CAPTAIN TONY'S NYC HARBOR & RIVER REPORTSeptember 20, 2025 - The Real Deal from a 40-Year Veteran
Alright, listen up. Captain Tony here with your weekly rundown of what's happening in our waters. Forty years I spent on the job, and every spare minute I had, I was on the water. From the East River to the Hudson, I've seen it all. And let me tell you, this week, the fishing has been something special. You can feel that fall transition in the air, that crispness that tells you the fish are getting ready to move. It's the time of year we live for.
I've been talking to my guys, the old-timers and the young guns, from the piers in Brooklyn to the channels in the Bronx. The consensus is clear: the bite is on. The water's cooling down, the bait is thick, and the fish are hungry. It's a beautiful thing.
Let's break it down by zone.
CURRENT CONDITIONS & ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORSWater Temperature: 69-71°F (Cooling down, but still has a little ways to go. The fish are feeling the change.)
Clarity: Varies. The East River is clearing up, but the Hudson is still a little stained.
Current: Strong currents, as always. You gotta know how to play the tides to catch fish here.
Bait Situation: Peanut bunker are everywhere. If you can't find bait, you're not looking.
LOWER HARBOR: BATTERY PARK TO THE VERRAZANO
JAMAICA BAY & CONEY ISLAND PIERS
A nice striper, the kind of fish we're seeing all over the harbor right now.
This is where the action has been hottest. Jamaica Bay is teeming with life. We're seeing a healthy mix of weakfish, striped bass, and bluefish, all chasing the massive schools of peanut bunker that have moved in. The nighttime bite has been particularly productive for the bigger bass. If you're looking for a fight, this is the place to be. Over in Brooklyn, the story is much the same. The mixed bag trips are bringing in big stripers, gator blues, and even some quality fluke for those still targeting them. The piers around Coney Island are also producing, especially after dark.
Species Active: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Weakfish, Fluke.
Hot Techniques:
• Live-lining peanut bunker.
• Casting topwater plugs and poppers.
• Jigging with bucktails and soft plastics.
UPPER HARBOR: THE VERRAZANO TO THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE THE EAST RIVER & THE RIPSThe East River has been holding some big fish. We're talking gator blues over ten pounds and striped bass in the 20-pound class. You gotta work for them, but they're there. The key is to fish the rips and deeper water during the tidal swings. Up towards the GWB, the fishing has been a little more scattered, but there are still fish to be had for those willing to put in the time.
What's Biting: Striped Bass, Bluefish.
Winning Setup: Trolling with deep-diving plugs or wire line. Jigging with heavy bucktails.
THE HUDSON RIVER ZONE: NORTH OF THE GWB
THE BRONX SHORELINEThe fishing in the river itself has been a little tougher, but the potential for a trophy is always there. The Bronx shoreline, particularly around Pelham Bay and Hunts Point, has been giving up some nice striped bass and flounder. The key is to find the structure and fish it hard. The river is a different beast, but it's a rewarding one for those who take the time to learn its secrets.
Species Active: Striped Bass, Flounder.
Hot Techniques:
• Fishing with sandworms and clams on the bottom.
• Casting soft plastics around the bridge pilings.
7-DAY FORECAST & STRATEGYThe weather looks stable for the next week, which should keep the fish feeding. I expect the bite to only get better as we get deeper into the fall. The water will continue to cool, the bait will get more concentrated, and the fish will get more aggressive. It's going to be a great week to be on the water.
So get out there, be safe, and make it happen. This is the time of year we wait for. Don't miss it.
- Captain Tony, out.
