Fluke in the Hudson River can be a fun late-spring bite, but you’ve got to fish them like current-loving ambush feeders 😎 The Hudson is a moving-water game, so the winning move is to stay low, stay near bottom, and let the tide do the heavy lifting.
Where to look
Focus on current seams, channel edges, drop-offs, sand/mud flats, and any place bait gets pinned against structure. In the Hudson, fluke often sit where they can dart out and grab a meal without spending much energy. If you’re fishing near the river mouth or brackish stretches, the bite can overlap with striped bass and bluefish, so expect company.
Best presentation
For fluke, the money rig is usually a hi-lo rig or a jighead with a soft bait. Keep it simple:
- 1/2 to 1 oz jighead if the current is moderate
- 3/4 to 1.5 oz if the tide is ripping
- Pair it with a paddletail, squid-style bait, or small baitfish-profile plastic
A bait with a little flash and a tight swim is ideal. If you want a ready-made option, the TRUSCEND Swimmax Easy Catch Fishing Lures are a solid baitfish-style choice, and the Squid 7" - Chartreuse Sparkle or Squid 7" - Black Blue Flake can shine when the water is dirty or low-light. If you want a broader starter box, the PLUSINNO Fishing Lures, 137Pcs Tackle Box gives you enough terminal tackle to build basic rigs fast.
Retrieve
Think bottom contact, not speed. Cast slightly up-current, let it get down, then work it with a slow drag-pause-hop pattern. Fluke often bite on the pause or when the bait is just starting to move after sitting still. If you feel too much bottom, lighten up; if you feel nothing, go heavier until you’re ticking bottom every few feet.
Timing matters
With your falling pressure and overcast conditions, this looks like a good feeding window before a front rolls in. That’s prime time for moving baits and shallow/current-edge fishing. The west wind is also helpful—it can stack bait and add a little chop, especially on exposed banks. Best windows are usually early morning, late afternoon, and the first half of a moving tide.
Gear tips
Use a medium-light to medium rod with a fast tip, 10–20 lb braid, and a fluorocarbon leader. Keep your knots clean and your drag smooth—fluke are not giant bulldogs, but the Hudson can make every fish feel like one.
If you want, I can also give you a Hudson River fluke rig setup with exact weights, leader length, and bait colors for the tide you’re fishing. Tight lines! 🎣
