Hudson River is a River located in New York County, NY. Starting in Newcomb, NY the Hudson River flows 377 miles through Greenville, NY before ending in New York, NY. Find maps, fishing guides, weather and recreation information at Guidesly.

About the Hudson River, NY

The Hudson River is located mostly in the state of New York, with the exception of the final segment bordering on New Jersey. Once called the Muhheakunnuk by the native American tribe called Mohican, which means “great waters constantly in motion,” it was named Hudson River in 1620 to honor the English navigator and explorer Henry Hudson as he was essential to the founding of the Dutch colonies in the area. 

The river follows a course for its first 108 miles from the Adirondack Mountains to Corinth and then to Hudson Falls. It then falls 200 miles up until the head of Upper New York Bay where it continues to a section between Brooklyn and Staten Island, then into the lower part of New York Bay, where it ends up outflowing to the Atlantic.

The lower parts of the Hudson River are actually a tidal estuary, where a part of its course is met by the tides. There are about two high and low tides per day. The Hudson is 315 miles long with a varying depth of about 160 ft to 202 ft. deep.  The river also discharges 17,400 cubic meters of fresh water per second on average. Its length and history as a major site of battles during the American Revolution had earned it a nickname of America’s Rhine, being compared to the Rhine, a major river located in Europe. 

All About Fishing in the Hudson River, NY

As an estuary where salt and freshwater come to mix, the fish species found in the area are diverse, where in the lower parts you find flounder and as you move up, the water’s salinity becomes fresher as you catch northern pike. Other than the mixed salinity in the water, the variety of habitats found in the Hudson are contributors to its marine biodiversity, like tidal marshes, tributary streams, and shallow bays. Migratory fish like the Atlantic sturgeon, striped bass, and American shad use the river to spawn before returning to the Atlantic when they mature. Opposite them are the American eels that mature in rivers while spawning in the ocean. Other fish species found in the Hudson are sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, redbreast), black bass (largemouth, smallmouth), and yellow perch.

When packing gear for fishing in the Hudson there is a lot to choose from. Fly Fishing bass would mean bringing in heavier gear as all three types of bass mentioned above can bring a good fight. A 6 or 8-weight rod with a length of about 8-9 ft. will work against them. Black bass and striped bass tend to like live bait such as insects and minnows for the black bass and herring, mackerel, and squid for the striped bass. 

The northern pike is also similar to the bass but is distinctly voracious eaters, with plastic swim-baits, in-line spinners, and spoons easily attracting the fish. Reel in the line at a slow pace to mimic an injured fish as northern pikes are known to play with their food. Look for these fish in shallow and marshy parts of the river.

Catching the various sunfish found in the Hudson can be a good opportunity for new anglers as fish like the pumpkinseed aren’t considered essential for commercial and recreational fishing. Bluegill will bite quickly but put up a good fight. For catching sunfish it’s best to use a lighter rod as at most they’ll weigh about a couple of pounds.

Fishing Seasonality in the Hudson River, NY

When fishing in the Hudson River, the most important rules to follow are bass fishing regulations. Black bass are in open season from the 3rd Saturday in June to the 30th of November with a bag limit of 5 and a minimum length of 15 inches. For striped bass open season begins on April 1 until November 30, where the bag limit is 1 fish between 14-18 inches or 1 fish larger than 40 inches. 

Otherwise, it’s good to fish in the Hudson in the winter as in cooler temperatures you’ll find the northern pike and the winter flounder.

Fishing Seasonality in the Hudson River, NY

When fishing in the Hudson River, the most important rules to follow are bass fishing regulations. Black bass are in open season from the 3rd Saturday in June to the 30th of November with a bag limit of 5 and a minimum length of 15 inches. For striped bass open season begins on April 1 until November 30, where the bag limit is 1 fish between 14-18 inches or 1 fish larger than 40 inches. 

Otherwise, it’s good to fish in the Hudson in the winter as in cooler temperatures you’ll find the northern pike and the winter flounder.

All About Fishing in the Hudson River, NY

As an estuary where salt and freshwater come to mix, the fish species found in the area are diverse, where in the lower parts you find flounder and as you move up, the water’s salinity becomes fresher as you catch northern pike. Other than the mixed salinity in the water, the variety of habitats found in the Hudson are contributors to its marine biodiversity, like tidal marshes, tributary streams, and shallow bays. Migratory fish like the Atlantic sturgeon, striped bass, and American shad use the river to spawn before returning to the Atlantic when they mature. Opposite them are the American eels that mature in rivers while spawning in the ocean. Other fish species found in the Hudson are sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, redbreast), black bass (largemouth, smallmouth), and yellow perch.

When packing gear for fishing in the Hudson there is a lot to choose from. Fly Fishing bass would mean bringing in heavier gear as all three types of bass mentioned above can bring a good fight. A 6 or 8-weight rod with a length of about 8-9 ft. will work against them. Black bass and striped bass tend to like live bait such as insects and minnows for the black bass and herring, mackerel, and squid for the striped bass. 

The northern pike is also similar to the bass but is distinctly voracious eaters, with plastic swim-baits, in-line spinners, and spoons easily attracting the fish. Reel in the line at a slow pace to mimic an injured fish as northern pikes are known to play with their food. Look for these fish in shallow and marshy parts of the river.

Catching the various sunfish found in the Hudson can be a good opportunity for new anglers as fish like the pumpkinseed aren’t considered essential for commercial and recreational fishing. Bluegill will bite quickly but put up a good fight. For catching sunfish it’s best to use a lighter rod as at most they’ll weigh about a couple of pounds.