Hudson River Striper Fishing Report: Ideal Conditions for Spring Bass

Hudson River Fishing Report Friday, April 4, 2025 Today is prime time for anglers hitting the Hudson River, as striped bass season is now open, running from April 1 to November 30. Striper activity is gaining momentum, with reports of both schoolies and fish exceeding 35 inches being caught in the area. Conditions are favorable for fishing today, with sunrise at 6:29 AM and sunset at 7:23 PM. The weather is a mix of sun and clouds, with temperatures around 52°F, making it comfortable to spend a day on the water. **Tides and Activity** The current tidal cycle shows high tide peaking late morning and low tide in mid-afternoon, which is an excellent window for targeting striped bass as water movement stirs up prey. The water temperature is still on the cooler side, in the low 40s, so fish are feeding more on slower-moving baits. **Recent Catches** Local anglers have been pulling some beautiful stripers, with sizes ranging from 20 to 40 inches. A mix of pre-spawn females and smaller males is being reported, particularly south of the George Washington Bridge and up to Poughkeepsie. Northern parts of the river will see increased action as the water warms in the coming weeks. **Best Bait and Lures** For bait, fresh or live herring has been the go-to choice, but frozen herring or bunker also works if live bait isn’t available. Bloodworms and sandworms are effective alternatives. On the artificial side, soft plastics like Z-Man HeroZ and Lunker City Slug-Go are productive for imitating herring. Glidebaits and surface lures such as the Red Fin or metal-lip swimmers can generate aggressive strikes when worked with a varied retrieve. Colors in white, silver, or chrome are particularly effective in mimicking local forage. **Hot Spots to Check Out** 1. **Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park (Beacon, NY)**: This spot offers great access to deeper channels in the river. It's popular with locals for its scenic views and productive fishing. 2. **Wappingers Creek (Wappingers Falls, NY)**: Known for springtime stripers, this area has channels where fish congregate during their spawning run. 3. **Esopus Flats (Kingston area)**: A hotspot for larger striped bass, particularly the big females known as "cows." 4. **Pier 40 and Pier 26 (Manhattan)**: These piers have been producing steady catches, with a mix of species including black sea bass and northern sea robin along with stripers. **Tips for Today** - Use circle hooks if fishing live bait to ensure proper catch-and-release handling. - During cooler water temperatures, deploy slow-moving presentations to entice less aggressive fish. - Focus on the last two hours of incoming tide and the early outgoing tide for the best bite. Happy fishing, and remember to follow all state regulations, including the one-fish limit for striped bass between 23 and 28 inches north of the George Washington Bridge. Tight lines! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.