2021 Striper Migration Map
Striped bass are starting to move out of their Chesapeake Bay spawning grounds. Fishing is peaking in the Hudson river. Schoolies are spreading north through southern New England and have even begun trickling into Boston area estuaries. Follow along as we track the Striper Migration. You can help by contributing to our weekly map updates—simply share your striper fishing reports here, and on social media with tag #stripermigration.
Remember that striper fishermen are now required to use circle hooks when using natural bait. Also, let’s all do our best this season to make sure that any stripers we release swim away healthy.
Chesapeake Bay Striper Report
Post-spawn striped bass that are moving out of the Choptank, Nanticoke, Patuxent, and Potomac rivers. Starting Saturday, the Chesapeake Bay from Brewerton Channel to the Virginia state line, excluding all bays, sounds, tributaries, creeks and rivers, except Tangier Sound and Pocomoke Sound, opens up to striped bass fishing for fish 35 inches or larger, with a one fish per person per day creel limit. 2021 regulations for recreational striped bass fishing in the Chesapeake Bay are available on the DNR website. Striped bass regulation maps — showing the bay’s regions and their open and close dates — can also be found on the department website.
Delaware Bay Striper Report
Small stripers (rockfish) are along the Delaware beaches and in the Indian River Inlet. Spawning bass have moved up the Delaware River to spawn and should be moving back out soon. Check out Delaware Surf Fishing if you’re a shore-based fisherman in Delaware Bay.
New Jersey Striper Report
In southern New Jersey, striped bass fishing has been very consistent on fish from 16 to 28 inches, with a few reports of fish in the low 30-inch class. Raritan Bay striped bass fishing has been strong with more trophy-sized fish from 30 to 50 pounds caught this past week on trolled spoons, plugs and bait.
• Read the Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
• Read the Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
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New York Striper Report
Bass have moved into the Hudson River to spawn. Schoolie stripers are becoming abundant all over, with bigger bass at the west end of Long Island and trickling into western LI Sound. The average size of schoolies is starting to increase along the south shore beaches.
• Read the Long Island Fishing Report
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Connecticut/Rhode Island Striper Report
Migrating schoolies are moving through Long Island Sound, with some larger fish reported around herring runs. This past week, fresh migrating schoolies arrived in big numbers in Rhode Island.
• Read the Connecticut Fishing Report
• Read the Rhode Island Fishing Report
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Cape Cod/Massachusetts Striper Report
Schoolie stripers have suddenly moved into most Cape Cod rivers, salt ponds, and estuaries, particularly in Buzzards Bay and along the southside of the Cape. There have also been reports of bass in the Cape Cod Canal. In recent days, stripers have been reported on the South Shore and in Boston Harbor. Their numbers should increase this week and we expect bass to spread north to Cape Ann as we head into May.
• Read the Cape Cod Fishing Report
• Read the Massachusetts Fishing Report
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These photos chronicle a real love affair.
It’s beautiful to see.
Stripers in the seekonk river, e. Prov. Ri