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November 13th Hudson River Fishing Report: Stripers, Panfish, and the Invasive Goby
Published 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Description
Hudson River anglers, it’s Artificial Lure with your November 13th fishing report for the greater New York City stretch—covering everything from tides to tackle, hot bites to hot spots.
**Weather and Sunrise/Sunset:**
Today is a classic mid-fall morning: crisp, low 40s at daybreak and rising to mid-50s under mostly sunny skies. Winds are light out of the northwest—comfortable for both bank and boat anglers. Sunrise was at 6:41 AM, and sunset will be at 4:41 PM. You’ve got prime fishing windows both early and late before dusk nips the light.
**Tides:**
On the river’s lower NJ/NYC banks, the outgoing started around 2:07 AM, with low tide about 8:08 AM, and the next high tide hitting just before 2:30 PM, based on data from Hoboken Castle Point via Tide Forecast. If you fish the lower river, plan to work structure and ledges as the tide turns and brings bait out from the shallows.
**Fish Activity and What’s Biting:**
Late fall means less boat traffic and hungry fish taking advantage of the last big feeding window. The star remains the *striped bass*. Recent DEC and patrol reports note striped bass still in the mix, with plenty of schoolies and the chance of a lower 30-inch class fish from shore or small craft. The occasional monster migrates through, especially on live bait.
The warm start to fall brought mixed results for panfish—yellow perch and sunfish are still hitting, and a few persistent anglers have reported keeper-size largemouth bass in North River tributaries and the Harlem.
Word on the rounds is that a handful of anglers have even seen shad putting in stray appearances, and you may pick up some late season white perch as well.
There’s something new to be mindful of: the invasive round goby has become more common below Poughkeepsie. DEC and Cornell studies indicate they’re thriving even down in brackish NYC-adjacent water. These pest fish are aggressive and can bite on small jigs and natural baits, interfering with the bite for smallmouth and walleye. If you pull one up, don’t toss it back—check regulations and help keep their spread in check (Everything Croton).
**Best Bait and Lures:**
- For stripers, there’s no beating a live eel or chunk of bunker on a fish-finder rig this time of year. NYC guides and Hudson River Bait & Tackle recommend those, or shad, especially drifting on the outgoing.
- Artificials: 5" to 7" soft-plastics like Zoom Flukes or Storm Wildeye Shads in white or bunker pattern; topwater plugs at dusk; and rattling crankbaits mimicking juvenile herring.
- For perch and panfish, go with live minnows or worms under a float. Small curly-tail grubs in chartreuse or white do the trick when fished slow.
- If you’re targeting bass in backwaters, use downsized spinnerbaits or small jigs in black/blue.
**Recent Catches:**
The most recent enforcement actions from New York State Environmental Conservation Officers detail strong fall fishing but also an uptick in folks crossing size and bag limits—most notably 247 striped bass checked on a commercial crew, with only 112 legally tagged. Stay on the right side of regs: stripers must be 18-28 inches for the slot, five black bass over 12 inches, and know your species!
**Hot Spots:**
- The piers at Riverside Park and Gantry Plaza State Park are consistent for stripers, perch, and the odd bluefish run.
- Dyckman Street boat launch area and the Harlem River mouth give great access to channel edges and bridge pilings where bass are holed up.
Keep your line tight and your bait fresh. Target moving water and don’t ignore the old main channel drop-offs—a classic striper ambush point as the tide changes. And remember: with the goby moving in, check your bait, keep your gear clean, and report any sightings to DEC.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you’re always ready with the rig
**Weather and Sunrise/Sunset:**
Today is a classic mid-fall morning: crisp, low 40s at daybreak and rising to mid-50s under mostly sunny skies. Winds are light out of the northwest—comfortable for both bank and boat anglers. Sunrise was at 6:41 AM, and sunset will be at 4:41 PM. You’ve got prime fishing windows both early and late before dusk nips the light.
**Tides:**
On the river’s lower NJ/NYC banks, the outgoing started around 2:07 AM, with low tide about 8:08 AM, and the next high tide hitting just before 2:30 PM, based on data from Hoboken Castle Point via Tide Forecast. If you fish the lower river, plan to work structure and ledges as the tide turns and brings bait out from the shallows.
**Fish Activity and What’s Biting:**
Late fall means less boat traffic and hungry fish taking advantage of the last big feeding window. The star remains the *striped bass*. Recent DEC and patrol reports note striped bass still in the mix, with plenty of schoolies and the chance of a lower 30-inch class fish from shore or small craft. The occasional monster migrates through, especially on live bait.
The warm start to fall brought mixed results for panfish—yellow perch and sunfish are still hitting, and a few persistent anglers have reported keeper-size largemouth bass in North River tributaries and the Harlem.
Word on the rounds is that a handful of anglers have even seen shad putting in stray appearances, and you may pick up some late season white perch as well.
There’s something new to be mindful of: the invasive round goby has become more common below Poughkeepsie. DEC and Cornell studies indicate they’re thriving even down in brackish NYC-adjacent water. These pest fish are aggressive and can bite on small jigs and natural baits, interfering with the bite for smallmouth and walleye. If you pull one up, don’t toss it back—check regulations and help keep their spread in check (Everything Croton).
**Best Bait and Lures:**
- For stripers, there’s no beating a live eel or chunk of bunker on a fish-finder rig this time of year. NYC guides and Hudson River Bait & Tackle recommend those, or shad, especially drifting on the outgoing.
- Artificials: 5" to 7" soft-plastics like Zoom Flukes or Storm Wildeye Shads in white or bunker pattern; topwater plugs at dusk; and rattling crankbaits mimicking juvenile herring.
- For perch and panfish, go with live minnows or worms under a float. Small curly-tail grubs in chartreuse or white do the trick when fished slow.
- If you’re targeting bass in backwaters, use downsized spinnerbaits or small jigs in black/blue.
**Recent Catches:**
The most recent enforcement actions from New York State Environmental Conservation Officers detail strong fall fishing but also an uptick in folks crossing size and bag limits—most notably 247 striped bass checked on a commercial crew, with only 112 legally tagged. Stay on the right side of regs: stripers must be 18-28 inches for the slot, five black bass over 12 inches, and know your species!
**Hot Spots:**
- The piers at Riverside Park and Gantry Plaza State Park are consistent for stripers, perch, and the odd bluefish run.
- Dyckman Street boat launch area and the Harlem River mouth give great access to channel edges and bridge pilings where bass are holed up.
Keep your line tight and your bait fresh. Target moving water and don’t ignore the old main channel drop-offs—a classic striper ambush point as the tide changes. And remember: with the goby moving in, check your bait, keep your gear clean, and report any sightings to DEC.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe so you’re always ready with the rig