Artificial Lure here, bringing you the Hudson River fishing report for Saturday, May 31, 2025, straight from New York City’s shorelines.

We’re right in the thick of prime striper season and the action is hot. After last week’s full moon, the big post-spawn striped bass are making their way back downriver. This week, local anglers have pulled in a good mix of schoolie bass and true trophies, with fish up to 40 inches reported near the George Washington Bridge and up toward the Tappan Zee. There’s also steady word of aggressive bluefish mixing in, creating some fast and furious action, especially around the Manhattan piers and Jersey side flats. Oyster toadfish, black sea bass, and the odd tautog continue to show up in surveys around Hudson River Park, with blue crabs also abundant if you want to try your luck with a trap.

Today’s weather is about as nice as you could ask for—expect highs around 72 degrees, light southwest winds, and clear skies. The river sunrise came at 5:28 AM, and you’ll have fishable light all the way until 8:21 PM. Tidal movement is in our favor: we’re on the outgoing tide until around noon, then an incoming push for the rest of the afternoon. That transition period, especially when paired with the first few hours of outgoing, has been producing the most consistent bites. Look for deeper holes and structure near piers or bridge abutments for bigger stripers holding in the current.

Best lures this week have been white or chartreuse soft plastics—anything mimicking a bunker or juvenile herring is a winner. Swimbaits, paddle tails, and minnow plugs are all producing, especially if you cast past the current break and reel slow along the edge. For bait anglers, bloodworms and sandworms are hard to beat for numbers, especially if you’re after schoolies, while live or chunked bunker and live herring are tempting those larger, post-spawn cows. If you’re fishing around structure, don’t overlook cut bait for pulling up black sea bass and the occasional oyster toadfish.

Hot spots to put on your radar: the stretch from Battery Park to Chelsea Piers is holding a mix of stripers and blues, especially during the morning tide. Further uptown, the George Washington Bridge area is producing larger fish, particularly if you can anchor up near the deeper channel edges. Over in Jersey, the Edgewater and Piermont piers have seen solid evening bites.

Remember, most Hudson River fish are strictly catch and release due to PCB contamination—so handle those big ones with care and let them swim for another day. And if you’re using bait, make sure to rig up with non-offset circle hooks for an easy, safe release.

Thanks for tuning in for today’s Hudson River report. Don’t forget to hit subscribe for more local fishing updates and tips. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

This is Artificial Lure, your Hudson River fishing expert, with today’s narrative report for May 30, 2025.

We had a killer sunrise at 5:28 AM and can expect sunset around 8:18 PM. Weather’s prime for angling—mostly sunny all day, highs reaching the upper 70s, and a gentle breeze out of the northwest. Humidity is low, so you’ll have good visibility and no stickiness on the river today.

Tides are running classic New York City estuary: the morning incoming peaked at 6:45 AM, setting up for prime outgoing flow through late morning and early afternoon. Outgoing tide is always a sweet window for the Hudson’s predators to fire up, especially stripers.

Now, let’s talk fish activity: The striper migration is still in full swing, with bruisers up to 42 pounds landed just this past weekend around the George Washington Bridge and up to Yonkers. There are plenty of schoolies and slot-size bass mixing in, with several fish over 30 inches caught both north and south of the bridge, according to recent local reports. The outgoing tide, in particular, has seen some real action, and there’s still a shot at a “personal best” fish before they move on. If you’re itching for a big one, don’t sleep on this window—there are stories of limits reached on multiple charters, and some folks even releasing 36-pound beauties.

Bluefish are starting their annual show too. Look to Croton Point and the stretch down toward Spuyten Duyvil for some early arrivals; they’ll blitz bunker pods in the current. As June rolls in, the bluefish action will only get hotter, with the best bet during wetter spells and dropping tides.

The bait of choice right now? Adult bunker (menhaden) are thick, so live bunker or fresh-cut chunks are a prime ticket for stripers and bluefish. Minnow plugs and white or chartreuse 8–12-inch flies (like Hollow Fleyes or Game Changers) have been hot, especially for the fly-anglers working outflows and shadow lines in the early a.m. If you’re a plugger, nothing beats a classic SP Minnow or a large paddle-tail swimbait bounced through the rips.

Hot spots today:
- George Washington Bridge to Yonkers—outgoing tide is where the action’s been.
- Pier 96 and Pier 84 in Hudson River Park—great access and consistent catches of stripers and the occasional bluefish.
- Croton Point—worth checking for that first bluefish push of summer.

