Yo, what's good Harbor rats! Captain Tony here, coming at you from the concrete jungle where the fishing's still alive and kicking. Forty-plus years I've been working these waters, and let me tell you—December ain't what it used to be. We're still catching fish, the bridges are still producing, and if you know where to look, you can put together a solid day on the water.
THE HARBOR OVERVIEW - BATTERY PARK TO HAVERSTRAW
Listen up, because this is important: the fish are still here. Large schools of small bass have settled into the Harbor, offering plenty of entertainment for those willing to get out there. While the bigger fish have been playing hard to get, with patience and a little luck, they can still be found. The key is knowing where to fish and when to fish it.
EAST RIVER - THE BRIDGES ARE STILL THE MOVE
Let me break this down for you, because this is where the money's at right now. The bridges remain the main attraction for quality stripers after dark, and I'm talking about fish that'll put a serious bend in your rod. We're seeing mid-20-pound fish coming off these structures, and the pattern is dialed in.
Here's the deal: moving water is everything. I mean EVERYTHING. The bite shuts down the instant slack tide sets in—I've seen it happen a thousand times. You gotta be there when the water's moving, working tight to the structure, and staying focused.
The successful anglers right now are leaning on 10- to 15-inch soft plastics. JoeBaggs 14.5-inch Block Island Eels in black or pink are showing a clear edge in productivity when rigged on 1- to 1.5-ounce jigheads. You need that weight to maintain bottom contact in the sweep—this ain't no light-tackle finesse game.
Use light braid, 15-20 lb test, so you can detect those subtle hits. These fish aren't smashing the bait right now—they're picking it up and swimming with it. You gotta feel that tap and set the hook. The pattern is simple: stay in the current, work tight to the structure, and be ready. Big fish have been feeding on the tide, and if you're in the right place at the right time, you're gonna connect.
HARBOR PROPER - BATTERY PARK TO GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE
Cortes Outfitters has been putting their charters on quality bass using 9-inch bone-colored spooks and Olive/White Beast Fleyes. Fishing this week has been an adventure, with large schools of small bass settled in the area. While larger fish have been elusive at times, with patience and luck, they can still be found.
The fly fishing game is still productive for those who know how to work it. The Olive/White Beast Fleye has been the go-to pattern, and it's producing fish. For conventional anglers, that 9-inch bone-colored spook is getting it done.
INSIDE BAYS & PROTECTED WATERS
School-size striped bass are actively working over pods of peanut bunker inside the protected waters. These fish are readily taking soft plastics, especially during high tide when bait is pushed tight to the banks. On calm mornings, brief topwater feeds erupt as bass trap bait on the surface—short windows, but fast-paced action when it happens.
You gotta be ready to capitalize on these opportunities. Keep a topwater rod rigged and ready, because when these feeds happen, they don't last long. Get in there, make your casts, and work fast.
SQUID ACTION - BONUS FISHERY
Here's something a lot of guys are sleeping on: the squid bite. On the warmer nights, docks and well-lit marinas are holding solid numbers of squid. Light-tackle anglers swinging small jigs around the outer edge of the light cone are putting together steady catches.
This is a fun bonus fishery that also provides bait for your striper trips. Fresh squid is deadly for big bass, and you can catch your own right here in the Harbor. Plus, if you want some fresh calamari for the table, this is your shot.
WATER CONDITIONS & ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Water temperatures are dropping as we push into December, but we're still warmer than average for this time of year. That's keeping bait in the system and maintaining fish activity longer than usual. The peanut bunker are still around in good numbers, and that's what's keeping these bass here.
Current flow is critical right now. The fish are staging in areas with good current, and they're feeding aggressively when the water's moving. Slack tide is dead time—use it to relocate, re-rig, or grab a coffee. When the water starts moving again, that's when you need to be fishing.
TONY'S TACTICAL BREAKDOWN
For bridge fishing: Fish after dark during moving water. Use 10-15 inch soft plastics in black or pink on 1-1.5 ounce jigheads. Light braid (15-20 lb) for sensitivity. Work tight to structure and stay in the current. Be ready for subtle hits—these aren't aggressive strikes.
For harbor fishing: 9-inch bone-colored spooks for conventional anglers. Olive/White Beast Fleyes for fly guys. Target schools of small bass for consistent action. Be patient for bigger fish—they're there but not easy.
For bay fishing: Focus on high tide when bait is pushed to banks. Soft plastics for school bass working peanut bunker. Be ready for brief topwater feeds on calm mornings.
For squid: Target well-lit docks and marinas on warmer nights. Small jigs around outer edge of light cone. Steady catches available.
THE WEEK AHEAD
We're in the final weeks before things slow down for winter, but right now the fishing is still good. The bridge bite should continue as long as we have moving water and bait in the system. The harbor proper will continue to hold schools of small bass with occasional bigger fish mixed in.
The key is adapting to conditions and fishing the patterns that are producing. Don't fight the fish—fish where they are, when they're feeding, and with what they're eating. It's that simple.
TONY'S FINAL WORD
Look, I've been doing this for over 40 years, and I'm telling you—the fish are still biting. Yeah, it's December. Yeah, it's cold. But if you're willing to put in the time and fish smart, you can still put fish on the deck.
The bridges are producing quality fish. The harbor's got numbers. The squid are around. There's no excuse not to be out there. Bundle up, hit the tide changes, and get after it. This is what separates the guys who talk about fishing from the guys who actually catch fish.
The Harbor's still alive, boys. Get out there and get some.
