Migratory Stripers on the Move

The migratory striped bass have returned to New York Harbor. More and more are swimming around.
 
Every spring, migratory species of stripers swim north from wintering areas in the deeper waters off Virginia and North Carolina. The fish are seeking to spawn in well-established sites, and seeking to feed off some tasty herring and shad. It takes a lot of energy to migrate and reproduce. All this liveliness makes stripers hungry.
 
Striped bass are anadromous, migrating to freshwater from the sea to spawn. Around seventy-five percent of striped bass spawn around the rivers that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. Both the Hudson River and Delaware River also play significant roles for producing future generations of striped bass. Once the spawning cycle has been completed, adult stripers swim out of the rivers and gather around beaches for a while until coastal waters warm. Then the fish begin another migration farther north to New England and sometimes as far north as the Penobscot River in Maine to feed. Great fishing all the way!
 
Striped bass are a very important sport fish in New York Harbor. They are the unofficial fish of the harbor.

Perhaps it’s time to try your luck at fishing for one. The best time to fish for striped bass in New York Harbor is usually the last week of April and first couple of weeks of May - more or less depending on weather conditions.   ​

2017 NJ Recreational Minimum Size, Possession Limits & Seasons

2017 New York State Saltwater Fishing Regulations - Recreational

Regional Fishing Forecasts - On the Water

http://www.onthewater.com/striper-migration-map-april-28-2017/