2019 Striper Migration Map
Big striped bass are heading up the coast! In northern New Jersey, the ocean bite is on fire with multiple 50-pounders caught recently along with numerous 30s and 40s. Big bass are also spreading east along Long Island and beginning to trickle into Rhode Island and Massachusetts waters.
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.
Chesapeake Bay Striper Report
In the upper and mid bay, fishermen are light-tackle jigging and chumming for striped bass. Fresh cut menhaden is the bait of choice and one needs to remember non offset circle hooks are mandatory.
Large post-spawn stripers are trickling through the lower regions of the Chesapeake as they head out to the ocean, but it would appear the majority of them have already left.
Delaware Bay Striper Report
Striper action in the upper Delaware Bay has been spotty as post-spawn fish have departed and returned to the ocean.
New Jersey Striper Report
In southern New Jersey, striper fishing has been pretty good with bass to over 40 inches showing up from Brigantine to Manasquan. Surfcasters have been picking up fish on plugs and baits off the surf. Boaters have been picking up striped bass to 40 inches on the troll, but some days are better than others. The bite has been an early morning bite usually ending by 7am with a few stranglers picked up throughout the day.
Off Northern New Jersey, the striped bass action has slowed in Raritan Bay as the bite has moved to the ocean. Many fish in the 40-pound-class have been landed along with numerous 50-pounders. Most of the bass are being taken on bunker spoons and mojo rigs.
• Read the Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
• Read the Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
New York Striper Report
Striped bass are wrapping up their spawning activity in the Hudson River and post-spawn fish are meandering back toward the ocean.
There are lots of 40-plus-pound bass being taken on trolling lures in central Long Island, and the East End is seeing more big bass into the 30-pound class, but not many. Big bass in the 20- to 30-pound class are spreading out along the south side of the island and being caught on bunker, mojos and bunker spoons. The bass bite continues to accelerate in western Long Island sound, with some fish in the 40- to 50-pound range and 30-pound class fish are becoming more plentiful.
• Read the Long Island Fishing Report
Connecticut/Rhode Island Striper Report
Western Long Island Sound is producing stripers in the 30-pound-class and a few 40s and 50s as well, and the big fish are moving east and closer to Connecticut. The size of the fish around Connecticut herring runs continues to improve with more 30- to 40-inch reported this week.
Though schoolies still dominate the catches, more stripers in the 30-inch class were reported this week along with some 20- and 30-pounders and one confirmed 50.
• Read the Connecticut Fishing Report
• Read the Rhode Island Fishing Report
Cape Cod/ Massachusetts Striper Report
Schoolie stripers from 12 to 18 inches are dominating the catches around Cape Cod, but more stipers in the 30-inch class and scattered 40-inchers were reported this week in Buzzards Bay, the Cape Cod Canal, and Cape Cod Bay.
Keeper-sized bass continue to spread throughout Boston Harbor and the North Shore. Stripers are being caught all the way to Portland, Maine.
• Read the Cape Cod Fishing Report
This will be the very last year any of us recreation fishermen and fishermen will be able to catch and keep a striper. The regulating will come in next year to save the species from, the commercial over fishing fisheries and the abusive and inexperienced recreation fishing, and we all hope that climate change doesn’t destroy the entire environment required for this sensitive species to survive. So get at it fishing peeps but be nice and gentle when returning your catch back to it’s environment, handle them gently and try as much as possible to leave them in the water when catching and releasing. If you see a human animal treating the fish badly make your voice heard by maybe training them firstly, then scold them secondly, if that doesn’t work then thirdly throw them into the water like they did the fish as that might work most. Lolz. Happy fishing and good luck!
Generic babble
Why are all the strippers going North? Money is out west
Very informative and helpful, thanks !
My girlfriend and I caught about a dozen schoolkids in the creeks yesterday of Seabrook and Hampton no keepers. All 20″ – 26″
20s-24s in and around jobba flats past Saturday
Nice Schoolie action in Harpswell, Maine over Memorial Day WKND. Keep ’em coming