Atlantic striped bass, or Strippers as they are known, are a large, migratory fish species native to the east coast of North America. Striped bass habitat can be found in both coastal and estuary waters on the Atlantic coast, from southern Canada to northern Florida, and can range from fresh to saltwater habitats.
In New York, stripped bass can be found in the Hudson River and
The New York State record for striped bass stands at 67 lbs 4 oz and was caught in Lake Ontario in 1988. The current all-tackle world record for the species stands at 81 lbs 14 oz, caught in North Carolina in 1891. Striped bass are closely related to white perch, yellow bass, and white bass.
Striped bass can be identified by their long, sleek bodies and pale greenish to blue backs, which contrast with their silvery sides.
One of their most distinctive features is the presence of seven to eight dark stripes running along their sides, though these stripes often fade as they approach the tail. Adult striped bass typically range from 18 to 48 inches in length and usually weigh between 10 to 20 pounds.
On average, they have a lifespan of about 8 to 10 years.
Striped bass can be found in a variety of habitats in New York State, including large rivers, bays and estuaries, reservoirs, and coastal waters.
They prefer deep pools or slow-moving water with good oxygen exposure, typically between 10 – 30ft deep. The water temperature should typically range between 55-68°F for optimal striped bass growth.
Striped bass are migratory fish, known to inhabit areas with varying salinity levels all across New York State.
In saltwater areas, they can be found in bays and estuaries where they are attracted to areas of freshwater runoff. In brackish waters, they prefer areas with plenty of vegetation, structure, and current.
Striped bass love structure. Anglers can find plenty of chances for ambushing these fish at rock piles, bridge abutments, bulkheads, boulders, and other topographical features such as points, ledges, rips, and drop-offs.
1. Hudson River
The Hudson River is one of the top striped bass fishing destinations in the Northeast. Every spring, thousands of striped bass migrate from the Atlantic Ocean to the freshwater stretches of the river to spawn. The prime fishing area extends from New York City up to the town of Troy, with particularly good fishing between Catskill and Troy during the peak season in April and May. Anglers often have success using live bait, cut bait, and artificial lures during this time.
2. St. Lawrence River
The St. Lawrence River, a massive waterway connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, has become an increasingly popular spot for striped bass anglers. In recent years, striper populations have been growing in this area, particularly near the river’s mouth and in sections closer to the Atlantic migratory routes. Fishing along the St. Lawrence offers a chance to target striped bass in both river and near-shore environments, often using trolling techniques and soft plastic lures.
3. Great South Bay
Located on the south shore of Long Island, Great South Bay is a renowned striped bass fishery, especially during the spring and fall migration periods. The bay’s shallow waters, marshes, and inlets create perfect feeding grounds for stripers. Anglers can target them from canoes, boats, kayaks, or even from the shore. Popular methods include trolling, casting topwater plugs, and using live bait like bunker or eels.
Striped bass are opportunistic feeders that usually hunt in schools. They are quite aggressive as they work together to corral baitfish into tight balls before striking.
Striped bass prefer to feed in shallow water, in the upper one-third of the water column. They move to the most shallow water under the cover of darkness to feed on unsuspecting forage fish.
Feeding continues as the striped bass move back toward deeper water when daylight replaces night.
The natural prey for striped bass in New York State includes a variety of baitfish and smaller species that are essential to their diet. Some of the most common prey are alewife, menhaden, herring, eels, and smelt. Alewife and herring are especially important during spring spawning runs when large schools attract hungry stripers. Menhaden, also known as bunker, are a key food source in coastal waters and bays, providing high-energy nutrition for larger striped bass.
Eels are another favored prey, particularly in river systems like the Hudson. Smelt, smaller schooling fish, are also part of the striped bass diet, especially in cooler waters.
Striped bass are highly migratory and spawn in spring when water temperatures reach the mid-50s. Spawning typically takes place over several weeks from late April to early June. Depending on the region, striped bass may migrate hundreds of miles upstream to spawn in specific tributaries or pools.
Most female striped bass reach maturity at five years of age when they weigh roughly six pounds and measure approximately twenty-three inches in length. When in strong currents, females will release millions of eggs for fertilization. No protection is afforded to the eggs as they drift along the current.
After fertilization, the striped bass eggs hatch between 29 to 80 hours depending on water temperature.The success and survival of the striped bass larvae mainly depends upon the events that occur during their first three weeks after they hatch.
Young striped bass feed mostly on plankton and smaller fish until they reach a length of 8-10 inches. At this point, they become more predatory and will begin to feed on larger prey.
Anglers across New York can often spot the telltale signs of schooling striped bass such as disturbed water or fish breaking the surface.
When targeting schooling stripers, anglers should cast towards the center of the school and retrieve quickly. Striped bass are known to chase lures as they break away from the school, so this can be a great way to target large individual fish.
Striped bass tend to feed on smaller baitfish in deeper water, and anglers should look for areas such as drop-offs, points, and ledges where the fish might be suspended. Jigging is often the most effective technique for catching striped bass while deeper water fishing as it allows anglers to get their lures down to the desired depth quickly.
When jigging, it is important to move the lure in a slow and steady motion as this will entice the striped bass to strike.
Striped bass make for amazing recreational fishing. Striped bass are an extremely versatile fish species. Anglers statewide have success with this species whether they are fishing in fresh water or salt water, whether they are bait fishing or surf casting, whether they are striper fishing above or below the George Washington Bridge. Just start fishing, and you’re sure to enjoy striped bass fishing in New York State.
Striper fishing is a popular part of New York’s recreational fishery. From the Great Lakes in the western part of the state to the Hudson River, into the Atlantic Ocean, and along the Atlantic coast, striped bass habitat is varied and widespread. To keep this important fishery healthy, anglers must adhere to the DEC’s regulations for striper fishing.
In New York, the daily limit for freshwater striped bass is one fish per day and a minimum size of 18 inches, and a maximum of 28 inches. The open season for freshwater striped bass fishing runs from April 1st to November 30th.
For saltwater fishing, the striped bass open season runs from April 1st through December 15th. An angler may only take one fish per day, and the fish must be between 28-35 inches long.
The boundary for these regulations is the George Washington Bridge, the north of which is subject to fresh water regulations, and the south salt water regulations.
Atlantic striped bass are protected by many state and federal regulations such as size limits or closed seasons for specific areas. Anglers need to be familiar with the area-specific regulations before heading out on the water to help ensure a healthy population of striped bass.
As of 2021, anglers are required to use circle hooks when fishing for striped bass using live bait. Using circle hooks can significantly reduce the risk of gut-hooking, an issue that can inflict serious injuries on fish, causing a huge increase in striped bass mortality, and subsequently harming striped bass populations across the state. With the use of circle hooks, if a striped bass takes in your bait, these uniquely designed hooks will slip out from its throat and latch onto the corner of its jaw – ensuring the safety of the fish, helping to keep the striped bass population stable and keeping fishing mortality rates for this species at bay.
The striped bass fishery is currently closed for commercial fishing.
Atlantic striped bass are protected by many state and federal regulations such as size limits or closed seasons for specific areas. Anglers need to be familiar with the area-specific regulations before heading out on the water to help ensure a healthy population of striped bass.
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