Rhode Island Fishing Report
The Frances Fleet out of Point Judith reports that they have been doing well targeting a mixed bag of black sea bass, tautog, and scup on recent trips. The sea bass fishing took a considerable turn for the better this week, before the blow. The weather looks much better for the weekend, which should result in a number of successful trips. Tautog fishing is steadily improving as well, and the fleet will start to dedicate more time to specifically targeting tautog as we move into fall. Their full schedule can be viewed online, and you can also make reservations on their website.
Dustin Stevens at Rhode Island Kayak Fishing Adventures provided the following report: “Fall run continues to be in full swing! Most outings have resulted in an opportunity for albies and bonito. Big stripers are still hanging around for now, as well. We haven’t seen many large bluefish, however, there are still plenty of smaller ones around. Tautog continues to be a great bite with most outings resulting in limits. Larger black sea bass are also starting to be caught while togging, which gives two solid options for great table fare. We haven’t gotten many opportunities to get out in freshwater, but with cool mornings and water temps dropping this is a great time to try to catch your biggest largemouth of the year. You never know when the albies could stop running, but I’m pretty confident that we’ll have more opportunities for them over the next few weeks. There is still time to get on the calendar for the remainder of the fall run, including prime tautog fishing from October to mid November. Reach out to book your kayak fishing trip ASAP!”
Captain Rob Taylor at Newport Sportfishing Charters has used some windier weather over the past two weeks as a reason to stay closer to home, and it has worked out nicely. The recent blow has helped to kick-start the mullet run and Rob has cashed in with plenty of local bass to 40-pounds, most of which are being caught on topwater. There are a few schools of bonito and false albacore crashing the party as well. Rob also used his time inshore to get on his early fall tautog spots, and the results have been very strong. He’s had limits on most trips, with a few fish approaching the double-digit mark. There are some bigger sea bass showing up as bycatch, and things should only improve as we make our way through September and into October.
When I spoke to Jay at Pamela May Charters, he told me that the albie fishing is in full swing, with consistent catches up and down the Rhode Island coast this week. The fish have been a bit more scattered, but there is no shortage of pods to play with. There are still plenty of bonito in the mix as well, so don’t be surprised if you get a multi-species trip. Stripers can be found tight to the rocks in the same place the albies are feeding, adding yet another species to the light-tackle madness. Giant schools of small bait are prevalent throughout the area, both out front and in the estuaries, so there’s no signs of slowing down just yet. Tautog reports have started to improve quite a bit, so Jay will start focusing his attention on them this weekend. He has an opening for a tautog trip this Sunday, so if you’re interested be sure to reach out before it’s too late!
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Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, told me that the majority of inshore anglers across Rhode Island are still spending most of their time chasing hardtails around the state. The fish have been on the move quite a bit, so you may have to do some looking around, but the bite has been consistent. A good push of albies have moved into the lower bay over the past few days, while a nice push of bonito has been reported in the Upper Bay from Bristol to Barrington Beach. Besides the bay, you’re likely to run into these fish in most of the usual hotspots, but you may need to exercise some patience. These fish are hitting the usual offerings, including Albie Snax, epoxy and resin jigs, and Whip-It Fish. Anglers are finding some solid schools of striped bass in the same general areas as the hardtails. Those targeting stripers have reported good numbers of larger bass putting on the feed bags along the South County shoreline. These South County bass, however, have mostly been coming out to play after dark, from dusk to dawn. Anglers fishing the late season rips around Block Island are also reporting better striped bass results, mainly on live eels or eel-imitating plastics. Bottom fishermen are starting to target tautog with more regularity, and results have been good on all the local hard bottom. Some bigger sea bass are mixed in with the tautog, and there have been a few reports of some solid fluke within the bay and out front. Freshwater fishing is starting to regain some steam and will continue to do so with the trout stocking later this month. Dave is fully stocked with all your hardtail needs and is now open 5:30 am – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 5 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sundays!
Eric, at The Saltwater Edge in Middletown, provided the following report: “Albie season continues to deliver! We have an abundance of false albacore around with bonito and the occasional Spanish mackerel mixed in. These fish can be finicky, so bring your small stuff and be ready to change out lures. Don’t forget some classics like the casting egg float-and-fly rig when they are on really small stuff and conditions don’t allow for the fly rod. Tautog fishing is another highlight lately. These days, you can get out on the hardtails early and stop at your favorite rock pile(s) on the way home to take on some great-sized fish. We haven’t seen any trophy-size fish taken from shallow water yet, but plenty of keepers and up. Some of those short sea bass you’ve been catching all season have grown up a bit as well, so if you can’t find the tog, try out your favorite sea bass holes. If you get an invite to get offshore, drop whatever you are doing and take it. The yellowfin bite has been strong on chunks, jigs, and troll. Surf anglers are having a great time with the bass around right now. It’s shaping up to be a great fall run!”
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
False albacore continue to dominate the attention of Rhode Island inshore anglers, but improving striped bass, tautog, and sea bass fishing are more signs of the official start of fall. The false albacore have spread out and are a bit scattered, but most anglers are still able to manage a few when the weather cooperates. The Lower Bay seems to have had a better push of albies this week, while the Upper Bay is home to some bonito feeds. The fish certainly aren’t confined to just these areas though.
Striped bass and some schools of smaller bluefish can still be found in all their usual haunts out front, and in the bay, and remain prevalent on topwaters during the morning hours. Anglers looking for larger striped bass are still finding them around Block Island but also reported some solid fishing along the South County shoreline during the nighttime hours.
Bottom fishing has remained steady across the state, with easy scup fishing and much improved numbers of keeper sea bass. Tautog interest has started to pick up as well, and the results have been strong across a range of depths, with most anglers fishing relatively shallow. This is a great time to cash in on some excellent tautog/sea bass fishing, before the fishing pressure really starts to accelerate.
Tuna reports have been quieter, but those who have been out looking are finding nice yellowfin without having to travel to the canyons. Whether you’re staying inshore, going offshore, or something in between, there is certainly no shortage of great fishing in Rhode Island right now!