Captain Tony's Complete NYC Harbor Report - November 25, 2025
Listen up, harbor rats. Tony here with your late-November reality check from the concrete jungle's waterways. Forty-plus years I've been fishing these waters, and I'll tell you straight—we're in that weird zone where most people have packed it in, but there's still fish to be caught if you know where to look and you're willing to deal with the cold.
Harbor Overview - What's Happening Now
The harbor is in transition mode. Water temps are dropping into the upper 40s, and that's changing the game. The good news? We've got tons of squid around right now, and where there's squid, there's striped bass. The bad news? Most folks have already winterized their boats and hung up the rods for the season, so you've got the water pretty much to yourself. That's good or bad depending on how you look at it.
The striper bite is still viable, but you gotta work for it. The fish are deeper now, hanging around structure and channels where the squid are concentrated. The blitzes we were seeing in October are done. This is technical fishing now—you need to know the spots, fish the tides right, and put in your time.
Birds are still your friend. When you see gulls or terns working, get over there. The action might be short-lived, but it's real. The fish are feeding opportunistically on whatever bait is available—squid primarily, but also sand eels and small baitfish.
Weather-wise, we got a blow coming. Small Craft Advisory goes up Wednesday evening and runs through Wednesday night. West winds 20-25 knots gusting to 30. Thursday and Friday will be worse—25-30 knot winds sustained. The harbor will be navigable in protected areas, but it won't be pleasant. If you're going out, Tuesday and Wednesday morning are your windows.
East River - The Bridges Still Produce
The East River bridges remain productive, especially at night. Throgs Neck, Whitestone, Triborough—all the usual suspects are holding fish. The key is fishing the shadow lines and current breaks on the outgoing tide. The fish stage on the down-current side of the bridge pilings and structure, waiting for bait to wash through.
Live eels are deadly right now. If you can get your hands on them, fish them on a fish-finder rig or under a float. Let the current do the work. The eels will swim naturally, and the bass will hammer them.
Weighted soft plastics are also effective—4 to 6 inch shads in white, chartreuse, or bunker patterns. Cast up-current and let the lure swing through the strike zone. The hits will be aggressive when they come.
Timing matters. The best fishing is the last two hours of outgoing tide and the first hour of incoming. The slack tide periods are generally slow. The fish want moving water and current to feed effectively.
New York Harbor - Battery to Verrazano
The harbor proper—Battery Park, Governors Island, Red Hook, Bay Ridge—has fish, but they're scattered. The deeper channels are your best bet. The fish are holding in 20-40 feet of water around structure. The old pilings, rock piles, and channel edges are all worth targeting.
Squid jigs are the play right now. There are tons of squid in the harbor, and you can catch them yourself to use as bait or to locate where the bass are feeding. The bass will be nearby, feeding on the same squid schools.
Bucktails with squid or pork rind trailers are also effective. Work them along the bottom in the channels, and be ready for the thump. The hits might not be explosive, but they'll be solid.
The Verrazano Bridge area—both the Brooklyn and Staten Island sides—has been holding fish. The current is strong here, so you need appropriate tackle. Heavier jigs (2-4 ounces) to get down, and strong enough line to handle the current and structure.
Hudson River - Battery to Haverstraw
The Hudson is still fishing, but it's a grind. The fish are there, but they're not concentrated like they were a month ago. The river is big water, and you need to cover ground to find fish.
Focus on structure—the pilings around the George Washington Bridge, the deeper holes near the Tappan Zee, the points and current breaks up near Haverstraw. The fish are using structure to ambush bait.
The tidal influence is strong in the lower river, less so as you move north. In the lower river (Battery to GW Bridge), fish the moving tides. In the upper river (Tappan Zee to Haverstraw), the fish are more structure-oriented and less tide-dependent.
Soft plastics, bucktails, and live bait (eels, bunker chunks) will all produce. The key is putting your offering in front of fish. That means fishing the right spots at the right times.
Piers, Docks, and Shore Access
For the shore-bound anglers, there's still opportunity. The piers in Manhattan—Christopher Street, Pier 40, the piers around Battery Park City—all have fish around them. The fish are deeper now, so you need to get your bait or lure down.
Squid (dead or alive) on a bottom rig will catch fish. Bucktails bounced along the bottom will also work. The fishing is slow compared to the fall peak, but if you put in your time, you'll get bit.
Brooklyn and Queens waterfront—Red Hook, Sunset Park, the Rockaways—all have shore access and all have fish. The jetties, piers, and bulkheads are worth fishing. Early morning and late afternoon are best. Nighttime can be productive too, especially if you're fishing lighted areas where bait concentrates.
Safety note: some of these areas are sketchy after dark. Use your head, fish with a buddy, and be aware of your surroundings.
Three-Day Forecast & Harbor Fishability
Tuesday, November 26:
South winds 5-10 knots, seas 1 foot or less in the harbor. Rain likely in the afternoon. This is a good day to fish. Morning will be best before the rain. The harbor will be calm, and the fish should be active. Target the channels and structure on the moving tides.
