Episode Details

Artificial Lure here with your August 9, 2025 Hudson River NYC fishing report.

Sunrise came at 5:33 a.m., and anglers had a fresh, cloudy morning with a high near 81 degrees expected and moderate humidity. Sunset tonight is at 8:44 p.m., so you’ve got good daylight for evening fishing—especially with clouds softening the glare and keeping fish cruising shallower. Today’s tidal swing sees high tide rolling through just after sunrise and again late evening; if you’re planning to hit the water, those periods around tide change are your best bet for active feeding.

Fish activity all season has been solid, with over 85 species found right around the Estuarine Sanctuary and piers from Jane St up past the Manhattan shoreline. Stripers and bluefish are the main headliners right now. Recent reports from Hudson River Park and On The Water show plenty of schoolie stripers getting caught early on topwaters and live baits, especially in low-light hours around pier structure and bridges. Bluefish are spread from Battery Park up past the George Washington Bridge, with some bigger choppers mixing in among the blitzing schools.

For bottom fishing, fluke are holding in the deeper holes and slopes around the West Side piers—especially Pier 51, Pier 25, and off the old pilings near Tribeca. Sea bass and the occasional triggerfish are caught on dropper rigs tipped with clam or squid strips, and anglers have been picking away at porgies on sandworm and small jigs. Triggerfish have become almost common in the past couple weeks—try small pieces of shrimp or sandworm tight to the bottom for a fast bite.

Best lures for stripers have been soft plastics like 4” paddle tails in bunker or pearl, and classic bucktail jigs bounced near current seams or rocky edges. A few locals have reported solid topwater action with spook-style walkers at first light—a white or bone color gets the most attention when the herring fry are running. Live bait remains king for big bass: fresh bunker chunks or live eels fished around shadow lines and bridge abutments will produce, especially around slack and early ebb tide. For bluefish, stick with durable plugs, metal spoons, or cut bunker—the bite can be furious when they’re chasing bait.

Fluke have been favoring smaller bucktail jigs around 1oz, tipped with a strip of gulp or squid. The hot bait has consistently been gulp swimming mullet in nuclear chicken and chartreuse; bounce them slowly along the bottom in the deeper channel slots.

Recent catches have ranged from a handful of schoolie bass up to 28" near Pier 25 to some bigger blues pushing 8 pounds off Pier 66 at dusk. Fluke catches are mostly shorts but enough keepers for dinner if you stick with incoming tide and work the channel edges. Bottom anglers are reporting decent numbers of porgies and sea bass, with action picking up during overcast afternoons.

If you’re looking for hot spots:
- **Pier 51:** The sanctuary waters are loaded with bait and structure; shady areas draw big bass and mixed bag success.
- **Pier 25 and Battery Park:** Great for evening topwater, mixed structure, and strong outgoing tide.
- **West Harlem Piers:** Consistent bluefish and stripers around dusk and dawn, plus good access for casting.

Remember, the River Project and HRPK always encourage catch-and-release, especially with the ongoing consumption advisory updates from NYSDOH—keep conservation in mind, especially with younger anglers eager to join in.

That’s the rundown for today—thanks so much for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe for daily fishing insights, tips, and local expertise. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI