Rhode Island Fishing Report
Captain Rich, of The Frances Fleet in Point Judith reported some mixed results this week but is seeing a trend of better fish over the past few trips. Things were quiet early last week and have picked up since, including some limit catches of fluke and sea bass last weekend that saw fluke to the 12.5-pound mark! Even when the fluke bite isn’t going strong the sea bass bite has picked up the slack, with limit catches on most half-day and full-day trips. Reservations are still required, so be sure to make them online or call the office.
Captain Rick, at Priority Charters in Narragansett told me that the bass and bluefish bite is holding up well on the southeast side of Block Island and around Point Judith. Most days are producing slot fish after you weed through several larger fish. Further from home, the cod bite has been strong with fish in the 8-10-pound range around Coxes. Some nice sea bass have been mixed in with the cod, and there has been no shortage of many species of sharks on the offshore grounds. The bluefin bite has slowed a bit but is still going relatively close to home. 62-70-inch class fish are actively taking jigs and small school fish are being taken on the troll.
Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, told me that it’s been more of the same in Rhode Island, which is encouraging. The tuna bite hasn’t given up yet, with Arthur Coia managing some nice fish to 67-inches on the vertical jig at Tuna Alley this week. The fluke fishing has also remained on the upswing this week, with Carlos Ojeda managing some nice local fish on GULP the last few days. Anglers targeting tautog are reporting good results in the lower Bay and across the South County hard bottom. Scup fishing remains consistent at Colt State Park, in the Bay, and along the south shore. Skipjacks have invaded the area and joined the frigate mackerel, which are providing good light tackle action for anglers who are waiting for albies and bonito.
Nick, at Big Bear Hunting and Fishing reports that the bottom fishing was up and down this week, with decent sea bass results, and inconsistent fluke results. Fly anglers are reporting decent action on smaller fish around Jamestown and Newport, while bigger fish are being taken on eels around Brenton Reef. Freshwater anglers are still reporting good largemouth results this week, with Hawkins Pond, Smith Pond, and Sayles Pond all being recent hotspots.
Jay, at Pamela May Charters in Narragansett, has still been finding some mid-summer consistency in his neck of the woods for most species. The area from the west wall to Watch Hill is producing bass and a few bluefish, and there have been fish around the Point Judith lighthouse during most tides. Block Island is still producing bigger bass on the troll and on eels after dark. The bonito bite has improved along the south shore and are often in the mix with the stripers and bluefish. Those targeting tautog are finding them on most of the boulder fields and walls around Point Judith, while sea bass limits remain easy to come-by throughout the area. The bluefin aren’t as plentiful as they have been but can still be found relatively close to home. Mahi are starting to show up in better numbers just south of the tuna grounds, and there are plenty of albies out there as well; and they may certainly get pushed in with this upcoming storm.
Ben, at Watch Hill Charters told me that he’s in a hot streak in his local areas, with plenty of slot fish being caught on topwaters and jigs on most trips. There’s been enough topwater action to allow him to never switch from topwater offerings on a full trip. Bluefish remain in the mix consistently, although numbers are down from the last few weeks, and there are still some quality bonito showing up on most tides. Ben mentioned that if you see a school of small bass feeding on the surface, please do not throw a large topwater offering to accidently hook them. Ben still has a few August and September openings available, but they will fill fast when the false albacore show up, so be sure to book soon!
Connor, at Tall Tailz Charters in Newport, was happy to report that he’s seeing a fall feeling on his recent fishing trips. They’re still finding big bass after a bit more searching; while mixed sized bluefish, slot bass, and chub mackerel are feeding on rain bait all over the area. You never know when you’ll find some green bonito, but most trips are seeing at least a few schools pop up. Bottom fishing has been surprisingly good for tautog, with fish over 6-pounds coming on jigs in shallow water. The inshore to nearshore tuna bite has remained stellar. Tuna from 30-inches to giants are being caught on a regular basis, with most of the fish still coming on jigs. They’ve also had very good shark results, with solid numbers of makos on spinning gear.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Heather, from Blackhawk Sportfishing reported another strong week on the porgy grounds, with boat limits for anglers on most trips. The sea bass action was a bit slower early in the week but is showing strong improvements over the past few days. The Friday afternoon “After Work Special” trip once again saw great bluefish action. There are only a few of these trips left, so be sure to book soon. There are also only a few private charter dates available, so be sure to contact Heather soon!
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, told me that the strong porgy action continues to keep his customers busy. Anglers are finding scup all over the hard bottom, including shore anglers who are reporting good catches on most of the rocky points along the shoreline. The Black Point area is starting to put up some decent fluke for anglers fishing 80-100 feet of water, and there are a nice mix of sea bass in the same general areas. Fluke anglers making the run to Block Island are still reporting a relatively consistent fluke bite. The Eastern Sound is overrun with rain bait, and you can find large schools of small bass blitzing throughout. The far Eastern Sound to the Watch Hill reef area is holding some bigger fish on for anglers trolling umbrellas and mojos. The tuna bite is still consistent around Block Island and some surprise giants remain in the mix. Local anglers are starting to find some snapper bluefish in the lower river, while the blue crabbing remains very strong.
Mike Roy of Reel Cast Charters told me that a huge increase in small silversides and peanut bunker has brought about some big surface feeds of smaller bass and chub mackerel. There are more rumors of bonito in the area as well, so we shouldn’t be too far away from the fall speedsters showing up. Big bass can be found on the reefs and rips in deeper water, and the bottom fishing remains strong for sea bass and scup. Contact Mike soon to book a trip for the late summer/fall before it’s too late!
Captain Chris Elser told me that the peanut bunker has invaded the Western Sound as well, and there are loads of small to medium-sized bluefish feeding on them along the surface. Bigger bluefish can be found around the adult bunker schools, which are starting to move out of the harbors again. Big bass are still being caught consistently during the day on tube and worm rigs. No signs of bonito or macks to the west this week, hopefully they arrive soon.
Ryan, at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk reports that striped bass fishermen are struggling a bit during the daytime hours, except for those trolling the tube and worm in deep water. The better bass action is coming after dark on fresh chunks, or the occasional topwater blitz around dawn. Small bass and bluefish can be found with regularity, with most of them blitzing on rain bait throughout the day. Those looking for bigger bluefish are finding them on the diamond jig in deeper water. Fluke fishing has been up and down, with a few better fish coming from the deep water around the OB buoy, 28C, and can 24. Porgy fishing is very good for shore and boat anglers dunking clams and squid, while offshore anglers are still finding tuna around the Gully and Tuna Ridge.
Rhode Island Forecast
We have taken another step towards the fall run, as the waters across Rhode Island and Connecticut have become inundated with large schools of rain bait. Blitzing bass, bluefish and mackerel are abundant, and this impending tropical storm/hurricane may help to push some of the false albacore from offshore to inshore. All eyes will be on Henri as we approach this weekend, but regardless of where it ends up, we should have plenty of time to get some fishing in beforehand. Looking for blitzing fish will continue to be an option, while large bass and bluefish can be found inshore during the low light hours and continue to be found around Block Island. Block Island is still producing some nice fluke for bottom anglers, while scup, sea bass, and tautog are biting consistently in inshore waters. The tuna bite remains steady off Block Island as well, and it may be a good idea to get one more trip in before impending storm.
