Striped Bass are the BIG news right now and the fishing has been hot! 

The upper Bay, from Providence River and the Bristol/Warren area all the way down to Greenwich Bay and Prudence Island are holding schools of Menhaden, known locally as Pogies.  If you can find a school and snag a live pogie, chances of hooking up to a big Bass are very good.  Most people have found good action using a 30 to 50 pound Florocarbon leader tied to a 6/0 to 8/0 Circle Hook.  Remember that, with a Circle Hook, you will have a hard time hooking up unless you allow several seconds of free-spool to allow the Striper to take in the bait.  Once the Striper has the bait in its mouth, simply tighten the line gradually and allow it to come completely tight with the rod tip pointed at the fish– the hook should catch the corner of the fish’s mouth without a conventional hook set.  Once the line is tight, gently pick up the rod tip and begin the battle.  Trying to set a Circle Hook conventionally will usually pull the bait from the fish’s mouth without coming tight.

Along the South Shore, from off Newport down to Westerly, has also been holding fish with the majority of the forage being Sand Eels, Squid, and small baitfish.  Parachute Jigs, Umbrella Rigs, and trolled plugs have been producing good catches.  Inshore and from shore, fly fishermen and topwater guys have also been scoring regularly.  The Cinder Worm hatch is winding down in area estuaries so chances will improve using small plugs or soft plastics– no more frustration watching fussy Stripers surfacing without a fish to show for a full day’s fishing.

Out at Block Island, the fishing is incredible!  Again, parachute jigs, Umbrella Rigs, and trolled lures have been very effective.  Jigging with Diamond Jigs has been effective on the deeper humps, as well.  At the North Rip, fish chasing Sand Eels on the surface have been falling victim to poppers, pencil poppers, soft plastics, and Deadly Dicks.  Eeling has also been getting better, if you can stay away from the Dogfish, which have also moved in in large numbers.  Many fish in the 30 to 40 pound class have been caught and the bigger fish should be moving in any time.

For those with a taste for Fluke, fishing has also been decent, though the throwback ratio has been pretty high in the usual Fluke spots.  People have also been catching a lot of Black Seabass, though the season does not open until July 11 and they must be thrown back for now.  Tautog is also closed for the months of June and July to allow time to spawn.  The bigger Fluke tend to hang out in deeper waters and taking various colored jigs, tipped with Squid.  Several Fluke to 10 pounds have been coming over the rails– so if you’re catching shorts, consider moving slightly deeper and hang on tight! 

Offshore, Shark fishing is getting good, especially to the South and West.  There have been sporadic reports of Yellowfin Tuna popping up in the Canyons, showing up with some early eddies.  Keep an eye on the sea surface temperature maps to find good temperature breaks, look for a good weather window, and get after them!  If you find some action PLEASE LET US KNOW!! 

Don’t let the good times pass you by!  See you out on the water!