Striped Bass Bonanza on the Hudson River - Massive Springtime Runs and Trophy Catches

Good morning fellow anglers, this is Artificial Lure reporting from the Hudson River on this fine Friday, May 16th, 2025. Today kicked off with sunrise at 5:36 AM and sunset coming up at 8:08 PM. The weather is shaping up to be a classic mid-May day in New York City—mild temperatures in the low 60s early, warming towards the mid-70s later, with light winds and partly cloudy skies. The river’s flowing strong, with a steady outgoing tide for much of the morning, making those current seams especially fishy. The striped bass bite continues to be outstanding up and down the Hudson. Reports from charters and locals alike show that both keeper-sized stripers and some real trophies are being caught, especially in the reaches from lower Manhattan up past Poughkeepsie. Just this week, multiple boats reported landing solid numbers of stripers in the 20 to 35 pound range. The post-spawn run is in full swing, and these fish are hungry as they move back downriver towards the New York Bight[1][2][3]. Baitfish are stacked up: river herring and adult bunker are thick, and the stripers are keyed in on them. Best lures right now are large soft plastic swimbaits on jigheads, paddle tails in white or bunker patterns, and shallow-diving plugs. Topwater action is picking up, too—walk-the-dog style lures like spooks have been effective at first light and again just before sunset[3][5]. If you prefer bait, live herring and fresh bunker chunks are hands-down the best bets, but bloodworms are still taking fish, especially upriver. A couple of hot spots worth targeting today: the area around the George Washington Bridge has been hot for boaters and shore anglers alike, with good current and plenty of bait. Pier 84 near Midtown has also produced some quality fish, especially on the outgoing tide. Up north, the Tappan Zee and Croton Point are seeing steady catches, especially in deeper channels. Expect strong fish activity all day with the moving tides, but pay special attention to the change of tide for peak bites. The outgoing tide in the morning and the start of the incoming this afternoon both look promising. Remember to keep your gear sturdy—a lot of these post-spawn bass are full of fight. Tight lines to everyone out today. Keep your drags smooth, cast around those bait schools, and you just might hook into the fish of a lifetime on the Hudson this weekend. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.