Striper Migration Map - April 28, 2015

CHESAPEAKE BAY

The striper spawn in the Chesapeake has been “steady and protracted” reports the Maryland DNR. Post-spawn fish have begun to leave the spawning grounds, but many are still in the freshwater reaches of the tidal rivers where they spawn. Winter rain and snow runoff has caused conditions for a good March plankton bloom and subsequent zooplankton bloom, which hopefully will provide a food source for newly hatched striped bass larvae. Cross your fingers for a big 2015 year-class!

DELAWARE RIVER/BAY

Big egg-laden stripers are moving up the Delaware River on their way to spawn. Fish as large as 40 pounds have been caught in the past week. Stripers are being caught as far as Trenton.

NEW JERSEY

Big numbers of short stripers are moving through South Jersey backwaters. There are some keepers, but most fish appear to be from the large 2011 year class.

Large stripers continue to move through Raritan Bay, presumably on their way to spawn in the Hudson River. Bunker chunks have accounted for fish up to 40 pounds. As the waters warm, more stripers are being caught on artificial lures, both while trolling and while casting from shore.

More surf stripers were reported throughout New Jersey this week from Cape May all the way to Sandy Hook. Clams continue to be the best bait, but minnow plugs are catching a few fish as well.

Large schools of bunker attracted bluefish to the surf and bays of Ocean County. Barnegat and Great bays had big schools of 6- to 16-pound bluefish move in over the weekend

NEW YORK

Fish up to 40 inches have been reported from the Hudson River around Croton. Teen-size bass have been reported around New York Harbor.

There is plenty of bait off the South Shore of Long Island, but few bass have been reported yet.

Some stripers have been reported in the North Shore bays, most fish are shorts. The best numbers are in the western bays, but fish are showing up as far as Port Jefferson.

Some bluefish have been reported on the extreme west end of Long Island

CONNECTICUT

Holdover striped bass is very good in the rivers, but rains and high waters can occasionally make things challenging. River herring entering the rivers are putting larger bass to 20 pounds on the feed, especially at night. Fresh schoolie stripers should be trickling into Long Island Sound and mixing with the holdovers this week. Connecticut Fishing Report

RHODE ISLAND

Fresh schoolie striped bass were reported in recent days from the south-facing Rhode Island shorelines! Holdover striped bass are being reported in other Rhode Island locations including the Providence River, Upper Narragansett Bay, and the Narrow River. Expect the schoolies to grow in number over the next few days and spread quickly into the salt ponds and Narragansett Bay.

MASSACHUSETTS

Still no success reported by anglers trying to locate fresh schoolies in Buzzards Bay estuaries or along the south side of Cape Cod.  With the first schoolies reported in Rhode Island over the weekend, it should be less than a week before they flood into Buzzards Bay waters. Holdover stripers have been caught this week in Massachusetts Rivers including the Charles and Mystic rivers,  a couple of South Coast rivers, and in Waquoit Bay on Cape Cod.

NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE

Striper anglers are waiting patiently, passing the time by targeting freshwater fish.