Hudson River Fishing Report: Fluke, Stripers & Blues in NYC

Artificial Lure coming to you with today’s Hudson River fishing report from right here in New York City, Friday, September 26th, 2025. The day got kicking with a stunning sunrise at 6:50 AM, and we’ll see the sun set on Manhattan at 6:52 PM. Weather rolled in mild by city standards: highs pushing 73°F, mostly cloudy and a light westerly breeze—prime conditions for fall fishing along the Hudson. The overnight and morning low tides stacked up just after sunrise at 6:12 AM, with the afternoon high tide rolling in at 12:37 PM, so anglers had solid early access to the banks, piers and rock edges before water started moving in again. Fish activity on the Lower Hudson is picking up. According to On The Water's Long Island & NYC Fishing Report yesterday, big **keeper fluke** are still turning up from Battery Park up to the George Washington Bridge—plenty of action near the inlets and the surf. Fluke have been hitting steady for shore anglers and boaters drifting bucktail jigs tipped with Gulp Alive! in chartreuse or white, or classic spearing and squid combos. A couple of locals landed fluke this week in the 21–23 inch range; that’s dinner in any river town. **Striped bass** reports are improving steadily with cooler nights. Early risers are sticking fish up to 30 inches near Pier 25 and the Harlem River mouth, mostly just after dawn on the outgoing tides. Best lures right now: 5-inch soft plastics in bunker pattern, swim shads rigged on ½ oz jigs, and topwater spooks if you see surface activity. Live eels and chunked bunker draw strikes once the river gets that afternoon chop. Several regulars notched a handful of schoolies and one keeper on chunked bunker yesterday near the 79th Street Boat Basin. **Bluefish** are still blitzing up from the lower river, especially around dusk, heavier action near Chelsea Piers and over at Riverbank State Park. Metal casting lures—like 2 oz Kastmasters or Hopkins Shortys—have been arriving back at the dock with tooth marks. Stripers and blues are both absolutely hammering anything that has some flash as the bait starts to school up for fall. **Weakfish and porgies** are showing best for folks working the pilings in Hoboken and Jersey City, fish taking clam strips and sandworms fished close to the bottom. Numbers are fair, not epic, but enough for fun and a couple of keepers for the cooler. **Hot spots today:** - Pier 84 (West 44th Street): Productive for bass and blues, especially on outgoing tide. The structure holds piles of bait, and you’ll get bites from sunrise up until early afternoon, especially if you work the pilings and cast out toward the deeper channel. - Hoboken Waterfront (Sinatra Park and Pier C): Always reliable for stripers, fluke and porgies—fish tight to the pilings early, then move out on the flats and deeper drop-offs as the day goes on. - Battery Park: Fluke, blues and the occasional surprise weakfish, especially on the tide swings. Best lures for the Hudson today: Bucktail jigs with chartre This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.