What special fishing regulations apply at Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge)?

Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override New York's statewide 2026 rules, covering Striped bass. One of them reads: "Striped bass slot 23–28 in; 1 / day Apr 1 – Nov 30, north of the George Washington Bridge; striped bass fishing (incl. catch-and-release) closed Dec 1 – Mar 31 above the Mario M. Cuomo (Tappan Zee) Bridge." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.

Do I need a fishing license to fish Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge)?

Yes. Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) is in New York, so a valid New York fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Hudson River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide New York rules.

Do Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge)'s special rules replace New York's statewide limits?

Only where they conflict. New York's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Hudson River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.

Which species have special rules on Hudson River?

Striped bass has a water-body-specific rule on Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge), each linking to its full New York regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide New York limits.

Does Hudson River host fishing tournaments?

Yes. Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) is a recurring stop for BASS circuit. Typical windows and the official schedule links are in the Tournament circuit section above; exact 2026 dates are confirmed on each circuit's official schedule.

2026 regulation year

Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) 2026 — New York Fishing Regulations

New York statewide rules apply unless overridden below.

Last updated June 9, 2026

Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) carries 2 special-regulation overlays on top of New York's 2026 fishing rules — covering Striped bass. Verify the agency booklet before launching: in-season changes are not yet wired to this page.

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Watch Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) (NY) and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

State-level special regulation

Striped bass slot 23–28 in; 1 / day Apr 1 – Nov 30, north of the George Washington Bridge; striped bass fishing (incl. catch-and-release) closed Dec 1 – Mar 31 above the Mario M. Cuomo (Tappan Zee) Bridge
Source: New York special-water list

Per-species rules on Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge)

Striped bass regulations →
Slot 23–28 in; 1 / day; Apr 1 – Nov 30; closed Dec 1 – Mar 31 above the Tappan Zee / Cuomo Bridge

Tournament circuit

Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) is a recurring stop on one of the pro / semi-pro tournament circuits — BASS and MLF freshwater bass series, FLW (now MLF Toyota Series), or the IFA Redfish Tour inshore-saltwater divisions. Schedules shift year to year — typical-window guidance below, with the official circuit schedule linked for current 2026 confirmation.

BASSBassmaster Opens — Northern Division
Largemouth + smallmouth bass · August – September
Tidal section near Catskill / Albany — current and tide drive game-plan; striper rules are separate and remain in effect during bass events.
Official BASS schedule →

Browse all tournament-circuit venues →

Official source

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation publishes the authoritative 2026 New York fishing regulations. Special-regulation lakes and rivers are listed in the agency booklet — always verify before fishing.

Visit official New York fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

In-season closures, slot-limit changes, and run-count-driven harvest pauses are posted to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's emergency-order feed — check it before any New York trip during the active season.

Other special-regulation waters in New York

Browse all water bodies →

Frequently asked questions

What special fishing regulations apply at Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge)?: Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) carries 2 special-regulation overlays that override New York's statewide 2026 rules, covering Striped bass. One of them reads: "Striped bass slot 23–28 in; 1 / day Apr 1 – Nov 30, north of the George Washington Bridge; striped bass fishing (incl. catch-and-release) closed Dec 1 – Mar 31 above the Mario M. Cuomo (Tappan Zee) Bridge." Every overlay on this water body is listed in full above.
Do I need a fishing license to fish Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge)?: Yes. Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) is in New York, so a valid New York fishing license is required just as it is anywhere else in the state, issued by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The special regulations on this page change the bag, size, slot, or gear rules for Hudson River; they do not waive the license requirement. Free-fishing days and youth exemptions follow the statewide New York rules.
Do Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge)'s special rules replace New York's statewide limits?: Only where they conflict. New York's statewide 2026 regulations apply on Hudson River by default; the overlays above replace the matching statewide rules for the species or gear they name, while everything not specifically overridden still follows the statewide rule. When a water-body rule and the statewide rule disagree, the water-body rule wins.
Which species have special rules on Hudson River?: Striped bass has a water-body-specific rule on Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge), each linking to its full New York regulations above. Species not listed here follow the statewide New York limits.
Does Hudson River host fishing tournaments?: Yes. Hudson River (north of the George Washington Bridge) is a recurring stop for BASS circuit. Typical windows and the official schedule links are in the Tournament circuit section above; exact 2026 dates are confirmed on each circuit's official schedule.

← Back to New York regulations overview