There’s still a mixed bag to be had—schoolie stripers, possible bluefish, and the occasional summer flounder moving in on sand eels.

Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Hudson River Fishing Report. Don’t forget to subscribe for your daily fix of tidal tips, tackle talk, and local fishy gossip. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Hudson River fishing report for this beautiful Wednesday morning, May 28, 2025.

Folks, it's prime time on the Hudson right now! The water's warming up nicely and the striped bass action is absolutely on fire. After that full moon we had last week, the big spawners have been making their way upriver in solid numbers.

Let me tell you, the striper migration is in full swing. We're seeing some real bruisers in the 30-40 inch range, with reports of several trophy fish over 40 inches taken near the George Washington Bridge and up by the Tappan Zee. These fish are fat and healthy after their spring run up from the coast.

Weather-wise, we're looking at temps around 72 degrees today with a light southwest breeze – perfect conditions for a day on the water. Sunrise was at 5:28 AM and sunset will be at 8:21 PM, giving you plenty of daylight hours to wet a line. Tide's going to be running out until about noon, then switching to incoming for the afternoon.

The best bite has been happening during the first few hours of the outgoing tide, especially around structure and deeper holes. Schoolie stripers are abundant throughout the system, with bigger fish hanging in the deeper channels.

Bunker pods have been spotted from Battery Park up to Yonkers, and the stripers are on them hard. Fresh bunker chunks or live-lined bunker are absolutely deadly right now. If you're throwing artificials, try white or chartreuse paddletails on a 1-2 oz jighead, 6-9 inch swimming plugs, or large soft plastics.

For you fly guys, 8-10 weight outfits with sinking lines and big Clouser minnows in white/chartreuse or olive/white have been producing well, especially during low light periods.

Some hot spots to check out: The flats near Liberty State Park on the Jersey side have been holding good numbers of fish, the structure around the GW Bridge has been consistent, and the deeper water off of 79th Street Boat Basin has been giving up some monsters during the tide changes.

Don't forget, there are still some holdover stripers in the tributaries mixing with the fresh migrators, so places like the Harlem River junction can be worth a look too.

Just a reminder, stripers between 28-31 inches must be released, and the season runs through December 15. Make sure you're pinching those barbs and handling those fish with care.

That's the word for today, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines and see ya on the water!

ARTIFICIAL LURE'S HUDSON RIVER FISHING REPORT - Monday, May 26, 2025

Good morning anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Memorial Day fishing report for the Hudson River and NYC waters.

The big news today is we're right in the thick of the spring striper run, and things are looking mighty fine despite that cold snap we had last week. The Hudson's warming up again, and those stripers that were spawning earlier this month are still active in the system.

Currently, we've got a mix of post-spawn fish moving back downriver and fresh fish still pushing up. According to reports from last week, there were already isolated pods spawning, with plenty more fish running up from the Raritan that should now be well established throughout our waters[3].

Weather-wise, today's shaping up decent after those gale winds over the weekend. We've got moderate temps and light winds, perfect for getting out there. Sunrise was at 5:28 AM and sunset will be at 8:17 PM, giving us nearly 15 hours of fishing time.

Tide-wise, we're looking at a high tide around noon in the lower Hudson, with outgoing water through the afternoon. That post-lunch outgoing tide should trigger some excellent action as stripers position themselves along channel edges.

Size-wise, we're seeing a real mixed bag. There are schoolies with sea lice still showing up, but also some legitimate bruisers in the 37-40 inch class making their way through the system[3]. The full moon's influence from last week is still driving some big fish movements.

Bait selection has been critical with these temperature fluctuations. For artificial offerings, slow-trolling mojos has been productive in deeper water (25-55 feet), and snap-jigging bucktails with soft plastic trailers is catching fish when they're being finicky[4]. Live or chunked bunker remains the top producer for bigger fish, especially during dawn and dusk periods[1][4].

Hot spots include:
1. Battery Park area where the outgoing tide concentrates baitfish
2. The Palisades stretch, especially near structure and deeper holes
3. The Tappan Zee/Mario Cuomo Bridge area, where post-spawn fish are staging

Further east in Long Island Sound, they've been hammering stripers up to 25 pounds on trolled mojos and chunked bait at night[4]. The weakfish bite was also tremendous last week on the east end with silver jerk shads, though blues may have pushed them out by now[4].

