Rhode Island Fishing Report
The Frances Fleet in Point Judith had another busy week despite seas still being a bit kicked up with the wind. They did lose a few trips to the weather, but when they’ve gotten out, the trips results were pretty good. Fluke fishing was up and down this week with plenty of short action, but the sea bass fishing took a major turn for the better and picked up the slack. The full day grounds have been seeing sea bass limits and a few fluke, but the fluke bite can vary from day to day. However, some trips they’ve seen better fluke fishing and a slower sea bass bite. It’s kind of a coin flip, so be prepared for anything. It looks like the weather is slowly but surely improving, and the fleet does still have room on their upcoming trips. Be sure to check their website for updated scheduling and reservations.
Ralph at Crafty One Customs told me that they have been hearing reports of slower bass fishing inside of the bay, which makes sense given the recent rise in water temperature. Those that are still catching have transitioned to fishing at night and are primarily fishing with live eels. Fluke fishing is holding up pretty nicely and there are some decent-size sea bass around. Scup fishing has been very good, and a lot of anglers are getting in on the action from shore and by boat.
Captain Connor MacLeod at Tall Tailz Charters told me the fishing this week has been excellent. He’s focused on stripers almost exclusively. There are a ton of big bass around. This week they hoisted a 52-inch bass, along with multiple fish in the 45- to 48-inch range. Most of the bigger fish have come on live bait, but the tube-and-worm rig has been producing just as well. Black has been the hot color by far, in terms of the tube bite. Nearshore bluefin have shown up in force as well! Reports of rec. size fish from 25 to 40 miles out have been prolific, and Connor said he will be out targeting them next week. There are tons of awesome fishing opportunities as we settle into the heart of summer here in RI!
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Dustin Stevens at Rhode Island Kayak Fishing Adventures provided the following report for the week: “Action has been pretty steady across the board. We’ve seen a decent number of big stripers come up on recent trips, which is always a great thing. Slot fish are very prevalent as well. The bluefish bite has been hit or miss, but when they’re around, you’re going to catch a lot of them. Bottom fishing has been decent. Keeper fluke are easier to come by than keeper sea bass, which is a surprise, but the word is that the sea bass are starting to trend bigger this week. Also, big scup (14 inches plus) are being caught at a pretty good pace, which is another solid bottom fishing option. We’ve been seeing a lot of tautog while bottom fishing too, so that’s a good sign for the fall. Bonito fishing has cooled off a bit over the last few days, but I’m sure they’ll be back around any day. The summer bite has been going great for us, so reach out to book your kayak fishing trip ASAP… believe it or not, the fall run is around the corner!”
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Dave at Ocean State Tackle in Providence told me that striped bass remain king in the area, in terms of angler interest. Despite the warming temperatures, there are still plenty of bass being caught in the bay for those staying local, along with a plethora of options out front. In the bay, the fish have been on the hunt of pogies, so if you can locate the schools and fish a live offering or a big artificial, you should be able to connect. You can often find the bass and some large bluefish blitzing and willing to hit topwater plugs. When they’re not showing up top, you’ll do just fine trolling the tube and worm, the umbrella rig, or working a flutter spoon. The bonito have spread out, but they are still plentiful enough to hear consistent reports from boat, kayak, and shore anglers throughout the state. The local fluke fishing may not have improved, but it is still consistent for anglers fishing the deeper rips with bucktail/Gulp combos or Flippin’ Out Fluke Rigs. Sea bass and scup are also paving the areas you’d expect, and while short sea bass are abundant, there are keepers to be had. The tuna bite took a big step this week as well, with plenty of 40- to 60-pound bluefin for anglers steaming offshore and working spreader bars or topwaters.
Eric at The Saltwater Edge in Middletown reported that the fishing across Rhode Island continues to be excellent. While a lot of the bigger bass in their area have moved slightly out front to deeper water, there are still some roving bands of slot-size fish in and around the bay. Bluefish have been mixed in, so exercise caution when casting out your treasured striper lures. Fluke and sea bass fishing is great, and scup fishing continues to improve with plenty of keeper-size fish from shore and boat. Keep an eye on the water temps to find good fishing areas. Speaking of water temperatures, the offshore bite is getting going with a lot of recreational size bluefin being taken this week for anglers fishing along the temperature breaks.
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
Summer air and summer fishing patterns have taken hold in the Ocean State, with excellent striped bass fishing, steady bottom fishing, and the first solid push of recreational tunas being caught not too far from home. Bass can still be found in the bay around the pogie schools despite the warming water, but as it continues to heat up, don’t be afraid to look outside. The rips and reefs in front of Newport are holding quality fish, and the Block Island summer giants have settled in nicely. These fish are starting to see a lot of pressure, so you may need to start using finesse presentations, or work the low-light hours—but there is no shortage of fish. Those low-light conditions, coupled with the fog banks, have also resulted in some of the best topwater fishing for big bass that we’ve seen in a while.
Bottom fishing has remained steady across the state, with strong scup and sea bass reports from all the rock piles. The fluke bite has been best at Block and Sakonnet, but there are enough fish in the lower bay and around the South County shoreline to make it worth your while.
Tuna action picked up nicely this week, with reports of very good recreational bluefin action on the troll. These fish aren’t exactly in our backyard, but they are certainly close enough to make a run on the good weather days. Another week or so of warm weather and increasing bait numbers should result in more consistent tuna action within range for most.