Rhode Island Fishing Report
Recent reports from the Frances Fleet in Point Judith show improved results on their fluke trips with high hooks seeing limit catches or close to limit catches on some trips. Fishing is picking up both locally for the half-day trips and out around Block Island where they go for many of their full-day trips. Squid trips continue to produce mixed results with plenty of squid around, but an inconsistent bite on many of their recent outings. They will be fishing 7-days a week in June, weather permitting. Reservations for full-day fluke trips, half day fluke trips, and squid trips can be booked on their website or by calling the office.
Dave at Ocean State Tackle in Providence reports that the inshore striped bass bite has improved in terms of quality, but the fish can still be finicky at times. The Seekonk River has been one of the more consistent spots for anglers dunking worms and clams, but the Providence River, and points south on the bay, are producing even bigger fish on fresh pogie chunks. Using bait is always a safe bet, but there’s also a steady bite in the shipping channels on flutter spoons, and the lower Bay is producing on umbrella rigs. Kayak anglers are scoring on the tube and worm, or live eels worked across the rockpiles out front. The fluke fishing has improved immensely this week, and now is the time to find some doormats inshore, without traveling too far. Some massive schools of squid are still hanging around, which is probably helping to keep that fluke bite firing. Scup fishing has also been very solid since the opener and provides a good outlet for bottom fishermen on the slow fluke days.
Captain Connor MacLeod from Tall Tailz Charters in Newport reports: “The striper fishing in RI has really busted open this past week. The upper Bay has once again filled with pogies and with them, large bass. The flats are alive with hungry cows. Top water and live baits are doing best. The fishing out front is only getting better as well. Each trip we’re seeing fish in the mid to upper 40-inch range with a few slot fish in the mix. The early June new moon should push the rest of the late bait and migratory bass into our waters. The fishing is only going to get better from here. Fluke fishing is heating up both inshore and around Block Island. There are also trickling reports of recreational-sized bluefin busting close to shore. Buckle up, the RI fishing scene is about to explode!”
Rob, at Newport Sportfishing Charters told me that the bass bite has continued to improve, and he’s seen another increase in quality this week. Another nice push of some big bluefish has also moved in, and hopefully that resurgence continues. Squid fishing has died down, but the fluke fishing saw a dramatic increase in quality this week. Combination striped bass/fluke trips, without going too far, are very attainable right now, so take advantage! Word is that the tuna have started to filter in as well, so we’re right around the corner from full New England summer fishing!
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Jay at Pamela May Charters told me that the local fishing continued to improve this week. They found a ton of stripers on topwater, and the birds have been thick from Point Judith to Black Point. The boat traffic hasn’t been too bad either, with things looking more like September 1st than June 1st. The weather has also cooperated enough to get out to Block Island as well, and there are loads of striped bass on sand eels out there. There were also some telltale signs of giant bluefin tuna on those sandeels off Block Island, so the 2024 big tuna run seems ready to pop off any day now. Fluke action has also been excellent off the south shore beaches, and compared to the last few weeks, the local keeper fish seem to be more prevalent. This may not last forever, so it’s a great time to get out and chase some local fluke before they’re culled out.
Dustin at RI Kayak Fishing Adventures reports that the late spring season has been off to a great start and has included multiple species. Striped bass fishing is somewhat hit or miss, but putting in a lot of effort can sometimes work out well. There seems to be a large concentration of slot-size fish, however, some really big fish are being caught as well. The last week or two has seen a lot of picky bluefish in addition to the striped bass. There is still time to try for weakfish, but the bite usually starts to tail off around this time of the season. Black sea bass is off to good start since opening day and should only get better as the summer goes on. Fluke fishing has been surprisingly productive in the late-May/early-June time period, which means that the summer should be awesome. The squid bite is somewhat productive but be willing to put in some time to get a decent amount. Freshwater fishing seems to be settling into a summer pattern, and it can be great for anglers that love frog fishing, pitching and flipping jigs, and throwing wake baits. His calendar is pretty full for June but definitely reach out to get on the calendar for July and beyond… there is some great fishing ahead!
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Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
It feels like summer weather and the summer fishing seems to be upon us. Striped bass continue to be prevalent throughout Rhode Island, with some much bigger bass continuing to enter the Bay on the tail of the pogies schools, along with more migratory fish showing up along the beaches. A continued influx of big bluefish this week seems to be a trend across the northeast, and it’s no different in Rhode Island, with most anglers reporting some gators hitting the deck. Fluke reports have been strong inshore, so if you’re a flatfish enthusiast, I’d recommend looking for them now. Squid fishing has been up and down, but it has been good enough to make a trip worth it, which is likely also the reason that the fluke fishing has taken a turn for the better inshore. Scup, along with the black sea bass opener will help fill coolers for the bottom fishermen, but again, now is the time to target some flatfish!
Paul- looking to wade RhI coast for Flyfishing in and around estuaries and beaches.