Rhode Island Fishing Report
The Frances Fleet in Point Judith reported an improvement in the full day fluke trips this week, with a few limit catches and pool fish coming in around 7-8-pounds. The sea bass fishing on the full day trips has also been good, with most anglers getting easy limits. The half day trips have been a bit tougher for fluke, but most anglers are going home with a nice bag of sea bass and scup. Reservations for all trips can be made online or by calling the office.
Cheri, at C-Devil II Sportfishing in Point Judith told me that the school bluefin bite has continued to be amazing south of the island. Side tracker spreader bars have been getting the job done, along with some sand eel imitators. There have also been some nice bonus mahi hanging around the weedlines in the same areas as the bluefin. The striper bite is also still great all around the island and there are big bluefish just about everywhere. Some nice fluke have shown up off the beaches over the past few days, while sea bass are still plentiful and will hit squid or jigs. Fall trips are starting to book fast, so be sure to check the website soon.
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Connor, at Tall Tailz Charters had another excellent week of fishing off Rhode Island. Big striped bass continue to hit live baits and slow trolled offerings on the ledges out front, and you can still find some nice topwater action in the mornings. They have been averaging fish from 30-40 pounds each trip, along with some slot fish. The fluke bite has been getting steadier in 50-60 feet of water, with chartreuse and green offerings being the top producers. The offshore trips have been excellent when the weather allows, with 30–50-inch bluefin on the troll and jig just offshore. Some big makos aren’t far from the tuna grounds and there have been reports of thresher sharks right off the beaches!
Captain Rick, at Priority Charters in Narragansett has been finding jumbo striped bass off Block Island, along with the Newport area. Slot fish have been a bit tougher to find, but they are out there, along with some gator bluefish. The fluke fishing remains tough in Rhode Island, but the sea bass fishing is picking up the slack. The school bluefin bite has stayed consistent south of Block Island and there remains a few giants in the mix, along with some mako and blue sharks.
Ian, at Ranger Charters in Newport has been finding striped bass of mixed sizes from slot to 40-pounds on fresh chunks in the evenings, and on the troll in the mornings. The bonito and mackerel have shown up in the area earlier than usual, and he is having success on small Hogy resin jigs.
Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, told me that the tuna bite is still solid at the Gully and Tuna Ridge. The striped bass fishing remains as steady as ever off the island and is starting to pick up at the canal. Fluke fishing is spotty at best, while the sea bass and scup fishing has remained strong around Block, the Bay and along the south shore. The blue crabbing has been strong in the salt ponds, while freshwater anglers are reporting a good largemouth bite on shiners and rubber worms.
Jay, at Pamela May Charters in Narragansett, is finding school to keeper size stripers, along with some gator bluefish feeding like crazy on the surface from Brenton Reef to Point Judith. Fluke fishing is up and down from day to day, while jumbo seabass are hitting small jigs and bait rigs. The chub mackerel are around in better numbers and a few more bonito seem to have filtered into the area. The bluefin are not as thick, but there are still plenty of school fish coming on the troll or under the bait schools on jigs.
Nick at Big Bear Hunting and Fishing reports that freshwater anglers had a good week of largemouth fishing with shiners and topwater lures around dawn and dusk. Saltwater fly fishermen are cashing in on the big pods of chub mackerel that have show up around Fort Adam’s and Point Judith. This is a great way to prep for the bonito and false albacore, and the shop will be all stocked with flies very soon.
Dustin, at Rhode Island Kayak Fishing Adventures is still seeing some consistent inshore action on the kayaks. Big striped bass and bluefish can be found throughout the Bay, while bottom fishing remains consistent for sea bass and scup. The fluke action is a bit tougher, but if you put in enough drifts, you’re likely to find some keepers. There are a few reports of bonito popping up around the state, along with some larger schools of chub mackerel. Some larger pods of bonito and the false albacore shouldn’t be too far behind!