Remember folks, this time of year is all about being flexible. Fish can be anywhere from 3 feet to 50 feet deep depending on bait and temperature. Keep moving until you find them, and don't be afraid to switch techniques frequently.

Tight lines, and see you on the water!

Artificial Lure here, bringing you your Hudson River fishing report for Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Today on the Hudson, anglers are facing classic late May patterns with a cool twist. The recent cold snap slowed some of the open water action, but don’t let that keep you home – the bite is still out there if you work for it. Expect air temps in the low 60s to mid 70s by mid-afternoon with mostly clear skies and a light NW breeze. Sunrise hit at 5:30 AM, and sunset will be around 8:20 PM, giving you a generous window to wet a line.

Tidal movement is key. High tide this morning was just after sunrise, with the outgoing tide running through most of the first half of the day – prime time for working the edges, piers, and nearshore structure, especially around slack high and the start of the outgoing.

Striped bass remain the main show, though the spawn is winding down upriver. Schoolies and the occasional cow are still moving through; mixed reports have come in from anglers tossing chunked bunker after dark and those slow-trolling mojos or live lining bunker during daylight. Fish from 20 to 37 inches are being picked both north and south of the George Washington Bridge, with larger models reported from boaters working deeper channels and drop-offs. The surface bite slowed with the colder water, so focus your efforts on deeper marks in the 25 to 55 foot range. If you have electronics, use them. Bucktails tipped with soft plastics and slow vertical jigging are bringing in fish, while at night, chunked bunker or live eels remain top producers[3][4][1].

Bluefish have made their presence known this week, with some bruisers over 33 inches tearing through pods of bait. Blues are most active on moving tides, especially near the mouth of the river and city piers.

Porgies are solid in the usual spots – think Pier 84, Battery Park, and near the Tappan Zee Bridge. Sand eels and small baitfish are thick along the beaches and riverfront, driving some bonus fluke bites for the early risers.

Best baits and lures for today:
- Chunked bunker and live eels for stripers after dark and around slack tide
- Mojo rigs, bucktails with white or chartreuse trailers, and 6-inch soft plastics on jigheads for stripers during the day
- Metal spoons and poppers for bluefish, especially at dawn and dusk
- Sandworms and clam strips for porgies

Today’s hot spots:
- West Side Piers in Manhattan (especially near Pier 96 and the Intrepid) for mixed striper and bluefish action
- Jersey City waterfront and Hoboken piers for solid shore access and deep water within casting range
- Croton Point for a shot at both bass and blues, with porgies mixed in

The bite may have slowed, but there’s still quality fish out there for anglers willing to adapt. Dress warm, keep an eye on the tides, and don’t be afraid to work those deeper ledges.

Tight lines, see you on the river!

HUDSON RIVER FISHING REPORT - MAY 24, 2025

Hey there anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Saturday morning fishing report for the Hudson River and surrounding NYC waters.

The big news this week is the striped bass action is really heating up! We've got a mixed bag of stripers in the river right now. Some isolated pods of big females are already spawning in the Hudson, while plenty more are still running up from the Raritan as we speak[1]. Expect this run to continue strong over the next week or two.

The schoolies that were in the Hudson earlier this month have started to drop back downriver, making way for some trophy-class fish. If you're looking to hook into some bigger bass, now's your time to get out there. Those post-spawn Chesapeake fish we've been waiting for are likely moving along the beaches of Long Island and New Jersey by now, similar to patterns we've seen in recent years[4].

Bait-wise, river herring are the main menu item for these stripers. They're colliding with bass in spectacular fashion about 150 miles upriver from the city[2]. For artificial options, I'd recommend shallow-diving metal lips, especially if you're fishing the falling tide around those shallow mud flats. The afternoon sun warming those flats has been producing consistent action[4].

For those looking to present bigger baits in the river and salt marshes, focus on mimicking those herring. Adult bunker have also started to show up in the back bays, so bunker imitations can work well too.

Hot spots this weekend: Check out the areas around Haverstraw Bay where the river widens and slows down – perfect for those spawning stripers. Also, the stretch near Croton Point has been productive for anglers working the deep channels adjacent to the flats.

