2020 Striper Migration Map
Big bass are dominating catches in New Jersey, and “slot-size” fish are becoming more common from Long Island to Massachusetts as bass leave their spawning grounds and migrate north.
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.
Note that there were some significant changes to striped bass regulations this year.
Chesapeake Bay Striper Report
Maryland opened all tidal areas to striped bass fishing on June 1. Most spawning-class fish have left the bay, so anglers are casting lures at sunrise and sunset and jigging has for smaller stripers in the Upper and Middle Bay. Trolling channel edges in middle and lower Chesapeake Bay has continued to produce some larger post-spawn bass. If fishing bait, be sure to follow Maryland’s circle hook regulations. Read Maryland’s excellent fishing report for more details on the Chesapeake Bay fishing scene.
Delaware Bay Striper Report
Striped bass (rockfish) have moved moving out of the Delaware River after spawning, and fishermen in Delaware Bay are focusing on black drum.
New Jersey Striper Report
Schoolie striped bass fishing is good around the bridges and inlets, while most big bass have slid north of Absecon Inlet. The biggest striped bass on the coast are off northern New Jersey, where boats trolling Mojos and bunker spoons or fishing live bunker are catching and releasing fish up to (and over) 50 pounds.
• Read the Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
• Read the Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
New York – Hudson River and Long Island Striper Report
In the Hudson River, water temperatures are rising and the spring striper run has come to an end as post-spawn stripers have left the river. There is still some fun to be had with school-size stripers.
On Long Island, big post-spawn bass are spreading out in Western Long Island Sound and along the south shore off Rockaway and Jones Beach.
• Read the Long Island Fishing Report
Connecticut/Rhode Island Striper Report
Big bass have moved into Western Long Island Sound, and larger bass have finally begun to show up in catches in the Connecticut River. Larger bass in the 34- to 40-inch class have finally shown up in Narragansett Bay.
• Read the Connecticut Fishing Report
• Read the Rhode Island Fishing Report
Cape Cod/ Massachusetts Striper Report
Finally, some larger bass in the 30- to 40-inch range are beginning to show up in catches around abundant bunker schools in Buzzards Bay and along the south side of Cape Cod. A few pockets of bass to 20 pounds have shown up north of the Cape as well, but schoolies still dominate.
• Read the Cape Cod Fishing Report
• Read the Massachusetts Fishing Report
New Hampshire and Maine Striper Report
Fresh migrating stripers have filled in with rivers in New Hampshire and southern Maine loaded with 22- to 26-inch schoolies.
• Read the New Hampshire/Maine Fishing Report
You posted the May 29th picture…
Thanks for the half sentence on NH lol what a joke
Yeah I’m from Maine and I would like to claim half of that sentence.
Seriously… Ask me and I’ll write a way better report for Maine for otw….
Right now in Maine fish have reached close to there most northern push up the Maine coast. The best fishing remains up river where the herring are. Blood worms chunk bait ect are doing well the the mouth of these rivers and will get better in the next couple weeks in southern maine as the herring fall from the runs. Top water poppers are effective early morning and soft plastics jig heads/bucktails for the day and night bite. Bucktail slugo remains a solid choice any time of the day. I’d expect the first push of large fish to hit southern maine less then a week from now.