Connecticut Fishing Report
Heather, from Blackhawk Sportfishing reports that the crew continues to see some strong fishing on most trips. The porgy fishing has been incredible, so much so that they make it difficult to get to the sea bass at times. Despite this, most trips are seeing big numbers of hubcap porgies and plenty of keeper sea bass. The fluke numbers aren’t quite as strong, but the quality of the keepers is seemingly improving each week. The Blackhawk is bringing back their Take a Kid Fishing program, which starts on Sunday July 25th at 1 p.m., and will continue each Saturday afternoon in August. These are shorter trips specifically created for families and children, and each adult must be accompanied by a child. Reservations are required for these trips and the rest of their trips, including the private charters, so be sure to contact Heather to book before it’s too late!
Andrew, at Fishin Factory III told me that the strong porgy bite has been the best bet for shore or boat anglers to bring home some fish. The near shore rockpiles from Hammonaset to Watch Hill have been holding nice fish that are more than willing to hit a sandworm, squid, or clams. Fluke fishing remains hit or miss, while sea bass action continues to pick up in deeper water. The few anglers targeting tautog are reporting good catches on shallow rockpiles. The deeper reefs and rockpiles in the Eastern Sound are starting to hold some nice striped bass, while surfcasters working the night shifts are finding a few nice bass in the shallows. Block Island remains as steady as always for big striped bass, as well as a steady bluefin bite. The tuna remain close enough to the island to cater to some smaller vessels, and many are catching on the troll and jigs.
Joe, at Joe Diorio Guide Service told me that fishing has picked up big time for him. He is finding stripers from 37-48-inches consistently on live eels, as well as casting GT eels and Joe Baggs Patriot Fish. He has also been able to get a few nice fish to rise to topwater offerings like the Doc and 247 Mully. The sea bass fishing has also picked up, with easy limits of fish to 24-inches on Joe Baggs Bottom Dwellers on jigheads.
Mike Roy of Reel Cast Charters told me that a big slug of gator bluefish has moved into the area and is making for some incredible light tackle action. The striper bite is still good, but they have been a bit finicky, so you need to be precise with your presentations. The sea bass fishing improved once again and is showing no signs of slowing. Mike still has a few slots open in August so be sure to contact him soon for a spot!
Captain Chris Elser was happy to report that the fishing in the western sound has been excellent in terms of size and numbers of striped bass and has been one of his more memorable summer seasons. He managed 3 fish over 40-pounds on Monday, including one fish that was pushing 50-pounds at 49 inches. He is also finding plenty of slot fish, and the interesting thing is that the bass of all sizes seem to prefer bubblegum tube and worm setups over live bait at the moment, but no one’s complaining with these results! Big bluefish are coming on both live bunker and the tubes, while the sea bass fishing is good enough to catch dinner most days.
Over at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk Max reports that the local striped bass fishing has remained solid, but the rising water temperatures has turned it into more of a night tide or first light bite. Fresh chunks of bunker fished during the night tides is your best bet and will remain so for most of the summer. There are still good numbers of bluefish in the deep water, as well as some schools inshore that are tearing through the local bunker pods. Fluke fishing has remained consistent in the Western Sound, with M3 Tackle Spoons producing fish in 30-60 feet of water. The wrecks and rockpiles in greater than 60 feet of water are holding some nice sea bass, while the scup fishing has been strong on all the local structure. The Calf Pasture Pier and Sherwood Island are producing some good scup catches for shore anglers.
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
We are in our typical and productive summer pattern, with a few added bonuses for mid-July. Big striped bass and bluefish can be found across our range and continue to feed voraciously at Block Island. The fluke fishing has been a bit of a struggle, but bottom fishermen are finding plenty of big sea bass and scup to keep the coolers full. The incredible bluefin bite that we have been blessed with this year has continued to improve, with reports of giants joining party in the waters off Block Island this week. The smaller tunoids are starting to make an appearance as well, with the first reports of green bonito joining the chub mackerel across Rhode Island. Those fishing the island should consider the Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament hosted by Block Island Fishworks. It should be a great tournament with great prizes, and the weather looks as if it will cooperate.
