Southwest Ledge is a legendary fishing spot for big striped bass, and the legend has only grown in recent years as it has produced a reliable summertime bite for trophy-sized fish.
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One extremely important note: Part of the ledge lies in federal waters, which are off-limits to striped bass fishing. Pay close attention to your chartplotter, and if you are targeting stripers, only do so within the state boundary.
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Trolling with wire line and vertical jigging will produce fish, but far and away the most popular and productive big-fish technique is drifting live eels near bottom structure.
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Southwest Ledge is a massive area, so it’s important to use your electronics to narrow down specific pieces of structure and rock piles that are holding fish. The entire stretch, from the shallower, rocky area between the shore and the number “4” red can out to the 3-mile line can be productive.
spearfishing on the ledge is like shooting fish in a barrel
Southwest Ledge sounds good. What state?
CT? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Ledge_Light
RI? (Block Island)http://newenglandboating.com/fishing/top-5-late-fall-hot-spots.html
ME? http://www.hookandbullet.com/fishing-sequin-south-southwest-ledge-phippsburg-me/
John, the state is RI, about 10 miles from Pt. Judith
In my opinion this whole piece of ground should be shut down indefinitely. This “legendary ” staging area should be off limits and let this rotorary do its natural thing or ussering in Block Island and Long Island bass. As it has done for eve. The place has turned into a floating city of boats from NY ,CT ,RI and even Ma. How many large bass go to the dock on any given night. Leave it alone and let those same bass settle in. Give them a chance. Like Bob has said ” it’s like shooting fish in a barrel “.
A friend took me fishing at the ledge area one night in the summer of 2021. Using live eels we caught a couple of big stripers. It was a great trip for me probably a little boring for my friend.