If your heart was set on false albacore and bonito this week I’m afraid you may have to wait another week or so, fortunately there are plenty of large stripers, scup and black sea bass across the region to keep you busy while you wait for these speedsters to arrive.

Rhode Island Fishing Report

Anglers seeking a bit of shelter from the winds this week found some success chasing slammer bluefish around upper Narragansett Bay. According to Greg, at The Tackle Box in Warwick, these gators have been up there all week chasing the pods of bunker that are still somewhat prevalent above Providence Point. Bottom fishing in the bay remains very good as scup can be found on just about any rock pile and some nice keeper fluke are still holding in the deeper water off the aforementioned point.

At Galilee Bait and Tackle in Narragansett reports have been scarce over the past few days but the diehards have still been at it and have been rewarded with good catches of fluke and black sea bass. The bite has been best for both species out around Block Island but Howard noted that some very nice fluke were taken locally in 80 feet of water. The scup bite is also red hot and provides a nice angling opportunity locally. While reports of large stripers have been few and far between, Howard reported a lot of topwater schoolie action around Narragansett and in the south county breachways. Mullet has moved into the region; that, combined with a steady supply of hickory shad in the Narrow River, should spell a good fall run for linesiders once the weather settles. Confirmed reports of false albacore and bonito have been nearly non-existent but there are plenty of anglers out there searching, so updates should be coming.

Steve Mckenna, at Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle in North Kingston had some positive surf reports for those looking for quantity rather than quality. Keeper stripers have been falling to nighttime surf anglers in all their usual south county haunts, as well as the rocky shoreline of Jamestown. Overall the size hasn’t been much to brag about with most keeper fish in the 10-12 lb range but bigger specimens have certainly been mixed in. Mullet is settling into the region and this staple “big bait” source is almost always a sign of bigger bass moving closer to shore.

It was more of the same at The Saltwater Edge in Middletown, where big winds and heavy surf have kept reports to a minimum over the past few days. Chris reported that anyone willing to take a little pounding and run out to block will most likely be rewarded with excellent fluke and black sea bass fishing. Striper fishing around the island has remained consistent and 20-pound class fish are still common on the local reefs near Sakonnet Point and Pt. Judith. Anglers drifting live eels after dark have continued to find the most success. Inshore the tautog fishing has really begun to take off and offers great fishing within a short range of port. Anglers dunking crabs in 10-20 feet of water have found tog at all the local rock piles and mussel beds. Offshore the bluefin seemed to have moved out for the time being but there have been reports of white marlin off Tuna Ridge so pack your heavy gear if your making the trip.

Further south at Breachway Bait and Tackle in Charlestown, Ron reported that the tautog fishing has really heated up in his neck of the woods as well. Shore anglers have been scoring keeper blacks off the rocks in the mouth of the breachway, while boat anglers have reported good catches from Narragansett to the Watch Hill Reefs. Some large bluefish and smaller bass made their presence felt in the breachway this past weekend during the early morning hours, while larger bass have been falling to anglers drifting the ebbing tide after dark. Ron also reported that fluke may be on the move but haven’t left yet as plenty of keepers are still being caught off Green Hill in 45+ feet of water. A few scant reports of bonito have come in but again they are unconfirmed and scarce at best.

Connecticut Fishing Report

Bigger bass are starting to show themselves again in the eastern sound. I have heard some rumblings from local surfcasters that while the fall run isn’t yet upon us the bass seem to be waking up. Mike Roy, of Reel Cast Charters, experienced this first hand Monday night as he was able to manage a dozen bass over 20 pounds, with the highlight of the night being a 44 pound slob that fell to a rigged eel. Mike was back at it Tuesday night and again found some nice fish in the 20-30 pound class, despite battling tough wind and seas. Mike prefers fishing rigged eels on the rough needs as it allows him to keep in better contact with his offering and ensures a better hookset.

At J&B Tackle in Niantic, Connor reported that a good push of quality stripers came through the area this week. Anglers drifting live bait on the local reefs off Waterford reported some excellent catches, mainly at night. Monday and Tuesday morning bass in the 10-20 pound range were crashing surface plugs at Bartlett’s reef, as they were up top actively feeding on large schools of butterfish. Bottom-drifting anglers reported that some doormat class fluke are still in the region while the scup bite has been tremendous at every eastern sound rockpile.

At River’s End in Old Saybrook the word is that there are some bass to be had if you can fight through the bluefish. Some jumbo bluefish have moved into and around the mouth of the CT River and the Great Island area. The bunker schools remain thick in the river and appear to be congregating a bit further north than in previous weeks. Anglers drifting these live offerings at Long Sand Shoal and the Westbrook Reefs have picked off some nice bass but the abundance of bluefish has made it difficult. Make sure to pack plenty of gear and load up on bait. Inside the river blue crabs and snapper bluefish remain at their peak so strike while the iron is hot.

Down in the western sound there is plenty of action to be had as reported by Dan, at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk. Bluefish over the ten-pound mark are abundant in the central sound and anglers diamond jigging around 11B have found plenty, with some keeper bass in the mix. Keeper stripers have also been feeding heavily on peanut bunker around the Norwalk Islands and have been crushing soft plastics in the early morning hours. Not unlike the rest of the northeast, the scup fishing has been excellent on all the western rockpiles, with some of the deeper rockpiles giving up a few keeper black sea bass. Anglers targeting scup and sea bass have reported multiple catches of weakfish this week; which was a trend that started early in the season and seems to have stayed consistent throughout.

Best Bets For The Weekend

While the wind is forecasted to be a bit of a nuisance this weekend it certainly will not be a blowout. The large stripers that were cruising eastern Long Island Sound early in the season have came back for round two as the peak of the season is almost upon us. Up in Rhode Island take advantage of September tautog season as they offer a great fight and great eats very close to home. If all else fails there are plenty of monster scup to provide a day of fun and tight lines, across the northeast.