes.
Dial in your timing by area. For Great South Bay, start at Ocean Beach during the last of the flood. Move to West Channel, Heckscher State Park, and more if needed.
In Moriches Bay, fish near Smith Point Bridge and Narrows Bay. Also, try the Forge River and Senix Creek mouths, and Great Gun Channel on calm days.
Boat traffic affects your setup, not if fish will bite. Stay close to current windows and adjust your drift. Short, precise casts beat long, sloppy ones.
Long Island bays have fish from June to October. New Jersey backwaters, like Manasquan, saw a comeback with fish up to 12 pounds on mid-tide flows.
Shore anglers should fish in low light. Back-bay canal systems along the South Shore are best at night. Docks with lights and bridge shadows are good when the tide changes.
Keep quiet and focus on patterns like tide, light, and structure. This approach protects the bite and sharpens your skills. It’s based on the weakfish tide change, Great South Bay, and Moriches Bay timing.
