More monster largemouth bass were landed in Rhode Island this week, while fishing in the Connecticut TMA’s have anglers anticipating an excellent opening day. Saltwater enthusiasts are hitting the cod bite hard, as that fishery has blown open over the past week.
Rhode Island Fishing Report
Captain Frank, of The Frances Fleet in Narragansett, reported that they had another stellar week of cod fishing out on the local grounds. The weather kept them at the docks on a number of occasions, but they were able to make the most out of each trip that they made. Wednesday saw a full boat of anglers all manage limits in what felt like no time, and they were back at the dock nearly four hours early. Action was best in the early morning but was pretty much lock and load all day, with tons of double hook-ups. Saturday was just a touch slower, but still resulted in full boat limits well before the final drift. Bait and jigs are producing equally well, as the cod are stacked throughout the water column. Because the early bite has been best the fleet will continue to sail at 5 AM each day, but be sure to check ahead as sailing times change and trips may be added if the great fishing keeps up.
Captain Russ, of The Seven B’s in Narragansett, reported similar excellent cod fishing this week. They were also able to make two trips and both days saw quick limits for everyone on board. Pool fish were generally in the mid-teens, with one fish pushing the 20-pound mark. As of right now they will continue to sail at 5 AM from Friday through Sunday, but check ahead with the office as Russ may also be adding sailing days if the bite keeps up.
Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, is gearing up for opening day and provided another quality freshwater report for the area. Largemouth bass fishing continues to be hot throughout inland Rhode Island, with hog bass being taken on live shiners and large topwater lures. Shop regular Brandon landed the fish of a lifetime this week, a hog largemouth estimated in the 9- to 10-pound range that crushed a topwater lure. This fish is a pig by anyone’s standards, but is especially large considering it’s an early-season New England fish. A number of anglers are heading to Swansea, MA for some quality white perch fishing in the Palmer River. Carp fishing has slowed a bit, but should pick right back up as soon as we get some warmer temperatures. Despite the cool weather, Dave Pickering was able to manage some carp in the 7- to 10-pound range this week, so the carp fishing is far from dead. Holdover bass fishing is still relatively quiet but Dave has heard some reports of action picking up at Fields Point. Dave will be open throughout the night this Friday to cater to everyone hitting the water on opening day, and will soon be open 7 days a week.
Mike, at Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly, reports that signs of herring can now been seen in Pawcatuck all the way up to the Potter Hill Dam. The recent push of herring has started to kick off the holdover bass bite in the river, and right over the border in Connecticut. Winter flounder is now open in both states, and while Rhode Island has been slow a number of anglers are finding fish in Connecticut throughout the Stonington area. Mike will also now be open 7 days a week: 10-6 Monday through Saturday and 10-4 on Sundays.
Connecticut Fishing Report
Andrew, at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, reports that for the first time in a while he has had an influx of customers coming in and picking up cod gear. The bite of off Block Island has fired back up and anglers are scoring quick limits of quality fish. The Connecticut River is seeing more and more Schoolie striped bass action, with some fish being caught in the upriver coves and worm-dunkers scoring fish around the DEEP docks at the mouth. The pike bite in Haddam, along with the white perch bite in Hamburg Cove both remain steady and are a safe bet for anglers looking to get out on the river. The shad run has started early and anglers are scoring fish throughout the river on willow leafs and darts. Andrew has the shop stocked with all your opening day gear and will be open on Friday night to 10 PM. He will open back up at 4 AM on Saturday, and once again will be having his annual opening day BBQ throughout the day.
Hillyers in Waterford reports that things are still relatively quiet in that corner of the state, but noted that it is setting up to be an above-average winter flounder year. Anglers are already reporting decent numbers of fish in the river and it should improve with warming temperatures. There is also a small pick of school striped bass in the northern stretches of the Niantic and Thames Rivers that is keeping anglers busy.
At Rivers End in Old Saybrook, Joe reports that the lower Connecticut River school striped bass bite continues to improve, both in the coves and around the mouth. Most anglers are still making the trek to the Housatonic where things have slowed down just a bit with the recent colder weather. Fish are still spread out through the Housatonic and one more good push of herring should really get things moving. There is still a pile of small bluefish in the Millstone outflow that apparently never left, and winter flounder reports from the area should be coming in soon. Freshwater reports are good for crappie and perch in all of the coves and marinas, and trout fishing in the TMA’s has been steady. This Saturday marks opening day for all the other trout waters and the shop will open at 5 AM for eager anglers.
The guys at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk report that the Housatonic remains the hotbed for fishing action in western Connecticut. The fish remain spread out through the river, with bait options being more plentiful than usual. Besides the annual push of river herring, there is also adult and peanut bunker that have been in the river since last fall. Norwalk Harbor is getting close to that 50-degree mark, and once we get there we should be see some solid winter flounder reports pour in. No word of tautog being landed in the area yet, but that should also improve as things warm in the second half of the month.
Torrey, at Upcountry Sportfishing in Pine Meadow, reports that fishing for large holdover and wild trout remains very good and has kept anglers plenty busy before opening day. Derrick Kirkpatrick of CT FishGuides landed a beautiful 20-plus-inch fish over the weekend on a #8 stonefly nymph. Before the rain, the river was at a moderate 267 cfs through the permanent catch-and-release area, and should remain plenty fishable through the weekend despite the rain. #12-14 Hendricksons are starting to hatch in the Collinsville area, and that hatch will start to spread north very soon. As you gear up for opening day remember that just about all of the spring hatches are a few weeks ahead of schedule this season.
Rhode Island Fishing Forecast
The mild winter has made is seem like a longer than usual wait for opening day, but it is finally here. While the weather doesn’t look ideal, it looks plenty good to keep up tradition and head out to your local trout streams on Saturday morning. If trout is not your forte, or you prefer to avoid the crowds, holdover bass fishing remains steady in Connecticut and is picking up in Rhode Island. Freshwater options are plentiful outside of trout, with great catches of largemouth, pike, crappie and perch reported this week. If you’re looking for saltwater action, Rhode Island cod fishing seems to have reached its pinnacle, while the winter flounder fish is starting to get going as well.