Rhode Island Fishing Report – August 11, 2016

While striped bass catches have slowed, the opposite can be said for bluefish. Big blues have invaded southern New England and are providing some great light-tackle action while we wait for the albies and bonito show up.

Rhode Island Fishing Report

The strong and steady summer fishing continued aboard, The Frances Fleet in Narragansett this week. The weekend saw a good pick of fluke for most anglers, with the majority falling in the 20- to 21-inch class. No monsters, but pool fish fell in the 7- to 9-pound range. Limits of sea bass were easily obtained over the weekend as well, with a good majority of fish hitting the 4-pound mark. The solid bite continued into the early part of this week, with fluke outnumbering sea bass 2:1 on Monday’s trip. At least eight anglers managed a limit of fluke, with the majority going from 20 to 24 inches and the pool fish coming in at just under 9 pounds. Similar results were had on Tuesday as well, so things will likely be good for the end of this week if the weather allows.

Dave, at Ocean State Tackle in Providence, received a confirmed report of bonito mixed in with small bass and blues in the Newport area. There doesn’t seem to be bonito around in any kind of numbers, but with the warm water and amount of bait, things should blow open any day now. Big blues are being taken in the Providence and Seekonk rivers, while bass anglers are finding some decent action at Collier Point Park and India Point. Scup are all over the bay and out front, and are being taken on worms, squid and clam tongues. Block Island anglers continue to report a relatively steady pick of 30-plus-pound stripers, plenty of big sea bass and doormat fluke. Captain BJ Silvia has had some good success for bass and fluke closer to home, but has to work a bit harder than the guys at the island. The Rhode Island tautog season is now open and solid catches are reported from Beavertail; while blue crabbing has been good at Colt State Park. Largemouth bass fishing has been strong throughout the state on topwater poppers and Senkos. Dave is now a yamamoto dealer and has over 50 varieties, along with all the rest of your freshwater needs.

At The Saltwater Edge in Middletown, things have quieted down a bit inshore and most of the angling attention is being spent on the strong bluefin bite. Things slowed down a bit around the new moon but picked right back up early this week. The Dump remains a hotspot for bluefin, but reports are starting to pop up in numerous well-known locales. Striped bass fishing has slowed down around Newport and most local anglers have switched gears to sea bass and fluke. The Block Island striped bass fishing remains your best bet, but it is a bit inconsistent and results are varying from tide to tide. Again, there are some bonito in the area but things have not taken off yet. Between the peanut bunker, juvenile herring and silversides; there will be plenty of forage to keep these fish around when the finally show up good.

Mike, at Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly, noted that the local Watch Hill reefs seemed to really improve this week, in terms of striped bass activity. Bass to 25 pounds are being taken on 3-wayed scup and eels, while the Southwest Ledge of Block Island is still putting up some 30- to 40-pound fish on eels and the troll. There are still some fluke off the local South County beaches, but those that are catching have been targeting deep (70-80 feet) structure. The south side of Block Island remains a safer bet for fluke, while good sea bass and scup fishing can be had both locally and at the island. Local shore anglers have been able to manage good scup catches and are also starting to see some keeper tautog in the mix.

Connecticut Fishing Report

John, at Hillyers in Waterford reported that red-hot bluefishing has taken over the eastern sound to Long Island. Fishing has been outstanding at The Race, while Plum Gut and the Gull Islands are holding substantial schools as well. Fish from 2 to 15 pounds have generally been all over the water column, taking big plugs up top and diamond jigs down deep. Black sea bass fishing is entering its late summer stage, where it seems to improve more and more each week. Bartletts, Bloody Grounds, and the deep end of Black Point are providing easy sea bass limits. Good-sized scup are relatively common, while fluke fishing has remained on the steady side. 20- to 24-inch fluke can be had throughout Niantic Bay and excellent fishing for larger fluke has been going on out around Montauk.

Andrew at Fishin Factory 3 in Middletown, reports that bass reports were at a minimum this week, but bluefishing has more than picked up the slack. Big blues are being taken at The Race, Plum Gut and around the bunker schools in the lower river; while a big pile of tailor blues are all over the Niantic area. Fluke has been slow but fairly steady for those fishing deep water from Niantic to Old Lyme. The bluefin bite picked right back up at The Dump, and a strong cod bite emerged at Cox’s this week. The lower river is now full of snapper bluefish and blue crabs in all their usual haunts.

Captain TJ, off Rock and Roll Charters, reiterated the fact that the bluefish bite has been extraordinary this week. He basically said that all of his clients this week were able to battle big bluefish until their arms were too tired. Once they tire out, TJ switches gears and moves on to some excellent sea bass and jumbo scup for the table. There is also a decent pick of striped bass in the mix, but most are on the small side. TJ has a few openings remaining for August, but has plenty for the fall run, which is shaping up to be another strong one.

Ian, at Fisherman’s World in Norwalk, reports that things have really entered the August lull in terms of striped bass fishing. Things have slowed to a crawl, but the die hards are finding a few decent fish after dark on live eels and bunker chunks. The bluefish bite has also slowed a bit and bottom fishing is now the best opportunity for success in the western sound. Jumbo scup are being caught on just about any piece of hard structure, while sea bass limits are easily obtained on the deeper reefs. Fluke also remains a decent option but the number of shorts has made things a bit difficult. A good push of snapper bluefish have invaded the western sound, which usually results in an uptick of fluke activity. The Saugatuck Reservoir has slowed down with the warm water, but the smaller lakes and ponds have a strong largemouth bite on topwater frogs after dark.

Rhode Island Fishing Forecast

The first rumor of bonito in Rhode Island have anglers gearing up for the invasion of the speedsters, but we are still likely a week or two away from that blowing open. With striped bass now in their low-activity summer patterns, it is a good time to tangle with some of the topwater bluefish that have invaded New England. Fluke, sea bass and scup will remain solid throughout the weekend, while a good push of blue crabs and snapper bluefish provide a good outlet if the weather gets snotty out front.