Stripers Awakening: Fishing the Hudson River's Spring Migration

Today's fishing report for the Hudson River, penned on April 9, 2025, brings exciting news for anglers in New York City and the surrounding areas. Here's the latest rundown from the water: The weather today is promising for fishing, with mild temperatures peaking in the mid-50s Fahrenheit and light winds out of the northeast. Sunrise was at 6:24 AM, and sunset will be around 7:32 PM. The tidal schedule shows a morning high tide around 9:30 AM and another in the evening near 10:15 PM, with low tides in the early afternoon. The incoming and outgoing tides present prime opportunities to land some good catches. Striped bass activity is ramping up as both holdover fish and early migratory bass are being caught south of the George Washington Bridge and farther upriver towards Newburgh and Catskill. Schoolies (smaller bass) and larger specimens exceeding 35 inches have been reported this week. These fish are hungry and often found in deeper channels or near warmer tributaries where baitfish, such as herring, are schooling. For bait, live herring and shad remain the top performers, delivering consistent results when trolling or drifting, especially in areas with moderate currents. Cut bait and bloodworms can also work well. As for lures, soft plastics like paddle tails, SP Minnows, and glidebaits in chrome or white colors offer excellent herring imitations. Anglers have also had success with topwater plugs, particularly in low-light periods. Here are some hot spots worth exploring: 1. **Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park and Denning’s Point (Beacon, NY)**: An excellent spot with deep channel access and good parking options. This area sees consistent striper action, particularly during the spring migration. 2. **Wappingers Creek (Wappingers Falls, NY)**: The lower creek entering the Hudson attracts spawning bass and is a reliable location for shorebound anglers. 3. **Esopus Flats (near Kingston, NY)**: Known for larger stripers, this area offers consistent action, particularly when herring are running. The spring season is just beginning to heat up on the Hudson River, and the striper run should only improve over the coming weeks. If you're heading out on the water, remember that striped bass in this area must measure between 23 and 28 inches to be legally kept, with a daily limit of one fish. Tight lines, and good luck out there! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.