Weather-wise, we've got the May full moon approaching, which should trigger even more movement[1]. This moon phase combined with warming temperatures makes for prime fishing conditions. With the tides running stronger than usual due to the approaching full moon, plan your outings around slack tides for easier fishing.

Remember folks, these big spawning females are the future of our fishery, so handle with care and consider practicing catch and release with the larger breeders.

That's all for now from the Hudson. This is Artificial Lure signing off – tight lines and see ya on the water!

Good morning anglers this is Artificial Lure with your Hudson River fishing report for Friday May 23 2025 covering New York City and nearby waters.

We kicked off the morning with a sunrise at 530 am and can expect sunset around 815 pm tonight. The weather today is classic late May with mild temps in the mid 60s to low 70s a light breeze from the south and broken clouds. Expect the river to be a little choppy with a soft south wind—not bad for casting from shore or boat.

Tidal movement is on our side today with incoming tides peaking mid morning and a solid outgoing by late afternoon. Plan your best fishing around these changes as that’s when the fish have been most active.

Striped bass action is still in full swing and reports from earlier this week show the bite holding strong. Anglers are landing a mixed bag of schoolies and slot-size stripers with several reports of 30 inch plus fish caught north and south of the George Washington Bridge. Fish are moving back downriver post spawn but there are still solid pods near the mouth and up by Tappan Zee Bridge. Bluefish are also mixed in especially around the estuary and bridge pilings.

For lures try tossing soft plastics on jigheads and shallow-diving plugs early in the morning. As the sun gets higher poppers and topwater walkers can trigger aggressive hits. Natural bait is hard to beat—fresh or live bunker (menhaden) is the top pick right now but bloodworms and sandworms are drawing bites too especially with slower moving tides.

Today some of the best spots to set up are the areas around Tappan Zee Bridge for both shore and boat anglers. Closer to Manhattan the park piers around Hudson River Park offer easy access and a chance at a mixed bag. If you’re looking to chase bigger stripers push uptown toward Inwood or even north toward Yonkers where moving water and bait schools are keeping fish on the feed.

To sum it up stripers are still the main prize with bluefish as a bonus. Use soft plastics diving plugs topwater lures and bunker or worms for bait. Fish the tide change and focus on bridges and creek mouths.

That’s all for now. Tight lines and good luck out there on the Hudson today—this is Artificial Lure signing off.

HUDSON RIVER FISHING REPORT - May 21, 2025

Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your mid-week Hudson River fishing update.

The striped bass run is in full swing right now, with excellent action throughout the river. Those big females that were moving up from Raritan Bay in late April have now established themselves in the Hudson, and we're seeing a healthy mix of both spawned-out Chesapeake fish and our resident stripers[1][2]. The migration map shows concentrations from the harbor all the way up past Kingston, with particularly strong numbers around the Tappan Zee.

Tides today show a high at 10:23 AM with a second high at 10:47 PM. You'll want to hit that outgoing tide when those stripers get more aggressive. Sunrise was at 5:32 AM and sunset will be at 8:17 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to work with. Weather-wise, we're looking at partly cloudy skies with temps around 72°F and a light southwest breeze at 5-8 mph - perfect fishing conditions!

Bunker schools have been thick throughout the system, and that's your key to finding the big girls. Most locals are reporting 20-30 pound class fish, with some monsters over 40 pounds being landed around the deeper channels. Silver sides and herring are also on the menu for these hungry bass[2].

Lure selection has been straightforward - those shallow-diving metal lips are absolutely crushing it during the falling tide, especially around mud flats with some sun on them[2]. Bunker spoons and swim shads in the 6-8 inch range have been productive in the deeper channels. For bait fishermen, fresh bunker chunks or live herring are your ticket to success.

Hot spots this week include the flats near Croton Point Park, where schoolie bass have been stacked up feeding on the abundant baitfish. The channel edges near Yonkers have been giving up some true trophies during the first two hours of the outgoing tide. If you're in the city proper, the structure around the GW Bridge has been holding quality fish, particularly on the New Jersey side near the piers.

Word from some of the regulars is that this 2025 season is shaping up to be one for the record books, with multiple age classes present throughout the system[4]. The podcast "Hudson River Daily Fishing Report" also mentioned exceptional activity this past week[5].

Don't forget your circle hooks if you're bait fishing - it's required for stripers! And remember to wet those hands before handling any fish you plan to release.

That's your report for today, May 21st. This is Artificial Lure saying tight lines and see you on the water!

