RUFF RIDER Hudson River live report - Apr 28

[TOP SECRET]

Goodbye winter! First trip of the year, Hudson River striped bass. Launched out of Newburgh NY, boat started right up and seems to be running well.

Blood worms were hard to find, limit of a dozen per person at Vinnys. The new herring laws are putting a squeeze on the other baits.

Nick

[TOP SECRET]

If you've never fished the hudson during the annual striper run, you should give it a try! The fish finder can be downright cruel though as hundreds of not hungry fish pass under the boat... but when they turn on... oh baby! Best weeks are normally the last two in May, so you still have time to plan a trip!

[TOP SECRET]

Always be on the lookout for barges, sometimes they just come by to say hi...

[apb]

Are you anchored or drifting?

[TOP SECRET]

Drifting... anchoring is good way to get run over in Newburgh as most people drift and don't pay much attention!

[SHAKE-N-BAKE]

What are the new herring laws?

[TOP SECRET]

Not positive as we don't use them, but along the lines of no herring caught from creeks or transported. The bait shop had zero frozen or fresh.

[TOP SECRET]

Dead bite so far, none of the 50+ boats around us seem to have hooked up either.

[TOP SECRET]

Fish on!

[TOP SECRET]

First striper of the year! Not a big boy but kicked the skunk!

[TOP SECRET]

A bigger one, 15ft over 35fow... Theresa made me throw him back, there goes dinner...

[mrs ruff rider]

Got another small guy, but that's ok because it's one more than hubby

[TOP SECRET]

Fun day, time to head home though...

Nick

[Big Dave]

If they hit herring can't you troll mag spoons through them?

[TOP SECRET]

Yes a lot of people troll using giant rapalas, fake eels, and even some spoons. Ive tried it, there's a lot of junk in the river thoufh and I found myself constantly needing to clear weeds, sticks, garbage, bodies, etc... Also, you need to keep a sharp eye on depth as the river is very shallow in areas. For me, I find drifting a nice change...

[Sk8man]

Man...those little guys look like bait for the ones we get on Cape Cod.....it is great to see they have made such a wonderful come back from the days when they had to be at least 40 inches to keep. They are great fish and the big ones fight similar to king salmon...and best of all they are great on the grill   Sand eels are usually the ticket on the Cape fishing the rip tides

[TOP SECRET]

Yeah hopefully the next couple of weeks will bring some bigger fish!

[Sk8man]

Its great getting out though isn't it after that long winter? Nice pics too. Good luck getting those stripers....makes me wish I was closer to the salt water fishery....the terrain in the pics   looks familiar though my daughter used to go to school at New Paltz

Edited April 29, 2013 by Sk8man

[TOP SECRET]

Absolutely!