Rhode Island Fishing Report- July 3, 2024

Rhode Island Fishing Report

The Frances Fleet in Point Judith is still running full-day and half-day trips targeting fluke and black sea bass. Fluke fishing has been holding up well on both the full and half day trips, and the sea bass results have been improving by the day. Other species that might come over the rails on these trips include scup, mackerel, striped bass, bluefish, and sea robins. Their full schedule can be viewed online, and you can also make reservations for upcoming trips on their website of by calling the office.

Dave at Ocean State Tackle in Providence reports not much has changed this week, with the striped bass fishing remaining consistent both inside the Bay and out front. Bass are being taken by a number of means and methods. Live pogies or trolling the tube and worm and umbrella rigs has accounted for some nice bass in the bay, while working live eels around structure has been good in the bay and out front. The bottom fishing has been solid off Newport this week, with strong scup and sea bass reports, along with some big fluke reports for the anglers who know where to look. The scup are being caught on just about anything, including clams, squid, and worms. Sea bass are being caught on all the same bait as scup, along with jig/teaser/Gulp combos intended for fluke. A lot of anglers have been heading out to the tuna grounds in between bouts of wind, as things seem to be picking up quite nicely out there. The indication is that spreader bars have been accounting for most of the tuna, but the jig/popping bite should be right around the corner. 

The Saltwater Edge in Middletown provided the following report ahead of the holiday weekend: “Unpredictable weather is the theme of the season so far. Don’t trust the forecast and be ready to change plans based on which way the wind is blowing. Inshore striped bass fishing can be hit or miss, if you find fish there’s a great chance they will be big. While it’s not the most exciting, one surefire way to catch a striper or bluefish in the heat to use a tube and worm. Make sure you are stocked up on worms if you use this method, there are a lot of bluefish out there. The Block Island bite is going strong with topwater during the day and eels or eel imitations at night. Bottom fishing for sea bass and fluke remains a highlight this season. Fishing rigs or a bucktail and poison tail combo will net you the most fish, but dropping small soft plastics, epoxy jigs, or small vertical jigs is a fun way to catch those bottom feeders.”

Connor at Tall Tailz Charters told me that things are still heating up in RI. The bass bite is good and still getting better. Most of these fish are well over slot, but with a little hunting they’ve been able to find some slot fish for dinner. Bluefish are plentiful in the mid to upper Bay feeding on silversides. The fluke and sea bass bites are consistent both in the bay and out front. The offshore bite is starting to form as well, with close-to-home giant fishing and recreational bluefin tuna on the midshore grounds. Most of the rec. fish are coming on trolling bars and topwater. Everything is right on schedule!

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Captain Rob at Newport Sportfishing Charters told me that the giant train has rolled on in terms of the striped bass bite. The quality of fish continues to improve, and there is no shortage of bass, both locally and around the island. Bottom fishing has been solid for scup and sea bass, and while the wind has made fluke drifting tough on the outside, there has been a decent enough bite in the bay to make it worth targeting flatfish. 

Ralph at Crafty One Customs reports striped bass are still being caught around the island with regularity, along with the mouth of the bay. These fish have been heavily pressured though, so they have become more finicky. Anglers fishing with live eels or trolling a tube and worm have an advantage when the bite gets tough. Fluke reports have been decent, and as is typical, results often depend on being able to put the pieces together to find a nice drift over productive bottom. There have been some solid sea bass mixed in for the fluke anglers or for those specifically going for sea bass.

Jay at Pamela May Charters told me that he’s finding plenty of big bluefish and stripers in the mid-bay area, and most are coming on topwater plugs and/or flies. There is also a nice slug of bigger bass out in front of Newport, along with the usual mass at Block Island. The sea bass and fluke action has been decent, but the fish have been mostly small. Luckily, some big dinner plate scup have been filling the cooler. The tuna fishing seems to be going strong, but they are still out of range for Jay. Hopefully they move in closer, and we start getting some better weather windows! 

Dustin at RI Kayak Fishing Adventures provided the following report ahead of the holiday weekend: “The past week and a half have produced some very unpleasant and unpredictable weather, forcing a lot of kayak fishermen away from coastal waters. The good news is that myself, as well as others have found some action in Narragansett Bay. Striper activity isn’t necessarily reliable in the bay, but the action has been consistent enough. Bluefish are around but not the insane numbers from this time last year. Bottom fishing for fluke, black sea bass, and scup has gotten really good and should only grow more consistent as the summer progresses. The wacky weather has also created an uptick in freshwater fishing activity which has been decent. First light and early evening are the best times to get out to beat the heat and catch largemouth actively feeding away from cover/structure. The summer is here and there is still time to get a date on the calendar for a kayak fishing trip. Head over to our website and book soon!

Rhode Island Fishing Forecast

As we approach Independence Day, we are starting to see fireworks in the summer fishing across Southern New England. Bass can still be found in the bay around the pogie schools, but as it continues to warm up you need to fish the cooler parts of the day or look out front. Luckily, there’s no shortage of bass out front as well. The rips and reefs in front of Newport are holding quality fish and the Block Island summer giants have settled in nicely. These bass are starting to see a lot of fishing pressure, so you may need to explore some finesse presentations or work through the low-light hours; but there is no shortage of fish out there. If you must work the mid-day hours, don’t be afraid to turn to the tube and worm! Bluefishing isn’t as consistent but seems to have taken a turn for the better this week, especially around mid-bay. Bottom fishing has remained steady around Newport this week, with solid fluke reports from just about everyone who fished that area. Unfortunately, the rest of the Ocean State has been a bit slower in terms of fluke, but big sea bass are more prevalent, and there’s more hubcap scup than you’d know what to do with. Reports from the Block Island flatfish hunters have improved as well, so here’s to hoping we get some better summer flounder patterns as summer progresses. The tuna reports are starting to pick up as the weather improves, and while things have been relatively quiet, there have been enough bluefin/yellowfin to make it seem like things are about ready to pop off.