Pictured above Big Game Sportfishing has been finding tog up to 9-pounds.Blackfish and cod are going strong in Rhode Island, while the Connecticut tidal rivers are starting to fill up with holdover striped bass.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
Captain Rich, of The Frances Fleet in Narragansett, told me that the wind machine has kept them tied to the dock for most of the week, but they found success last weekend and hope to do this same starting this coming Friday. Last Friday they had a good pick of fish on the blackfish grounds, with many anglers taking limits of nice white chinners. The biggest fish of the day came in at 8 pounds and many were in the 5- to 7-pound range. Captain Rich also had a very good Saturday on the full-day sea bass boat. They ended up with over 80 keeper haddock. They haven’t seen that many keepers in a single trip in years. They also managed to land a full limit of sea bass up to 5 pounds. As always, check with the office in advance to confirm sailing schedules.
Captain Russ, of The The Seven B’s in Snug Harbor, also had a successful Thanksgiving weekend on the water. There were plenty of blackfish limits across the boat and a few anglers managed a limit within an hour. Pool fish continue to come in around the 8-pound mark and this weekend looks to be another good one to target white chins.
Big Game Sportfishing in Snug Harbor reports that they are still sailing for blackfish and they have been doing well whenever the weather has allowed. Most trips have seen fish hit the double-digit mark and limits remain pretty common. They are taking reservations for blackfish and cod trips, and they plan to sail through January if the weather corporates.
Fishing Report For Connecticut
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, told me that some solid blackfish reports came in to start the week and put a bow on the Connecticut season. Anglers who still have the itch can look to Rhode Island, as that season remains open. Schoolie striped bass can be found around the mouth of the Connecticut River, and the action in the Housatonic is also starting to heat up. The recent rains have brought the river up a bit, but not enough to negatively affect the pike fishing. The bite is picking up in most of the usual haunts, with fish taking large live/dead baits and bright-colored spinners and swimbaits.
Blackhall Outfitters told me that the blackfishing was strong right up to the opener and anglers that have transitioned to Rhode Island have still been finding some good catches. Holdover stripers are now staging up at the large river mouths, and they will continue to push upriver as the water temperatures drop. The latest rains have made things tough in the smaller streams and rivers, but the trout bite was strong before and should remain that way as the water levels drop. Look to the larger rivers for trout action at this point, as they are less affected by the high flows.
At Rivers End in Old Saybrook, Joe reports that the blackfish bite was still going as the season wrapped up and anglers in Rhode Island are still finding good catches. There are still some small striped bass in the mouth of the river and at The Shoal. While the Housatonic is starting to see schoolies staging up for the winter. In the freshwater, crappie and pike are starting to bite well in most of the Connecticut River coves.
Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reports that the fishing remains good out west, whenever the weather has allowed anglers to get out. Blackfish has now ended, but some big black sea bass are still coming from the deeper wrecks out that way. The last of the larger striped bass are concentrated to the west around the Hempstead area and the Housatonic action is picking up throughout the river. Anglers are finding bass from the mouth to the dam on SP Minnows, Mag Darters and smaller soft plastics. The herring should be in soon, which is always a good time and often produces a nice bass bite for a few weeks.
Torrey, at Upcountry Sportfishing, reports that high flows have kept some anglers off the water, but it hasn’t stopped guide Zach St. Amand from adapting to the conditions and catching some quality fish. Zach and his clients were able to find some beautiful browns last weekend, despite the 1,100 plus cfs flow. The goal when fishing the high water should be to look for some slower water where the fish can get out of the heavy current and adjust your flies and tactics. Streamers and nymphs are producing well, especially larger/gaudier offerings. Stick to the bigger/wider pools and fish your streamers or nymphs slow and deep, down near the bottom. Expect to lose a few flies to snags, if you don’t, you probably aren’t fishing deep enough.
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
As we transition to our late fall/pre-winter fishing, things tend to quiet down a bit. That doesn’t mean there aren’t strong fishing opportunities still out there. Saltwater anglers can look to Rhode Island for good cod and blackfish action, especially with some milder weather coming this weekend. Schoolie striped bass can be found throughout the sound and the Rhode Island coast, but holdover action in the tidal rivers should steadily increase each day and usually involves a few bigger fish in the mix. Freshwater anglers can look to good cold-water pike and smallmouth bass action, while trout fishing remains strong in the Farmington despite the high flows.