Early Striper Run Delayed?

[Capt Sal]

When the bass come early they leave early. This snow will keep the water temp down and that might be a good thing. Late April thru May is not only good weather it is when most everyone has there boat in. I would like to see the run last into June. I know you guys must have cabin fever and want to get out and wet a line. Just hope to catch some resident bass now and when the big ones come the Dog Woods will be in bloom. Time to call Percy and order your bunker nets !

[Gerry Zagorski]

Ahhhh... Finally a fishing post, thanks Sal...

Once I see the Forsythia's bloom I know it's Striper time. It's been a long winter and can't wait to wet a line.

[Billfish715]

Dogwoods, Forsythias??????? Wrong Forum! LOL!

Snow runoff will be minimal, sorry. We didn't get much. Added to that, the rivers are still exceptionally low for this time of the year. I don't know what that will do to the spring runs, but there were bunkers in Sandy Hook Bay at this time last year. Bunker = Water Temps = Stripers. I look for the bunkers and herring as a sign.

As much as I, too, would like the striper run to be delayed, there are other forces in play.

[Gerry Zagorski]

It's also been my experience in Raritan Bay that although the Bunker are there, the Stripers won't feed on them until the water warms up. That's why we usually start with Clams and years ago Sand worms.

If however you go way back in the rivers, we used to catch schoolies throughout the entire winter throwing rattle traps and the like around bridges

[Capt Sal]

Dogwoods, Forsythias??????? Wrong Forum! LOL!

Snow runoff will be minimal, sorry. We didn't get much. Added to that, the rivers are still exceptionally low for this time of the year. I don't know what that will do to the spring runs, but there were bunkers in Sandy Hook Bay at this time last year. Bunker = Water Temps = Stripers. I look for the bunkers and herring as a sign.

As much as I, too, would like the striper run to be delayed, there are other forces in play.

Raritan Bay is fed by the Raritan,Arthur Kill ,Shrewsbury and most important the Hudson River. Plenty of snow in NY state. Some Stripers winter up the Hudson some to the south and migrate here to spawn up the hudson. The ones we are waiting for are wintering in the south and will stage in Raritan Bay before going up the hudson to spawn. Water temp is the key along with the bunker.Cold water and no bite.The bunker have been there for months.

Not too many years back we would be gearing up for flounder.We would not start striper fishing until April 21. Clams first then as the water warmed bunker for the rest of the season.Back then NY opened May8. Now that we have a ridiculous two fish limit on flounder stripers are the only game in town.It puts more pressure on one species. The head boats would love to be flounder fishing!

[Capt John]

Dogwoods, Forsythias??????? Wrong Forum! LOL!

Snow runoff will be minimal, sorry. We didn't get much. Added to that, the rivers are still exceptionally low for this time of the year. I don't know what that will do to the spring runs, but there were bunkers in Sandy Hook Bay at this time last year. Bunker = Water Temps = Stripers. I look for the bunkers and herring as a sign.

As much as I, too, would like the striper run to be delayed, there are other forces in play.

Good morning guys (Bill, Gerry, Sal) Have to differ on the amount of snow that will keep water temps cold. Friend lives in northern part of the state and they got a ton of snow. Slow melting and runoff will keep Raritan Bay water temps down for quite a while....Keansburg recording station at 8:30 this morning (Sunday) was 35 degrees...brrrr! Totally agree with Capt. Sal....the later the better. Fished for Stripers in mid July a few years ago...insane, but I'll take it. My first trip is 19th of April....and that could be questionable based upon water temps....we'll see.

[bulletbob]

Good morning guys (Bill, Gerry, Sal) Have to differ on the amount of snow that will keep water temps cold. Friend lives in northern part of the state and they got a ton of snow. Slow melting and runoff will keep Raritan Bay water temps down for quite a while....Keansburg recording station at 8:30 this morning (Sunday) was 35 degrees...brrrr! Totally agree with Capt. Sal....the later the better. Fished for Stripers in mid July a few years ago...insane, but I'll take it. My first trip is 19th of April....and that could be questionable based upon water temps....we'll see.

Correct.. add to that the fact that the entire Hudson drainage got massive snowfall, up to 3 feet, and it will be getting ice water from its tribs for weeks to come.. I think this one storm will set the season back a few weeks .. however, if we get 2 weeks of sunny and 70 every day, all bets are off... See how easy it is to CYA?... bob

[Capt John]

Correct.. add to that the fact that the entire Hudson drainage got massive snowfall, up to 3 feet, and it will be getting ice water from its tribs for weeks to come.. I think this one storm will set the season back a few weeks .. however, if we get 2 weeks of sunny and 70 every day, all bets are off... See how easy it is to CYA?... bob

Bob....totally agree with your post. I keep track of Raritan bay water temps daily and it's amazing how fast water temps can fluctuate just in one tide cycle. I saw an 8 degree jump about 2 weeks ago....I was amazed. So yes, a weeks worth of 70's and light winds and we are in business.
Good fishing in 2017...tight lines.

