2016 Striper Migration Map

The Chesapeake Bay spawn is done, and those big post-spawn stripers are moving out and heading up the coast. Fresh schoolie stripers have been reported as far north as New Hampshire, and bass over 30 inches are being caught from Connecticut to the Cape Cod Canal.

Chesapeake Bay Striper Report

The Maryland DNR reports that striper spawning is over in most of the rivers, and last week catches in the middle and lower bay were exceptional for large post-spawn striped bass. These bass are feeding heavily on menhaden before they exit the bay and head up the coast. The striped bass catch and release fishery near the Susquehanna Flats now is mostly dominated by striped bass less than 30″ in length. The really good news is that there are lots of them. The upper bay trophy striped bass fishery has slowed, although some large striped bass are still making their way down from the Susquehanna Flats area.

New Jersey Striper Report

Post-spawn striped bass are moving through Delaware Bay and toward the mouth of the bay. Some larger bass to 20 pounds have been landed in the bays and rivers in South Jersey, but it’s still mostly schoolies, and a continuous blitz of gator bluefish has distracted most of the surfcasters. Bluefish are also in abundance in North Jersey, where the Raritan Bay bass bite has slowed as many of the bass have moved up the Hudson River to spawn.

New York – Long Island Striper Report

Hudson spawners are moving through the River, and some large spawning-size fish being caught. Despite cool and rainy weather, the striper bite has improved at the West End of Long Island. Read more in the Long Island Fishing Report.

Connecticut Striper Report

Larger stripers in the 30- to 36-inch range are moving into the tidal rivers and chasing herring. View the Connecticut Fishing Report.

Rhode Island Striper Report

Stripers to 30 inches have spread out from the South County beaches to Narragansett Bay. Fish to 36 inches have been caught in the upper bay and in rivers around schools of bunker and around herring runs. View the Rhode Island Fishing Report.

Cape Cod Striper Report

Schoolies are abundant in the Buzzards Bay harbors and along the south side of the Cape and Martha’s Vineyard. Keeper-size bass to 30 inches are being caught near herring runs and in the Cape Cod Canal. Cape Cod Fishing Report

Massachusetts Striper Report

The three bays of Plymouth, Duxbury and Kingston have schoolie stripers, and there have been reports of more 20- to 28-inch fish mixing in with the abundant 14-inchers. Boston Harbor has schoolies, and they have been reported as far north as Plum Island. It’s definietly an early start to the season – read about it in the Massachusetts Fishing Report