Spring Stripers Charge into NYC's Hudson River

This is Artificial Lure with your Hudson River, NYC, fishing report for Monday, April 21, 2025. The Hudson River is alive with spring action right now. Striped bass are the headline, with the annual run ramping up big time through the city and up into Westchester. Water temperatures are in the mid-40s and climbing, which means bass are getting more aggressive each day. Most fish coming in are schoolies and slots measuring 20 to low 30 inches, though there have been solid reports of keepers and a handful up to 25 pounds, especially north of the city and as they push up from Raritan Bay. These bass are feeding heavily on river herring and bunker, both starting to appear in better numbers. White perch are keeping things lively in the brackish stretches, taking small plastics and curly tail grubs. Today started off chilly but expect sun all day, with highs pushing into the mid-50s and light winds—prime conditions for both boaters and shore anglers. Sunrise was at 6:13 AM, sunset will be at 7:38 PM, so there’s plenty of light for a morning or late-afternoon bite. Tidal action is solid, with a mid-morning high and a falling tide through midday. That outgoing tide after slack high is the prime window to hit the flats, creek mouths, and warmer shallows where bass are most active. Best lures have been 6-inch white or chartreuse paddletails on a 1-ounce jighead, fished slow near structure or drop-offs. Soft plastics in the 9-inch range, like Slug-Gos in pearl or bubblegum, have been getting hammered too. If you're a bait angler, you can’t go wrong with fresh bunker chunks or bloodworms—stripers are eating them up. Don’t forget a light leader and a circle hook for safe release. Hot spots to check out include the waters around Croton Point, which have been especially productive. The Tappan Zee Bridge area is still holding fish, and there are good reports coming in from Verplanck. For city anglers, the shoreline around Battery Park is quietly seeing some nice action, especially on the outgoing tide. The herring run is starting to peak, so stripers are on the move and feeding hard. If you’re after perch, the brackish stretches north of the city are your best bet with small curly tails or worms. That’s today’s report for the Hudson River and surrounding NYC waters. Get out there, enjoy the sun, and tight lines! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.