Striper Migration Report

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)

It’s all happening! Slowly, but surely. In Week 1 of our 2026 Striper Migration Reports, OTW’s Matt Haeffner and Johnny McIntyre discuss pre-spawn striper patterns in the Chesapeake Bay, early-season action in New Jersey and Long Island, and the arrival of scout river herring in southern New England. Plus, we get an inside look at spring striper fishing in Chesapeake Bay from Captain Stephen Griffin of Griffin’s Guide Service in Deale, MD.  After a fierce winter in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, water temperatures are still colder than usual for this time of year. But with big Chesapeake breeders moving into spawning rivers, there’s so much to look forward to as the first day of spring approaches.  Follow Griffin’s Guide Service on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/griffins_guide_service/ Book a trip with Captain Stephen Griffin: https://griffinsguideservice.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: https://ride.seakeeper.com/ SMITH Optics: https://www.smithoptics.com/en-us 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/  

Deane Lambros from the Canyon Runner breaks down the 2025 Offshore Fishing season, from the May tuna bite off North Carolina to the October Storm that slowed down the canyon fishing in the Northeast. Cheech and Jimmy rate their own offshore seasons. Thanks to everyone who tuned in over the course of the season. We'll see you next year. SiriusXM. Check out their fish mapping software at: www.siriusxm.com/fishmapping Garmin. Find the right Garmin setup for how you spend your time on the water with Garmin’s Marine System Builder: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/marine-s... OkumaSee more about Okuma's lineup of reliable and affordable tuna-ready tackle: https://okumafishingusa.com/Canyon RunnerThe Canyon Runner Sportfishing team offers coaching, concierge services, seminars, and a Virtual Captain System, which will exponentially help increase your catches inshore, mid-shore, and canyons. Their Virtual Captain System provides all the fish-catching and safety intel, including a built-in warning system that gives you the ability to track over 500 Member boats & 15 Pro-Staff boats in real time! How’s that for a network of buddy boats? Learn more at: https://www.canyonrunner.com#offshore #fishing #report

As we wrap up the Offshore Report, we want to thank YOU and our amazing sponsors for supporting us throughout the offshore season! The offshore season is not over yet! So make sure to get out there while you still can.

The days before the big Northeast blow brought good swordfishing in the Canyons, continued yellowfin fishing around the draggers, and bluefin "foamers" on Cape Cod.

From birdnados on Cape Cod to bigeye mania in the Canyons, the fall tuna fishing is as good as it gets right now. Check out Devin Acton's Substack: If It's Blowin', We're Goin' | Blowin We Goin | Substack:https://blowinwegoin.substack.com/ #offshore #canyon #fishing

The UVT fishing giveaway has ENDED! Be on the lookout for a text from Cheech.

OTW's Anthony DeiCicchi flies solo this week with reports ranging from reports of epic yellowfin tuna fishing aboard the Helen H, to bigeye tuna, wahoo, and commercial bluefin, and all the other pelagics firing off this fall.This is the last week to sign up for the ULTIMATE Tuna Giveaway from UVT Fishing. To celebrate the tuna-fishing community in the Northeast, UVT Fishing has partnered with On The Water for the biggest tuna-fishing giveaway ever.Sign up here to win: https://onthewater.com/ultimate-tuna-giveaway-from-uvt-fishing #yellowfintuna #tunafishing #reports

Reports have been coming in about some incredible offshore fishing as of late. The northeast canyons are on fire right now with an incredible diversity of fish being caught off an eddy with particularly sharp temperature drop off. On The Water's Anthony DeiCicchi and Jimmy Fee break down the offshore intel from various charter captain's, party boat operations, and intel from Adam of the Canyon Runner to get you the most up to date information to plan your offshore fishing adventure.Sign up to WIN BIG with the Ultimate Tuna Giveaway From UVT Fishing https://onthewater.com/ultimate-tuna-giveaway-from-uvt-fishing

Jimmy Fee returns after being stranded in Canada to join Anthony DeiCicchi for this week's northeast offshore fishing report detailing the post storm fishing action.The Canyon Runner team reports on the slow but productive return offshore fishing after Hurricane Erin shut down the fishing last week for most areas.

Jimmy is stuck on the West Coast, so Cheech gives you the breakdown on everything that has been going on in the offshore game. The Canyon Runner team breaks down what has been going on at the edge before Hurricane Erin resets the tuna grounds.

