Rhode Island Fishing Report
The Frances Fleet in Point Judith reported yet another small improvement in the full day fluke trips this week, with a few limit catches and most anglers finding 2-4 keepers. The sea bass fishing has remained strong and is helping for most anglers to go home with full coolers. 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.
Captain Rick, at Priority Charters in Narragansett reports a bit of a decline in the size of the stripers on the inshore trips, but slot fish remain plentiful. The bluefish bite has picked up the slack, with fish from 12-15-pounds showing up along the beaches and the east side of Block. Fluke fishing has improved dramatically compared to the rest of the season, with the best catches coming from around the wind farm. Sea bass fishing has been strong across the area and there has been a few bonus cod in the mix. The offshore bite remains fruitful, with school bluefin remaining close to home and being more willing to hit a jig. A few white marlin have also started to show at the gully, while the thresher bite remains strong across the area. They are also finding more green bonito while trolling for stripers and reports of bones have been widespread across the state.
Connor, at Tall Tailz Charters in Newport told me it’s more of the same, which is more good news this week. Big bass are all over the area, and they have noticed an increase of slot fish, which is keeping the customers happy. Fluke and sea bass have been plentiful, so it hasn’t been difficult for anglers to come home with plenty of meat for the freezer. The bonito have been a bit spooky, but they have seen more and more pop up each day while striper fishing. What can’t be dismissed is the summer of the bluefin tuna. The school bluefin fishing remains hot just south of the island, and there remains a nice mix of bigger fish which don’t require a long steam to find.
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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 striped bass bite has remained consistent for inshore anglers, with an uptick of action on the tube and worm this week. Schoolies, slot fish and a few bigger fish can be found inshore, while the cow hunters continue to find success at Block Island. The offshore (but not too far) bluefin bite has continued to remain reliable around Block, at the Gully, and at Tuna Ridge. Fluke fishing has been a bit stronger this week, while scup and sea bass continue to help fill the coolers on the tougher fluke days. Freshwater anglers are reporting a better largemouth bite across the state on live shiners and Senkos.
Nick, at Big Bear Hunting and Fishing reports that things have been quiet with the shop being off for vacation this week, but he did add that he has found some success targeting stripers around Jamestown this week. If you get out there early enough you can find fall-like blitzes, with mixed sizes of fish feeding on rainbait.
Dustin, at Rhode Island Kayak Fishing Adventures has been finding a consistent bluefish and striped bass bite for his kayak customers. Those looking to fill the coolers have found an up and down game with the fluke, but the sea bass bite is coming on strong. Chub mackerel are now all over the place and are providing some nice practice for light tackle anglers who are patiently awaiting more bonito and false albacore. The tautog season opens on August 1st for Rhode Island anglers, and based on the reports from CT, the bite should be ready to go for the opener. Dustin also mentioned that they have expanded their trip selection to include shore trips for the fall run, so be sure to book a kayak or shore trip asap!
Jay, at Pamela May Charters in Narragansett, told me that stripers and bluefish continue to take topwater lures and flies from Point Judith to Brenton Reef, while the amount of chub mackerel has increased to a point that they’re always a safe bet to for light tackle anglers around Narragansett. Bonito reports are coming in from all over the area, but they don’t seem to be concentrated in strong numbers just yet. Fluke fishing has improved a bit around Block Island and along the south shore beaches in 65 feet of water. The sea bass action is strong throughout inshore waters, with the tuna bite remaining just as consistent offshore.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Heather, from Black Hawk Sportfishing reported another great week of mostly beautiful weather and great fishing! Limits of jumbo porgies and huge sea bass have been filling the coolers all week long. The fluke trips have required some weeding through short fish, but those who did have been finding some nice keeper fish. The “After Work Special” trips have been seeing a few stripers and some monster bluefish that have resulted in tired arms throughout the boat. The Blackhawk is bringing back their Take a Kid Fishing program 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.
Jay, at Fishin Factory III in Middletown told me that the porgy bite remains the center of attention for those trying to fill the coolers. Sandworms, rigs, hooks, and weights have been flying off the shelves, with shore anglers cashing in at Hammo, Pleasure Beach, Harkness, and Avery Point, while boat anglers are finding dinner plates on any hard structure. There have been a few better fluke reports this week in the usual haunts, but as fast as the reports materialize, they tend to fade. The sea bass fishing has remained consistent and there are big fish in the mix over the past few days. Local striper anglers are finding better results for big bass after dark, but those drifting the local reefs are reporting bass of mixed sizes on a consistent basis. For those looking for some shellfish, the CT River crab bite seems to be picking up as the river has started to clean-up.
Joe, at Diorio Guide Service told me that fishing has picked up big time for him, especially since the weather started to cooperate. He is finding stripers from 44-48-inches consistently on GT eels and Joe Baggs Patriot Fish, and when that doesn’t work, the bass are more than willing to hit a live eel. Topwater action has slowed on the striper front, but the big bluefish seem to be picking up the slack. The sea bass fishing has been tremendous, with easy limits of fish to 24-inches on jigheads tipped with soft plastics.
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.
Captain Chris Elser, of Elser Guide Service, continues to find some of the best striped bass fishing he’s seen in years in the Western Sound. They are still finding several bass over 40-pounds, while an influx of bay anchovies has led to excellent topwater action for slot bass, bluefish, and a few Spanish mackerel. The ¾ ounce Exo jig in green mack has been the top producer ever since the anchovies made their appearance. There has been plenty of bird activity since the arrival of the anchovies as well, and we shouldn’t be too far away from the hardtails making their appearance.
Over at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk the guys report 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.
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Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
We’ve found what should be considered the closest thing to a steady summer weather pattern, and in turn we’re finding some normalcy in our summer fisheries. It’s the same old tune for bottom fishermen, where the fluke fishing starts showing some signs of life but dies as quick as it fires up. Luckily, the sea bass and scup fishing steadily improve, while those targeting tautog are finding good catches in CT and should be doing the same in Rhode Island when the season opens this weekend. The striped bass are just about fully set into their summer patterns, with fish of all sizes working the bait piles on our local reefs and big bass fully anchored down on the waters off Block Island. In what is considered a positive development based on the past few years, good numbers of big bluefish seem to be making a comeback and can be found all over the area. I may sound like a broken record with this next note, but it’s a broken record that everyone can enjoy. The offshore tuna bite is tremendous, and you still don’t have to travel too far. A great shark bite and a nice mix of white marlin has made it more than worth it to travel offshore if you can find a weather window.