Rhode Island Fishing Report
Over at the Frances Fleet in Point Judith, the crew is eagerly waiting the return of nicer weather. They plan to start fishing for tautog and cod as soon as weather and interest permit and they will be adding squid trips once the bite starts to come together. They’ve been able to sneak out to the cod grounds a couple times thus far, and the bite was pretty good, although it was short-lived due to brief weather windows. The grounds are loaded up with bait though, including sand eels, which portends well for the upcoming season. Looking a little further ahead, fishing for fluke will start up in May or as soon as they arrive in good numbers. Their full schedule can be viewed on the website, where you can also make reservations for upcoming trips.
Dave at Ocean State Tackle in Providence reports that anglers are getting excited about the prospect of both freshwater and saltwater fishing. A few anglers are finding some tautog, but the bite hasn’t fully developed yet as water temperatures are still a few degrees away from the action picking up. On a positive note, inshore anglers are finding some quality codfish while out targeting tautog. Anglers looking for holdover striped bass are reportedly catching well in the usual early season haunts. Freshwater anglers are also reporting an uptick in white perch activity over the past week or so, which is holding them over until the kickoff of trout season on April 12th. Dave will be opening for the season on the 10th of April, and will be fully stocked for your opening day freshwater, or saltwater needs.
Capt. Rob Taylor of Newport Sport Fishing Charters told me he’s spending most of his time getting the boat ready for the upcoming season. That said, he’s found some time to target big largemouth bass and has had plenty of success. The water is still cold, so the fish want slow presentations, mainly jigs, but they’re chewing well. He’ll be transitioning to salt soon, so be sure to lock down a date for a tog or striper trip before it’s too late!
Dustin at Rhode Island Kayak Fishing Adventures told me that the tautog opening was relatively successful with a few keepers and a few shorts in the mix. Although the striper migration hasn’t reached us yet, there has been consistent action in the estuaries and salt ponds. Most striped bass fall into the smaller size class, however, some big fish are still sprinkled in. Cooler water usually leads to a solid cod bite, but heavy winds have put a damper on cod fishing. With a lot of fisheries closed until opening day, freshwater fishing has still been solid for largemouth and crappie. While many are waiting for the fishing season to ramp up, keep in mind that RI Kayak Fishing Adventures fishes year-round. There are great opportunities in the near future and some fun, local bites to enjoy for now. Book your kayak fishing trip with Dustin ASAP!
Elisa at Snug Harbor Marina said that some of the headboats made a run for cod on Saturday, but she was unsure of how they had made out. Either way, it must have been great for them to get out there after being tied to the dock for the last couple of months. Customers have been targeting holdover striped bass in the salt ponds and rivers and are doing well with fish into the low 30-inch range. So far, there haven’t been any reports of migratory (fresh) striped bass caught from the beach, but it should happen soon! Tautog season is now open, along with winter flounder. A few regular customers have been out trying for flounder, but fishing has been slow. Their annual used-tackle sale is scheduled for April 26th and 27th, and they will be opening full time for the season following the sale. Current hours are between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. most days, but it’s still a good idea to call ahead.
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Ralph at Crafty One Customs said that fishing effort has just started to pick up and should really get going with some warmer temperatures next week. Tautog reports have been quiet thus far but should improve as we begin to see some warmer weather. Striped bass action has been confined to holdovers, but some migratory fish, along with squid, should be invading the area in the next couple weeks. With more spring fishing opportunities just around the corner, now is a great time to stop in and pick up any items that you might need for the season ahead. The shop is open 7-days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
While anglers across Rhode Island wait for some improving weather to help facilitate their saltwater fishing, there are some tautog and holdover striped bass close enough to home to help you get your saltwater fix, without venturing too far.
Tautog season has started off slowly, but reports have steadily improved for those putting the time in, and it will only improve as we get more consistent warm weather. A nice bonus has been the influx of inshore codfish, which has provided a consistent secondary option for anglers targeting tog.
The holdover striped bass population in the state seems to be waking up as more and more river herring enter the systems; we’re a mere couple of weeks away from the masses of migratory fish showing up.
Largemouth bass reports have been improving, along with calico bass (crappie), both of which are providing a nice option for freshwater anglers as they wait for opening day of trout season next weekend.