Understanding the Striper Migration for Beginners
The Great Atlantic Striped Bass Migration
Few fish capture the imagination of anglers like the striped bass.
Known affectionately as "stripers," these powerful gamefish undertake one of the most remarkable migrations on the East Coast of North America. Every year, millions of striped bass travel hundreds of miles between their wintering grounds, spawning rivers, and summer feeding areas.
For the beginning striped bass fisherman, understanding this migration is the key to success.
Once you understand where stripers are going, why they are moving, and when they are likely to arrive, finding fish becomes much easier.
A Fish Built for Travel
Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) are an anadromous species, meaning they spend much of their lives in saltwater but return to freshwater rivers to spawn. After spawning, they migrate along the Atlantic coast following comfortable water temperatures and abundant food supplies. Adult fish may live for more than 30 years and can travel from North Carolina to Maine and Canadian waters during their lifetime.
Most migratory striped bass originate from three major spawning systems:
• Chesapeake Bay (Maryland and Virginia)
• Hudson River (New York)
• Delaware River (Delaware and New Jersey)
The Chesapeake Bay produces the majority of the migratory stock found along the Atlantic Coast, while the Hudson River contributes a significant portion of the fish found in New York and New England waters.
Annual Migration Calendar
January
Location:
North Carolina, Virginia, offshore Chesapeake region, offshore New Jersey.
What the Fish Are Doing:
Striped bass spend winter in deeper water where temperatures remain relatively stable.
Fishing Notes:
Large concentrations of fish may be found in the Chesapeake Bay, lower rivers, and certain winter holdover locations such as the Housatonic River in Connecticut.
February
Location:
Same general wintering areas.
What the Fish Are Doing:
Fish remain relatively inactive compared to other times of year.
Fishing Notes:
Holdover fisheries can be excellent during mild winters.
March
Location:
Chesapeake Bay tributaries
Delaware River
Hudson River
What the Fish Are Doing:
The spring spawning migration begins as water temperatures rise.
Fishing Notes:
School-sized fish often appear first, followed by larger females. The migration is heavily influenced by water temperature and river flow.
April
Location:
Spawning rivers throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
What the Fish Are Doing:
Peak spawning period.
Major spawning rivers include:
• Susquehanna River
• Potomac River
• Rappahannock River
• Delaware River
• Hudson River
• Roanoke River
Eggs drift downstream while newly hatched larvae move toward nursery areas in estuaries and tidal rivers.
May
Location:
New Jersey
Long Island
Connecticut
Rhode Island
What the Fish Are Doing:
Post-spawn fish begin moving north.
This is when many surfcasters experience the first major "spring run."
Key forage includes:
• Menhaden (Bunker)
• Herring
• Sand eels
• Squid
Large females often lead the migration northward. Water temperatures between 55°F and 65°F are prime.
June
Location:
Long Island Sound
Rhode Island
Cape Cod
Massachusetts
What the Fish Are Doing:
Stripers follow massive bait migrations north.
Fishing Notes:
June is often considered one of the best striped bass fishing months of the year throughout southern New England.
July
Location:
Massachusetts
Cape Cod
Maine
What the Fish Are Doing:
Fish settle into summer feeding patterns.
Many of the largest bass in the migration can be found feeding on:
• Mackerel
• Pogies
• Sand eels
• Herring
Some fish remain in Long Island Sound all summer while others continue farther north. Researchers have documented multiple migratory behaviors, including fish that stay resident in estuaries and others that travel extensively along the coast.
August
Location:
Massachusetts
Maine
Canadian waters
What the Fish Are Doing:
Peak summer feeding season.
Fish build energy reserves before beginning the fall migration south.
September
Location:
Maine through Massachusetts
What the Fish Are Doing:
The first stages of the fall migration begin.
Shorter days and cooling water temperatures trigger movement south.
Baitfish migrations intensify.
October
Location:
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Long Island
What the Fish Are Doing:
The famous Fall Run begins.
Many anglers consider October the best striped bass month of the year.
Migrating stripers feed aggressively on:
• Adult bunker
• Peanut bunker
• Mullet
• Herring
• Sand eels
This feeding frenzy occurs because fish are preparing for winter.
November
Location:
New Jersey
Delaware
Maryland
What the Fish Are Doing:
Large schools continue moving south.
Fishing Notes:
New Jersey's beaches often experience spectacular fishing during November as migrating bass funnel southward.
December
Location:
Virginia
North Carolina
Chesapeake Bay
What the Fish Are Doing:
The migration reaches wintering grounds.
Many fish settle into deep channels, bays, and coastal waters where they will remain until spring.
The annual cycle is complete.
Simplified Migration Map
SPRING (Northbound)
North Carolina
↑
Virginia
↑
Chesapeake Bay
↑
New Jersey
↑
Long Island
↑
Connecticut
↑
Rhode Island
↑
Cape Cod
↑
Maine
FALL (Southbound)
Maine
↓
Cape Cod
↓
Rhode Island
↓
Connecticut
↓
Long Island
↓
New Jersey
↓
Chesapeake Bay
↓
Virginia
↓
North Carolina
Why Stripers Migrate
Three factors drive nearly every striped bass movement:
Water Temperature
Striped bass prefer temperatures between approximately 55°F and 70°F.
When water becomes too cold or too warm, they move.
Food
Stripers follow bait.
Find the bait and you often find the bass.
Spawning
Every spring mature fish return to freshwater rivers to reproduce, completing the cycle that has existed for thousands of years.
The Beginner's Shortcut
If you're new to striped bass fishing, remember this simple rule:
SPRING:
Follow the fish north.
FALL:
Follow the fish south.
When you combine migration timing with tides, moon phases, bait activity, and weather conditions, you'll begin to understand why successful striped bass anglers seem to know where the fish will be before they arrive.
The truth is simple:
They aren't guessing.
They're following the migration.
Learn more about catching Striped Bass at www.sandwormlures.com