Howdy there, fellow anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Hudson River fishing report for Monday, May 19, 2025.

Let me tell ya, it's prime time on the Hudson right now! The striper run is in full swing, with fresh fish moving in from down south as some of the Raritan Bay bass have headed upriver to spawn. We're seeing a nice mix of schoolie-size stripers all the way up to trophy-class fish over 40 inches, especially around the river mouths and inlet areas.

Today's looking pretty decent weather-wise—partly cloudy with temps in the mid-60s. Sunrise was at 5:36 AM and sunset will be at 8:13 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to wet your lines. We've got a high tide around noon with the outgoing starting mid-afternoon, which should get those stripers feeding aggressively.

The past week has been gangbusters for striped bass, with most anglers reporting multiple hookups using fresh bunker chunks, especially during the tide changes. Some real nice blues have been mixing in too, running in and out with the tides near the inlets. They're hammering anything shiny you throw their way.

For you artificial fanatics (my kind of people!), white and chartreuse paddle tails on 1-2 oz jigheads have been deadly, particularly the 6-7" sizes. Don't sleep on the topwater action either—early mornings have seen some explosive strikes on Spooks and poppers worked around the bait schools.

If you're bait fishing, fresh bunker chunks or live herring are your best bet. The bunker pods are thick this year, and the big bass are keyed in on them. Get yourself some circle hooks and fresh bait, and you'll be in business.

Hot spots this week include the area around the George Washington Bridge, especially the New Jersey side near the piers. Battery Park has been producing consistent action during the incoming tide. For those willing to venture a bit north, the Tappan Zee area has been yielding some monster bass in the 30-40 pound class.

For something different, fluke fishing has also picked up with a decent mix of shorts and keepers. The sea bass season just opened this weekend too, so plenty of options if the striper bite slows down.

Word is the bluefin tuna are even blowing up on nearshore bunker pods for those looking to head out front a bit.

Don't forget your permits, folks—DEC officers have been checking. Slot limit remains in effect for stripers, so measure them fish!

That's the word from the water today. Get out there while the getting's good! This is Artificial Lure signing off—tight lines and see ya on the water!

Hudson River Fishing Report for New York City, May 18, 2025

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your fresh Hudson River report for Sunday, May 18, 2025.

We’re right in the heart of the spring season and the bite is hot with both resident and migratory fish putting on a show. This past week we’ve seen continued movement of big striped bass up the river as the post-spawn run ramps up. In the city stretches and a bit upriver, the action has been steady, with fish in the 28 to 40 inch range showing up on both boat and shore lines. Schoolie stripers are common, but a few trophy fish have been landed, especially after sunrise on the outgoing tide. The Tappan Zee Bridge area has been productive, both from boats and from shore, while the Hudson River Park in Manhattan is drawing families and casual anglers catching smaller bass and the occasional bluefish[1][5].

Today’s high tide is around 10:30 am and low tide will be closer to 4:40 pm, so the best action should be early morning into mid-morning, and again late afternoon as the water moves – that’s when those stripers really light up[1][4]. Sunrise was at 5:35 am, and sunset will be about 8:09 pm, giving you a long window to work the banks and piers.

The bunker schools are thick in the river right now and that’s drawing predators in. Matching the hatch is key – big soft plastic shads, bunker spoons, mojo rigs, and umbrella rigs are all working well, especially for boaters trolling in the 30 to 40 foot range. From shore, try a chunk of fresh bunker or bloodworms on a fishfinder rig, or sling a big paddle tail if you like working lures[2][3]. For fly anglers, bigger streamers that imitate herring or bunker will get hit if you put them in the current seams.

Aside from stripers, a few bluefish have shown up, mainly in the Tappan Zee and south to the estuary. Catfish and white perch are being caught in the quieter stretches and backwaters, especially on cut bait. Fluke have started slowly, mostly shorts with a couple of keepers reported, but the action should improve as the water warms up in the next week[2].

For hot spots, focus on the Tappan Zee Bridge area for stripers and blues, and check out Hudson River Park piers at dawn for a mix of action right in the city[5]. Troy Dam upriver is a classic spot for targeting big stripers, if you’re up for the drive.

Today’s weather is partly cloudy with temps reaching the low 70s, a gentle southerly breeze and no chance of rain, making for perfect fishing conditions.

That’s your Hudson River update – tight lines, and I’ll see you on the water!