Late November Chill on the Hudson: Chasing Stripers and Perch

Good morning from the Hudson River—Artificial Lure here with your Wednesday, November 26, 2025 fishing report. The city has woken to a classic late-November chill, with sunrise coming at 6:56 AM and sunset expected at 4:32 PM. Breezy northwest winds around 12 mph are slicing through the morning, and it’s a brisk 42°F at first light, warming just a touch by midday—so layer up if you’re heading out. Today’s tidal pattern sets up nicely for morning anglers. According to NOAA, we're seeing low tide around 6:22 AM and a high tide just before noon near Alpine, New Jersey—so the outgoing tide from first light is prime if you want to target stripers and white perch hugging the channel edges. Striped bass remain the headline act up and down the Hudson. This past week, local anglers landed good numbers, with several keeper-size fish reported between Battery Park and the George Washington Bridge. Most stripers are in the slot 22–28 inches, but a few high-teens and even a 35-incher showed up on a midriver bunker chunk just off Pier 84. White perch also continue steady, hitting nightcrawlers and bloodworms along shoreline pilings and sheltered coves. Shad numbers taper off as winter approaches, though patient casters have found some lingering American shad using small spoons and fluttering darts north of Spuyten Duyvil. Schoolie-sized bluefish are nearly gone, but a handful were caught last weekend during the afternoon outgoing tide on chrome Kastmasters. The bite is best late morning with the flood tide warming the river and mixing bait up onto the flats. If you’re targeting bass, bring fresh bunker, bloodworms, or sandworms—classic Hudson fare. Soft plastics rigged on 3/8 oz jigheads (like Bass Mafia’s Daingerous Swim Bait or chartreuse paddle tails) have been producing strong strikes, especially below river piers where current sweeps into embayments. For lures, don’t overlook a noisy topwater plug. A white Zara Spook or a Rapala X-Rap thrown toward the structure can coax a reaction bite, especially on the slack before the tide turns. Hot spots you won’t want to miss: - The green buoy just off Battery Park: Stripers cruise these rocky edges during the outgoing tide. - The mouth of Spuyten Duyvil Creek: White perch stacked here, with stripers lurking on the drop-off as the tide falls. - Under the George Washington Bridge, NY side: Early morning action, especially on live or cut bait, has been consistent all week. Pro tip: Dress in layers and keep your hands covered—air temps drop fast once the sun sets. Take advantage of the sunrise for perch and the midday flood for bass, and watch for diving gulls marking bait balls near the surface. Thanks for tuning in to the Hudson River fishing report. Don’t forget to subscribe for tomorrow’s update and plenty more local tips. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.