[torchee]

Does anyone know what the temps are now in the back of the bay?
Union beach? Keansburg?
Staten Island?

[Capt Sal]

Does anyone know what the temps are now in the back of the bay?
Union beach? Keansburg?
Staten Island?

Yea colder tan a witches,nfyikjvdesdv lol

[torchee]

Yea colder tan a witches,nfyikjvdesdv lol

that's what i figured....
Last year I had bass last week of march, really nice couple of keepers
This year I may not even try unless we get a few really warm days

[Hunter 2]

The water temp is 37 deg at Keansburg gate right now during incoming tide.

[Treebeard63]

I live a few miles from the Hudson.. about 100 mile north of RB.. we certainly got hammered last week.. but it's been a mild winter really.. and the ground was pretty thawed prior to this storm, so it's melting fast.. as you can see from these pics from last Tuesday to today... As for the Striper run.. while I do get down to the bay and the shore plenty, I've been fishing the spawning run up here since the 70's.. I've learned that temps don't have much to do with the actual migration of the spawners.. the guy who taught me the ropes back than was a fisheries biologist for the DEC.. he explained that mother nature is too smart to trust early warm temps.. which can easily retrace , killing eggs and thwarting the spawn...hence it is day length that triggers the actual migration up the river.. and I've found that to be pretty accurate over the years..pretty much every year, we see the first big pushes of schoolies by the 2nd week in April, and the schools will build and mix as the bigger girls start to show up near the end of the month.. We usually peak around the 2nd week in May..Most years its about done here by the 1st of June.. temps will determine how well they bite, and when they actually spawn.. but they still come up about the same time every year.. And as Sal says'.. what I have seen in unusually warm years is a much quicker exit... if the cows get here and the temps are already at spawning levels.. they will spawn and not hang around for long..

[Canyonfish]

I can tell you this..... I fished on Sunday. I don't think it's a spot burn this time of year..... NE wind blowing hard at or near Union Beach ... soaked clams for 4 hours without a tap...... water was pretty kicked up and brown and it was cold as you know what ......

Other than two guys who asked me how I was doing and one guy walking his dog I was the only idiot out there :D

[torchee]

I live a few miles from the Hudson.. about 100 mile north of RB.. we certainly got hammered last week.. but it's been a mild winter really.. and the ground was pretty thawed prior to this storm, so it's melting fast.. as you can see from these pics from last Tuesday to today... As for the Striper run.. while I do get down to the bay and the shore plenty, I've been fishing the spawning run up here since the 70's.. I've learned that temps don't have much to do with the actual migration of the spawners.. the guy who taught me the ropes back than was a fisheries biologist for the DEC.. he explained that mother nature is too smart to trust early warm temps.. which can easily retrace , killing eggs and thwarting the spawn...hence it is day length that triggers the actual migration up the river.. and I've found that to be pretty accurate over the years..pretty much every year, we see the first big pushes of schoolies by the 2nd week in April, and the schools will build and mix as the bigger girls start to show up near the end of the month.. We usually peak around the 2nd week in May..Most years its about done here by the 1st of June.. temps will determine how well they bite, and when they actually spawn.. but they still come up about the same time every year.. And as Sal says'.. what I have seen in unusually warm years is a much quicker exit... if the cows get here and the temps are already at spawning levels.. they will spawn and not hang around for long..

I believe day length is also related to how trees lose their leaves, and bloom in the spring........

[Gerry Zagorski]

Ground temps, snow run off, rain, water etc is different every year but the plants react to it and don't lie. That's why I subscribe to the Forsythia theory, they know....

[dakota560]

I live a few miles from the Hudson.. about 100 mile north of RB.. we certainly got hammered last week.. but it's been a mild winter really.. and the ground was pretty thawed prior to this storm, so it's melting fast.. as you can see from these pics from last Tuesday to today... As for the Striper run.. while I do get down to the bay and the shore plenty, I've been fishing the spawning run up here since the 70's.. I've learned that temps don't have much to do with the actual migration of the spawners.. the guy who taught me the ropes back than was a fisheries biologist for the DEC.. he explained that mother nature is too smart to trust early warm temps.. which can easily retrace , killing eggs and thwarting the spawn...hence it is day length that triggers the actual migration up the river.. and I've found that to be pretty accurate over the years..pretty much every year, we see the first big pushes of schoolies by the 2nd week in April, and the schools will build and mix as the bigger girls start to show up near the end of the month.. We usually peak around the 2nd week in May..Most years its about done here by the 1st of June.. temps will determine how well they bite, and when they actually spawn.. but they still come up about the same time every year.. And as Sal says'.. what I have seen in unusually warm years is a much quicker exit... if the cows get here and the temps are already at spawning levels.. they will spawn and not hang around for long..

Great post! Never realized stripers traveled that far up the Hudson. Pretty amazing migration these fish have. What is it that draws the bass up that far. Is it water quality, salinity or lack of, water depth, bottom contour, water temperature etc. In fresh water, steel head look for gravel beds to spawn as an example, just curious what it is that draws the bass that far up the Hudson, habitat or something else. And if they travel that far up the Hudson, is there a body of bass that migrate that far up the Delaware River and if not what would be anyone's theory why they don't? I know there's bass in the Delaware but don't think nearly the concentrations the Hudson has and was curious why. Or maybe there is as significant a concentration and I wasn't aware of it. I've caught bass as far north as the Water Gap but not nearly the size or numbers the Hudson seems to attract. Absolutely amazing range and tolerances these fish have!

[fishypete]

Ground temps, snow run off, rain, water etc is different every year but the plants react to it and don't lie. That's why I subscribe to the Forsythia theory, they know....

Exactly my gauge. Hopefully I see some more yellow soon as I have the second week in April off and desperately need to wet a line.

[Capt Sal]

I live a few miles from the Hudson.. about 100 mile north of RB.. we certainly got hammered last week.. but it's been a mild winter really.. and the ground was pretty thawed prior to this storm, so it's melting fast.. as you can see from these pics from last Tuesday to today... As for the Striper run.. while I do get down to the bay and the shore plenty, I've been fishing the spawning run up here since the 70's.. I've learned that temps don't have much to do with the actual migration of the spawners.. the guy who taught me the ropes back than was a fisheries biologist for the DEC.. he explained that mother nature is too smart to trust early warm temps.. which can easily retrace , killing eggs and thwarting the spawn...hence it is day length that triggers the actual migration up the river.. and I've found that to be pretty accurate over the years..pretty much every year, we see the first big pushes of schoolies by the 2nd week in April, and the schools will build and mix as the bigger girls start to show up near the end of the month.. We usually peak around the 2nd week in May..Most years its about done here by the 1st of June.. temps will determine how well they bite, and when they actually spawn.. but they still come up about the same time every year.. And as Sal says'.. what I have seen in unusually warm years is a much quicker exit... if the cows get here and the temps are already at spawning levels.. they will spawn and not hang around for long..
I have caught fish in July full of spawn. They do not spawn and there body cosumes them. After the spawn they will hang around if we have plenty of bunker. The ones caught in the ocean and in Raritan Bay May that have spawn are all Hudson stripers. The June ocean run of spawned out bass are Chesapeak fish.I think your post in spot on!

[Capt Sal]

Great post! Never realized stripers traveled that far up the Hudson. Pretty amazing migration these fish have. What is it that draws the bass up that far. Is it water quality, salinity or lack of, water depth, bottom contour, water temperature etc. In fresh water, steel head look for gravel beds to spawn as an example, just curious what it is that draws the bass that far up the Hudson, habitat or something else. And if they travel that far up the Hudson, is there a body of bass that migrate that far up the Delaware River and if not what would be anyone's theory why they don't? I know there's bass in the Delaware but don't think nearly the concentrations the Hudson has and was curious why. Or maybe there is as significant a concentration and I wasn't aware of it. I've caught bass as far north as the Water Gap but not nearly the size or numbers the Hudson seems to attract. Absolutely amazing range and tolerances these fish have!
For a striper egg to be fertile it has to be in fresh water and be able to roll on the gravel bed for three days.If you look at the bellies of the post spawn Hudson fish you will notice there bellies are red and scraped up. This is all from spawning on the gravel beds. Water temp determines when they will spawn.

[dakota560]

Thanks Sal....interesting read. Didn't know they sought out gravel like some other species of fish do. Again an absolutely amazing range these fish have. Does anyone know if there's any sizable spawning stock in the Delaware or does the Delaware not have the required habitat or maybe problems associated with passage up river. There's definitely bass in the Delaware, just doesn't seem to be the numbers the Hudson or Chesapeake have and was curious if that's a true statement why.

[Treebeard63]

Great post! Never realized stripers traveled that far up the Hudson. Pretty amazing migration these fish have. What is it that draws the bass up that far. Is it water quality, salinity or lack of, water depth, bottom contour, water temperature etc. In fresh water, steel head look for gravel beds to spawn as an example, just curious what it is that draws the bass that far up the Hudson, habitat or something else. And if they travel that far up the Hudson, is there a body of bass that migrate that far up the Delaware River and if not what would be anyone's theory why they don't? I know there's bass in the Delaware but don't think nearly the concentrations the Hudson has and was curious why. Or maybe there is as significant a concentration and I wasn't aware of it. I've caught bass as far north as the Water Gap but not nearly the size or numbers the Hudson seems to attract. Absolutely amazing range and tolerances these fish have!

