Striper Migration Report

On The Water
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Weekly updates on the Spring Striped Bass Migration from On The Water Media's Matt Haeffner with input from expert striped bass anglers from along the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

  1. Striper Migration Report | May 12th 2026

    1D AGO

    Striper Migration Report | May 12th 2026

    In Week 9 of our 2026 Striper Migration Reports, Matt Haeffner and Johnny McIntyre talk about the 50-pound bass stationed off New Jersey, the Hudson River’s spawning run, and an explosion of striper activity from Buzzards Bay to Boston, where migratory stripers arrived late last week.   Plus, guest reporter Captain Dave Flanagan of North Island Fly in Smithtown, NY, gives us the scoop on the striper scene in Long Island Sound this week, as well as what to expect from the May new moon.   Book a trip with North Island Fly: https://northislandfly.com/  Follow Capt. Dave Flanagan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northislandfly  On The Water’s Striper Migration Reports are brought to you by:  Z-Man Fishing Products: https://zmanfishing.com/   Canyon Runner: https://canyonrunner.com/  Seakeeper Ride: https://ride.seakeeper.com/  Cobia Boats: https://www.cobiaboats.com/  FLIR: https://marine.flir.com/en-us  SMITH Optics: https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us  Melton International Tackle: https://www.meltontackle.com/  Garmin Marine: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/  Quantum Fishing: https://www.quantumfishing.com/  Grundens: https://grundens.com/  Yo-Zuri: http://www.yo-zuri.com/  For more Striper Migration content, visit https://www.onthewater.com/  Follow On The Water Magazine on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/onthewatermagazine/  https://www.facebook.com/OnTheWater.Fishing   Sign up for OTW’s Striper Cup: https://www.stripercup.com/

    44 min

  2. MAY 5

    Striper Migration Report | May 5th, 2026

    In Week 8 of our 2026 Striper Migration Reports, Johnny McIntyre and Matt Haeffner are joined by OTW’s Liam O’Neill to discuss the spawn wrapping up in Chesapeake Bay, how the first full moon of May impacted the migration in southern New England, and the pockets of bunker that are fueling good spring fishing across the Striper Coast. Plus, Matt has a startling run-in with a family of otters at a loaded herring run on Cape Cod—one that may require a new pair of waders. On The Water’s Striper Migration Reports are brought to you by: Z-Man Fishing Products: https://zmanfishing.com/ Quantum Fishing: https://www.quantumfishing.com/ FLIR: https://marine.flir.com/en-us SMITH Optics: https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us Garmin Marine: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/ Canyon Runner: https://canyonrunner.com/ Melton International Tackle: https://www.meltontackle.com/ Seakeeper Ride: https://ride.seakeeper.com/ Grundens: https://grundens.com/ Yo-Zuri: http://www.yo-zuri.com/ Cobia Boats: https://www.cobiaboats.com/ For more Striper Migration content, visit https://www.onthewater.com/ Follow On The Water Magazine on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/onthewatermagazine/ https://www.facebook.com/OnTheWater.Fishing Sign up for OTW’s Striper Cup: https://www.stripercup.com/

    44 min

  3. APR 28

    Striper Migration Report | Aril 28, 2026

    In Week 7 of our 2026 Striper Migration Reports, Matt Haeffner and Johnny McIntyre discuss the wave of big bass that moved into New Jersey last week, the arrival of fresh migratory fish in southern Massachusetts, and how the full moon on May 1 should ignite better fishing in Long Island Sound. The guys also mention how surf fishermen from Maryland to Long Island are experiencing better action due to warmer weather and higher water temps. Plus, we get an update from Captain Zach Flake of Flyway Charters in Northern New Jersey, who breaks down his light-tackle and fly approach for stripers that are feeding on bunker locally. Follow Capt. Zach Flake on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capt_zachflake/ Book a trip with Flyway Charters: https://flywaychartersnj.com/ On The Water’s Striper Migration Reports are brought to you by: Z-Man Fishing Products: https://zmanfishing.com/ Cobia Boats: https://www.cobiaboats.com/ Melton International Tackle: https://www.meltontackle.com/ SMITH Optics: https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us Canyon Runner: https://canyonrunner.com/ Seakeeper Ride: https://ride.seakeeper.com/ FLIR: https://marine.flir.com/en-us Garmin Marine: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/ Grundens: https://grundens.com/ Yo-Zuri: http://www.yo-zuri.com/ Quantum Fishing: https://www.quantumfishing.com/ For more Striper Migration content, visit https://www.onthewater.com/ Follow On The Water Magazine on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/onthewatermagazine/ https://www.facebook.com/OnTheWater.Fishing Sign up for OTW’s Striper Cup: https://www.stripercup.com/

