Blackfish has closed in Connecticut, but action is accelerating in Rhode Island; while striped bass are being taken across the beaches, in the river mouths and upriver around the herring runs.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
Captain Frank, of the Frances Fleet in Narragansett, is happy that one of the wettest and windiest Aprils in recent months has come to an end and they are looking forward to fluke season. It has opened, but they will likely wait until the second weekend of the month to get out there. Water temperatures are still a bit low and should be climbing soon. Once they pick a start date, they plan on sailing daily at 7 a.m. They are taking charter requests for the upcoming season as well, so be sure to check in with the office for sailing schedules and reservations.
Captain Russ, of The Seven B’s in Snug Harbor reported that the cod fishing remains slow and they are looking forward to the upcoming fluke season. They will likely start sailing for them in mid to late-May and they may also add some squid trips this season, depending on the bite. Be sure to check in with office for updated schedules and reservations.
Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly reports that the striped bass fishing has picked up quite a bit this week, with some keeper sized fish being taken around the breachways, along with good numbers of schoolies. Schoolies are also being taken regularly in the river, where both herring and some bunker continue to move in. Tautog reports have been quiet, mainly due to low efforts, but that should be picking up as more boats hit the water in the next two weeks or so.
Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, told me that the tautog reports have been picking up nicely in the area, including a 25-inch beauty taken in the Fall River area. Overall, keeper fish have been coming from most of the state; including the South County rockpiles, Newport and around the Providence River. Bass have been active at times in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers, as well as India Point Park. There are some fresh bass showing up each day along the beaches and Pt. Judith; while the biggest fish are still being taken around the herring runs. There have been a few anglers that were able to fill buckets of squid at Sakonnet and Goat Island, but it hasn’t blown open just yet. The DEM has recently re-stocked trout, and have included some salmon and tiger trout, so there has been no shortage of trout action.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, told me that reports remained quiet over the week, due to the extreme flooding in the Connecticut River. Luckily, the river has receded quite a bit over the past few days and is starting to clean up. Anglers dunking sandworms around the Middletown area are starting to catch consistently; while anglers throwing artificials are faring better around the mouth where it is cleaner. The herring runs should start to produce better this week, as the water continues to clean-up but flow well. There are some schools of bunker and fresh bass starting to show up around New Haven Harbor, and they should continue to spread out quickly. The shad bite should start to improve as the floods recede, and the Farmington River area has already started to produce well.
Josh, at Three Belles Outfitters in Niantic, said reports are coming in of fresh striped bass in both quantity and quality, with confirmed catches up to 38″ west of the Connecticut River. Cold nights and heavy rain have dropped water temps and increased stream flows, but small rivers should be back to normal if the forecasted rain is in fact just showers. The CT. River is still high, but clarity has improved some. The tidal Housatonic is still putting out some nice catches as we head into May, but that bite will soon fizzle. Squid have been reported from the New Haven area. Bunker sightings have been reported from New Haven, Westbrook, and we even saw osprey diving on a small pod in Smith Cove of the Niantic River. Freshwater bass fishing has been up and down, and depending on the body of water, bass are either already geared up to spawn or still staged. Water temps have dropped quite a bit over the past week, so look for your early/mid-April presentations to still be working. The bite remains steady at places like Candlewood, Bantam, and Highland Lake.
Chris, at Black Hall Outfitters told me that all eyes are on striped bass now that blackfish has closed in CT. They are hearing more and more reports of fish moving along the beaches and being caught on sand worms and soft plastics. The river mouths and herring runs remain the best bet at finding a bigger fish. Bunker are showing up and that will really usher in the first push of larger fish. The Hyperplastic Dart Spins are flying off the shelves at the shop. Either on a jig head or rigged with their weighted swimbait hook, both varieties are producing well. The first bluefish of the season are now confirmed, which is a very welcome sign here in Long Island Sound after their disappearing act last season. On the freshwater front, pre spawn bass are eagerly eating before they get on the beds and have been falling to slow twitched jigs and jerk baits.
Joe, at Rivers End in Old Saybrook, told me that he has been hearing a lot more striper reports this week from the lower CT River. Anglers are catching well on sandworms at most of the usual haunts in Old Saybrook and Old Lyme. There have been steady reports of schoolies in the central sound, with New Haven Harbor really blowing up over the past few days. There is said to be some bunker from New Haven to Westbrook, and that should help usher in the larger bass very soon.
Mike Roy, of Reel Cast Charters, reports that the striped bass bite continues to steadily improve, as the climbing water temps and herring numbers producing more bass activity. Keeper fish are starting to become more common and they are readily hitting topwater plugs.
The guys at Bobby J’s in Milford told me that small stripers have spread out throughout all the beaches in the area, and some keeper fish are starting to be introduced to the mix. There are still some better fish hanging around the herring runs, but action has been up and down. Winter flounder action has been decent from the Norwalk area and the Housatonic, especially for those chumming heavily on the warmer days. Many of the trout streams across the state have been re-stocked and flows remain clean and very good.
Best bets for the weekend
Blackfish action seems to be picking up quite a bit in Rhode Island, and I would anticipate more and more reports in the coming weeks. Fresh striped bass are showing up along the beaches in both states, and the first reports of bunker are very encouraging. There should be plenty of opportunities to find some quality bass fishing along the beaches this weekend, as well as around the herring runs; which remain the best bet for a bigger fish. Freshwater bass fishing has been very good in both states; while trout re-stockings have kept things going strong in the rivers.