Big striped bass have shown up at Block Island, while knot-head black sea bass have shown up just about everywhere.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
The Frances Fleet in Narragansett reported some quality fishing this week, including a solid marathon fluke trip on Monday. Many anglers left with fluke limits, with a few fish around 8 pounds battling it out for the top pool spot. On top of the fluke, they also had a full boat limit of sea bass to 5 pounds. The fishing has been similar on the half-day trips as well. When the drift is going good, they have managed fluke to 9 pounds, and when the drift dies out they transition to limits of sea bass. These marathon trips will continue to sail every Monday this summer at 5 AM! Call the office for reservations.
Captain Russ, of The Seven B’s in Narragansett, reported good fluke fishing this past week whenever the drift has allowed. During the slower stages of the tide the fluke bite has been dying down, but luckily there are plenty of sea bass around to keep things interesting. A few trips this week have seen full boat limits of sea bass along with some nice fluke, a couple bluefish and some big scup. For July they will be running half-day fluke trips in both the morning and again in the afternoon from Monday through Saturday. On Sundays they will run the morning half-day trip with an extended sunset trip leaving in the early afternoon, sailing from 1 to 8pm.
Captain Brian, of Big Game Sportfishing in Wakefield, had another great week of fishing around the island this week. The striped bass fishing has steadily improved and the bigger fish seemed to have really settled in this week. The fluke fishing was also very productive around the island this week, as the issues with dogfish seem to be lessening. Sea bass fishing has been good at the island and on the local wrecks, and there are some dinner-plate scup in the mix with them.
Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, told me that the mid bay, lower bay and south shore are starting to produce some decent striped bass catches, as the rivers have now heated up quite a bit. Big scup are reported in Jamestown, Newport, Tiverton and Narragansett, while sea bass and fluke have been steady on the south shore and at Block. Dave is now open at 4:30 AM on the weekends and open until 9 PM every night.
Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly reported some solid fluke fishing off the local beaches this past week, with quite a few 4- to 5-pound fish being caught. The fluking around the island has also improved as the dogfish numbers dropped. Black sea bass fishing has been very good, but you need to continue to target the deeper holes and rock piles. A good amount of bunker has brought some bigger bass into the Little Narragansett Bay area; while a ton of schoolies recently showed up along the local beaches.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, told me that the big bass showed up quickly and with a bang this week at Block Island. He weighed in a fish that came in just under the 60-pound mark and heard of many more in the 30- to 40-pound range. Locally, the mouth of the river has more bunker, which has resulted in some decent bass in the mouth and on the adjacent reefs and rips. Bass reports have been steady at Plum Gut and The Race, and there have been a couple more bluefish in the mix as well. The fluke fishing has been tough, with most anglers reporting a real struggle to put up a limit. Sea bass fishing on the other hand, has been as good as or better than ever. All the reefs and humps west of the river have been producing great fish and things are just starting to get going to the east and in Rhode Island.
Lou, at Hillyers in Waterford, reported that the schoolie action has been strong this week and shore anglers have been catching all over the area. Some larger bass have been caught at The Race on jigs, and the local reefs are starting to put up some decent fish. Fluke action has been hit or miss this week, but the scup action has been tremendous. Sea bass action has been very good in Rhode Island and is starting to get going better in the eastern sound.
Mike Roy, of Reel Cast Charters, told me that some better fish have started to show in eastern CT, as the bunker have made their way over from the western sound. Good numbers of quality bass are still holding in the Western Sound and this upcoming heat wave should help push a good number of them east. Mike has also done a few bottom fishing trips and said that the sea bass and scup fishing is strong out in the deeper water.
The crew at Black Hall Outfitters reports that the Connecticut River has filled in with bait and the bass have followed, from Essex to Saybrook Point. Anglers 3-waying live bunker on the local reefs are starting to produce better fish. Sea bass limits can be found all over the mid sound, while fluke action is hot some days and slower on others. Large baits, such as 6” gulp with a spearing, has been a top producer.
Joe, at Rivers End in Old Saybrook, said that the bass fishing in the CT River has seen a small improvement this week and it seems that more and more bunker have settled in each day. There were reports of school bass along the Rhode Island beaches crashing loads of sand eels too. That same pile of bass seems to go from Wicopesset Passage to the Race. Blues are mixed with the school bass along the RI beaches. The RI beaches are loaded with sand eels and some squid, so the fluke have still been biting, although you need to be prepared to pick through shorts. Sea bassing is still very good, with limits common, mostly in the mid-western end of the sound. They’re starting to filter into the rest of the sound now.
Heather, from the Black Hawk in Niantic, told me that rods are bending non-stop as jumbo porgies, slammer sea bass, and a mix of a few fluke, bluefish and even a handful of mackerel come over the rails. Captains Greg and Seth are at the helm of these 7:00 AM, all day trips with customers leaving for home with full coolers and smiling faces. On the striped bass scene, Capt. Matt is crushing ’em on the night trips. They fished Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights this past week. Full boat limits every night, with a lot of fish pushing well over 40 lbs. Saturday night showed some big fish- special congrats to 12 year old Ethan, who caught a 41 1/2 pound bass- and reeled it in himself!
Captain TJ, at Rock and Roll Charters, reported that the bass fishing has slowed down a bit, with more short fish showing up this week. Despite the influx of schoolies, there are still some small tide windows where fish to 30 pounds have been popping up. Sea bass action remains very good and there are jumbo porgies in the mix most days.
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
The oppressive heat appears to be leaving just in time for the weekend, and while it may have been uncomfortable, it seems to have helped usher in some true summer fishing. Striped bass action has accelerated quite a bit in the central and eastern sound; while the annual Block Island cow invasion seems to have kicked off with a bang. Fluke fishing has slowed down a bit, with quite a few shorts, but the black sea bass action has picked up the slack, with great numbers and sizes across the area.