Rhode Island Fishing Report – December 10, 2015

The weather and the tautog bite may be better now than it was in late October, while the cod bite continues to improve by the day. Warm surface temperatures have woken up our trout streams and have anglers thinking more about launching their boat than dusting off their ice gear.

Rhode Island Fishing Report

Captain Russ, of The Seven B’s in Narragansett, reported that the mild weather has helped to spark more interest in late season fishing, and has also served to provide some excellent late season results. Most tautog trips have resulted in full boat limits, with pool fish in the 9-10 pound range. Keeper sea bass and cod remain in the mix, and most anglers are taking home a few of each species. Tautog trips will continue to sail from 6 AM to 4 PM Wednesday through Sunday until the season closes on the 15th, and private charters are available aboard the Jeanie B over the weekend. Once tautog season closes the fleet will start targeting cod, and early results from the cod grounds have been good.

Captain Frank, of The Frances Fleet in Narragansett, is continuing to find a great bite on all of the cod and tautog trips. The overall numbers of cod have been steadily rising, and over the past week the numbers of quality keeper fish has greatly improved. 10-15 pound fish are now becoming quite common, and this past Saturday’s trip saw two fish at nearly 25-pounds. One of the big fish hit a large Viking jig, while the other took a fresh clam; as both methods continue to produce equally. High hook on most trips has taken home 6-8 quality fish, and a good mess of sea bass; which also remain very plentiful. Large scup from 15-21 inches are also coming over the rails for anglers fishing smaller hooks. Tautog trips have been even more successful, with nearly every trip seeing full boat limits, and the pool fish coming in around 10-pounds. Cod and sea bass trips will sail on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and weekends from 6-3, while tautog trips will sail daily at 6 AM until the season closes on the 15th, aboard the Lady Frances.

Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, reported that the bulk of the saltwater anglers in the area have been out targeting cod. Many of the smaller charters are out of the water for the season, but the head boats are still running, and catching. Tautog anglers are still buying up crabs and tackle, and most are reporting good results. The warm temperatures have kept a few keeper tog around in the shallows, but for the most part anglers are finding them in much deeper water. Freshwater anglers have been taking advantage of the mild temperatures as well. Many of the trout stocked lakes and ponds are fishing very well, and the largemouth bass bite has been strong just about everywhere. The Blackstone River is living up to its reputation as the best trout stream in the state, and also producing good numbers of fish.

Mike, at Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly, reported that many of his customers have been finding quality tautog fairly close to home. The fish are generally holding in 50+ feet of water, but mild temperatures have resulted in some good catches in as little as 30 feet of water. Cod fishing is very good at the East Grounds, and most anglers are also going home with limits of black sea bass as well. There have been large schools of herring around the beaches, but not too many people fishing them. With temperatures climbing into the 60’s this weekend, it may be worth giving surfcasting one last shot.

Connecticut Fishing Report

Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, had customers buying up crabs right up to the season closer last week, and many might head out to Rhode Island this weekend for one last shot at tautog. The holdover striper hunters are reporting great results in the Housatonic River, but the lower Connecticut is also still holding good numbers of school bass. Reports from the Thames also picked up this week, so you shouldn’t have much trouble finding schoolies in any of the big three rivers. Cod gear is also flying off the shelves much more than in year’s past, with most anglers reporting great results around Block Island. Warm surface temperatures have resulted in some excellent trout fishing, and the usual spots along the Salmon River have produced well this week. Pike fishing is excellent in the Connecticut River coves, as the fish are in more of a mid-November pattern than mid-December right now.

Ian, at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk also reported a great increase in striped bass action from the Housatonic River regulars this week. Fairly large schools of bass seem to be spread out throughout the river and it is not out of the question to find a school and have it all to yourself. The western sound herring push seems to be taking off, as anglers are reporting snagging them on diamond jigs by accident while fishing the Norwalk area. The Saugatuck Reservoir has seen a good deal of attention over the past few weekends, and anglers have reported good trout catches to 4-pounds. The smallmouth bite has also been strong on most days, but the walleye bite has yet to really take off.

Torrey, at Upcountry Sportfishing in Pine Meadow, reported that fishing along the Farmington River has been way above average over the past few weeks. Total flow in the Riverton area was around 234 cfs earlier this week, which is a very nice medium level for fishing and wading. Nymphs, steamers and dries have all been working well this week, with quite a few 16-18 inch fish coming on all presentations. With surface temps on the rise once again this weekend, fishing throughout the Farmington should be just about as good as it gets for mid-December.

Best bets for the weekend

While ice fishermen who may have been hoping for a hardwater Christmas present may be upset, the bulk of the New England anglers should be thrilled about seeing 60 degrees forecasted in the middle of December. December tautog and cod fishing is usually a rough proposition, reserved for only die-hard anglers, but this weekend will be anything but. Look to cash in on one last tautog trip while the season is open, or take advantage of some excellent cod and sea bass action off Block Island. Schoolie striped bass can provide hours of tight-lines throughout Connecticut, while freshwater anglers have unlimited options across both states.