Understanding The Hudson Striped Bass Fishery

[Capt Sal]

First of all NJ is considered a ''producer'' state for Striped Bass.The two main things about this fishery are as follows. In the very late fall many Striped Bass will migrate up the Hudson River and lay dormant until the Spring spawning season. Another body of ''Hudson'' bass will winter off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina. As the Spring progresses the bass wintering to our South will migrate North and stage in Raritan Bay before going up the Hudson to spawn. This female bass are laden with ripe eggs and the males with milt. They are hungry and will eat before there long journey up river to spawn. As the water temp rises the bass will spawn and then work there way back to sea and ''stage'' in Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook. When the water gets too warm they will migrate North to Montauk and New England.

The second run of Striped Bass we get Ocean Side are of the Chesapeak strain. These bass will have a purple hue and will be spawned out. This usually occurs in June were as the Raritan Bay Run is earlier in late April and May. Last year we had bass in the bay until late June. When conditions are wright the ocean run can last well into July. North West winds and a good supply of Menhaden are essential for a good bass run.
Although the Ocean Side striper run last Spring left a lot to be desired that was not the ''norm''. We had cold water and South Winds almost everyday. This year could and should be quite different. The striper run in Raritan Bay last spring was the best in ten years. Hopefully we will have a great spring Ocean and Raritan Bay. If you are planning a charter or want to jump on a Party Boat late April, May and June are the best. This is a sport the entire family can enjoy so plan ahead. We have some of the best charter and pb boats on the East coast here on this site!

[SaltLife1980]

Good info! Thanks for sharing!

[Capt.Yasar]

Thanks for the info; much appreciated.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Good info here Sal, thanks....

A few things I always wondered that maybe you can comment on.

1) Does the Raritan River support spawning Stripers?

2) Why is it at the end of every fall the short fish tend to dominate?

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Good info here Sal, thanks....

A few things I always wondered that maybe you can comment on.

1) Does the Raritan River support spawning Stripers?

2) Why is it at the end of every fall the short fish tend to dominate?

I have talked to biologists and they say the Raritan River does have spawning stripers.There are nowhere near the numbers of the Hudson but they do spawn there. The smaller fish can handle colder water better.They also tend to feed on small bait such as sand ells where as large bass want bunker and herring. The big bass will stay off shore if that is where the bunker are. Just look at what is going on in North Carolina.

[AndyS]

I won't kill a striped bass in the spring, and maybe take a few in the fall.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by AndyS

I won't kill a striped bass in the spring, and maybe take a few in the fall.

Some do some don't.As long as we do not get greedy the bass are there to harvest because of the efforts of recreational fisherman.

[Skolmann]

I've also heard that the Hackensack River supports a spawning population of stripers (or are they considered to be part of the Hudson stock ? ).

[AndyS]

Who are these "biologists" you are talking to ? If you want to talk about striped bass take it to the Federal level and contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and see what they have to say.

[JBird]

I think almost any estuary system can support spawning bass but the biggest produce the most ie: the Chesapeak Bay, Hudson River etc.

I know the Navesink River has a native population and, in fact, was the source of the very first stock fish put into San Francisco Bay.

I can't wait for the Spring season! The Hi-Mar Flea Market is always a winter milestone for me that means we are getting closer to bass time!