Some tricky weather patterns, along with some inconsistent migration patterns, have made striped bass fishing a bit tougher this week. The good news is that quality bass were still had by those who put in the effort, and that should only improve as we get into our more regular summer patterns.
Connecticut Fishing Report
James, at Rivers End in Old Saybrook, reported that the Connecticut River is cleaning up and the bite is picking back up, with fish to 20 pounds on the flats. The Race is starting to produce some decent bass for drifters and trollers, and remains a better bet than the local reefs, which are still slow. Big bluefish are now mixed in pretty heavily with the bass in the lower Connecticut, as well as the lower Housatonic. Plum Gut is also starting to fill up with feeding bluefish, as more and more make their way into the sound. Fluke are biting locally; unfortunately most have been on the short side. Gardiners Island, the Ruins and Montauk are producing better numbers of keepers, while Block also continues to produce if you could get past the dogfish. Keeper scup have been reported at Hatchets and Black Point, and should be on all the local rockpiles by next week.
Captain TJ, of Rock and Roll Charters, reported another good week on the striped bass front, but noted that the fish have yet to fall into any sort of pattern. Some trips this week produced good numbers of 20-pound bass, while others struggled to get keepers on board. A nice 39-pound fish was recently caught and released, and was the highlight of the week. Captain TJ reported that some good fish have been on the move in the western sound, and that should result in better fish settling in out east as the water warms.
Rich, at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk, reported that the hot bass bite of last weekend has cooled, as the fish seemed to have moved east. Action has remained consistent around the islands for 15- to 25-pound fish, with the best results coming from chunked bunker after dark. A 32-pound fish was reported from the islands this week, along with a 45-pound fish from Fairfield; so there are still some big fish to be had for those that put the time in. Fluke action has been very good in local waters but the best action has been over in New York, plenty of fish but lots of shorts—the bite seems to be centered around 25 feet of water. Decent numbers of bluefish have moved in, and some gators have been reported on topwater from the mid-sound area. Sea bass and scup have started off slow out west, but reports are picking up and the better fish should be right around the corner.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
At The Saltwater Edge in Middletown, word is that the striped bass fishing has slowed down a bit locally for the guys fishing Newport waters and in the bay. While that bite has slowed down, the bite at Block Island has started to pick up the slack. Boat anglers are reporting more numbers and better quality fish around the island, including at 48-incher that was caught and released in a tournament over the weekend. Shore anglers are also starting to report more fish around the island, but sizes haven’t been spectacular just yet. Fluke fishing has been worth the effort in local waters, with some decent fish reported over the past few days. Scup fishing has really started to get going in the bay and out front, and early indications are that quantities and sizes are very good.
Steve McKenna, at Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle in North Kingstown, reported that the local surf has been producing good numbers of striped bass for him, but the amount of big fish in the area seems to have dwindled a bit. A local surf regular did manage a 38-pound bass over the weekend, and Steve believes it is a good sign of things to come as the water warms and cleans up. There are still some good bass to be had in the upper bay, if you can locate a good school of bunker. This bite has been ongoing for a few weeks now, but has gotten less consistent, as the bunker schools are moving around quite a bit and getting harder to locate. Fluke fishing has been up and down, with most anglers managing some keepers if they put in the effort, while scup fishing has greatly picked up on all the local rockpiles.
Tom, at The Tackle Box in Warwick, reported a number of quality striped bass caught in the bay this week, but noted that locations have been changing daily and sometimes hourly. Local hotspots such as the Hurricane Barrier, the power plant, Rocky Point and Cominicut Point have all seen some good bass this week, but as quick as the reports come in the fish seem to move on to the next spot. Fresh chunks of bunker have accounted for nearly all the good fish in the bay, and as usual locating the bait schools will greatly up your chances. Bluefish have moved into the area, and 10-plus-pound gators are being caught throughout the bay with some consistency. Cominicut Point and Rocky Point have also been home to some great scup reports this week, with fish all the way to 17 inches reported. Black sea bass are stealing up fluke and scup rigs with regularity, and while the season is not yet open, it is a good sign for the upcoming season. Tom also mentioned that the early summer freshwater bite has been a strong one, with great largemouth bass fishing reported throughout the area, and a few pike of 40 inches reported recently as well.
At Breachway Bait and Tackle in Charlestown, some decent bass were reported from the South County beaches this week on fresh bunker chunks. The local charter fleet also reported solid bass fishing on the local reefs this week, with plenty of keepers and a few cows in the mix. The local surf crowd has been busy with school-class bass by day and better fish after dark, both from the beaches and breachways. Fluke fishing has continued to slowly but surely pickup off the local beaches, and remains much better at Montauk. Good-sized scup are also starting to show up on the local reefs, and it shouldn’t be long before the shore crowd starts to chime in with reports.
Best bets for the weekend
The striped bass fishing in southern New England took a turn to the inconsistent side over the past few days, as the fish seem to be just starting to settle in to their summer haunts. While the action has been varied, and may require some moving around, there appears to be no shortage of good bass for those willing to put in the time. The fluke are here, but hitting some lesser known spots can pay dividends, as many of the hotspots have been fished hard.