While recent temperatures may feel like September, the fishing is very summer-like, with good bottom-fishing and striped bass daytime doldrums. Big bluefish are showing up just in time for the big money tournament this weekend and no doubt will garner a lot of attention from Rhode Island anglers.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
Up in Newport there is plenty of bait of on the inshore reefs, but the striped bass bite remains a spotty one. According to the guys at The Saltwater Edge in Middletown, a few local surfcasters and boat anglers reported some good catches one night and a graveyard the next. Overall the striped bass fishing has been slowing as we hit the peak summer weeks, but some great bottom fishing has kept anglers busy. Large fluke have been coming from 80+ feet of water, with fresh squid and Gulp baits being the top producers. Black sea bass and scup are plentiful on nearly every inshore rockpile, and a few anglers targeting tautog have had some success with keepers in 15 to 20 feet of water. The talk of the week was of the potential state record cobia, caught at Ft. Adams by Matt McCabe. The 36-pound fish drilled a hi-lo rig meant for fluke, and is another indication that more and more of cobia seem to be finding their way to the northeast each year.
At Galilee Bait and Tackle in Narragansett, Howard reported that the Block has slowed down, but there are still a few good bass around the south side. Some large schools of bluefish have moved into the area this week and are making it difficult to get a bait down to the striper territory. Around the Harbor of Refuge and Bass Rocks some small bass, bonito and frigate mackerel can be found feeding on small bait at first light. Fluke fishing took a step back this week and wasn’t helped by the wind, while scup and black sea bass fishing remained strong around Newport and Narragansett.
At Breachway Bait and Tackle in Charlestown, anglers have reported loads of small bait with birds working inside the ponds and out on the beaches, but the bait generally isn’t being harassed by anything except a few passing schoolies. Snapper bluefish are plentiful and are taking advantage of the small bait up in the ponds. Black sea bass continue to be easy to locate, but weeding through the shorts has become a more difficult task. Scup fishing has been excellent on all the local reefs and for shore anglers fishing in and around the breachways.
Mike, at Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly, has seen more bluefish move in and around Fishers Island Sound this week. A few of the bigger bluefish along with some keeper stripers to 20 pounds have taken up residency on the Watch Hill Reefs. Block Island remains the most consistent producer of big bass if you can get past the bluefish that have moved into the area. The bonito and frigate mackerel that were in the area last week have become ghosts, but small bait is everywhere and it’s lining up to be a good albie/bonito season. Large scup are keeping bottom fishermen busy on the reefs and under the lighthouse, and a few big fluke were reported from the deep water around Napatree.
Fishing Forecast
Rhode Island anglers should be in for some great bottom-fishing statewide, and keep your eyes open as our seasonal speedsters should be arriving soon.
I wonder what you guys are talking about. I spent over eight hours on nthe watch hill reefs and sugar reef and did not catch one bluefish or striped bass. I was with a friend and we are seasoned fisherman. We fished thru 2 tides and never saw a bird working nor a fish. Early this month I spent two days on the reefs in a row and did not catch a fish. I have been fishing these reefs for over twenty years and have never seen anything like this. Why is no one talkig about this and just saying everythings going to get better soon? By the way I saw no
other fisherman catch anything.
If your fishing watch hill with no luck you should take the extra 1/2 hr and head to the block. Its on fire! Plenty of big bass
Seems that bait shops and magazines are the only ones catching fish. I’ll be BETTER TOMORROW! Yeah, right! No one wants to admit the fishing is horrible.
I go out around quonny breachway,westerly watch hill fishers island ,charelstown , and Bristol of shore on the boat for 10 hrs a day. I have been fishing for 35 years and this is the worst i have ever seen it 2, 10 hr days fishing the tides reefs and ledges where i have always caught big fish in the past but nothing at all this year. I haven’t even seen the blues so I have no idea what the are talking about
Hi Jason
My name is Walter and you sound like a real fisherman. It takes me about 4 hours to get to Watch Hill with my boat. Would you be so kind as to e mail me if things pick up? Especially the false albacore run if it even happens. I am very concerned about what is going on with the fishing. It’s just that I will believe you if albies happen. I know they come and go quickly so if you see them I’ll get there. Thanks so much.
Walter
I agree guys. I think the bait and tackle shop and magazines better start worrying
I also agree i fished for 10 hrs last night and all i got was a small schoolie and no bait around at all
Fished Fishers Is. Sat. Live lined scup…not even a bluefish chop! Some short sea bass … But did manage to land a 6lb fluke, what a surprise! Put in a lot of time for little return. Block on Sun. Pretty much same thing, 30 ft to 100 ft lots of
Sea bass 2 Blues , hand full of fluke.Everybody kept moving around not making same drift saw schools of macs leaping being chased , most excitement all day!
I have been involved with stripers and albies for 10yrs. My cousin got me involved and has since past away. He was a bright man. He warned me this was going to happen because of all the bait that has been taken by the boats(and helicopters) for pharmaceutical companies. It is just not the same as it was, period!
There’s bait everywhere, just NO predators. I’ve been fishing from providence to Bristol to block to the cape and islands and there’s no fish anywhere!!!! This is the worst season anywhere and you guys need to report the truth.
I’ve caught over 500 striped bass this year it’s been a great year just gotta know where to find them
Bill – stop lying Mr Paid Shill
Plenty bass 40lbs and up at the Block. If you can’t catch fish there then pick up another hobby.
Went clamming out at Nappatree yesterday. Lots of small bait in the water but did not see anything else.
Rough summer! Had only 2 great sunset fishes at watch hill. Big blues and striper on lite tackle. Last three hours of ebb. Otherwise very quiet. Lots of bait. Not many fish