2018 Striper Migration Map

Spawning activity continues in the upper Chesapeake, but most of it is completed in the major rivers and big post-spawn bass are moving back down the bay toward the open ocean, where they’ll be taking a hard left toward the Northeast.

You can help by contributing to our weekly map updates—simply share your striper fishing reports here, and tag us on social media with #stripermigration.

Chesapeake Bay Striper Report

Striped bass are finally spawning in the Susquehanna River and Upper Bay. Those trolling in the upper bay have been picking up a few large striped bass recently near traditional steep edges of the shipping channel, reports the Maryland DNR. There is still a bit of spawning going on in the major rivers, but most of it is over, which means post-spawn striped bass are moving into the bay and headed south along channel edges. Large post-spawn striped bass are being reported along many of the traditional channel edges in the lower bay region.

Delaware Bay Striper Report

There are a mix of pre-spawn, spawning, and post-spawn fish in the Delaware River and Bay right now. Reports of long, skinny bass, some up to 47 inches long, have been reported around Cape May, suggesting that some of the Delaware River spawners are leaving the bay and heading North.

5 May

A post shared by Gregg Possiel (@mrghpe) on May 6, 2018 at 7:22am PDT

New Jersey Striper Report

Besides the big bass rounding the Jersey Cape, and the big bass in Raritan Bay, most of New Jersey has only keeper-sized fish, with the exception of a few 20-plus pounders taken around Barnegat Bay, both in the bay and along the beaches. These could be some of the early-arriving post-spawn Chesapeake fish or post spawn fish from the Delaware.

More of the Raritan Bay fish have been making their way up the Hudson, but there are still plenty of fat, egg-filled females feeding in the bay.

There are more stripers showing up in the surf, and keeper-sized fish are a possibility just about anywhere from Cape May to Sandy Hook.

Read the Northern New Jersey Fishing Report

Read the Southern New Jersey Fishing Report

New York Striper Report

More big, egg-laden bass are moving up the Hudson River, and by now, some should be spawning around West Point on the upcoming new moon, with stripers continuing to spawn in the Hudson into mid- and even late May.

✔️ #striper #hudsonriver #bass #fishing #? #bankmonkey #? #? #fatty #tapetellsnolie #stripermigration

A post shared by Chris (@riverguy73) on May 9, 2018 at 5:58pm PDT

Fins up and ready to spawn. Released this healthy fish back to where it came from. I don't eat striped bass and I try my best to preserve the natural ecosystem we all share. I hope to see future generations to experience the same enjoyment of catching these creatures as I do. #surfcaster #surfcastersjournal #tacticalangler #ticarods #tica #fishing#instadaily #hookedup #catchandrelease #brooklynfishingclub #springrun #surfcaster #stripedbass #bluefish #낚시스타그램 #낚시꾼 #낚시 #낚시스타 #onthewatermagazine

A post shared by J I N (@wicked_tides) on May 10, 2018 at 8:31pm PDT

Keeper stripers have made it as far as East Hampton on the South Shore according to some reports, and schoolie stripers are all around Long Island right now.

Micros on Clousers #clouserminnow #flyfishing #saltwaterflyfishing #stripedbass #rockfish #moronesaxatilis #afternoon #longisland #ny #imonthewater #onthewatermagazine #stripermigration #thefishermanmag #backbay #backbayflats

A post shared by Marcelo De inocenzio (@jdmmarcelo) on May 9, 2018 at 8:11am PDT

Read the New York Fishing Report

Connecticut/Rhode Island Striper Report

Bigger bass have moved into western Long Island Sound, and 30-inch class fish are filling in along the Rhode Island coast and in Narragansett Bay. The migration is really picking up steam, and fishermen expect the new moon to move some more large fish into both Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. 

Lunch break. First Bass of the season.

A post shared by John (@johnnynix33) on May 4, 2018 at 10:36am PDT

This afternoon’s dink parade #catchandrelease #oceanstatekayakfishing #stripedbass #stripermigration #onthewatermagazine #rhodeisland #may6th

A post shared by Ian Clark (@saucey_fish) on May 6, 2018 at 12:10pm PDT

May the fog be with you. Great first trip of the season. #stripedbass #onthewatermagazine #rifishing

A post shared by Andrew Razz (@arazz1987) on May 10, 2018 at 9:21pm PDT

Read the Connecticut Fishing Report

Read the Rhode Island Fishing Report

Cape Cod/ Massachusetts Striper Report

Schoolie stripers continue to spread out around Cape Cod, with reports of fresh fish in Cape Cod Bay and on the South Shore of Massachusetts.

Keeper stripers hit the south side of Martha’s Vineyard and Buzzards Bay this week, while big schools of small stripers were reported in the Cape Cod Canal. The striper reports from the South Side of the Cape have been a little more sporadic, but favorable winds next week, combined with the new moon, should help move better numbers into the area.

First keeper sized fish of the year were crushing topwater plugs this morning on Cape Cod. My heart was pounding out of my chest after this battle. . . . . . . . . . #blind_cast #myfishingcapecod #onthewatermagazine #topwater #bassfishing #bassfishing #striper #striperseason #capecod #capecodinsta #hunting #springrun #spring #vanstaal

A post shared by Ryan Norton (@blind_cast) on May 11, 2018 at 5:26am PDT

North of the Cape, schoolies have been reported all the way up to Duxbury this week.

Read the Cape Cod Fishing Report

Read the Massachusetts Fishing Report