Hudson River Spring Stripers: Post-New Moon Tides and Schoolie Action

This is Artificial Lure with your Hudson River NYC fishing report. We’re coming off the back side of the new moon, and the Hudson’s still got good current swings. Around the Battery and up past Hoboken you’re looking at strong incoming just after daybreak and a decent outgoing push late morning into early afternoon. Tides are running a little higher than average with all the recent wind, so expect some extra debris in the main channel, especially around the piers. Weather-wise, it’s a classic mixed spring setup. Overnight temps were in the low‑mid 50s, heading into the 60s by late morning with a light west to northwest breeze pushing 5–10 knots. Skies are partly cloudy, decent visibility, and only a slight chance of a light shower. Sunrise hit just after 5:30 a.m., with sunset lined up just before 8:15 p.m., giving you a long window to work both tide changes in comfortable conditions. Water temps in the lower Hudson are running in the upper 50s to low 60s, which is prime for the tail end of the striped bass push and for schoolie bass to stay active right through the day. Local reports from pier regulars and a couple of charter skippers working out of Jersey City say the bigger migratory stripers have thinned compared to a week or two ago, but there are still quality fish in the 28–34 inch range getting decked on the night and dawn tides, with plenty of shorts to keep rods bent. Recent catches: chunk guys soaking fresh bunker along the channel edges have been putting a few keeper bass in the box, mostly on the top of the incoming. Kayakers working the eddies off Liberty State Park and the Ellis Island area have reported steady action on schoolies and the occasional bluefish crashing bait. Closer to midtown and up toward the George Washington Bridge, the word from locals is a mix of small bass, schoolie blues, and the first stronger show of Hudson white perch and mixed panfish in the back creeks and marinas. Best lures right now: – Swimbaits in the 4–6 inch range, olive/white or bunker patterns, slow-rolled just off bottom on the edges of the main current. – Metal lip swimmers and mid-size plugs in bone or yellow on the dusk and night tides for a shot at bigger bass cruising the shadow lines. – Slim metals and epoxy jigs for when the birds start picking and the blues push bait up top. Bait anglers should stick with fresh bunker if they can get it, cut into chunky heads and mid-sections, fished on a fish‑finder rig with just enough lead to hold bottom. Bloodworms and sandworms are still producing smaller bass and perch up-river and around the quieter pockets. Clam will pick a few fish but bunker has been out‑fishing most other offerings in the lower river. Hot spots to consider: First, the stretch from Battery Park up to Pier 40 on the Manhattan side, working the pilings and seams on the top half of the incoming tide. Pier rats have been quietly sliding out schoolie bass there after dark on soft plastics and small swimmers. Second, the Jersey side from the Morris Canal outflow by Liberty State Park up toward the Colgate Clock. The mix of structure, current breaks, and bait makes this a solid shot for both stripers and blues, especially on the outgoing when that water dumps and creates defined rips. Fish activity should stay decent through the day, but your best windows are that pre‑sunrise push and the first couple of hours of the evening tide. Boat traffic will pick up as the day goes on, so if you’re on a kayak or fishing from shore, use that low‑light period to your advantage before the wakes start stacking up. That’s the word from the Hudson. This is Artificial Lure wishing you tight lines and safe drifts out there. Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a 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