The nightshift crew is finding some hefty striped bass across the region, while light-tackle anglers are fired up over their first bonito of the season. Big fluke are rewarding patient eastern sound anglers and an abundance of blue crabs and snappers indicates that we are still a good ways out from the fall.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
It was another strong week for The Frances Fleet in Narragansett. Captain Matt reported a banner day on the marathon trip, with what he called “stupid” fishing. The first drift saw 50 keepers come over the rails, and that was topped by the second drift, which saw 80! The biggest fluke of the day was just shy of 10 pounds, and a limit of sea bass to 5 pounds was also obtained. The marathon trips will continue to sail on Mondays for the next 3 weeks, and spots are filling up fast. The success carried over to an extent for the half day trips on Tuesday and Wednesday. The drift was fast, which hurt the fluking a bit, but a number of quality fish still made it to the coolers. Sea bass action remained great, with most anglers getting limits of fish to 4 pounds.
Captain Russ, of The Seven B’s in Snug Harbor, reported that they have been doing very well for black sea bass on recent trips, with plenty of limit catches. There are still a few really nice fluke coming over the rails on each trip, along with some large scup and the occasional bluefish. Half-day trips will continue on Monday through Saturday in the morning and afternoon; while Sunday’s will continue to have a morning half-day trip and an extended 1-8 PM trip in the afternoon.
Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, told me that everyone in South County is starting to get excited about the arrival of the bonito. These little speedsters are starting to show up sporadically throughout the area and anglers are finding them from the shore and boat. Bottom fishermen have focused their attention on black sea bass, as there remains plenty of fish around in the 3- to 5-pound range. The striped bass fishing remains red hot at Block Island with good fish on the ledge and tight to shore on the southeast side. The blue crabs are now thick throughout the state, with plenty of keepers in the salt ponds and backwaters of the bay.
Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly reports that the striped bass fishing has been consistent in a number of spots and a few fish over the 50-pound mark came through the shop last week. The local beaches are loaded with small bass providing some great light tackle action. Harbor blues have finally moved in, and are in better numbers around the Pawcatuck and in the bay. Fluke fishing is decent around Fishers, with some heavy fish mixed in with a good number of shorts; while scup and sea bass are red hot.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, told me that local fluke anglers are finally reporting some high quality fishing in the eastern sound. Deep structure around Hatchets, Black Point and Sara Ledge are producing some nice fish in deep water; look to target 75-125 feet. Limits of fish to 8 pounds are coming through the shop, with the bite being spurred on by the big numbers of snapper blues that have moved in. Sea bass action has picked up quite a bit as well, and they are also holding on similar deep structure. The rips and reefs just outside the Connecticut River are producing better bass, as the bunker schools have started to thicken quite a bit.
Lou, at Hillyers in Waterford, also mentioned that some better fluke have inundated local waters and several nice fish have been taken. 8-9 pound fish have been relatively common and fish over the 12-pound mark have also hit the scales. The Race is producing a decent bass bite for the nighttime crew and some better bluefish have decided to finally join the party as well. Scup has been very strong on all of the local hard bottom, with shore and boat anglers scoring some hubcaps.
Mike Roy, of Reel Cast Charters, reported that the striped bass fishing has continued to steadily improve every week and there is now plenty of adult bunker around the river with some good bass on them. Bluefish are slowly creeping into local waters but it is far from lock and load right now. All types of small baitfish are up and down the eastern sound shoreline, making the upcoming fall run look just as promising as last year.
The crew from Black Hall Outfitters reported that bonito fever has struck the eastern sound as well as Rhode Island, with fish being reported as far west as Fishers and The Race. Inshore fluking has improved to the point that anglers are barely considering running to Block anymore, with good catches from Westbrook to Groton. Sea bass and scup are all over the usual hotspots, while blue crabs and snappers are very abundant in the local tribs.
Rivers End Tackle in Old Saybrook was happy to report that the bass fishing has started to accelerate now that the bait schools have thickened up around the river. The usual reefs and rips around the river are producing quality bass and a decent slug of big fish have been around Fishers as well, although you may have to put some time in to find ‘em. You still need to head out towards The Race and Valiant Rock if you are in search of big blues, but the snappers have moved in big time around the DEEP dock and the causeway. Once again, the fluke fishing has really picked up around Hatchets and Black Point, and you can find plenty of sea bass and scup in the same stretches. The Connecticut River tribs are holding plenty of blue crabs and buckets are getting filled in short order.
Captain TJ, at Rock and Roll Charters, had good luck with striped bass this week on most trips. Quality fish to the low 30-pound class are in the mix and the majority of fish are over the 28-inch mark. When the tide windows for striped bass have closed, TJ has had no problem putting plenty of scup and some nice fluke on the boat.
Captain Bruce on The Otter once again managed some great striped bass trips over the past week or so, with fish up to the 50.5-inch mark being taken. Joe Furnaro got a limit of bass to 45 inches on Friday and Joy Boyer’s crew nearly matched them, with a limit to 44 inches on Saturday. The quality eastern sound fishing is only getting started, so be sure to book a trip with Capt. Bruce before he fills up.
At Fishermans World in Norwalk, Rich reported that the bass bite hasn’t given up just yet out west. Fishing between dusk and dawn has been the key to finding fish, but those putting in the night shift have had fish to 25 pounds. Fish can be found tight to the islands, on the shallower reefs and around the rivers. The bigger fish have been coming on bunker, but light-tackle and fly-anglers are scoring some nice fish as well. Blues remain scarce, outside of a few that are hanging tight to the bunker schools. Fluke fishing has been hit or miss and requires some moving around; while scup fishing has been great for shore and boat anglers throughout the area. Snapper bluefish are starting to thicken up in most of the tidal rivers and harbors.
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
Striped bass seem to have moved to a more productive stage of their summer patterns, with some big bass being taken across the eastern sound, Fishers Island Sound and around Block Island. The bite is much better post-sunset, but a little sleep deprivation has resulted in some great catches. Eastern Sound fluke anglers are finally being rewarded for their patience, with some of the best fishing of the year, in terms of both numbers and size. Scup and sea bass catches are very steady, while the arrival of the first schools of bonito have many anglers drooling over the upcoming fall run. The tidal estuaries are producing great numbers of blue crabs and snapper bluefish, so you don’t have to travel far to enjoy a productive trip on the water.