Hudson River Early Summer: Schoolie Bass, Tides, and Prime Light Windows

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Hudson River fishing report for the city stretch from the Battery up past the GW Bridge. We’ve got a classic early–summer pattern setting up. NOAA’s Hudson River tide tables show a pre‑dawn high turning to a late‑morning ebb, then another flood into the evening. That moving water is the key window; slack tides have been pretty dead. Weather-wise, National Weather Service is calling for mild temps in the 70s, light southwest breeze, and only a slight chance of showers—comfortable enough to post up all day. Sunrise is around 5:25 a.m., sunset just after 8:30 p.m., giving you a long, fishable light window. Hudson River Park reports steady action on schoolie striped bass at first light and last light, with the better fish still hanging near deeper edges and structure. Most bass have been in the 18–26 inch class, with a few bigger keepers reported from the piers north of 34th Street and down by Pier 25 near Tribeca. A couple of local regulars have also been seeing short fluke nosing around the edges of the channel and the sandy pockets near the ferry wakes. On the bait front, chunked bunker and fresh clam have been the top producers for stripers, especially on the outgoing tide when the scent line runs downcurrent. Guys soaking bloodworms closer to shore are picking up a mix of schoolie bass and the odd white perch in the quieter pockets. If you’re throwing artificials, small is playing better than big right now: 4–5 inch soft plastics on half‑ounce jig heads, white or chartreuse, and slim profile swimmers in bunker or mackerel patterns. At night or low light, black or dark purple plugs are drawing hits along the shadow lines. Best bite windows have been: - First two hours of the morning ebb right after the top of the tide. - Last two hours of the evening flood, especially around dock lights and any current breaks. A couple of local hot spots to circle: - The stretch around Pier 25–26 in Tribeca: good current, some deeper edges, and consistent schoolie bass on both bait and small shads. - The piers around 125th Street in West Harlem: more of a mission, but that mid‑river seam has kicked out a few better stripers for folks willing to stick it out into the evening. If you’re fishing from shore, bring enough weight; the current’s been ripping on the bigger tides and 3–5 ounces isn’t overkill. Use circle hooks for bait to stay legal and help with safe releases—there are still plenty of small fish in the mix. Keep an eye on the wind; if it swings more south and stacks against the tide, the river can get choppy fast, especially for kayakers. That’s the word from the water. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss the next report. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn