After a slow start in New Jersey, the striper fishing is breaking loose, with all those fish that anglers have been marking and struggling to catch finally beginning to feed. Meanwhile, migratory fish are spreading throughout Southern New England and along Long Island.
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All striped bass fishing is closed in Maryland Chesapeake Bay waters. For more information about the timings and areas where striped bass fishing is allowed in the Chesapeake Bay, check out the Maryland DNR’s Striped Bass Regulation Maps.
Striped bass are wrapping up spawning activities in the Choptank River and just getting started in the Upper Bay. Scientists are optimistic that conditions have been favorable for a successful spawn. According to the Maryland DNR, it’ll still be a week or so before post-spawn bass begin exiting the bay and running the coast.
The backwater fishing throughout New Jersey is getting better, with fish over 30 inches falling to flies and lures. Delaware Bay is holding the biggest bass in the southern half of the state, with bloodworms still working best. More stripers are showing up in the surf, where anglers have been catching well on clams.
Finally, the bite in the Raritan is picking up. For a few weeks, anglers have been marking good schools of stripers that were tough to get to bite. With conditions improving, the fishing is breaking open with anglers catching on shads, minnow plugs, and topwaters.
Stripers have hit the south shore surf and inlets, with fish being reported all the way out to Montauk. They’ve been aggressive, striking poppers and lures. The fishing isn’t on fire yet, but it’s improving quickly.
River herring arrivals are perking up larger holdover fish in Connecticut’s Rivers as fresh arrivals continue to trickle in, and bass are spreading out through the Connecticut River, despite cold and murky conditions.
The Rhode Island striper run ratcheted up a few notches this week with big numbers of bass, even fish over 30 inches, feeding in Narragansett Bay.
Migratory fish are popping up in Buzzards Bay and on the South Side of Cape Cod, but they aren’t widespread just yet. A few anglers are getting out and catching fish on soft-plastic jigs and topwaters. Most have been schoolies but a couple slot-size fish have been reported.
North of the Cape, it’s still all holdovers, but it’s a matter of days before some migratory bass break through the Canal into Cape Cod Bay and beyond.
