Stripers on the Hudson: NYC Fishing Report for May 12, 2025

Artificial Lure here, checking in with your insider's guide to what's biting around the Hudson River and New York City today—Monday, May 12, 2025. Let’s get right into it: the tides have been running a little stronger than usual this week, thanks to the recent full moon, and today we expect a solid incoming tide around mid-morning. That’s good news for striper anglers. Sunrise today was at about 5:40 AM, and sunset will be just after 8:00 PM, giving us plenty of daylight for both early birds and after-work fishers. Now, onto the fishing. The Hudson has been heating up with striped bass. Reports from local anglers and boards like the New York Sportsmen forum confirm that the striper run is in full swing. Most of the recent catches are school-sized fish, 18 to 30 inches, with a few larger ones mixed in, especially around bait pods. Herring are thick in the river right now, and that’s drawing stripers up from the South and Jersey Bays. We’re also seeing some shad and herring mixed in, but the stripers are stealing the show. As for baits and lures, the old standbys are still winning. Fresh bunker chunks and live herring are irresistible right now, especially on the bottom or slow-trolling. If you want to keep it artificial, try white or chartreuse soft plastics, or flashy silver spoons. Topwater plugs are also starting to work as the bass get more aggressive in the warmer afternoons. You can’t go wrong with a white bucktail or a red-and-white tube lure, either. Where to go? Two hotspots to hit today: First, the area around the George Washington Bridge and the nearby rocky points. The current breaks here are holding good numbers of feeding bass. Second, try the stretch just north of the Battery, especially on the outgoing tide. There’s a lot of bait pushed against the seawalls, and the stripers are on patrol. Weather-wise, today is shaping up to be a mild one—mostly cloudy with a chance of a passing shower later this afternoon. Water temps are in the upper 50s to low 60s, which is perfect for spring fishing. Winds are light out of the south, so no excuse not to get out there. Tight lines, folks. If you’re heading out, make sure your gear’s ready and watch the tides. The Hudson is giving us some great action this week—don’t miss it! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.