As waters warm, one of New York's most beloved saltwater fish – the striped bass – will soon return to our waters. As New York's o-fish-ally recognized state saltwater fish, stripers are a favorite among New York anglers for their large size and impressive strength. You can have success striper fishing whether you're in a boat, on the bank, or with a fly rod in your hand. Before hitting the water, you should keep the following rules, regulations, and handling practices in mind:
Striped Bass: Hudson River (North of the GW bridge)
Slot Size: 23"-28"
Possession Limit: 1 Fish
Open Season: April 1 - November 30
Striped Bass: Marine Waters and Delaware River (South of GW bridge)
Slot Size: 28"-31"
Possession Limit: 1 Fish
Open Season: April 15 - Dec 15
All New York Waters
- When bait fishing for striped bass inline circle hooks must be used.
- Gaffs cannot be used to land striped bass. Instead try a large, rubberized net.
Release mortality is a major source of death in the striped bass fishery throughout the Atlantic coast. A variety of factors can increase the chance of a fish experiencing release mortality, including but not limited to, time of fight, water temperature, and gear types.
Tips on improving your fish handling practices and conserving our striped bass population:
- Don't fight fish to exhaustion and once landed quickly release them.
- Keep your hands wet when touching fish. Limit handling and release gently.
- Limit fish handling in hot weather and water temperatures, both can stress fish.
- Use appropriately sized gear for your target species.
- Replacing treble hooks on lures with in line single hooks can reduce mortality
- Do you need another photo? Limit "photoshoots" to notable catches
