Some tough winds and seas last weekend started to get the striped bass and bluefish on the move, but the above-average temperatures have kept the tautog and sea bass biting like it’s early October.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
Captain Russ, of The Seven B’s in Narragansett, reports that the tautog fishing remains very good despite some challenging weather last weekend. The pool fish on most trips eclipsed the 10-pound mark, and most customers have managed limits. Black sea bass is beginning to wind down, but a few quality fish remain in the mix. More and more cod are starting to come over the rails as well, which is making things interesting. Tautog trips will continue to sail from Wednesday through Sunday from 6-4, and private charters are still available for scheduling aboard the Jeanie B.
Plenty of options remain available according to the guys at The Saltwater Edge in Middletown. The South County beaches are still putting up some 10- to 20-pound keeper striped bass and very heavy bluefish. The Newport area is also still holding some schools of bass and blues, but most angling attention around the bay has been focused on tautog. The tautog fishing has been red hot, and the unseasonably warm water has not yet moved many of the fish to deeper water. Out on the Cape, the offshore anglers have been into a very strong bluefin bite for the past ten days or so, and most believe that the bite should remain consistent for a few more weeks.
At Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle, most anglers are still targeting tautog, and most are reporting a very good bite whenever the weather has allowed some proper anchoring. Shore-bound anglers are also finding keeper fish around the mouth of the breachways, as the fish remain in rather shallow water. The striped bass and bluefish bite has become a bit more inconsistent over the past week, but surfcasters are still finding some good fish around East Beach and inside of the breachways. Twenty-pound bass have not been out of the ordinary, but they seem to be moving through in waves so some patience is required.
Mike, at Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly, heard quality reports from just about every tautog angler that was able to get out this week. The bite remains strong on the shallow rockpiles inside Fishers Island Sound, and with the water temperatures hovering around 60, the fish have not yet moved to deeper structure. The black sea bass bite has also been very strong for those still targeting them, with most reporting good success in the same areas that they were looking for fluke in the summer. Pink house has been a sea bass hotspot for many anglers over the past few days. There is still quite a bit of bait out front, and a few reports of good striped bass catches came from the east beach area over the past few days. The striper bite is becoming a bit sporadic, and for better action Mike recommends checking out the inside of the salt ponds.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Hillyers in Waterford reports the tautog fishing in the Waterford area has been very consistent, and despite having to weed through some shorts, there are plenty of keeper fish around. A few fish around the 10-pound mark were reported this week, and a 17.75-pound beast also hit the scales. It appears that an abundance of short fish is more of an issue than a lack of quality fish. Black sea bass fishing has remained consistent since the season opened, and this week is no different. Anglers are finding quality sea bass in 80 to 100 feet of water, with clams or squid working equally well. Some big bluefish are also in the area, and can be found close to home. The Millstone Outflow has produced blues to 10 pounds, while those that traveled to The Race and Plum Gut have found even bigger fish. Striped bass fishing has been a bit spottier, but a few locals reported small keepers blitzing around Black Point over the past few days.
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, reported that incredible bass blitzes around the mouth of the Connecticut River have started to quiet down. Blitzing schoolie fish can still be found with some regularity, but it appears most of the bigger fish have moved on. Bass fishing in the western sound from New Haven to Milford picked up over the past few days, so it looks like the bigger fish are heading west. Plenty of anglers are still targeting blackfish, and while most are reporting tons of shorts, some are still finding some very good fish in less than 20 feet of water. A few decent pike reports are starting to trickle into the shop, and that bite should blow open soon if the water temperatures ever start to drop.
Captain TJ, of Rock and Roll Charters in Clinton, reported that a good deal of the striped bass and bluefish have started to move west. There are still a few decent bass and monster blues to be had, but most customers have turned their attention to tautog fishing. The tautog bite has been excellent, with crazy numbers of fish landed on each trip. A good deal of the fish are sub-legal, but with a little work TJ has been finding limits of keepers. The weather feels more like September than November, and that should keep the excellent tautog fishing going strong for a few more weeks.
At Bobby J’s in Milford, Bobby is reporting that many local anglers are reaping the benefits of the bass and bluefish starting to move west. The mouth of the Housatonic has been very good for bass and blues, both day and night. The deeper western sound reefs are holding gator bluefish and a few 30-pound class striped bass. Fresh chunks have been working well on the reefs, but diamond jigging seems to be producing even better. Blackfish action has been great on all the local rockpiles and breakwaters. Like most areas short blackfish dominate the catch, but if you put a little time in you will be rewarded with some quality keepers for the table.
Best Bets For The Weekend
The recent heat wave has kept water temperatures at a more early October like level, and despite a slight cool-down this weekend, there will still be plenty of opportunities for great blackfishing and sea bassing. Striped bass and bluefish are on the move, but they haven’t made it too far yet. Both sides of the sound and parts of South County are still holding bass and blues, and will likely have another push over the next few days. Take advantage of the excellent early November weather this weekend, as we all know how quickly it can change in New England.
Sorry but this report is still at odds with reality, south shore RI is still dead as a doornail, and this time of year it should be on fire and for all the bait that was around, we should have had one of the best Fall fishing seasons in years. The upper bay still has some bait. I did make it out around East Providence last week and I saw a single snapper blue – and it was dying, on the surface on its side like it was sick – is something going on that we arent being told ?? At least Pickering tells the truth, issuing an honest report every few days that echoes what Im saying – loads of shore anglers complaining that the beaches of south county are DEAD. I’ll keep trying though, the water is only 56-57 degrees, but after this mini storm we are getting, it might be even worse.