Waters are warming rapidly, as spring lastly appears to be right here to remain. Spawning is occurring within the Chesapeake, and a recent wave of enormous pre-spawn stripers has reached the Raritan Bay. Migratory schoolies have been reported as far north as Martha’s Winery, as of Thursday.
Additionally, at present is the deadline for public touch upon Amendement 7 to the Striped Bass Administration Plan. Any striper fishermen who needs to share their views on how they’d prefer to see the striped bass managed wants to take action earlier than 11:59 p.m. tonight. For extra info on how and why it’s best to communicate up for striped bass, go to the next hyperlink: Converse Up TODAY on Striped Bass Administration – On The Water
Maryland/Chesapeake Bay Striper Fishing Report
The Maryland waters of the Chesapeake stays closed to striped bass catch-and-release fishing to assist the fish keep away from stress as they put together to spawn. In line with the Maryland DNR, spawning is starting to happen within the Chesapeake Tributaries.
“The spawning populations of striped bass are holding within the Choptank River ready for water temperatures to rise slightly extra to their liking. There was a small quantity of spawning and with air temperatures predicted to be as excessive as 80 levels this week, the spawn will certainly kick into excessive gear. Throughout this time the Choptank River is closed as is the Bay to all catch-and-release fishing for striped bass. Pre-spawn striped bass can be passing via the center Bay the subsequent couple of weeks as they head as much as the Susquehanna Flats and River to spawn.”
For an entire Maryland/Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report, go to Maryland DNR.
New Jersey Striper Fishing Report
Within the again bays of southern New Jersey, stripers as giant as 40 inches have been reported, however many of the fish are 30 inches or smaller. Along with the fish within the backwaters, just a few bass have been reported within the surf as nicely.
In truth, this motion is what fishermen are discovering all through many of the state, till you get to the Raritan Bay, the place giant stripers have moved in and are feeding closely earlier than making their spawning run up the Hudson River.
Lengthy Island/New York Striper Fishing Report
Striped bass season opens in New York at present, April 15. Western Lengthy Island Sound is fishing nicely, as extra and bigger migratory fish arrive. Towards the japanese finish of the Island, it appears to be predominantly holdovers, however migratory schoolies will proceed to maneuver east.
Connecticut/Rhode Island Striper Fishing Report
Schoolie stripers are feeding nicely within the Connecticut tidal rivers, and an rising variety of “slot” measurement fish are being caught as nicely. An inflow of herring into the rivers has had the bigger holdover fish extra lively in latest days.
As of Thursday’s fishing forecast, “recent” migratory stripers hadn’t but been reported in Rhode Island, however with migratory fish reaching Martha’s Winery, it must be a matter of days (if not hours) from the posting of this week’s Striper Migration Map.
Cape Cod/Massachusetts Striper Fishing Report
On Thursday, April 14, striped bass had been caught on the ocean seashores of Martha’s Winery, and upon shut inspection, these stripers had some hitchhiking sea lice on their sides. That is proper on time with the everyday arrival of migratory striped bass on Martha’s Winery, and over the subsequent week, “recent” stripers ought to seem on the South Facet of Cape Cod and in Buzzards Bay.
