The weather is finally improving and the tautog are still cooperating, while school striped bass are getting increasingly active as they hit their pre-holdover stage.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
Captain Mike, of the Frances Fleet in Narragansett, reported a tough go earlier this week due to some gale force winds, but they got out there Wednesday and the fish were still biting. They stayed close to home on the blackfish trip and had plenty of fishing time and keepers. High hook caught 12 keepers and most anglers were able to find at least a few keepers, despite tricky conditions. Captain Rich also managed a successful cod/sea bass trip on Wednesday, with an easy limit of big sea bass and a decent mix of cod to 13-pounds.
Captain Brian, of Big Game Sportfishing, reported another solid week of fishing with boat limits of tautog and strong numbers of sea bass on most trips. Some nice cod have started to show up in the mix and the numbers seem to be slowly and steadily improving. Whenever they have transitioned from targeting tautog to sea bass/cod, they have found quite a few sea bass and bigger cod each trip.
Captain Kelly, from C-Devil II Sportfishing in Narragansett, reports continued quality tautog action, whenever Mother Nature has allowed them to leave the dock. They have been easily hitting their daily limits, with time to spare for some great catch and release action. They have had several fish between 12 and 15-pounds over the past week, so quality appears to be no issue right now. After a bit of a blow this upcoming weekend things should start to clear up, so we should see continued strong fishing next week.
Captain Wade, of Booked Off Charters, told me that they have still been beating up on the tautog whenever the weather has allowed. Each trip has seen relatively easy boat limits, and a bunch of big females that have been released. There is still a good deal of sea bass in the mix and the cod numbers continue to slowly improve. The offshore cod grounds are said to be holding even better numbers of bigger fish, so a few of those trips may be in the mix soon as well.
Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly in Westerly reports that the tautog fishing remains red hot, with most anglers finding easy limits if the weather cooperates a bit. Surf anglers are still reporting good numbers of striped bass along the beaches, but it’s getting tough to find anything over 28-inches or so. There is still a good deal of herring around, but the larger bass haven’t seemed to notice. The black sea bass action remains good, but they have moved to deeper water; with the best reports coming from Coxes and Shark Ledge.
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Fishing Report For Connecticut
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown told me that the wind and cold last week slowed down the blackfish reports a bit, but when anglers have gotten out have been rewarded with quality fishing. All the waters around Fishers Island have producing well, and there have still been some reports of decent fish in the Niantic Bay area. 30-40 feet remains the hot zone for big tog, but some decent fish are coming from just shallower and deeper than that as well. School striped bass are still breaking all over the mouth of Niantic Bay and the Thames, while the holdover haunts are also starting to load up with the recent cold temps.
Josh, at Three Belles Outfitters in Niantic in Niantic, says the major tidal rivers are the hotspots for holdover striped bass, but those who are still looking are finding great action out front. Beaches from Weekapaug to Norwalk are producing schoolies and small keeper bass. Soft plastics and bucktails are outfishing hard baits, but small pencils, minnow plugs, and metals are working well at times too. The blackfish bite shows no signs of slowing down, but fish are starting to move a bit deeper. Many anglers are turning to freshwater this time of year for solid action. Black crappie and yellow perch are providing great opportunities for fast action in many lakes, ponds, and river coves. Largemouth bass are a great test of patience and skill as we approach winter. Jigs, drop shot, jerkbaits and finesse swimbaits will all produce. Pay close attention to weather patterns and try to time your bass trips within a stretch of consistent conditions. Smallmouth bass remain active as well, hitting a variety of slow moving, close to bottom presentations. Pike fishing has slowed down for those throwing artificial lures but has picked up for those using large live baits.
Black Hall Outfitters reports that the CT holdover striped bass season has officially started. Just about every creek and river mouth is holding fish right now, with some nice ones being taken after dark. Soft plastics seem to be the best bet, but small SP Minnows and Mag Darters have been leaving the shelves pretty quick as well. The settling weather and slight warming trend should keep this bite strong through the holiday next week. The blackfish finale is approaching, but there’s still time to fill the freezer, with the deeper structure in the eastern sound producing some nice limits.
Black Hawk Sportfishing reports that they are still finding some strong fishing whenever the weather has allowed. The combo trips have been producing good numbers of sea bass and scup, while the cod are starting to chew better as well; including a nice slug of cod over 20-pounds that they found last week. The blackfishing remains strong as well, with many limits around the boat on most trips. Their trips are now based on weather and will be posted as soon as they become available. Be sure to check their website or Facebook for updated scheduling.
Upcountry Sportfishing reports that the more moderate daytime temperatures has started to result in better action along the Farmington. The afternoon bite has been the best bet, due to the increasing temperatures and increasing bug activity. The exception to the afternoon bite has been the morning caddis bite, which has started to accelerate on these colder mornings.
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Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
The weather appears to be cooperating for CT anglers, who have one more week left to hammer the blackfish that are still biting well. Blackfish, cod and sea bass are still cooperating in Rhode Island; while the school bass/early holdover bite is starting to hit its stride across both states.