Autumn's Chill Settles on the Hudson: A November Fishing Report

Hudson River anglers, Artificial Lure here with your local November 3, 2025, fishing report for the heart of New York City and up-and-down the big river. We’ve got autumn settling in over the city, leaves tumbling, and a crisp chill in the morning air. Water’s cooling into the mid-50s, air temps hovering in the upper 40s at dawn with highs reaching the mid-50s by afternoon. Today, light southeast winds and solid visibility set the stage for a perfect cast. Tide-wise, we’re mid-fall swing. According to Tide-Forecast.com, today’s sunrise is at 6:31 AM with sunset at 4:46 PM. This morning, you had a low tide at 2:19 AM and a high tide coming in around 8:21 AM, peaking at 5.14 ft. Next low is at 3:05 PM, so late morning through early afternoon you’ll see slack-to-fall. Hudson River tides can make or break the bite, so plan to fish moving water, especially two hours ahead or behind peak tides. Let’s talk fish. November means the big striper run is winding down, but you’ll still find some hungry schoolie bass with a few keepers in the mix. Striped bass up to thirty inches have been reported near Pier 96 and the 125th Street pier, especially around dawn and dusk. The last week saw anglers land schoolies up toward Yonkers and a few beefier fish downstream near Battery Park, all mostly on artificials like Storm Shads, white or chartreuse swim baits, and classic bucktail jigs tipped with curly tails. Bluefish blitzes are rare this late, but don’t be surprised to see a straggler if you’re throwing something flashy below the George Washington Bridge. Channel catfish are active in the shallower coves, with fresh cut bunker and clam holding fish for those bottom fishing off Riverbank State Park. Perch and white catfish are still biting well further upriver near Spuyten Duyvil and Harlem River park; nightcrawlers or small chunks of cut bait are best here. Reports out of Piermont show some action on freshwater drum and the odd carp, especially at night when things quiet down, and the city’s glow hangs over the river. Bait of choice this time of year is fresh bunker if you can get it, otherwise frozen. Bloodworms and sandworms are both solid for bass and perch. If artificials are your jam, go with soft plastics in natural colors, especially on overcast days, or shiny metal spoons when the light’s bright. Topwater poppers can pull surprise strikes early morning. Don’t sleep on small crankbaits for mixed-bag action closer to shore. At dusk, try a slow-rolled paddle tail swimbait near dock pilings and bridge abutments, especially in North River and Hoboken Cove. For hot spots, Pier 84 and the 79th Street Boat Basin are consistent striper producers this week, especially right after the sun gets up, with the north end seeing action on both plug and cut bait. The Inwood Hill Park cove, where Spuyten Duyvil meets the Hudson, is another under-the-radar spot for bass and keeper-size cats. If you’re able to travel up toward Yonkers or Dobbs Ferry, look for moving wate This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.