Stay safe, fish hard, and remember—the best time to go fishing is whenever you can.
Captain Tony
Retired FDNY, Full-Time Harbor Rat
THE HARBOR OVERVIEW - BATTERY PARK TO HAVERSTRAW
Listen up, because this is important: the fish are still here. Large schools of small bass have settled into the Harbor, offering plenty of entertainment for those willing to get out there. While the bigger fish have been playing hard to get, with patience and a little luck, they can still be found. The key is knowing where to fish and when to fish it.
EAST RIVER - THE BRIDGES ARE STILL THE MOVE
Let me break this down for you, because this is where the money's at right now. The bridges remain the main attraction for quality stripers after dark, and I'm talking about fish that'll put a serious bend in your rod. We're seeing mid-20-pound fish coming off these structures, and the pattern is dialed in.
Here's the deal: moving water is everything. I mean EVERYTHING. The bite shuts down the instant slack tide sets in—I've seen it happen a thousand times. You gotta be there when the water's moving, working tight to the structure, and staying focused.
The successful anglers right now are leaning on 10- to 15-inch soft plastics. JoeBaggs 14.5-inch Block Island Eels in black or pink are showing a clear edge in productivity when rigged on 1- to 1.5-ounce jigheads. You need that weight to maintain bottom contact in the sweep—this ain't no light-tackle finesse game.
Use light braid, 15-20 lb test, so you can detect those subtle hits. These fish aren't smashing the bait right now—they're picking it up and swimming with it. You gotta feel that tap and set the hook. The pattern is simple: stay in the current, work tight to the structure, and be ready. Big fish have been feeding on the tide, and if you're in the right place at the right time, you're gonna connect.
HARBOR PROPER - BATTERY PARK TO GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE
Cortes Outfitters has been putting their charters on quality bass using 9-inch bone-colored spooks and Olive/White Beast Fleyes. Fishing this week has been an adventure, with large schools of small bass settled in the area. While larger fish have been elusive at times, with patience and luck, they can still be found.
The fly fishing game is still productive for those who know how to work it. The Olive/White Beast Fleye has been the go-to pattern, and it's producing fish. For conventional anglers, that 9-inch bone-colored spook is getting it done.
INSIDE BAYS & PROTECTED WATERS
School-size striped bass are actively working over pods of peanut bunker inside the protected waters. These fish are readily taking soft plastics, especially during high tide when bait is pushed tight to the banks. On calm mornings, brief topwater feeds erupt as bass trap bait on the surface—short windows, but fast-paced action when it happens.
You gotta be ready to capitalize on these opportunities. Keep a topwater rod rigged and ready, because when these feeds happen, they don't last long. Get in there, make your casts, and work fast.
SQUID ACTION - BONUS FISHERY
Here's something a lot of guys are sleeping on: the squid bite. On the warmer nights, docks and well-lit marinas are holding solid numbers of squid. Light-tackle anglers swinging small jigs around the outer edge of the light cone are putting together steady catches.
This is a fun bonus fishery that also provides bait for your striper trips. Fresh squid is deadly for big bass, and you can catch your own right here in the Harbor. Plus, if you want some fresh calamari for the table, this is your shot.
WATER CONDITIONS & ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Water temperatures are dropping as we push into December, but we're still warmer than average for this time of year. That's keeping bait in the system and maintaining fish activity longer than usual. The peanut bunker are still around in good numbers, and that's what's keeping these bass here.
Current flow is critical right now. The fish are staging in areas with good current, and they're feeding aggressively when the water's moving. Slack tide is dead time—use it to relocate, re-rig, or grab a coffee. When the water starts moving again, that's when you need to be fishing.
TONY'S TACTICAL BREAKDOWN
For bridge fishing: Fish after dark during moving water. Use 10-15 inch soft plastics in black or pink on 1-1.5 ounce jigheads. Light braid (15-20 lb) for sensitivity. Work tight to structure and stay in the current. Be ready for subtle hits—these aren't aggressive strikes.
For harbor fishing: 9-inch bone-colored spooks for conventional anglers. Olive/White Beast Fleyes for fly guys. Target schools of small bass for consistent action. Be patient for bigger fish—they're there but not easy.
For bay fishing: Focus on high tide when bait is pushed to banks. Soft plastics for school bass working peanut bunker. Be ready for brief topwater feeds on calm mornings.
For squid: Target well-lit docks and marinas on warmer nights. Small jigs around outer edge of light cone. Steady catches available.
THE WEEK AHEAD
We're in the final weeks before things slow down for winter, but right now the fishing is still good. The bridge bite should continue as long as we have moving water and bait in the system. The harbor proper will continue to hold schools of small bass with occasional bigger fish mixed in.
The key is adapting to conditions and fishing the patterns that are producing. Don't fight the fish—fish where they are, when they're feeding, and with what they're eating. It's that simple.
TONY'S FINAL WORD
Look, I've been doing this for over 40 years, and I'm telling you—the fish are still biting. Yeah, it's December. Yeah, it's cold. But if you're willing to put in the time and fish smart, you can still put fish on the deck.
The bridges are producing quality fish. The harbor's got numbers. The squid are around. There's no excuse not to be out there. Bundle up, hit the tide changes, and get after it. This is what separates the guys who talk about fishing from the guys who actually catch fish.
The Harbor's still alive, boys. Get out there and get some.
Stay safe, fish hard, and remember—the best time to go fishing is whenever you can.
Captain Tony
Retired FDNY, Full-Time Harbor Rat
