At this time of year, surf- and jetty fishing are at their peak. And the weather is usually beautiful too! Photo by J.B. Kasper.

Let me tell you, fishing in the fall is nothing short of a full-blown addiction. I don’t care what kind of self-control you profess to have! When the fall run rolls into town along the Jersey coast, there’s flat out no way you can lead a normal life. If you’re a fishing nut like me, the run dictates your daily operations.

You can’t sleep. You play hooky from work. You forget to pick up the groceries, you even miss dinner dates -- and that’s all according to my girlfriend. Come September, the only obligation you feel is to follow the whims of striped bass, bluefish and weakfish. Find ‘em, fool ‘em and catch ‘em. Period!

It’s no secret that September lights the fuse for the fall run’s powder keg of activity, when massive schools of striped bass, weakfish and bluefish begin their migration south along the Eastern Seaboard, following warmer waters in the mid-60-degree range to feed heavily.

Without a doubt, it’s the most exciting time of the year for saltwater hounds. Thoughts of busted plugs, vicious blitzes and visions of flopping fish keep anglers awake at night -- if they aren’t already on the beach.

BAITFISH BEWARE
The ignition of the fall run is influenced largely by the omnipresence of baitfish species that spill out of the back bays and choke the surf line.

During the first month of Indian summer, droves of baitfish will exit the backwaters and stage off the Jersey coast. This smorgasbord of tasty treats is easy pickings for the waiting game fish.

For the most part, what sparks the whole production is the mullet run.

Usually by the first or second week in September, chunky finger mullet are exiting the back bays in mass hysteria, swimming for their lives and schooling up along the surf on the entire stretch of coast. Following suit are packs of peanut bunker, rainfish, bay anchovies, round herring and even some subtropical treats such as small pompano and jacks.

These schools of fishes create huge dark bait balls that sit off the beaches like cows in the slaughter line, nervously anticipating an attack at any given moment from below, above, or from the beach. Fall is not a happy time to be low on the food chain, and the life of the baitfish is riddled with anxiety and paranoia, as countless numbers of hungry, unsympathetic game fish blanket the same areas.

The feeding frenzy that ensues is the perfect setup for the surfcaster.

SURFCASTERS’ DELIGHT
As my personal favorite way to fish the fall run, surfcasting takes the cake. For the most part, surfcasters do have some of the best shots at blues and stripers, since the schools of baitfish tend to stick close to the coast.

Zillions of them get trapped in the cuts, jetties, sloughs and sandbars. And this is where their pummeling from game-fish species begins.

On the dry sand, the beach buggy brigade usually has the upper hand: They can run-and-gun with diabolical effectiveness to chase down blitzing schools. All these fishermen have to do is hop in their vehicle and simply head on down the beach.

Beach access for buggies is excellent along the coast, with most beaches opening up after Labor Day.

For the skinny on permits, requirements and access points, check out the New Jersey beach Buggy Web site at www.njbba.org.

Even if you don’t have a vehicle, it’s only a matter of time before some finny blitz leaves one area and settles in another. So even surfcasters with their feet firmly planted only need to wait for the next school of bass, blues or weakies to pass on by.