The 2026 Striper Cup Is On: Week 1 Winners and the State of the Spring Striper Migration

The 2026 Striper Cup is underway. See Week 1 winners from Cape Cod to South Jersey as the spring striped bass migration heats up from Maryland to Maine.

By OTW StaffMay 6, 2026

Week 1 of the 2026 Striper Cup landed right in the heart of one of the most active stretches of the spring run. Big stripers are running the beaches from Maryland through New Jersey and out to Long Island, a wave of bass pushed into Narragansett Bay around the first full moon of May, and fresh fish are filling in across Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay. The spawn is wrapping up in Chesapeake Bay, and pockets of bunker are fueling solid spring fishing up and down the Striper Coast.

For the latest reports, check the On The Water Striper Migration Map and the May 5 Striper Migration Report.

Week 1 Winners

Five anglers from Cape Cod down to South Jersey took home the season’s first round of prizes from PENN and Costa.

Shore — Brian Larsen

Orleans, MA
Wins the PENN Slammer 5500 / Carnage 10′ Combo

Week 1 Shore winner Brian Larsen of Orleans, MA with his striped bass

Boat — Eugene Silva Jr.

Rumford, RI
Wins the PENN Authority 5500

Week 1 Boat winner Eugene Silva Jr. of Rumford, RI with his striped bass

Kayak — Matt Dewey

Taunton, MA
Wins the PENN Slammer IV 4500 Spinning Reel

Week 1 Kayak winner Matt Dewey of Taunton, MA with his striped bass

Youth Catch of the Week — Richie Lotko

Ridgefield, CT
Wins the PENN Battle IV Spinning Rod & Reel Combo

Youth Catch of the Week winner Richie Lotko of Ridgefield, CT with his striped bass

Costa Photo Contest — John Ipri

Delran, NJ
Wins a pair of Costa Sunglasses

Week 1 Costa Photo Contest winner John Ipri of Delran, NJ

Week 2 Prizes Up for Grabs

Submit a striper between May 4 and May 10 and you’re in the running for:

Shore: PENN Slammer 5500 / Carnage 10′ Combo
Boat: PENN Fathom LP 500
Kayak: Bubba Multi-Flex Kit
Youth: YETI Cayo 25L Backpack

See the full 20-week prize lineup →

JOIN THE TOURNAMENT →

How to Join the Striper Cup

The Striper Cup is On The Water’s flagship 20-week catch-photo-release striped bass tournament, running May through late September. Catch a striper, snap a photo, submit it through the form on StriperCup.com, and every inch counts as another entry into that week’s drawing.

New to the tournament? Check the FAQ for everything you need to know.

Every registration includes a Striper Box: a Columbia PFG branded shirt, Rapala lure, OTW snapback, collectible commemorative pin, YETI discount codes, and a Golden Ticket good for free StriperFest admission and entry into the grand prize boat raffle.

Nineteen weeks left. Don’t miss out.

OTW Staff

The On The Water staff is made up of experienced anglers from across the Northeast who fish local waters year-round. The team brings firsthand, on-the-water experience and regional knowledge to coverage of Northeast fisheries, techniques, seasonal patterns, regulations, and conservation.