"NYC Stripers Heating Up, Spring Bite Ramps Up on the Hudson River"

This is Artificial Lure with your Hudson River fishing report for Saturday, April 19, 2025, covering the waters in and around New York City. We’re right in the thick of spring, and the river’s alive with energy. The weather’s treating us perfectly today—expect sunny skies and comfortable temps in the mid-50s. Sunrise was at 6:17 AM, and sunset will be at 7:32 PM, giving you a full day of action on the water. The high tide peaked earlier this morning with the ebb heading into the afternoon, which is ideal for targeting stripers as bait gets moved around with the changing water[4][5]. Striped bass are the main draw right now. The season kicked off strong on April 1 and runs through November 30. Over this past week, fish have been running thick from south of the George Washington Bridge up through Poughkeepsie. Most of the catches coming in are schoolies and slot-sized stripers, anywhere from 20 to 35 inches, but some real brutes over 40 inches are in the mix, especially the big pre-spawn females cruising upriver. Anglers are reporting hot action with both artificial lures and live bait, with plenty of hookups to go around[1][3][4][5]. Best baits and lures right now are live herring and fresh shad, which are what the stripers are hunting. If you’re tossing artificials, slow-moving soft plastics, large swimbaits, shads, and flutter spoons are all putting fish in the boat. With the water temp still in the low 40s, being patient and slowing down your retrieve can make the difference[3][4][5]. For those looking for hot spots, try the stretch north and south of the George Washington Bridge, the piers around West Harlem, and farther north near Yonkers—these areas have all been producing solid fish. If you’re after numbers, mornings and evenings on the outgoing tide have been best, but don’t overlook midday as the sun warms the shallows[4][5]. Besides stripers, a few blackfish have been showing up at the city’s bridges and piers, though most anglers are focused on bass right now. Trout stocking is underway in the city’s upstate reservoirs for those willing to travel a bit. Today’s key advice—match the hatch, pay attention to the tides, and enjoy the incredible spring bite. The big fish are here, and the bite is only getting better. Tight lines from Artificial Lure—see you on the water[4][5]. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.