Good morning, Hudson River anglers—Artificial Lure here with your Monday, October 20th fishing report straight from the heart of New York City!

We’re stepping into late October with sunrise at 7:13 a.m. and sunset at 6:09 p.m., giving us just under eleven hours of daylight. It’s been a crisp start today, temps hovering in the upper 40s early and climbing just into the low 60s by midday. Expect steady northwest winds at 10-15 mph—bring a windbreaker if you’re fishing piers or open shoreline.

We’re looking at a healthy dropping tide all morning, bottoming out just after noon, with the flood coming in strong through the afternoon and peaking a little past 6 p.m. Outgoing tides through midday are prime time for stripers along seawalls, and that evening incoming tide will push bait back up the river and into those ambush points.

Recent action on the Hudson has been picking up with the fall run. According to local bait and tackle shops, striped bass are the main draw right now, with a few keeper-sized fish (28–34 inches) reported anywhere from Battery Park to the George Washington Bridge. Most fish are in the low 20-inch range, but the big push is just beginning. Chunked bunker has accounted for most of the action at night and on that outgoing tide, with a few anglers connecting on live eels and big paddle-tail swimbaits like the 7” soft-plastic K-Tails. The proven plug this week has been a white or chartreuse SP Minnow, especially after dark.

Despite the chilly weather, the bluefish bite hasn’t quite shut down. Local regulars have been catching some feisty racers in the 3–6 lb range from river piers, especially uptown near West 125th Street and also around Pier 25 in Tribeca. Choppers are hitting topwater spooks and metal spoons just before sunrise.

Daytime anglers are still seeing some white perch action around the outflows, particularly if you’re soaking bloodworms or using small pieces of clam. This is a fun alternative if you’re introducing kids or new anglers to the river.

Don’t ignore the channel edges and rocky corners on the Jersey side—Edgewater and Weehawken are holding some schoolie bass and those same bluefish when the water’s moving. For the most bites, keep your presentations moving and don’t forget fluorocarbon leaders—the waters are clearer these days and can make all the difference.

A couple of prime hot spots: Try Riverside Park up near 79th Street in the early morning for stripers on the move, and the Battery Park Conservancy piers in the evening for a shot at that twilight bite as the tide turns.

Best baits this week: fresh bunker, bloodworms, and live eels where available. Top artificials: white and bunker-pattern paddle tails, Daiwa SP Minnows, and blue/chrome Kastmasters for blues. Treble hooks are allowed, but single inline hooks will make your release a lot faster and easier on the fish with all the catch-and-release being done right now.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s Hudson River fishing update—subscribe so you never miss a tide or a bite! This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease.ai.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI