With August knocking at our door, water temperatures in some areas are creeping to uncomfortable levels for striped bass. Those targeting the cooler waters around Block Island aren’t complaining, but many other anglers are filling the void with big bluefish, fluke, black sea bass, and porgies. Another species rumored to be poking around the area is bonito, which has many excited for a strong run of “hard tails” in our near future! Some folks label the next few weeks the “dog days” or “summer doldrums,” yet there are still some incredible fishing opportunities to be had for those willing to keep at it. Read on for a few late-July tactics that can put the odds in your favor.
Rhode Island
Right off the bait in our conversation, Arden at Saltwater Edge told me about some bonito sighting rumors that he heard about. He said that Newport usually sees them before many other areas and that he already confirmed a few catches of bullet mackerel close by too. Both could be considered good signs, hopefully foreshadowing a great “hard tail” season to come. He suggested having light-tackle setups at the ready because it could an early run. Arden also noted that the whole Narragansett Bay is chock full of bluefish, large and small. Whether you’re seeking shark bait or looking for a good fight on light tackle, try topwater lures like pencil poppers or spooks for some explosive action.
Captain Thom of Quaker Lane Tackle told me that boaters are still cleaning up with bass on structure, but it’s a night or very early morning game, and usually with live bait. Live-lined scup and eels have been working well, or hickory shad if you can find them (try Point Judith Pond at the crack of dawn). Thom said to hop around the reefs and rock piles along the south shore like those off Green Hill and Deep Hole. He also noted that the scup fishing is good from both shore and boat and sandworms should get the job done.
The Rhode Island surf scene has been pretty consistent in the Narragansett area after dark, according to Steve McKenna. He’s been having a very good season so far, catching more striped bass already than he did all of last year. The three go-to artificial lures he’s been having the most luck with are Sebile Magic Swimmers, Beachmaster Juniors and, of course, 9-inch rigged Slug-Gos. The most productive meal ticket in his bag by far has been the 145-mm fast-sinking Magic Swimmer in the natural shiner or white pattern. Steve noted that he has a hard time taking the plug off because it’s working so well and that bass are hitting it with a vengeance like they would a rigged eel. One night last week, he landed 22 stripers up to 20 pounds from the Narragansett rocks using the Sebile and Beachmaster, but his biggest fish of the season so far came on a Slug-Go.
The fluke bite along Rhode Island’s south shore remains strong according to Captain Steve at Breachway Bait and Tackle. Last week’s high-hook fluke at the shop was 12.4 pounds off East Beach and this week’s winner so far is 9.14 pounds from the same area. Steve noted that 35 to 40 feet of water has been a good bet. Steve described the action as spotty because you’ll catch a big one then a bunch of shorts before the next quality fish. The tide has to be moving and Steve likes Thom Cat’s “Big Pink” fluke rig tipped with Squid and spearing. Also in the mix are some nice black sea bass. Mike at Watch Hill Outfitters is still hammering them around The Boulders between Misquamicut and East Beach in 50 feet of water. The hot tide has been outgoing and his rig consists of a 6-ounce jig on the bottom tipped with a squid strip and a spearing, along with a rigged whole squid for his teaser.
Block Island
On The Water Insider and western Long Island Sound charter captain Chris Elser is in the midst of his annual week-long Block Island pilgrimage. I spoke to Chris on Wednesday and he bluntly told me that he’s after an 80-pound striped bass. They haven’t broken any records this week, but he and his daughter Heather are sure putting up some amazing numbers. While trolling tube and worms around boulders on the south side of the Island, they’ve landed four bass over 50 pounds, including one over 60 pounds! Red T-man and Otter tubes tipped with Gulp sandworm imitations have been the ticket. Chris said some key things to his success are fishing cross current and utilizing a 2 MPH troll, which is easier to do in a small 22-foot boat like his compared to some big rigs out there. Time of day hasn’t mattered much, as the 60-plus pounder came around 10 in the morning. The best tide has been mid-incoming and Chris is focusing in the 15- to 30-foot depth zone. Liking the tide, he predicted this Friday to be another “big fish” day!
Connecticut
Warm water temps in Long Island Sound have welcomed a plethora of big bluefish, which are doing a number on the bait and tackle of those targeting striped bass. Large linesiders can be had in deeper water during the day and even along the shore well after dark, but be prepared to fight through the blues to find them.
Captain Blaine Anderson’s bass charter trips are winding down on the reefs, mostly due to the blues. He did say the porgy bite is absolutely on fire right now on the reefs though, with one after another in 15 to 35 feet of water, with the money zone around 25 feet deep. Another friend of mine has been focusing on the night bass bite with excellent results lately. Captain Mike of Reel Cast Charters has been targeting rocky shorelines in the eastern Sound with live eels and his latest trip in the wee hours of Wednesday morning produced two 30-pound bass and a handful of others to 16 pounds. Mike thinks the structure he’s targeting and the fact that it’s the coolest part of the night are big factors in his inshore success. I had one of my best nights of surf fishing last weekend using the same tactic of live eels and late tides, catching and releasing 42.5 and 44.5-inch stripers; so even folks stuck on shore can find some nice fish this time of year.
Phil at River’s End reported reefs like Hatchet are littered with butterfish and providing topwater action for stripers to 34inches and as many bluefish as you could want. Cheyenne at The Fish Connection said tactics like three-waying bucktails, diamond jigging or snapping wire and parachutes at spots like the Race and the Sluiceway have been productive. He also noted that school stripers and blues are still roaming the Thames River, from Buoy 27 in Ledyard down to the mouth and that shore anglers at Fort Trumbull and Avery Point are catching just about everything on sandworms and chunked bait, including bass, blues, fluke, porgies and blackfish.
Fluking reports have been pretty good overall throughout the Sound recently. Kyle at Hillyers has been seeing many big fluke in the 5- to 8-pound range come through their door, but admitted it takes a lot of weeding out shorts to get them. The largest this week weighed 11.65 pounds and measured 30.25 inches, caught by Fred Plouffe in 80 feet of water during a slack tide on a squid strip. Cheyenne at The Fish Connection has heard decent reports lately from Vixen’s and Sara’s Ledge, Seaflower Reef, and the south side of Fisher’s Island in 50 to 60 feet of water. Mixed in with fluke, the occasional nice black sea bass is being caught, including Bill Seaman’s 3.5-pounder from 100 feet of water near Black Point.
In the western Sound, Nick from Fisherman’s World said the big news was that bluefish in the 7- to 10-pound range have invaded Norwalk Harbor. More big blues have been feeding on bay anchovies and peanut bunker on the surface around the Norwalk Islands, including the 30 feet of water zone around Copps Island. Nick also added that customer Scott Einsmann was trying for a line-class striped bass record with the fly rod and landed a 4.96-pound fluke on 2-pound tippet just off Greenwich.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Block Island is hands down your greatest chance at consistent striped bass action and the best shot at a trophy right now, whether by drifting eels or trolling a tube and worm. Focus on the south side of the Island or run up to the North Rip to check for topwater action. Shore anglers targeting striped bass should take advantage of the dark night sky this weekend with the new moon phase. Bringing live eels can help your chances too.
Looking for a doormat fluke? Weed through the shorts for some quality fish along the south shore of Rhode Island, in areas like East Beach or Misquamicut, and stay in the 35- to 50-foot zone on a moving tide. If your after tackle-testing bluefish, you’re in luck – they’re almost everywhere. For your best shot, try Narragansett Bay or western Long Island Sound.