As of August 12th, Recreational Tuna harvesting is closed. Cheech gives a breakdown of what to do now and how people have been doing.SiriusXM. Check out their fish mapping software at: www.siriusxm.com/fishmapping Garmin. Find the right Garmin setup for how you spend your time on the water with Garmin’s Marine System Builder: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/marine-s... OkumaSee more about Okuma's lineup of reliable and affordable tuna-ready tackle: https://okumafishingusa.com/Canyon RunnerThe Canyon Runner Sportfishing team offers coaching, concierge services, seminars, and a Virtual Captain System, which will exponentially help increase your catches inshore, mid-shore, and canyons. Their Virtual Captain System provides all the fish-catching and safety intel, including a built-in warning system that gives you the ability to track over 500 Member boats & 15 Pro-Staff boats in real time! How’s that for a network of buddy boats? Learn more at: https://www.canyonrunner.com#offshore #fishing #report

A stretch of calm weather brought lots of boats to the tuna grounds, which resulted in some tough bites. Cheech and Jimmy discuss strategies for finicky fish, report on the early days of the White Marlin Open, and kick it to the Canyon Runner crew for a detailed breakdown of the offshore fishing. SiriusXM. Check out their fish mapping software at: www.siriusxm.com/fishmapping Garmin. Find the right Garmin setup for how you spend your time on the water with Garmin’s Marine System Builder: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/marine-s... OkumaSee more about Okuma's lineup of reliable and affordable tuna-ready tackle: https://okumafishingusa.com/Canyon RunnerThe Canyon Runner Sportfishing team offers coaching, concierge services, seminars, and a Virtual Captain System, which will exponentially help increase your catches inshore, mid-shore, and canyons. Their Virtual Captain System provides all the fish-catching and safety intel, including a built-in warning system that gives you the ability to track over 500 Member boats & 15 Pro-Staff boats in real time! How’s that for a network of buddy boats? Learn more at: https://www.canyonrunner.com#offshore #fishing #report

SiriusXM. Check out their fish mapping software at: www.siriusxm.com/fishmapping Garmin. Find the right Garmin setup for how you spend your time on the water with Garmin’s Marine System Builder: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/marine-s... OkumaSee more about Okuma's lineup of reliable and affordable tuna-ready tackle: https://okumafishingusa.com/Canyon RunnerThe Canyon Runner Sportfishing team offers coaching, concierge services, seminars, and a Virtual Captain System, which will exponentially help increase your catches inshore, mid-shore, and canyons. Their Virtual Captain System provides all the fish-catching and safety intel, including a built-in warning system that gives you the ability to track over 500 Member boats & 15 Pro-Staff boats in real time! How’s that for a network of buddy boats? Learn more at: https://www.canyonrunner.com#offshore #fishing #report

Things have cooled a bit from last week's red hot fishing from the canyons to the mid-shore grounds, but great fishing remains from 40- to 50--inch bluefin south of Rhode Island and Montauk to yellowfin and bluefin from 65 to 90 inches off New Jersey. The bigeye are still biting well in the canyons and white marlin are trickling inshore. SiriusXM. Check out their fish mapping software at: www.siriusxm.com/fishmapping Garmin. Find the right Garmin setup for how you spend your time on the water with Garmin’s Marine System Builder: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/marine-s... OkumaSee more about Okuma's lineup of reliable and affordable tuna-ready tackle: https://okumafishingusa.com/Canyon RunnerThe Canyon Runner Sportfishing team offers coaching, concierge services, seminars, and a Virtual Captain System, which will help increase your catches inshore, mid-shore, and in the canyons exponentially. Their Virtual Captain System provides all the fish-catching and safety information, including a built-in warning system that gives you the ability to track over 500 Member boats & 15 Pro-Staff boats in real-time. How’s that for a network of buddy boats? Learn more at: https://www.canyonrunner.com#offshore #fishing #report

Join Jimmy Fee, sporting his iconic Hawaiian shirt that signals the arrival of ICAST week in Florida, as he dives into one of the most productive weeks for offshore fishing. This episode highlights incredible weekend reports featuring catches like marlin, bluefin, bigeye, swordfish, and more.Listen as Jimmy and Anthony wrestle with their offshore FOMO while discussing the latest fishing trends and what you can expect during this exciting week of offshore fishing.SiriusXM. Check out their fish mapping software at: www.siriusxm.com/fishmapping Garmin. Find the right Garmin setup for how you spend your time on the water with Garmin’s Marine System Builder: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/marine-s... OkumaSee more about Okuma's lineup of reliable and affordable tuna-ready tackle: https://okumafishingusa.com/Canyon RunnerThe Canyon Runner Sportfishing team offers coaching, concierge services, seminars and a Virtual Captain System which will exponentially help increase your catches inshore, mid-shore and canyons. Their Virtual Captain System provides all the fish-catching and safety intel including a built-in warning system that gives you the ability to track over 500 Member boats & 15 Pro-Staff boats in real time! How’s that for a network of buddy boats? Learn more at: https://www.canyonrunner.com#offshore #fishing #report