Fishability: 8/10
Wednesday, November 27:
Southwest winds 5-10 knots in the morning, building through the day. Rain likely. By evening, west winds 20-25 knots. The harbor will be fishable in the morning, but get off the water by early afternoon. The wind will make it uncomfortable and potentially dangerous, especially in open areas.
Fishability: 7/10 (morning only)
Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving):
West winds 20-25 knots gusting to 30. The harbor will be choppy. Protected areas like the East River and upper Hudson will be fishable if you're determined, but it won't be fun. Open harbor areas will be rough. Honestly, stay home, eat turkey, watch the game. The fish will be there Friday.
Fishability: 4/10 (protected areas only)
Captain Tony's Street-Smart Tactics
Squid Are the Key: I can't stress this enough. There are tons of squid in the harbor right now. Get yourself some squid jigs, catch some squid, and use them as bait. Or just fish where the squid are—the bass won't be far away.
Fish the Bridges at Night: The East River bridges are producing, but the best action is after dark. Dress warm, bring a thermos of coffee, and fish the outgoing tide. Live eels or large soft plastics. The fish are there.
Don't Overlook Shore Fishing: You don't need a boat to catch fish in the harbor. The piers, jetties, and bulkheads are all accessible and all hold fish. Put in your time, and you'll get rewarded.
Timing is Everything: The fish are feeding on the moving tides. Slack tide is generally dead. Plan your trips around the tide changes, and you'll catch more fish.
Safety First: The harbor is a working waterway. There's commercial traffic, ferries, and all kinds of boat traffic. Stay alert, stay visible, and don't do anything stupid. The wind event Wednesday night through Friday is serious. Don't take unnecessary risks.
The Reality Check
Look, we're not in prime time anymore. The easy fishing is over. But if you're willing to bundle up, fish the right spots at the right times, and put in the work, there are still fish to be caught in the harbor.
I've been doing this for over 40 years, and I've learned that the late-season fishing separates the serious anglers from the tourists. The tourists are gone. It's just us now—the die-hards who can't help ourselves.
The squid are here, the bass are here, and the opportunity is here. Get out Tuesday, maybe Wednesday morning, and make it happen. Then sit out the blow Thursday and Friday, and get back after it when the weather clears.
The harbor never stops. Neither should we.
Stay safe, fish hard, and remember—the best time to go fishing is whenever you can.
Tight lines from the concrete jungle.
— Captain Tony
Retired FDNY, 40+ Years on NYC Waters
Urban Fishing Veteran
Listen up, harbor rats. Tony here with your late-November reality check from the concrete jungle's waterways. Forty-plus years I've been fishing these waters, and I'll tell you straight—we're in that weird zone where most people have packed it in, but there's still fish to be caught if you know where to look and you're willing to deal with the cold.
Harbor Overview - What's Happening Now
The harbor is in transition mode. Water temps are dropping into the upper 40s, and that's changing the game. The good news? We've got tons of squid around right now, and where there's squid, there's striped bass. The bad news? Most folks have already winterized their boats and hung up the rods for the season, so you've got the water pretty much to yourself. That's good or bad depending on how you look at it.
The striper bite is still viable, but you gotta work for it. The fish are deeper now, hanging around structure and channels where the squid are concentrated. The blitzes we were seeing in October are done. This is technical fishing now—you need to know the spots, fish the tides right, and put in your time.
Birds are still your friend. When you see gulls or terns working, get over there. The action might be short-lived, but it's real. The fish are feeding opportunistically on whatever bait is available—squid primarily, but also sand eels and small baitfish.
Weather-wise, we got a blow coming. Small Craft Advisory goes up Wednesday evening and runs through Wednesday night. West winds 20-25 knots gusting to 30. Thursday and Friday will be worse—25-30 knot winds sustained. The harbor will be navigable in protected areas, but it won't be pleasant. If you're going out, Tuesday and Wednesday morning are your windows.
East River - The Bridges Still Produce
The East River bridges remain productive, especially at night. Throgs Neck, Whitestone, Triborough—all the usual suspects are holding fish. The key is fishing the shadow lines and current breaks on the outgoing tide. The fish stage on the down-current side of the bridge pilings and structure, waiting for bait to wash through.
Live eels are deadly right now. If you can get your hands on them, fish them on a fish-finder rig or under a float. Let the current do the work. The eels will swim naturally, and the bass will hammer them.
Weighted soft plastics are also effective—4 to 6 inch shads in white, chartreuse, or bunker patterns. Cast up-current and let the lure swing through the strike zone. The hits will be aggressive when they come.
Timing matters. The best fishing is the last two hours of outgoing tide and the first hour of incoming. The slack tide periods are generally slow. The fish want moving water and current to feed effectively.
New York Harbor - Battery to Verrazano
The harbor proper—Battery Park, Governors Island, Red Hook, Bay Ridge—has fish, but they're scattered. The deeper channels are your best bet. The fish are holding in 20-40 feet of water around structure. The old pilings, rock piles, and channel edges are all worth targeting.
