Hudson River Spring Stripers: 20-40 Lb Cows on the Incoming Tide

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure comin' at ya with your Hudson River NYC fishing report for April 20, 2026. Dawn's breakin' early at 6:05 AM, sunset's 7:45 PM—plenty of light for a solid day on the water. Weather's mild, highs around 55°F, light NW winds 5-10 mph, mostly cloudy with a 30% chance of showers early, per NOAA forecasts. Tides are key this time of year: low at 4:20 AM (-0.2 ft), high at 10:15 AM (+4.8 ft), then outgoing strong till next low at 4:45 PM—fish the incoming for best bites, especially around slack. River's runnin' clear at 15,000 cfs from the dam releases, water temp hoverin' at 48°F—prime spring striper season. Striped bass are hot right now, schools pushin' up from the Battery, with reports of 20-40 lb cows slammin' the outgoing tide last week. Stripers averaged 28-35 inches, limits easy for boaters; some 10-15 fish days on chunk bait. White perch are schoolin' heavy in the shallows, buckets full up to 1 lb. Smallmouth bass pickin' up in the 2-4 lb range, and catfish hittin' nights. Bluefish crashin' the party south of GW Bridge, 3-8 lbs tearin' up eels. Fish activity peaks at major solunar times: 6:30-7:30 AM, 12:30-1:30 PM, and 7-8 PM—match the hatch with shad imitations. Best lures? chartreuse or white soft plastics on jigheads (1/4-1/2 oz) for stripers, or Rat-L-Traps in chrome. Live bait rules: bunker chunks or bloodworms on fish-finder rigs for bass and perch; herring strips for blues. Fly guys, throw Clousers or Deceivers on intermediates. Hit these hot spots: Pier 25 in Tribeca for easy access stripers on the flood, or the GWB north side eddies for smallies—park and wade if you're local. Inwood Park's another gem for perch from shore. Safety first: watch currents, wear PFDs. Get out there before the crowds. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for weekly updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn