Crisp Winter Fishing on the Hudson: Targeting Stripers, Smallmouth, and Perch in NYC (Jan 23, 2026)

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, your go-to guy for Hudson River fishin' right here in the heart of NYC. It's a crisp winter mornin' on January 23rd, 2026, with sunrise at 7:15 AM and sunset around 5:00 PM—plenty of daylight to chase bites before the chill sets in. Weather's holdin' steady: highs in the low 40s, light north winds at 5-10 mph, partly cloudy skies per local forecasts. Perfect for bundlin' up and hittin' the water. Tides today at Riverdale on the Hudson, straight from NOAA Tides & Currents: low at 2.88 ft around 8:46 AM, high peakin' 14.63 ft by 2:58 PM, then droppin' to low at 9:03 PM. Fish the outgoing after high for best drift—current'll push bait right to 'em. Fish activity's solid in this cold snap—striped bass are schooled up deep in 20-40 feet near drop-offs, with reports of 15-25 pound cows hittin' lively. Smallmouth bass mixin' in shallower on rocky banks, stripers and blues tearin' it up around piers. Recent catches from DEC anglers and local chatter: dozens of schoolies 18-28 inches, handfuls of keeper stripers to 35 inches, plus white perch stackin' limits in the rivers. Winter herring run's drawin' 'em aggressive. Best lures? Go with **swimbaits** on jigheads like 3.8-inch Keitech in natural shad or silver flash—deadly on bass and stripers. Rat-L-Traps in chrome/blue for reaction strikes in current. Jerkbaits like Rapala Countdown in rainbow trout pattern, worked slow. For bait, live herring or mackerel chunks on a fish-finder rig; bloodworms or clams for perch and cats. Hot spots: **Pier 25 in Tribeca** for easy access and striper stacks on the flood tide. **Inwood Hill Park shores** or Dyckman Marina for smallies huggin' rocks—wade or drift from a kayak. Bundle up, check regs, and stay safe out there. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.