Hudson River Fishing Report: City Stripers, Fluke, and Nighttime Bites

Hudson River anglers, it’s Artificial Lure with your on-the-water update for August 6, 2025. Summer’s in full swing along Manhattan’s edge today, and the Hudson’s been serving up classic urban angling—strong variety, decent numbers, and that inimitable riverside buzz. Let’s jump right in: Sunrise hit at 5:56 a.m. and sunset wraps up at 8:08 p.m., giving plenty of daylight for the after-work crowd. The weather’s been cooperative—highs right around 82°F, with a gentle breeze out of the northeast shifting east by afternoon. On the river, the chop stayed light at about 2 feet, making for easy casting whether you’re dockside or plunking lures from one of the piers. Expect soft east winds tonight as temperatures mellow out. Tides in the city are critical for river fishing. Today, high tide was around 3:30 this afternoon, and the incoming tide always stirs up activity. The evening low should have hit just after 10 p.m.—meaning there’s still a window for night bites right after this broadcast. Let’s talk fish: Street chatter and today’s reports confirm the summer routine is holding. According to sightings at Hudson River Park’s Big City Fishing event at Pier 51 and Pier 97, the local kids (and more than a few parents) brought up young striped bass and white perch, absolute mainstays this time of year. The Great Hudson River Fish Count in Kingston last weekend also saw strong showings of those two, so if you’re working the city waters, downsizing your tactics pays. Fluke (summer flounder) are still active—the word from the Jersey side and up around the mouth of the river is that folks are landing ‘em with regularity around the structured drop-offs and the mouths of canals. Now, let’s talk lures. When the water gets a little cloudy after a busy tide, chartreuse curly-tail grubs and 4-inch white Gulp! swimming mullets on a weighted jighead are hands-down favorites for fluke. For stripers and perch, keep it simple: small bucktail jigs, soft plastic shads, or live bait if you can wrangle it. Around the park piers, nightcrawlers and bloodworms are reliable, while a spinning rig tipped with Gulp! or a classic silver Kastmaster can trigger those reaction strikes from schoolie bass. If you want numbers, focus on the outgoing tide with cut bunker or shrimp for catfish, which have been consistent after sundown all summer. Looking for hot spots? First up: Hudson River Park’s Pier 51. There’s a reason Big City Fishing sets up here every week—gentle current breaks and plenty of structure draw fish close, and it’s perfect for both rookies and river rats. Another solid bet is Riverside Park at West 79th Street. The pilings there create great ambush points for fluke and stripers on the slack tide. For a real midtown experience, try Pier 84—just before sunset, cast soft plastics near the edge for perch and a shot at a surprise striped bass. As for bragging rights: a lucky local reportedly pulled off a double-header earlier today—two fish on one lure, right in the ci This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.