Captain Tony's NYC Harbor Report - October 15, 2025

[AI-ANGLER]

# Captain Tony (NYC Harbor) - October 15, 2025 ## Captain Tony"s NYC Harbor Report Yo, fellow city anglers! Captain Tony here, with the real talk from the concrete jungle"s waterways. The fall bite is on, and the fish are moving. Let"s get into it. ## Conditions Report ### 3-Day Wind and Sea Conditions (NYC Harbor - Battery Park to Haverstraw) * **Today (October 15):** Winds are light, out of the north at 5-10 knots. The harbor and rivers are calm. Perfect for hitting those piers and bridges. * **Tomorrow (October 16):** Winds shift to the southwest at 10-15 knots. Expect a bit of chop in the more open areas of the harbor and lower rivers. Still very fishable. * **Friday (October 17):** Winds pick up from the west-northwest at 15-20 knots. This will make for choppier conditions, especially in the main harbor and exposed areas. Stick to more protected spots or larger vessels. ### Environmental Factors * **Moon Phase:** We"re in a New Moon phase, which means stronger tidal currents. These currents are like a conveyor belt for bait, and the fish know it. Focus your efforts around the peak of the incoming and outgoing tides, especially near structure. * **Water Temperature:** Harbor and river temperatures are in the 58-63°F range. This cooler water is getting the fish active and pushing bait into our urban fishing grounds. Striped bass and bluefish are definitely feeling it. * **Bait Presence:** There"s plenty of bait around, including peanut bunker, spearing, and some adult bunker. Keep an eye out for nervous water or bird activity – that"s where the action is. The mullet run is also in full swing, especially in the back bays and along the beaches [2]. * **Currents:** The strong currents associated with the new moon are excellent for drift fishing and jigging around bridge pilings, piers, and channel edges. These are prime ambush points for predators. ## Region-by-Region Breakdown ### East River (Battery Park to Throgs Neck) * **Striped Bass:** Good numbers of schoolie to slot-sized bass are being found around the bridges, piers, and rocky shorelines. Live eels, fresh bunker chunks, and soft plastics are working well, especially during the moving tides. Some larger bass are also being caught on live spot under the Highlands Bridge [2]. * **Bluefish:** Plenty of choppers are around, particularly in the mornings and evenings. They"re aggressively hitting topwater plugs and metal lures when feeding on bait schools. Look for them busting bait in the open water. * **Blackfish (Tautog):** The tog bite is steadily improving on rocky structures and bridge pilings. Green crabs and Asian crabs are the baits of choice. Focus on depths of 15-30 feet. ### NY Harbor (Staten Island to Lower Hudson River) * **Striped Bass:** Consistent action on bass, with a mix of schoolies and some keepers. They"re actively feeding on the abundant bait. Trolling tube-and-worm rigs or casting soft plastics near rips and shoals has been effective. * **Fluke (Summer Flounder):** While the season is winding down, some fluke are still being caught in deeper channels on bucktails tipped with Gulp or strip baits. * **Scup (Porgy):** Excellent porgy fishing continues on hard bottom and around mussel beds. Clams and sandworms are producing easy limits. ### Hudson River (Upper Manhattan to Haverstraw) * **Striped Bass:** Larger bass are starting to stage in the deeper channels and around the various structures as they prepare for their fall migration. Live eels, large plugs, and vertical jigging are the preferred methods. The Raritan Bay has seen more and larger bass this week, which is a promising sign for the Hudson [3]. * **Bluefish:** Big blues are still terrorizing bait schools in the rips. Heavy tackle and durable lures are a must. * **Blackfish (Tautog):** The tog bite is strong on the deeper reefs and rock piles. Focus on areas with good current flow. ## Captain Tony"s Street Smarts * **Know Your Spots:** Every pier, every bridge piling, every rock pile holds fish. Learn the local spots and how the current affects them. That"s where the experience pays off. * **Fresh Bait is Key:** Whether it"s live eels, fresh bunker, or green crabs, the freshest bait always gets the bite. Don"t skimp on quality. * **Be Patient, Be Persistent:** City fishing can be tough, but it"s rewarding. The fish are here, you just gotta put in the time and effort. Keep casting, keep trying different techniques, and you"ll find "em. That"s the word from Captain Tony! Now get out there and make some noise. Tight lines! ## References [1] On The Water. (2025, October 9). *Long Island and NYC Fishing Report- October 9, 2025*. [https://onthewater.com/fishing-repo...island-and-nyc-fishing-report-october-9-2025) [2] On The Water. (2025, October 9). *Southern New Jersey Fishing Report- October 9, 2025*. [https://onthewater.com/fishing-repo...ern-new-jersey-fishing-report-october-9-2025) [3] On The Water. (2025, October 9). *Northern New Jersey Fishing Report- October 9, 2025*. [https://onthewater.com/fishing-repo...ern-new-jersey-fishing-report-october-9-2025)