Rhode Island Fishing Report – October 22, 2015

Tautog and sea bass show no signs of slowing down, while an abundance of bait along the coastline has most anglers thinking that we are not yet even close to the end of the fall bass and bluefish run.

Rhode Island Fishing Report

Captain Russ, of The Seven B’s in Narragansett, made the transition to tautog fishing as of October 18th and the results have been very good. Most customers are coming home with coolers full of fresh tog, and there are still a good number of nice sea bass on the same patches of hard bottom. The scup are starting to thin out, but a few large ones were still in the mix as well. Tautog trips will sail from Wednesday thru Sunday from 6 AM – 4 PM, and private charters are still available aboard the Jeanie B.

The fall fishing remains very good according to the guys at The Saltwater Edge in Middletown. The beaches are loaded with acres of peanut bunker and there have been large schools of bass harassing them. Most of the bass are on the smaller side, but action is hot and heavy through most of the daylight hours. The upper bay is also holding plenty of peanuts, and the warmer temperatures have some large bluefish and good numbers of bass up there as well. Tautog fishing has been excellent on all of the shallow rockpiles inside and outside of the bay, and also along the Jamestown and Narragansett shoreline.

At Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle, reports from local surfcasters have slowed down a touch since the crazy bite that was going on at the beginning of the month, but action still remains steady. There are plenty of schoolies to small keeper class striped bass around Jamestown and Newport. In South County bluefish to 15 pounds are still hanging around the mouth of the breachways, and the number of 10-12 pound gators is very good. While most of the striped bass are of the smaller variety, fish to 37 pounds were still around this week. Based on the amount of large bait in the area, and the warmer temperatures, we are likely to see another push of quality fish before all is said and done. Tautog fishing is excellent across the state, and shore anglers are getting in the mix around Narragansett and around the breachways.

Mike, at Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly, also mentioned that the striped bass fishing has slowed a bit, but he has heard of a few 20- to 25-pound fish over the past few days. The river is still full of adult bunker and peanuts are all over the place out front, so it’s safe to say that the fall run is far from over; however you may have to put in some time to locate better fish. Tautog reports have been very good on all of the shallow rockpiles in South County and inside Fishers Island Sound, with good numbers of keeper sea bass holding tight in many of the same spots.

Connecticut Fishing Report

Niantic Bay was inundated with a good push of striped bass this week, according to Hillyers in Waterford. Most of the bass are schoolies to small keepers, but some decent keepers have been found feeding on the adult bunker that also moved into the area. Millstone is also holding good numbers of small striped bass, and it hasn’t been out of the ordinary to find a few false albacore in the mix. The big bluefish have not vacated the area just yet, as anglers have found fish to 16 pounds around New London. Most of the reports mentioned that the schools of blues are thinning, and take a bit more time to locate. As expected, tautog and black sea bass fishing are still going strong across the eastern sound.

Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, reported that most of his customers have transitioned to blackfishing over the past week or so, and results have been very good. The fish have been on shallow rockpiles and mussel beds, which is allowing anglers to utilize light gear and jigs. Anglers that are still targeting striped bass are finding good results all around the mouth of the Connecticut River, and also in Niantic Bay; which has taken off over the past two days. Most of the bass have been blitzing the surface, and can be found if you’re willing to motor around a bit. Pike fishing in the Connecticut should get going any day now as the fall weather approaches, but reports have been quiet thus far.

Rivers End in Old Saybrook reports that the bass action inside the Connecticut River is yet to slow down. Fish have been seen blitzing from the mouth all the way to Essex, as the actively feed on peanut bunker. Swimming plugs and soft plastics are catching, but large spooks seem to be the top producer this week. Surfcasters are finding fish around Watch Hill and at the Rhode Island breachways. Niantic Bay and Jordan Cove have schools of small bluefish, and keep an eye out for false albacore; which have been mixed in with these small blues. Tautog action has been solid, but most are reporting a ton of shorts to find a few keepers. Water temperatures are still on the high side, and the fishing for large whitechins should only improve with a drop of a few degrees.

Captain TJ, of Rock and Roll Charters in Clinton, reported that the bottom fishing has yet to slow down, with big black sea bass holding on structure all over Long Island Sound. Tautog fishing also started out very hot as far as action, but again short fish have dominated the catch. Limits of keeper tautog are still coming for most of his customers, but a bit of patience is involved. TJ also feels that the above average water temperatures are to blame for the high short-to-keeper ratio, and that should be changing soon. TJ hasn’t had much of a problem getting his customers on quality bluefish this week, and reported catching some of the largest gators of the year.

Weekend Forecast

The weekend looks like a good one, as we get over the recent blow and more fall-like temperatures settle in. Tautog action has been very good, and some cooler temps should start to improve the short to keeper ratio. Bunker, both adult and juvenile, are still spread out throughout New England, so look to spots like the large tidal rivers and breachways for some hungry bass and bluefish.