Hudson River Striper Fishing

Are you suffering from spring fever? Spring fishing fever? If so, rest assured that a cure is just around the corner! As waters across the U.S. begin to warm up, numerous finned species will be on the prowl. Luckily, this coincides with anglers' awakening from their long winter indoor hibernation, and when you put those two together, the action can be as hot as gasoline on fire! One of the most eagerly awaited runs each year is the striper run, and one of the best places in the Northeast to target these fish is the Hudson River.

The Hudson River begins in the Adirondack Mountains and flows south some 300 miles through eastern New York. The river passes through some beautiful countryside, including the Catskill Mountains, the Taconic Mountains, and the scenic Hudson River Valley. Much of the southern portion of the river is brackish, part of an estuary. As far north as Troy, in fact, the Hudson is affected by the ocean's tides. The river empties into Upper New York Bay at the point where New York and New Jersey meet. The Hudson is popular with a variety of outdoorsmen, including boaters, sailors, yachtsmen, and anglers.

The New York state record striped bass was pulled from the Hudson River on May 9, 2007. The big female tipped the scales at 55 pounds, 6 ounces. Landed by Ian Kiraly, the record striper measured 49 3/8 inches in length and had a girth of 32 inches. That's not the only giant striper that has been taken from the Hudson River. In 2003, a 55-pounder was caught, and in 2000, a striped bass weighing 54 pounds, 6 ounces was landed from shore. Fortunately for fishermen, the Hudson still has some monsters lurking in its depths.

One of the most successful fishing guides and fishing charters that ply the Hudson River is Ace Charters. This outfit is run by Captain Jimmy Samia, who has more than three decades of angling experience, in both salt and fresh water. Every spring, starting on May 1, Captain Jimmy takes clients out to try their luck with catching a trophy striper, and as long as the fish are running, Ace Charters is in hot pursuit. Of course, sometimes luck isn't that important.

The good captain prefers to make his own "luck." He does so by using the best equipment and gear available. His 28-foot boat has Big Jon Brute ES downriggers, an underwater camera with TV, a Lowrance 9200c chartplotter with radar, and a 16 color Furuno video fish finder. The fish don't have a chance with Captain Jimmy around!

Once the fish are located, the fishing gear comes out - Quantum, Penn, Daiwa, and Shimano reels, along with fishing lures that the public doesn't have access to. Add together the equipment, the gear, and the captain's experience, and you have the makings for the perfect Hudson River striper fishing trip. In fact, if you don't hook up with a striper, your next trip will be provided at half price. Ace Charters is in demand, so you'll need to make reservations in advance.