Thanks for the kind words.. it is pretty amazing how far they will travel.. I fish the Hudson close to home, around Kingston, but they run up as far as they can go to the barrier dam in Troy.. but the coolest place I ever caught them was back when i worked in Bordentown.. my buddies and I would fish the whitewater sections of the Delaware.. above Trenton.. Scudders falls, etc.. never got much above teen sized fish, but seeing them blast a pencil popper in that fast water is something I'll never forget :eek: Not sure why the Delaware doesn't get more spawning fish.. but when I worked down there thru the 90's, I was told the runs where just starting to return after what was termed a "pollution barrier" below Philly began to get cleaned up.. whatever the reason, it does seem that the big D's spring run has improved since those days...

As for them seeking out gravel.. that's not really the case.. I have seen them spawn many times.. they don't fan out nests like a salmon would.. it takes places in open water. as females get ready to start broadcasting eggs, males swarm around them.. rubbing and bumping her..(which I assume is where all the red marks come from)...as she releases eggs they are spewing milt like crazy.. at times, several females, and a herd of males will form a big daisy chain school...which looks like a blitz in a milk bowl.. lol.. when they are in full spawn mode, we have had situations where a hooked female will bring several males right to the net with her..

[Capt Sal]

Thanks for the kind words.. it is pretty amazing how far they will travel.. I fish the Hudson close to home, around Kingston, but they run up as far as they can go to the barrier dam in Troy.. but the coolest place I ever caught them was back when i worked in Bordentown.. my buddies and I would fish the whitewater sections of the Delaware.. above Trenton.. Scudders falls, etc.. never got much above teen sized fish, but seeing them blast a pencil popper in that fast water is something I'll never forget :eek: Not sure why the Delaware doesn't get more spawning fish.. but when I worked down there thru the 90's, I was told the runs where just starting to return after what was termed a "pollution barrier" below Philly began to get cleaned up.. whatever the reason, it does seem that the big D's spring run has improved since those days...

As for them seeking out gravel.. that's not really the case.. I have seen them spawn many times.. they don't fan out nests like a salmon would.. it takes places in open water. as females get ready to start broadcasting eggs, males swarm around them.. rubbing and bumping her..(which I assume is where all the red marks come from)...as she releases eggs they are spewing milt like crazy.. at times, several females, and a herd of males will form a big daisy chain school...which looks like a blitz in a milk bowl.. lol.. when they are in full spawn mode, we have had situations where a hooked female will bring several males right to the net with her..
Males are small and i agree they do spawn in open water as well as gravel beds. Very interesting topic and we could all learn from each other.

[NJ219bands]

Striped bass that I tagged in the Delaware River below Trenton were recaptured in NJ, PA, Patapsco River, MD, NY and MA. A keeper striper that I tagged in Barnegat Inlet was recaptured at the Troy Dam, NY. I also caught a Hudson River Foundation tagged striper at Barnegat Inlet. Striped bass that I tagged in NJ were recaptured from Rye Beach, NH to NC. They have an extensive range and the various populations mix.

[bulletbob]

Great post! Never realized stripers traveled that far up the Hudson. Pretty amazing migration these fish have. What is it that draws the bass up that far. Is it water quality, salinity or lack of, water depth, bottom contour, water temperature etc. In fresh water, steel head look for gravel beds to spawn as an example, just curious what it is that draws the bass that far up the Hudson, habitat or something else. And if they travel that far up the Hudson, is there a body of bass that migrate that far up the Delaware River and if not what would be anyone's theory why they don't? I know there's bass in the Delaware but don't think nearly the concentrations the Hudson has and was curious why. Or maybe there is as significant a concentration and I wasn't aware of it. I've caught bass as far north as the Water Gap but not nearly the size or numbers the Hudson seems to attract. Absolutely amazing range and tolerances these fish have!

There are charters boats that fish stripers in the Albany/Troy area so, yes they go quite a ways up.
They go pretty far up the Delaware as well, at least as far as Calicoon, or even further north..
Check this out..

http://theaverageangler.blogspot.com/2013/06/062413-why-did-i-leave-upper-delaware.html

I would not fish for them up here, but its kind of oddly reassuring knowing that they are really only a 70-80 mile drive from me up here in the Finger Lakes.
Every spring , guys that fish the Delaware in deeper areas, get trout grabbed off their hooks by stripers...bob