    45 min
  4. Striper Migration Report | April 21, 2026

    APR 21

    Striper Migration Report | April 21, 2026

    In Week 6 of our 2026 Striper Migration Reports, Johnny McIntyre and Matt Haeffner review the results of their road trips to New York and New Jersey before breaking down how April’s new moon impacted the migration between Chesapeake Bay and southern New England. The guys touch on the arrival of migratory fish in Connecticut and Rhode Island, the influx of bunker on Long Island, and post-spawn fish racing out of the rivers in lower and middle Chesapeake Bay.    Plus, we get an update from Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch, NJ, who discusses the local striper bite from Raritan Bay to the ocean surf and what lies ahead for anglers in northern New Jersey as we head into late April.   Follow Tak Waterman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takwaterman/  Check out Tak Waterman’s online store: https://takwaterman.com/  On The Water’s Striper Migration Reports are brought to you by:  Z-Man Fishing Products: https://zmanfishing.com/   Canyon Runner: https://canyonrunner.com/  FLIR: https://marine.flir.com/en-us  Quantum Fishing: https://www.quantumfishing.com/  Garmin Marine: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/  Melton International Tackle: https://www.meltontackle.com/  Cobia Boats: https://www.cobiaboats.com/  SMITH Optics: https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us  Seakeeper Ride: https://ride.seakeeper.com/   Yo-Zuri: http://www.yo-zuri.com/  Grundens: https://grundens.com/  For more Striper Migration content, visit https://www.onthewater.com/  Follow On The Water Magazine on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/onthewatermagazine/  https://www.facebook.com/OnTheWater.Fishing   Sign up for OTW’s Striper Cup: https://www.stripercup.com/

    48 min
  5. Striper Migration Report | April 14, 2026

    APR 14

    Striper Migration Report | April 14, 2026

    In Week 5 of our 2026 Striper Migration Reports, OTW’s Matt Haeffner and Johnny McIntyre talk about last week’s cold front, which temporarily halted the northward migration of stripers in New Jersey, and how the fish have spread out from the rivers and bays to the surf. The guys also discuss the potential for some major fish movement around this week’s new moon. There are migratory bass along Maryland’s beaches, pre-spawn fish are heading up the Delaware and Hudson rivers, and with some warm weather prior to the new moon, we’re expecting a fresh wave of bass to bring better action to Long Island’s North and South Shores.   Plus, we get a quick rundown from Captain Jamie Clough of Eastern Shore Light Tackle Charters in Maryland, who covers the ideal conditions and baits to effectively target post-spawn fish as they exit the rivers in Chesapeake Bay.   Follow Captain Jamie Clough on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captjclough/  Book a trip with Eastern Shore Light Tackle Charters: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100042666167300  On The Water’s Striper Migration Reports are brought to you by:  Z-Man Fishing Products: https://zmanfishing.com/   Cobia Boats: https://www.cobiaboats.com/  SMITH Optics: https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us  FLIR: https://marine.flir.com/en-us  Melton International Tackle: https://www.meltontackle.com/  Seakeeper Ride: https://ride.seakeeper.com/   Canyon Runner: https://canyonrunner.com/  Grundens: https://grundens.com/  Garmin Marine: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/  Yo-Zuri: http://www.yo-zuri.com/  Quantum Fishing: https://www.quantumfishing.com/   For more Striper Migration content, visit https://www.onthewater.com/  Follow On The Water Magazine on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/onthewatermagazine/  https://www.facebook.com/OnTheWater.Fishing   Sign up for OTW’s Striper Cup: https://www.stripercup.com/

    43 min

  6. APR 7

    Striper Migration Report | April 7th, 2026

    The April full moon giveth. In Week 4 of our 2026 Striper Migration Reports, OTW’s Johnny McIntyre and Matt Haeffner discuss the eruption of striper activity throughout New Jersey due to the arrival of bunker and the first wave of migratory fish, presumably from Chesapeake Bay. Matt and Johnny also cover how the action has begun to trickle east to Long Island’s South Shore and the Western Long Island Sound, and how the timing of post-spawn fish exiting the Chesapeake varies significantly depending on where and when they spawn.   The full moon ignited some incredible bunker-fueled blitzes from the Jersey surf to the bays over the weekend, so OTW’s Jack Larizadeh joined the guys for a guest report to provide further insight into how it all unfolded. Watch the full report to get the scoop.   Follow OTW’s Jack Larizadeh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jack.lariz/ On The Water’s Striper Migration Reports are brought to you by:  Z-Man Fishing Products: https://zmanfishing.com/   Garmin Marine: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/   Seakeeper Ride: https://ride.seakeeper.com/  Canyon Runner: https://canyonrunner.com/  SMITH Optics: https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us  Cobia Boats: https://www.cobiaboats.com/  FLIR: https://marine.flir.com/en-us   Melton International Tackle: https://www.meltontackle.com/  Yo-Zuri: http://www.yo-zuri.com/  Quantum Fishing: https://www.quantumfishing.com/   Grundens: https://grundens.com/   For more Striper Migration content, visit https://www.onthewater.com/  Follow On The Water Magazine on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/onthewatermagazine/  https://www.facebook.com/OnTheWater.Fishing   Sign up for OTW’s Striper Cup: https://www.stripercup.com/

