Fishing is hitting its stride in Southern New England. Captain TJ Karbowski summed it up best saying “fluke fishing is fantastic and striper fishing is good and getting better with the big tides.”

 

Block Island Fishing Report

The approaching full moon has already brought some big stripers to Block Island’s waters. Shops like Snug Harbor and Gallilee have been weighing multiple 50-pound-plus stripers from the Block. Steve McKenna of Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle in North Kingstown had heard there were 20 (or more) 50-pound stripers hung from tackle shop scales Thursday morning. Bunker and sand eels have apparently drawn the big school of monster bass into the area. There are even rumors of a spear fisherman shooting a 70-pounder.

 

Narragansett Bay Fishing Report

Greg at The Tackle Box in Warwick said the bunker are still hanging around Warwick light, which has kept big stripers in the area as well. Fish to 31 pounds were caught in that area this week. Heavy rains and the influx of freshwater has flushed the bunker out of the upper reaches of Narragansett Bay, and the stripers have moved down with them.

Besides using bunker as bait, anglers are also catching stripers by trolling tube-and-worm rigs in 20 to 40 feet of water in the Bay.

Fluke fishing is good around Providence Point and the Red Can. Fish up to 6 pounds have been caught.

Northern kingfish have moved into the waters around Oakland Beach reported Greg. These fish have small mouths and love bloodworms or sandworms fished on a sandy bottom. The don’t get very big, but are big on taste. If you catch one, bread it and fry the fillets that night—you’ll thank me later.

Weakfish are still around, and anglers are catching them with small jigs.

 

Rhode Island Fishing Report

Steve at Quaker Lane said the striper fishing is as good as he’s seen in years in the Rhode Island surf. He’s catching good numbers of quality fish to 30 pounds. Bunker and sand eels seem to be the primary baits. Boats too are catching well by using bunker—either chunked or live—as bait.

Not all the monster stripers are on Block Island. A 40-pounder was caught off the docks in Gallilee according to the report from Gallilee Bait and Tackle. The big fish hit a chunk of bunker. For the best fluke action, fish water of 50 feet or more. Big schools of sand eels are keeping the fluke fat and happy.

Black sea bass to 4 pounds are providing fast action over rough bottom.

At Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly, Mike reported bass 25 to 33 pounds on the Watch Hill reef. The best fishing is happening in the dark while using eels as bait.

Fluke fishing is excellent at Misquamicut . Mike reported good numbers of fish 20 inches and up. The backside of Fishers Island is also producing good fluke fishing.

There haven’t been many bluefish around the Watch Hill area, which is a good thing for anglers fishing eels. Scup have also been mostly absent. Black sea bass, however, are around in decent numbers.

 

Connecticut Fishing Report

According to Andrew at Fishin’ Factory III in Middletown, the Connecticut River is finally getting back into shape after recent rains raised water levels and made it dirty. The rains pushed the bunker out, taking the bass with them. Hopefully as the water cleans up, the bunker will move back in and so will the bass. Fluke fishing is good in Niantic Bay and Hatchets. The best depths have been 45 to 50 feet. Most of the fluke have been spitting up sand eels when they are brought into the boat. Dirty water has been a problem for fishermen all the way to Black Point, however. One of the biggest tickets to finding good fishing right now is finding clean water.

Rick at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reported lots of striper action at the 11B and 28C Buoys, as well as Can 13 off Eatons Neck. There have been lots of 30-pounders, with fish up to 47 pounds. Anglers are targeting the bass with chunks and live bunker. As an added bonus a couple 8-pound fluke grabbed baits meant for stripers. The best bass action in these areas has been after dark. During the day, big schools of bluefish have been feeding over the reefs.

Big bass are lurking under bunker schools during the daytime, but anglers first need to find the bunker. According to Rick, there have been schools of these oily baitfish off the South Side of Sheffield Island. More bunker are located off Rye, where bass to 50 pounds have been feeding on them.

Beach fishermen are catching stripers to 38 inches. As you might expect, bunker chunks have been the best baits there as well.

Fluke fishermen have had some surprises this week as a number of 22- to 24-inch weakfish have taken rigs meant for flatfish.

 

Best Bets for the Weekend

All roads lead to Block Island for trophy-sized stripers. Eels at night are the ticket. Consider photographing and releasing that trophy too.

There are big stripers on the mainland too. Find the bunker, find the big bass, either in Long Island Sound or Narragansett Bay. Watch Hill Reef is also worth a look for some after-dark eel fishing.

Fluke fishing is excellent now as well. Clean water and 40- to 50-foot depths are the key. The fish are focused on sand eels, so long-thin baits will get the most bites.

For fun daytime fish, look for big bluefish over the reefs in Long Island Sound. Trolling or fishing with cut bait will fool enough big bluefish to wear out your arms.