Winter Fishing on the Hudson River - Trout, Bass, and Offshore Wonders in the Colder Months

As of January 23, 2025, the Hudson River around New York City is offering some challenging yet promising fishing conditions despite the cold winter weather. Here’s what you need to know: ### Tidal Report Today, the tidal schedule shows a high tide at 9:46 AM with a height of 3.44 feet, followed by a low tide at 4:51 PM with a height of 0.73 feet. The next high tide will be at 10:07 PM with a height of 2.71 feet[2]. ### Weather and Time The cold weather continues, with freshwater ponds and inshore bays likely frozen over. Rivers and moving water are your best bets. Sunrise is at 7:16 AM, and sunset is at 4:58 PM. ### Fish Activity Despite the cold, there is still plenty of fish activity. Rainbow, brown, and brook trout are biting well on small flies and light jigs, particularly in the rivers. Holdover striped bass can also be targeted, though it requires patience and tolerance for the cold[1]. ### Recent Catches Party boats have been sailing offshore for deepwater wrecks, targeting cod and other groundfish. No significant herring activity has been reported, but sea bass, porgy, and pollock were landed in large numbers on recent party boat trips[1]. ### Best Lures and Bait For trout, midges and small flies are highly effective. Streamers, though less effective, can still hook a few nice trout. For striped bass, traditional lures like soft plastics or small paddletails might be more effective than jerkbaits in the cold water[1]. ### Hot Spots One of the best spots to fish is around Croton Point, especially for Bluefish and Striped Bass during their migration periods, though this is more relevant in warmer months. For winter fishing, the Wallkill River and Rondout Creek tributaries are highly recommended for Catfish. The area around the Tappan Zee Bridge is also a good spot for various species, including Bluefish and Striped Bass[3][5]. Overall, the Hudson River offers a diverse fishing experience even in the winter months. Be sure to check local fishing regulations and respect the open and closed seasons for different species. Stay warm and tight lines This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.