2016 Striper Migration Map

Big news this week as 30-pound stripers moved in on bunker in Raritan Bay, New Jersey, and a big wave of fresh schoolies arrived in Rhode Island and Martha’s Vineyard.

Chesapeake Bay Striper Report

The Maryland DNR reports that this Saturday is the opening day of the spring trophy striped bass begins.The best spots will be crowded as boats perform the slow dance of trolling the steepest shipping channel edges with planer boards and long trailing lines. Due to lingering cold weather last week the prospects of catching a large post-spawn striped bass may be sparse. Most of the striped bass in the Choptank, Nanticoke, Patuxent and Potomac are still in the spawning reaches or staging areas, waiting for temperatures to rise back up to acceptable spawning temperatures. At this time of year, fishermen are more likely to see pre-spawn striped bass heading towards the Susquehanna Flats area, and to a lesser extent, the four spawning rivers previously mentioned.

Fishermen are reminded that however tempting it might be, to not attempt to practice catch and release for striped bass in the closed spawning reaches. Violations carry stiff fines and license suspensions for recreational fishermen. There are areas such as the Susquehanna Flats, areas in the main stem of the bay and the Potomac River where catch and release is allowed. The Maryland DNR has striped bass recreational fishing maps online showing the different striped bass areas and dates as described in regulations.

New Jersey Striper Report

Striped bass are migrating into Delaware Bay and heading toward their spawning grounds on the Delaware River.

Schoolie striped bass and small keepers are hitting in South Jersey. Better weather should bring more fishermen and fish to the shore.

In North Jersey, it was a big week for big bass in Raritan Bay. Boaters fishing bunker chunks reported numbers of fish in the 20- and 30-pound classes.

New York – Long Island Striper Report

Hudson spawners are beginning to move into the River and action is improving. Small striped bass are being caught in western Long Island Sound locations including Eastchester Bay, Turtle Cove, and Little Neck Bay. Jamaica Bay also has schoolie stripers, and more schoolies arrived along the South Shore this week. Read more in the Long Island Fishing Report.

Connecticut/Rhode Island

Holdover striper fishing has been a little tougher in the tidal rivers as fish begin to spread out in the warming water and chase arriving herring. View the Connecticut Fishing Report.

Big numbers of fresh schoolies, mostly 10″ to 16″ fish, arrived at the West Wall in Galilee this week and along the South . View the Rhode Island Fishing Report.

Cape Cod/ Massachusetts

Holdover striped bass have been reported in tidal waters on and off the Cape, along with waves of river herring. Anglers are predicting that the first sea-lice covered schoolies will likely show up in the third or fourth week of April. Cape Cod Fishing Report

Boston Harbor, and particularly the Mystic River, have also given up holdover schoolie stripers and some larger fish are stirring now that river herring are entering the rivers.  Massachusetts Fishing Report