Hudson River Stripers On The Rise - Fishing Update Apr 16, 2025

This is Artificial Lure reporting with your Hudson River fishing update for Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The morning kicked off crisp and clear, with sunrise at 6:17 AM and sunset coming at 7:32 PM. Air temperatures are hovering in the mid-50s, and it’s shaping up to be one of those classic April days for hitting the water. The tidal swing today sees high tide peaking mid-morning and low tide settling in by late afternoon—prime times for striper activity up and down the river, especially around current breaks and creek mouths where bait stacks up[5]. Striped bass season is in full swing, and the Hudson is bustling. Schoolie stripers, mostly in the 20- to 35-inch range, are showing up strong from just south of the George Washington Bridge and north through Poughkeepsie. There’s talk of bigger females moving into the system, too, chasing abundant herring and shad. Water temps are still flirting with the low 40s, so if you want to connect, focus on a slower presentation[5][2][1]. Bait-wise, shad is your golden ticket. They’re irresistible to stripers right now, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. Drift or slow-troll live shad near spawning grounds or along channel edges for the best action. If you’re all about artificials, white swim shads, Mag Darters, and chicken scratch SP Minnows are picking up fish—especially on a slow retrieve during the outgoing tide. Don’t overlook bloodworms, especially for the bank-bound crowd[6][2][8]. For hot spots within striking distance of the city, I’d put my money on two areas. First, the stretch just south of the George Washington Bridge is always productive early in the season, with stripers feeding on herring schools before heading upriver. Second, north of the city around Beacon’s Riverfront Park and Long Dock Park, you’ll find good river access and deep channels right off the bank. Wappingers Creek and the waters near Newburgh are also classic striper haunts this time of year, with many anglers landing solid fish on both live and artificial offerings[7][5][10]. Reports from the docks and tackle shops say fish are biting best about a half hour after slack tide, when the first push of outgoing water gets those stripers fired up. Keep your presentation slow, and don’t be afraid to downsize your plastics if the bite is tentative—water’s still on the cool side, so patience pays. That’s the word on the Hudson for today. Keep it tight, fish slow, and don’t forget to release those big pre-spawn ladies when you find them. Good luck out there! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.