Raritan offers one the best chances at a big striper for start of the ’25 season.
Each year, as winter loosens its grip on the Northeast, a predictable pattern begins to unfold in the waters of Raritan Bay. With water temperatures creeping into the mid-40s and daylight stretching longer, striped bass make their annual push into the bay, setting the stage for some of the best trophy fishing of the season. For anglers eager to kick off the spring run, April is primetime for some of the largest bass of the year before they spread out along the coast.
Raritan Bay serves as both a staging ground for prespawn stripers heading toward the Hudson River and a feeding stop for post-spawn fish moving south. This convergence of fish creates an early window of opportunity, giving anglers a legitimate shot at landing bass pushing 40 pounds or more weeks before the main migration sweeps through Long Island and beyond.
Success in Raritan Bay starts with understanding its structure and how bait moves through the system. The bay itself is a mix of deep channels, flats, and drop-offs, all of which influence where the fish hold and feed. One of the first spots to look to in the end of March and beginning of April is west of the Driscoll Bridge where stripers are coming down from the Raritan River. The shallow flats along the New Jersey shoreline – especially in areas like Keyport, Union Beach, and Cliffwood Beach. These areas warm up quickly in the spring sun, attracting bunker schools and, in turn, striped bass as the month of April progresses. These zones are ideal for throwing large soft plastics, swimming plugs, and glidebaits, especially at first light or during the evening when bass are more actively feeding in skinny water.
Trolling remains one of the most effective methods for covering ground and locating big fish. Mojo rigs and bunker spoons dominate the early season playbook, particularly when bass are holding along deep contours or channel edges leading toward the Verrazzano Bridge. A tandem mojo setup – with a heavy lead mojo paired with a lighter trailer – allows anglers to work multiple depths at once, increasing their chances of crossing paths with a cruising cow. Bunker spoons, fished on wire or weighted braid, excel in these same areas when worked slowly through bait-filled waters.
Drifting live bunker on a fishfinder rig with a circle hook is another deadly tactic, especially near channel edges and structure where fish ambush prey. Tide plays a crucial role in this approach, as moving water tends to concentrate both bait and predators. An incoming tide often pushes fresh schools of bunker into the bay, while an outgoing tide funnels bait toward the open water, drawing stripers into predictable feeding lanes.
Perhaps the most exciting way to target these early-season fish is with topwater lures. Though many anglers stick to trolling or live bait, those willing to cast large surface plugs – such as pencil poppers and spooks – can experience explosions from trophy fish hunting on the surface. Calm mornings offer the best shot at this bite, with bass aggressively tailing bunker schools near the top. The key is to work the plug with a steady cadence and, when a fish boils behind it, resist the urge to set the hook too early – let the bass commit before driving the hooks home.
As always, conservation plays an important role in preserving this fishery, especially with ongoing efforts to protect large breeding stock. Many of the bass caught in Raritan Bay exceed the legal slot limit, meaning careful handling and proper release techniques are critical. Using inline circle hooks when live baiting is law, minimizing out-of-water time, and ensuring quick, low-stress releases all help sustain the fishery for future seasons.
April in Raritan Bay offers one of the best opportunities of the year to target truly massive striped bass in relatively sheltered waters. Whether trolling mojos, working bunker pods, or casting topwater plugs, the chance at a 40-pounder in the early weeks of spring is what draws anglers to these waters year after year. The window is short, but for those willing to put in the time, the rewards are more than worth it – a shot at a personal best before most of the fleet has even splashed their boats for the season.
| ACCESS TO RARITAN |
If you’re planning to trailer a boat or small craft to get in on this awesome April bite, there are ramps on both the New Jersey and Staten Island sides, which offer easy access to the bay. It is suggested that you further research a specific ramp for details and potential launch fees. New Jersey Side -Keyport Municipal Ramp -Middletown Bayshore Waterfront Park Ramp (car-top only) -Leonardo State Marina Boat Ramp -Perth Amboy Municipal Ramp -Sayreville (Kennedy Park) Boat Ramp -South Amboy Waterfront Park Ramp New York Side -Great Kills Park Boat Ramp -Lemon Creek Marina Ramp (hand launch) -Conference House Park Launch (small craft) |