Jimmy leaves Cheech high and dry this week, but Cheech has some news... Topwater is FIRING OFF BABY. We've got big schools of small bluefin off New Jersey, bigeye in the New England Canyons, and yellowfin spread throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. It's going to be a great summer!The Northeast Offshore Report is presented by:SiriusXM. Check out their fish mapping software at: www.siriusxm.com/fishmapping Garmin. Find the right Garmin setup for how you spend your time on the water with Garmin’s Marine System Builder: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/marine-s... OkumaSee more about Okuma's lineup of reliable and affordable tuna-ready tackle: https://okumafishingusa.com/Canyon RunnerThe Canyon Runner Sportfishing team offers coaching, concierge services, seminars and a Virtual Captain System which will exponentially help increase your catches inshore, mid-shore and canyons. Their Virtual Captain System provides all the fish-catching and safety intel including a built-in warning system that gives you the ability to track over 500 Member boats & 15 Pro-Staff boats in real time! How’s that for a network of buddy boats? Learn more at: https://www.canyonrunner.com

In our final report of the 2025 spring migration, Matt Haeffner is joined by Kevin Blinkoff, Robbie Tartaglia, and Liam O’Neill to discuss personal striper season highlights, the benefits of networking on the water, and how to keep catching stripers through the summer months before they head back south.  On The Water’s Striper Migration Reports are brought to you by: Grundens: https://grundens.com/ Quantum Fishing: https://www.quantumfishing.com/ Canyon Runner: https://canyonrunner.com/ Garmin Marine: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/ Be sure to sign up for OTW’s Striper Cup: https://www.stripercup.com/  For more Striper Migration content, follow @onthewatermagazine on Instagram and Facebook.  OTW IG: https://www.instagram.com/onthewatermagazine/ OTW FB: https://www.facebook.com/OnTheWater.Fishing  

We're back with another season of Northeast Offshore Fishing Reports. We've got big schools of small bluefin off New Jersey, bigeye in the New England Canyons, and yellowfin spread throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. It's going to be a great summer!The Northeast Offshore Report is presented by:SiriusXM. Check out their fish mapping software at: www.siriusxm.com/fishmapping Garmin. Find the right Garmin setup for how you spend your time on the water with Garmin’s Marine System Builder: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/marine-s... OkumaSee more about Okuma's lineup of reliable and affordable tuna-ready tackle: https://okumafishingusa.com/Canyon RunnerThe Canyon Runner Sportfishing team offers coaching, concierge services, seminars and a Virtual Captain System which will exponentially help increase your catches inshore, mid-shore and canyons. Their Virtual Captain System provides all the fish-catching and safety intel including a built-in warning system that gives you the ability to track over 500 Member boats & 15 Pro-Staff boats in real time! How’s that for a network of buddy boats? Learn more at: https://www.canyonrunner.com

Following the June new moon last week, a wave of big migratory bass moved in off Rhode Island, and despite rising temperatures, trophy stripers remain widespread in Long Island Sound. Meanwhile, fish from Cape Cod to Boston continued to inch up the coast, and anglers in Maine are patiently waiting for offshore schools of stripers to push within the 3-mile line. Over the next several weeks, stripers will settle into summer locations and patterns. To make the most of your summer striper fishing, focus on throwing big baits in areas with below-average water temperatures.  This week's guest contributor is Captain Joe Gugino of Fish Boston, who discusses the brief waves of big fish moving in from offshore, a lack of under-slot stripers in and around Boston Harbor, and the challenge of securing mid-size bunker when mackerel have been hard to come by.  On The Water’s Striper Migration Reports are brought to you by: Grundens: https://grundens.com/ Quantum Fishing: https://www.quantumfishing.com/ Canyon Runner: https://canyonrunner.com/ Garmin Marine: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/ Be sure to sign up for OTW’s Striper Cup: https://www.stripercup.com/  To book a trip with Fish Boston, follow Capt. Joe Gugino on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captjoegugino/ For more Striper Migration content, follow @onthewatermagazine and @stripercup on social media.  On The Water Magazine: https://www.instagram.com/onthewatermagazine/ Striper Cup: https://www.instagram.com/stripercup/