Yonkers, N.Y. – Beczak Environmental Education Center offers children and adults opportunities to fish for striped bass—New York State’s official saltwater fish—aboard the 50’ Island Current II, departing from the Yonkers Pier. Children ages 9 – 13 can register for Fishing the Hudson spring break program April 18 – 22; 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily, $300 for five days. Adults can purchase tickets here for Striped Bass Fishing Excursion, Thursday, April 21, 6:30 – 9:30 PM, $75 per person, all bait, tackle and licenses provided. Contact vgarufi@beczak.org, (914) 377-1900 x 12. Beczak Environmental Education Center, 35 Alexander Street, Yonkers, NY 10701. www.beczak.org

Striped bass season in the Hudson River, north of the George Washington Bridge, opened on March 16, to coincide with the time of year when mature striped bass, often weighing as much as 50 pounds, are in the Hudson River. Striped bass are spawned in freshwater rivers like the northern Hudson but live their adult lives in the ocean. More here.

Beczak Environmental Education Center wants children and adults to catch these big fish. “There’s no better way to begin to understand the Hudson’s eco-system than to see what lives under the waves,” says Cliff Schneider, Beczak’s Executive Director. “That’s why we have chartered the Island Current II—fishing from the middle of the river is fun, exciting, and eye-opening.”

Captain Chris, owner of Island Current Charters and a third grade teacher in Irvington, NY, agrees. “Kids love being on the boat, and especially catching big fish, the kind you get in the middle of the river. We’ll give each child their own rod and bait, and drop the boat’s fish traps and see what’s living at the bottom of the river. There’s no better way to see how rich the Hudson’s aquatic life is than by boat.”  

This is the second year that Beczak has offered Fishing the Hudson aboard the Island Current II. This spring break camp for ages 9 – 13 sold out last year. New this year is the Striped Bass Fishing Excursion for adults on Thursday, April 21.

Says Capt. Chris, “Stripers feed at night, making the late hours one of the best times to find them! Participants will learn special nighttime chunk baiting from our expert crew and enjoy the serene calm of the night waters of the Hudson River.”

BECZAK ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

Beczak Environmental Education Center is a repurposed factory social club on the Hudson River that presents programs for all ages to raise environmental awareness. Where you learn to love your river!

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation calls Beczak’s rehabilitated property an “environmental recovery success story.” Located on the banks of the Hudson in the City of Yonkers, at River Mile 18, this spacious interpretive center is an adaptive reuse of the former social club for Habirshaw Cable & Wire Co. Its two-acre park features a welcoming riverfront lawn, an easily accessible tidal marsh and a beach used for river exploration and seining.

Beczak educators work with approximately 20,000 children and families each year through in-school river education programs, field trips at its riverfront center, after school environmental clubs, and public programs including River Explorers and Fish Tales for children, RiverTalks lectures and Urban H20 concerts for adults, Lunchtime Learning for seniors, Summer Adventures camp, and professional development for educators.