Striper Migration Map – March 28, 2025
The Striper Migration Map is back for 2025! It’s officially spring, and there are signs of it everywhere, from the return of ospreys and river herring to the slowly rising back bay water temperatures. Inshore areas of Chesapeake Bay are warming past the 50-degree mark and big bass are moving into tributaries to spawn.
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Maryland/Chesapeake Bay Striper Fishing Report
Anglers have been making the most of the last few days of the migratory striper season before the temporary closure from April 1 to May 15. Big bass have been feeding on adult bunker in pockets of warmer water. While much of the bay is still seeing water temps in the high 40s, some areas, such as mud flats, are warming quickly and the striped bass are responding positively. Keep in mind it is strictly catch and release fishing until the no-target closure. Big stripers continue to push up the bay and into the spawning rivers (which are currently off-limits to striper fishing). The DNR website can offer information on various closed and open areas for striped bass fishing.
New Jersey Striper Fishing Report
In southern New Jersey, anglers have been catching on worms in the backwaters, and action has increased over the past week tremendously as we head into a warm weekend. Look to the bay creeks, channels, and marshes with 3- to 4-inch swimming plugs and be sure to work the lures very slow. Bloodworms dunked or drifted along the same areas or through deeper channels should provide good action. In northern areas of the state, striped bass are being caught in all the usual spring spots, including the back of Raritan Bay, in tidal rivers and throughout Barnegat Bay. Conditions look better than last year at this time, with bunker being reported in many areas. Some larger bass over 36 inches have been reported in Raritan Bay.
New York Striper Report
Resident or “holdover” stripers are active in backwater areas and the west end bays on Long Island, with good numbers of 30-inch stripers in the mix. Fresh migrating fish will begin trickling in soon.
Connecticut/Rhode Island Striper Report
Holdover striper fishing in the Housatonic River and in Connecticut River tributaries has improved as the fish get more active with warming water and the arrival of river herring. Holdover stripers are also being caught in rivers and backwaters in the far western areas of Connecticut. Holdover stripers are also active and being caught in Rhode Island salt ponds and rivers.
Cape Cod/Massachusetts Striper Report
Holdover striped bass have been reported in some fresh and brackish waters on Cape Cod and around Boston, with river herring trickling into the runs and ospreys returning to their posts. With the weekend weather trending warm (away from the coast, at least), the overall trend is feeling like spring.
Source: https://onthewater.com/striper-migration-map-march-28-2025
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