Brutally hot weather has driven fish to deeper water and kept many anglers indoors this week. Fluke, sea bass and scup have been plentiful for anglers who didn’t mind the heat, while those who made the run to the cooler waters of Block Island continue to be rewarded with excellent striper fishing from the boat and the shore.

Rhode Island Fishing Report

Down at The Saltwater Edge in Middletown, word is that the recent rise in water temperature has cooled the striped bass fishing locally. Schoolie bass and smaller keepers have been available to anglers throwing live eels and artificials after dark, but the big bass have continued to fall to anglers who have left local waters and made the run to the cooler waters around Block Island. The Edge reported bass up to 55 pounds along with giant gator blues taken from the island’s waters on live eels this past week. The guys reported that it is not all doom and gloom around Newport, as the black sea bass bite has been excellent and the fluke bite has still been very good when anglers were able to get a decent drift going.

For the offshore guys, yellowfin tuna along with large mahi were caught this past week in the canyons, and rumor has it that some yellowfin and longfin tuna have even found their way to waters closer to the mainland.

Steve McKenna at Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle in North Kingstown echoed a similar sentiment to the guys from The Saltwater Edge, reporting that things have slowed locally most likely due to the rapid rise in water temperatures. Steve noted a lack of reports this past week coming in from local surfcasters and believes that many chose the comfort of an air conditioner over a hot, sticky pair of waders. Steve reported that the scup fishing has really begun to take off in the area and that they have kept many anglers busy this week along with an influx of snapper bluefish that recently moved into the area. The shop weighed in a few cow bass in the 40-pound class this past week that were taken off of Block Island by the boat crew. The boat guys aren’t the only ones taking advantage of the great bass fishing around the island as a close friend of Steve’s is spending the week surfcasting the Block. In his first two nights on the island, he reported a steady pick of keeper bass to 40 inches that have fallen to artificial offerings in all styles and colors.

Sol of Twin Maples on Block Island also reported the fishing around the island to be stellar. Boat anglers drifting eels off the island’s southwest corner and in the Black Rock area have had a steady pick of bass up to 40 pounds. Sol noted that any surfcaster thinking about making the trek to the island should consider doing it soon as the fishing for shore-bound anglers has also been excellent. He suggested pitching eels on the island’s east side near the Mansion Beach area or spending some time throwing sand eel imitators on the island’s west side. Enormous schools of frenzying bass have been spotted along the west side of the island around dusk feeding on sand eels. These schools are said to be more prevalent and larger in magnitude than any of the guys have seen in recent memory. If bottom fishing is more your taste, Sol reported the fluke and scup fishing to be great in the New Harbor Channel and the black sea bass fishing is getting better each day along the southeast side of the island.

Further west at Breachway Bait and Tackle in Charlestown, Ron reported that the warm water hasn’t kept bass from cruising in and out of the breachways. Anglers have scored schoolie bass and small keepers in Charlestown Breachway and the adjoining salt pond casting small artificials and trolling tube-and-worm rigs. Ron noted that he scored some better bass and big bluefish drifting live eels at the mouth of the breachway on the ebbing tide. The fluke bite in the area has also remained strong and steady, with many anglers finding success right in front of the breachway in 30 to 40 feet of water. The keeper-to-short ratio is beginning to sway in favor of shorts, but most anglers who practiced patience were able to score their limit of fluke bouncing bucktails tipped with squid and spearing.

Connecticut Fishing Report

Matt at Hillyer’s in Waterford reported that the local state boat launch has been much slower than it should be this time of year as many anglers have stayed indoors to avoid the brutal heat. Those who braved the heat and hit the water have reported very good catches locally. The fluke bite continues to be strong from Black Point to Sara’s Ledge, and Matt believes it to be the best fluke season in the last 3 to 4 years.

Focus on 30 feet of water or deeper for your best shot at a doormat. The scup bite has improved immensely over the last 10 or so days as the water temperatures rise and these tasty fish find their way to their summer haunts. Matt also reported the black sea bass bite to be much better than in the past few years, and while most of the catches aren’t of legal size, the abundance of them shows a positive trend for the future in eastern Long Island Sound. Striped bass fishing has been strong on Bartletts Reef and out at Valiant Rock, but this has became a predominately nighttime game as the intense sun has kept the bass in cooler, deeper water during the daytime hours.

The crew of the Mijoy in Waterford reported that the fish haven’t minded the heat wave at all. In and near The Race are plenty of bluefish and an impressive number of keeper-sized stripers. Fluke have been cooperating as well with some even taking herring on the bluefish trips. Doc Hendessi caught a solid 10-pounder on Friday on our bottom-fishing trip using bait and a teaser. Bottom-fishing trips last through the end of July, and August is devoted to blues and bass. There’s plenty of action to be had and plenty of room on the boat.

At River’s End in Old Saybrook, “Q” reported excellent striper fishing on the local reefs around the mouth of the Connecticut River. Twenty- to thirty-pound bass have been plentiful on Long Sand Shoal as well. Anglers live-lining bunker or using fresh chunks have scored the best catches, specifically on the ebb tide. “Q” heard a few good reports of doormat fluke around Fishers Island and the Watch Hill area this past week. The fluking in 30 to 50 feet of water from Old Lyme to Waterford has also remained consistent although the percentage of shorts is steadily increasing.

Out in Clinton, Tony of Lucky Hook Charters reported that he concentrated most of his efforts on sea bass and fluke this past week and that it paid off. He was able to get his clients limits of both species in local waters on each of his trips this week.

The western sound has heated up tremendously in terms of water temperatures but unfortunately Rich at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk was not able to say the same about the fishing. The schools of bunker have become scarce and so have the large bass that were following them. Some bigger stripers are still being taken at the local reefs around can 28C and 11B, with most of these cows falling victim to live eels after dark. Large school of sand eels have taken up residence around the Norwalk Islands, providing anglers with a good opportunity to score schoolie bass on light tackle. Scup fishing has started to take off, and while Rich noted that catch rates are down, he did mention that scup in the 14- to 17-inch range have become fairly common and anglers have taken full advantage. These “dinner-plate” scup have also been concentrated on local reefs in the area of 28C. On a positive note, Rich reported that freshwater fishing at the Saugatuck Reservoir has been excellent. Anglers floating live shiners under slip bobbers have scored nice trout at daybreak and quality large and smallmouth bass throughout the day.

Best Bets for the Weekend

While the heat might make your pool appear more tempting than a hot boat, you may want to brave the conditions and search for some cooler water. The striper bite at Block Island has been stellar, and bottom fishing for fluke, scup and sea bass has been excellent. All species of fish are still plentiful in local waters; think early morning or after dusk for your best bet at scoring a good catch and keeping cool this weekend.