Squid jigs are the play right now. There are tons of squid in the harbor, and you can catch them yourself to use as bait or to locate where the bass are feeding. The bass will be nearby, feeding on the same squid schools.
Bucktails with squid or pork rind trailers are also effective. Work them along the bottom in the channels, and be ready for the thump. The hits might not be explosive, but they'll be solid.
The Verrazano Bridge area—both the Brooklyn and Staten Island sides—has been holding fish. The current is strong here, so you need appropriate tackle. Heavier jigs (2-4 ounces) to get down, and strong enough line to handle the current and structure.
Hudson River - Battery to Haverstraw
The Hudson is still fishing, but it's a grind. The fish are there, but they're not concentrated like they were a month ago. The river is big water, and you need to cover ground to find fish.
Focus on structure—the pilings around the George Washington Bridge, the deeper holes near the Tappan Zee, the points and current breaks up near Haverstraw. The fish are using structure to ambush bait.
The tidal influence is strong in the lower river, less so as you move north. In the lower river (Battery to GW Bridge), fish the moving tides. In the upper river (Tappan Zee to Haverstraw), the fish are more structure-oriented and less tide-dependent.
Soft plastics, bucktails, and live bait (eels, bunker chunks) will all produce. The key is putting your offering in front of fish. That means fishing the right spots at the right times.
Piers, Docks, and Shore Access
For the shore-bound anglers, there's still opportunity. The piers in Manhattan—Christopher Street, Pier 40, the piers around Battery Park City—all have fish around them. The fish are deeper now, so you need to get your bait or lure down.
Squid (dead or alive) on a bottom rig will catch fish. Bucktails bounced along the bottom will also work. The fishing is slow compared to the fall peak, but if you put in your time, you'll get bit.
Brooklyn and Queens waterfront—Red Hook, Sunset Park, the Rockaways—all have shore access and all have fish. The jetties, piers, and bulkheads are worth fishing. Early morning and late afternoon are best. Nighttime can be productive too, especially if you're fishing lighted areas where bait concentrates.
Safety note: some of these areas are sketchy after dark. Use your head, fish with a buddy, and be aware of your surroundings.
Three-Day Forecast & Harbor Fishability
Tuesday, November 26:
South winds 5-10 knots, seas 1 foot or less in the harbor. Rain likely in the afternoon. This is a good day to fish. Morning will be best before the rain. The harbor will be calm, and the fish should be active. Target the channels and structure on the moving tides.
Fishability: 8/10
Wednesday, November 27:
Southwest winds 5-10 knots in the morning, building through the day. Rain likely. By evening, west winds 20-25 knots. The harbor will be fishable in the morning, but get off the water by early afternoon. The wind will make it uncomfortable and potentially dangerous, especially in open areas.
Fishability: 7/10 (morning only)
Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving):
West winds 20-25 knots gusting to 30. The harbor will be choppy. Protected areas like the East River and upper Hudson will be fishable if you're determined, but it won't be fun. Open harbor areas will be rough. Honestly, stay home, eat turkey, watch the game. The fish will be there Friday.
Fishability: 4/10 (protected areas only)
Captain Tony's Street-Smart Tactics
Squid Are the Key: I can't stress this enough. There are tons of squid in the harbor right now. Get yourself some squid jigs, catch some squid, and use them as bait. Or just fish where the squid are—the bass won't be far away.
Fish the Bridges at Night: The East River bridges are producing, but the best action is after dark. Dress warm, bring a thermos of coffee, and fish the outgoing tide. Live eels or large soft plastics. The fish are there.
Don't Overlook Shore Fishing: You don't need a boat to catch fish in the harbor. The piers, jetties, and bulkheads are all accessible and all hold fish. Put in your time, and you'll get rewarded.
Timing is Everything: The fish are feeding on the moving tides. Slack tide is generally dead. Plan your trips around the tide changes, and you'll catch more fish.
Safety First: The harbor is a working waterway. There's commercial traffic, ferries, and all kinds of boat traffic. Stay alert, stay visible, and don't do anything stupid. The wind event Wednesday night through Friday is serious. Don't take unnecessary risks.
The Reality Check
Look, we're not in prime time anymore. The easy fishing is over. But if you're willing to bundle up, fish the right spots at the right times, and put in the work, there are still fish to be caught in the harbor.
I've been doing this for over 40 years, and I've learned that the late-season fishing separates the serious anglers from the tourists. The tourists are gone. It's just us now—the die-hards who can't help ourselves.
The squid are here, the bass are here, and the opportunity is here. Get out Tuesday, maybe Wednesday morning, and make it happen. Then sit out the blow Thursday and Friday, and get back after it when the weather clears.
The harbor never stops. Neither should we.
Stay safe, fish hard, and remember—the best time to go fishing is whenever you can.
Tight lines from the concrete jungle.
— Captain Tony
Retired FDNY, 40+ Years on NYC Waters
Urban Fishing Veteran
