Late-Season Hudson Stripers: Targeting Holdovers & Smaller Bass on a Crisp Winter Tide

Alright, listen up. Sunday morning on the Hudson, and it’s that quiet, cold time of year where the big stripers are either long gone or hunkered down deep. Tide-wise, we’re coming off a low around 3:40 a.m., and the next high is pushing in around 9:45 a.m. That means right now, the water’s still moving in, and that’s your best shot for any late-season action. After that, it’ll be a slow ebb through the afternoon, so if you’re heading out, get on the water early and fish that incoming push. Weather’s crisp, air temp in the low 30s, but it’s supposed to climb into the mid-40s today. Wind’s light out of the north, maybe 5–10 mph, so it’s not brutal. Sunrise was just after 7 a.m., and sunset’s around 4:20 p.m., so you’ve got a short window. Dress warm, and don’t expect all day bites. Striped bass are still around, but they’re not blitzing the beaches like they did in November. The fall run’s mostly over, according to guys fishing from Sandy Hook up through the city. Most of the big migrators have either cleared the area or are staging deep in the lower river and harbor. What’s left are some holdovers and smaller fish, mixed in with a few keepers. You’re not going to see the peanut bunker blitzes like you do in spring, but there are still bass chasing small bait. If you’re after them, focus on structure: channel edges, bridge pilings, and deep holes near current breaks. The stretch around the George Washington Bridge and the deep hole below it is always solid this time of year. Another good spot is around the Tappan Zee area, where the river narrows and the current funnels fish into predictable lanes. For lures, go small and slow. A 3- to 4-inch soft plastic on a 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jig head, worked slow along the bottom, will catch bass, especially in that 18- to 24-inch range. Daiwa SP Minnow-style floating swimbaits in natural colors like bunker or shad are also solid if you’re working near surface structure. For bait, fresh bunker chunks or eels are still the go-to for bigger fish, especially if you’re fishing deep off a pier or from a boat. If you’re targeting smaller bass or mixed species, live or frozen sand eels or spearing can work well, especially on the incoming tide. Besides stripers, there’s still some winter flounder around in the brackish sections, and a few holdover weakfish in the lower river. For flounder, small bucktails or Gulp! baits on a jig head near sandy flats will get bites. Weakfish like small jigs and soft plastics, especially in the slack periods around tide changes. A couple of hot spots to try: the piers near 79th Street Boat Basin and the deep water around the Intrepid Museum. Both see consistent winter fishing, and on a day like today, with a decent tide and light wind, they’re worth a shot. If you’ve got a boat, the stretch between the GWB and the Tappan Zee, especially near channel markers and deep holes, is where the serious winter bass guys are focused. Thanks for tuning in. If you’re heading out, stay safe, d This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.