Rhode Island Fishing Report
The Frances Fleet in Point Judith is still offering both full and half-day fishing trips, where customers target a mixed bag of fluke, black sea bass, and scup. Other species such as bluefish, striped bass, and mackerel will often also make an appearance. They have been seeing improved results, including a couple of very strong trips last weekend. They nearly sold out the weekend and had some great weather. The full day trips continued to see some of the more consistent fluke fishing in a while, and the number of quality sea bass in the mix continues to improve as well. The half day trips were alive with black gold. Sea bass of all sizes came over the rail with regularity, and they also had a nice showing of red hake. 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 told me that things remained pretty steady this week, including a consistent striped bass bite for most anglers that are targeting them. Most of those bigger bass are coming on live eels, but topwaters are working around dawn/dusk, and trolling could be productive midday. The tautog season has opened back up and anglers are reporting solid early results. Tautog appear to be in reach for shore anglers and are also all over the shallow structure on the south shore and in the Providence River. Bottom fishermen are also finding plenty of scup and black sea bass. Those fish are falling for worms, clams, and Gulp, all of which Dave is fully stocked with. Tuna fishing has remained steady whenever the weather has cooperated. There has been some talk solid bonito reports, which should only improve, along with some skipjacks, and some great blue crabbing for those staying close to home. Dave is fully stocked with gear/bait for all your striped bass, tuna, and/or bottom fishing needs as the late summer/fall run approaches.
Connor at Tall Tailz Charters told me he had another excellent week on the water and provided the following report: “Fishing this week has been epic. The striped bass bite is in peak form with fish from slot to 45 inches plus all over the southern coast. Live baits and topwater are still producing best for us. The bonito have moved in with force—they’re feeding in the bay and out front. We’re also getting a few as bycatch when bottom fishing. Sea bass and fluke fishing has been solid as well; sea bass are all over the high humps, while the fluke have been gradually pushing deeper, around 70 to 80 feet. The nearshore bluefin tuna bite is red hot right now. The jig and troll are both producing very well. We’ve been seeing trips with over a dozen fish consistently. The bite is on!”
Captain Rob at Newport Sportfishing Charters has continued to work his way offshore and told me that the tuna are starting to show up a little closer to home, and while the weather hasn’t been ideal, the ride has gotten a bit easier since last week. Most of the usual offshore haunts are home to some massive tuna feeds. The key has been to find some clean water, once you do, you should be greeted with bait and plenty of pelagics. While tuna fishing is catching quite a bit of attention, Rob also noted that the striped bass fishing has remained tremendous this week, whenever he’s targeted them. Bass are taking topwaters throughout the day and when they’re not, they can be caught all day long on live bait and jigs. Rob hasn’t done much bottom fishing this week, but sea bass and fluke reports seem to be trending in the right direction.
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Dustin at Rhode Island Kayak Fishing Adventures told me that the early fall run activity has continued over the past week. There has been early morning and sunset blitzes of striped bass, bluefish, and bonito. Most of the blitzing striped bass are in the 30-inch-plus class, however the larger 40-inch-class stripers are still around and have been biting very good recently. Bluefish have become much more active than they have been all year which has made some really fun fights in the kayak. The bonito bite has been very consistent, which leads Dustin to believe that we will see the first false albacore within the next two weeks. Black sea bass and fluke has been on and off from week to week. This past week hasn’t been great for those bottom dwellers however August is a great time to target them. Tautog is open but Dustin hasn’t focused on them just yet. The fall run is an exciting time for all fishermen and while there is time and dates left on the calendar now is the time to schedule your kayak fishing trip!
Jay at Pamela May Charters told me that the not much has changed since last week. There are still plenty of tuna in range when the weather cooperates. Inshore, the striper fishing has been going strong off Newport with some over slot fish hanging tight to the reefs. Block Island striper fishing has ticked down a bit from its fast-paced action a few weeks ago, but it remains a safe bet most days. The topwater bite of schoolie to slot fish continues to go off consistently in the bay, and most days there are some nice bluefish in the mix. Bottom fishing for fluke has improved a bit, but the fish seem very spot oriented, so once you find them, be prepared to shorten your drifts. Large sea bass are still hanging tight to the beach, as well as scup. Bonito reports around Block Island, and points east, have picked up once again and have been a reliable option for most anglers.
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
Summer air and summer fishing patterns have persisted, with continued excellent striped bass fishing, relatively steady bottom fishing, including the opening of tautog season, along with another uptick in tuna activity, which is catching a lot of interest. Bass can still be found in the bay especially with more pogie schools entering the mix. The rips and reefs in front of Newport are holding quality fish and the rest of South County are holding fish. There have been increasingly strong bonito reports from around the state, and the false albacore shouldn’t be too far behind. Bottom fishing has remained steady across the state, with strong scup and improving sea bass reports from all the rockpiles. The fluke bite has been up and down, but the diehards are still finding some big ones. Tautog season opened up on the 1st, and early indications from those that are trying are positive on the shallow inshore rockpiles. Tuna reports have been strong for rec. bluefin once again, along with some yellowfin and bigeye, and while the weather hasn’t been ideal this week, it looks to be clearing up enough to give us some manageable weekend weather. Anglers targeting sharks instead of tuna are also reporting great results, so there’s no shortage of pelagics close enough to home.