Endangered Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus) rely on key habitats in the Hudson River Estuary for critical life events, notably spawning and juvenile development. The presence of aquatic invasive species (AIS) raises concerns due to the risk of competition with or predation upon native species. Our collaborative efforts with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve have yielded discovery of Atlantic sturgeon acoustic communication at their primary spawning site near Hyde Park, NY, and the simultaneous presence of soniferous freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens). We used a dense array of passive acoustic sensors to map spatial overlap between these two species at the height of their simultaneous spawning seasons to characterize species-specific space use and assess the possibility of competition (acoustic or trophic) or predation. We further characterized the performance of low-cost off-the-shelf (OTS) passive acoustic recorders and formulated recommendations on their best use to address scientific research questions. Our work revealed spatial patterning in both Atlantic sturgeon thunders and freshwater drum chorusing, with apparent partitioning of a shared spawning grounds. The performance of the low-cost OTS recorders was found to be highly variable and unreliable, tempering their accessibility and cost-effectiveness. These findings suggest that direct competition for spawning space between Atlantic sturgeon and freshwater drum may not be a major concern at this site, and inform passive acoustic survey design choices.