2018 Striper Migration Map

Spawning seems to be finished in the Chesapeake, and large post-spawn fish have reached New Jersey this week, joining the fish leaving the Delaware Bay. Spawning is at its peak in the Hudson River, and keeper stripers, with some up to 20 pounds, have made it to Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

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

Chesapeake Bay Striper Report

Water temperatures in Chesapeake Bay are still in the striper’s preferred zone, so rather than a mass post-spawn exodus, stripers seem to be trickling out of the spawning rivers and down the bay.  Large post-spawn striped bass are being reported along channel edges in the upper, middle, and lower bay regions as they slowly make their way toward the ocean.

Delaware Bay Striper Report

Lost-spawn stripers are steadily leaving the bay, and are being reported along the beaches in Cape May county. Some keeper-sized stripers remain in the Delaware River, but for the most part, the spawn in the Delaware has wrapped up.

New Jersey Striper Report

Big stripers are moving along both the central and southern part of the New Jersey coast, with a mix of Delaware River post-spawners continuing to round Cape May and Chesapeake fish hitting the waters off Long Beach Island and Island Beach State Park.

Large bass are still being caught in Raritan Bay and around Sandy Hook.

Read the Northern New Jersey Fishing Report

Read the Southern New Jersey Fishing Report

New York Striper Report

Keeper fish continue to increase in number along both shores of Long Island, with some 20-pound-plus fish showing in the ocean and inlets off the South Shore. The largest local bass are up the Hudson spawning, but should be dropping out, and moving through the sound, within the next week.

Some big girls showed up for the night bite #stripedbass #fishing #nightbite #fishon #riverfishing #saragosa #savagegear #pennfishing

A post shared by Justin Ellsworth (@justinellsworth1) on May 15, 2018 at 6:54pm PDT

Here fishy fishy fishy #bankmoney #pinittowinit #stripermigration #beacon #hudsonriver #striper #fishing #40×30 #puredumbluck #stopthelongarm #bass

A post shared by Chris (@riverguy73) on May 15, 2018 at 2:32am PDT

They're finally where I need them to be. Saw some bigger fish tailing but only fooled a schoolie tonight. Thanks for the photo @nickdarin #striperonthefly #stripedbassonthefly #longislandflyrodders #onthewatermagazine

A post shared by Greg Scherer (@gregsomething) on May 17, 2018 at 6:38pm PDT

Read the New York Fishing Report

Connecticut/Rhode Island Striper Report

Connecticut and Rhode Island saw both an increase in the number and size of stripers this week, with 20-pound fish being reported all the way to Naragansett Bay. 

Keep em coming. #stripers #river #bass #fishing #ct #lunkers #onthewater #stripercup2018 #tritonboats #shimano #stripedbass #TYG #grudens #YETI #herring #slob #penn #stripermigration

A post shared by Team Young Guns (@_young_gun_fishing_) on May 13, 2018 at 2:49pm PDT

Little clip of tonight’s action from the surf. Stiff SE wind, good swell producing some white water, incoming tide, and stripers! #oceanstatekayakfishing #stripersnotstrippers #stripermigration #springrun #rhodeisland #stcroixrods #vanstaal

A post shared by Ian Clark (@saucey_fish) on May 17, 2018 at 7:27pm PDT

Read the Connecticut Fishing Report

Read the Rhode Island Fishing Report

Cape Cod/ Massachusetts Striper Report

The majority of the fish moving through the Cape Cod Canal this week were shorts, but there were enough keeper-sized fish to make it interesting. Schoolies and keepers filled in along the South Side of the Cape, and more schoolies are being reported along the Outer Beaches and throughout Cape Cod Bay. Some keeper-sized bass have set-up shop under mackerel schools in Cape Cod Bay. 

Fish to 30 inches have been reported as far north as the Merrimack River, but the vast majority of fish fall short of keeper-sized.

I was able to extend my keeper-streak again this morning. It was a slow morning for most, but we still found cooperative fish. #chartertheberkshiresfishing #whyknotfishing #rippledwaters #fishing #fishinglife #stripedbass #stripedbassfishing #surfcasting #saltwaterfishing #capecod #massachusetts #outdoors #onthewatermagazine

A post shared by Charter The Berkshires (@chartertheberkshiresfishing) on May 18, 2018 at 4:51am PDT

Bay was lit up. 24 fish 2 keepers tonight. #keepers #stripermigration #stripedbass @onthewatermagazine

A post shared by Triple Threat Fishing (@triplethreat_fishing) on May 17, 2018 at 5:45pm PDT

Read the Cape Cod Fishing Report

Read the Massachusetts Fishing Report