    50 min

  7. MAR 31

    Striper Migration Report | March 31, 2026

    In Week 3 of our 2026 Striper Migration Reports, OTW’s Johnny McIntyre and Jimmy Fee discuss whether alewives or blueback herring make for better spring striper fishing, the current closures in Chesapeake Bay's spawning tributaries, and the timing of migratory fish showing up in the Delaware River. Plus, we get the scoop on some productive tactics and baits for trophy stripers from Alex Perez, an OTW Columnist and Fishing Manager at Anglers Sport Center in Annapolis, Maryland. We have gannets dive-bombing schools of herring and bunker off the New Jersey coast, which, in addition to a nice warm-up and the April full moon this week, should fire up the bite between Delaware and Raritan bays.  Follow Alex Perez on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mid_atlanticadventures/  Follow Anglers Sport Center on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anglersannapolis/  Visit Anglers Sport Center in Annapolis, MD: https://www.anglerssportcenter.com/  On The Water’s Striper Migration Reports are brought to you by:  Z-Man Fishing Products: https://zmanfishing.com/   Yo-Zuri: http://www.yo-zuri.com/   Quantum Fishing: https://www.quantumfishing.com/   Grundens: https://grundens.com/   Garmin Marine: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/   Canyon Runner: https://canyonrunner.com/   Cobia Boats: https://www.cobiaboats.com/   FLIR: https://marine.flir.com/en-us   Seakeeper Ride: https://ride.seakeeper.com/  SMITH Optics: https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us  Melton International Tackle: https://www.meltontackle.com/  For more Striper Migration content, visit https://www.onthewater.com/  Follow On The Water Magazine on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/onthewatermagazine/

    34 min

  8. MAR 24

    Striper Migration Report | March 24, 2026

    In Week 2 of our 2026 Striper Migration Reports, OTW’s Matt Haeffner and Johnny McIntyre discuss ideal water temperatures for spawning stripers in Chesapeake Bay, a noticeable improvement in South Jersey’s resident striper bite, and holdover activity ramping up in Connecticut and Rhode Island despite some unstable conditions and low water temperatures. Plus, we get the scoop on back bay striper action in southern New Jersey from Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters out of Ocean City. The first day of spring came and went, but the Northeast is still struggling to shake free of Old Man Winter’s grip. With water temperatures remaining mostly stagnant since last week, the arrival of river herring from New Jersey to New England has fueled much of the early-season fishing so far. Follow Badfish Charters on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captbrianwilliams/ Book a trip with Captain Brian Williams: https://www.ocnjfishing.com/ On The Water’s Striper Migration Reports are brought to you by: Z-Man Fishing Products: https://zmanfishing.com/ Yo-Zuri: http://www.yo-zuri.com/ Quantum Fishing: https://www.quantumfishing.com/ Grundens: https://grundens.com/ Garmin Marine: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/ Canyon Runner: https://canyonrunner.com/ Cobia Boats: https://www.cobiaboats.com/ FLIR: https://marine.flir.com/en-us Seakeeper Ride: https://ride.seakeeper.com/ SMITH Optics: https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us Melton International Tackle: https://www.meltontackle.com/ For more Striper Migration content, visit https://www.onthewater.com/ Follow On The Water Magazine on Instagram and Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/onthewatermagazine/ https://www.facebook.com/OnTheWater.Fishing Sign up for OTW’s Striper Cup: https://www.stripercup.com/ 00:00 Intro / Week 2 Overview (Cold Spring Conditions)00:01:08 Ad Break – Z-Man Diesel Minnow00:01:41 Weather Outlook + Cold Water Impact00:02:34 Cape Cod Scouting Report (Herring Runs + Freshwater Bite)00:06:07 Migration Map Breakdown (Chesapeake Leading the Push)00:07:06 Chesapeake Bay (Maryland) – Spawning Fish + Regulations00:10:07 Ad Break – Yo-Zuri + Quantum Gear00:11:09 Chesapeake Bay Reports (Captains + Patterns)00:15:11 New Jersey (South & North) – Backwater Bite Heating Up00:16:12 New Jersey Report – Captain Brian Williams00:19:25 Ad Break – Grundéns + Garmin00:20:04 New Jersey Analysis Continued (Temps + Movement)00:21:12 Long Island – Cold Water, Slow Start00:24:06 Connecticut – Western Sound Holdovers00:26:04 Ad Break – Cobia Boats + FLIR + Marine Tech00:27:04 Massachusetts & Rhode Island – Herring + Holdover Updates00:30:00 Cape Cod – Local Conditions + Outlook00:32:32 Ad Break – Canyon Runner Intel00:33:08 Canyon Runner Forecast – Why Fishing Is Still Slow00:38:18 Ad Break – SeaKeeper Ride + Smith Optics00:39:19 Tackle Tip of the Week (Prep + Terminal Gear)00:41:06 Final Strategy Tips (Tides, Locations, Early Season Approach)

    46 min
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About

Weekly updates on the Spring Striped Bass Migration from On The Water Media's Matt Haeffner with input from expert striped bass anglers from along the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Information

  • Creator
    On The Water
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © On The Water
  • Show Website
    Striper Migration Report

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