If you’ve never been shoulder-deep in a striper run, you’re missing out on one of the best fishing experiences out there. These fish hit hard, pull harder, and migrate in numbers that’ll make your reel sweat. But to cash in, you’ve got to be in the right place at the right time.
I’ve fished for stripers up and down the coast, and not all spots are created equal. Some hold fish all year. Others light up for a few wild weeks. Here’s where I’d go if I was serious about hooking into a quality striper.
Montauk, New York
Montauk has earned its reputation for a reason. When the fall migration kicks in, the beaches, rocks, and rips around “The End” light up with striped bass. You’ll see birds working and fish blitzing right off the sand. It’s chaos, and it’s glorious.
Both boat and surf guys clean up here, especially when peanut bunker and other baitfish stack along the coast. September through November is prime time. Bring plugs, bucktails, and your A-game. When it’s on, this place feels like the center of the striper universe.
Cape Cod Canal, Massachusetts
The Canal isn’t for everyone—it’s tide-dependent, gear-heavy, and unforgiving if you’re not paying attention. But if you get it right, it’ll spoil you. Big stripers push through here in spring and fall, chasing mackerel and other bait through fast-moving water.
Guys throw heavy plugs, jigs, and swimbaits from the banks, sometimes hooking up right at their feet. You’ll see some of the biggest fish in the Northeast come out of here. Just don’t show up under-gunned. This spot separates the casuals from the serious striper hunters.
Chesapeake Bay, Maryland
The Chesapeake isn’t just a nursery for stripers—it’s a staging ground for some seriously big fish. Spring and fall are your best windows, with pre-spawn and post-spawn migrations bringing the cows out of deep water.
Boat anglers work structure, ledges, and channel edges with live eels, bunker, and large jigs. The bay also offers solid light-tackle action if you want numbers over size. It’s a big system, but if you can read the water and follow the bait, you’ll get into fish.
Raritan Bay, New Jersey
Raritan Bay gets hot early. As soon as the water warms up in spring, stripers roll in to feed on bunker schools. It’s a popular spot, but it produces. Live-lining or trolling bunker around the pods often leads to solid hookups.
April and May are the sweet spots for big pre-spawn females. Some guys will fish shallow flats at night with plugs and soft plastics, and the bites can be explosive. When the bite turns on here, it rivals just about anywhere else on the coast.
Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island
Narragansett Bay gives you a lot of options—backwater creeks, rocky shorelines, deep channels—all holding stripers during different parts of the season. It’s a great place to fish from both boat and shore.
Early summer and fall are the most consistent, but you’ll find fish in the mix well outside those windows. Focus on moving water, especially near inlets and bridges. It’s one of those spots where local knowledge really helps, but even if you’re new, there’s enough action to keep you busy.
Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey
Barnegat is a solid striper spot during both the spring and fall migrations. The inlet itself can be loaded with fish, especially when bait’s moving through on a strong tide. You’ll see guys fishing bucktails and live eels right off the jetty.
This area also gives you access to surf, back bays, and deeper ocean runs. It’s a versatile fishery, which makes it a favorite for a lot of serious striped bass anglers. When conditions line up, it’s one of the better bets on the Jersey coast.
Long Island Sound, Connecticut
The western end of Long Island Sound doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, but it holds big fish—especially around the bunker schools in late spring. Stripers here are keyed in on bunker, and chunking or live-lining often does the trick.
Boat anglers work the flats, drop-offs, and current seams near river mouths. Shore anglers score near bridges and points, especially at night. It’s a more laid-back scene than Montauk, but if you’re targeting quality fish without the crowds, it’s a smart pick.
Hudson River, New York
During spring, the Hudson River becomes a striper highway. Fish move upriver to spawn, and they’re hungry the whole way up. This is mostly a boat fishery, but there are plenty of access points for bank fishing too.
The stretch from Newburgh down to Croton sees a lot of action. Cut bait like bunker or herring is standard here, but plugs and soft plastics will produce too. Keep an eye on the tide and water clarity—those two factors can make or break your day.
Delaware Bay, Delaware
Delaware Bay might not be the first place people think of, but it quietly puts out solid stripers every year. Fish stage here in both spring and fall, and the deeper channels and structure hold some real bruisers.
Most guys drift live bait or troll big plugs and spoons. The surrounding surf zones can be productive too when the bite is on. The key here is finding the bunker—if you do, the fish aren’t far behind. It’s a sleeper spot that delivers if you know when to hit it.
Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May gives you a shot at migratory fish coming in and out of the Delaware Bay. It’s a classic stop for fall stripers heading south and spring fish moving in. Surf casters, jetty anglers, and boat guys all have solid options here.
The action picks up fast when the bait’s thick. Live eels, clams, and bunker chunks are go-tos. It’s also one of the few places where you’ve got a real shot at connecting with stripers right from the sand. Fish hard, time the tides, and you’ll hook up.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
