Rhode Island
A complete fishing forecast covering every corner of the Ocean State.
May 10, 2012
We all knew Mother Nature would make up for the lack of rain this spring at some point and it looks like this is it. Not the best timing, because, like a light switch, striped bass fishing has turned on across the board. Areas like Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island’s salt ponds, the Connecticut River, and reefs in Long Island Sound are producing larger bass more regularly now and it won’t be long before ‘cows’ are grazing our pastures. Bluefish are starting to show in better numbers to the delight of some and disappointment of others. Tautog, fluke and squid are other options in Rhode Island waters, while winter flounder can still be found in harbors and river mouths of Long Island Sound. Read More
May 03, 2012
This past March reminded us of what May usually feels like and now May has started out feeling a lot like March. The recent cold snap and much needed rains have dropped water temperatures a hair, putting a bit of a damper on some local fresh and saltwater fishing. That being said, there are a good number of worthy angling opportunities to be had right now and this weekend’s warm-up should be just what we need to put the action into high gear. Read More
April 26, 2012
It’s not always easy for anglers to choose their favorite time of year, but right now is up at the top for me. So many types of fishing are heating up simultaneously that it’s sometimes difficult to focus on just one. The saltwater action is picking up steam, with striped bass and bluefish being found throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island and larger ones arriving by the day. There are copious amounts of baitfish awaiting them such as herring, squid, sand eels, mackerel and menhaden. There are also winter flounder and big blackfish to target and fluke will soon be added to that list. Read More
April 19, 2012
Regular report writer Kierran Broatch has “gone fishing” for the Saturday Connecticut trout opener, so he’ll be back with a full report next week. In the meantime, as April moves along, the number of stripers in both Connecticut and Rhode Island is increasing every day, and the average size is going up. Anglers are reporting big numbers of schoolies, the best numbers in years according to some. Rhode Island’s trout season opened last week and Connecticut’s trout season opens up this weekend, adding another angling option for freshwater fishermen. Read More
April 12, 2012
A couple weeks ago there was a scant trickle of striped bass returning to Rhode Island waters. Last week it developed into a steady stream of arriving fish. This week it blew wide open with small stripers invading all corners of the Ocean State and occasional keeper bass sprinkled in. Long Island Sound and her tributaries are also beginning to see stripers showing up at a better clip, mixing in with holdovers. Also in Connecticut waters, the first bluefish of the season are here, American shad are running, the shallow-water blackfish bite is improving, and winter flounder limits are being met. Read More
April 05, 2012
Despite the dusting of snow on the ground as I was trout fishing last weekend, the progression of spring remains ahead of schedule. In saltwater, a big push of small striped bass has arrived along the Rhode Island oceanfront, with reports of larger ones on their way here from New Jersey and Long Island. Early season stripers are showing up in Connecticut too, mixing with holdovers that are dropping out of tidal rivers and harbors. New saltwater opportunities include fishing for winter flounder and blackfish in Connecticut waters, and the first reports of each are trickling in. Cod fishing off Block Island improved greatly from last weekend’s slow reports, but it still hasn’t been easy out there. Read More
March 29, 2012
We got pretty spoiled last week from insanely warm weather, but it was a nice taste of what’s to come. Temperatures dropped to more seasonable levels after last weekend and angling effort seemed to mirror the cold snap. Better fishing days are around the corner, though that shouldn’t deter you from opportunities worth trying now. For stripers, holdovers are growing increasingly aggressive and small fresh fish are slowly moving in. Spring cod fishing remains hit or miss, but keepers up to 20 pounds are still hitting the deck. In addition, winter flounder and blackfish seasons kick off in Connecticut waters this Sunday. Freshwater reports have been good across board, including bass, pike, crappie, white perch, and even bowfin. Read More
March 22, 2012
The first week of spring brought with it great weather and even better news – migrating striped bass are already showing up. Anxious saltwater anglers will be happy to know that a striper covered with sea lice was caught in Rhode Island waters on Wednesday afternoon. In addition, their holdover brethren continue to get active in tidal areas across the region. Several reports of returning river herring, shad and even bunker are also pouring in, meaning predictions of an early season are spot on so far. Fishing for cod off Block Island remains another viable option for salt seekers, with fish up to 36 pounds coming over the rail this week. Read More
March 15, 2012
Ospreys and river herring are returning, peepers are peeping, and flowers are beginning to bloom. There’s officially another week of winter, but, for all intents and purposes, spring is already here. RISAA’s successful show last weekend helped thousands of anglers scratch ‘the itch’, but many more are craving the real thing. Read More
March 08, 2012
Can you feel that? That is spring knocking at our door. Air temperatures broke the 60 degree barrier this week for the first time in a long time and I don’t know about you, but it made me want to drop what I was doing and grab a fishing rod. From freshly stocked trout streams in Connecticut to codfish off Block Island to one of the most anticipated saltwater fishing shows of the year, there are plenty of opportunities to get your fishing fix this weekend. Read More
March 01, 2012
It’s finally March and there is light at the end of the wintry tunnel – signs of spring are all around us from trout stocking to the first returning river herring. Rhode Island’s trout designated waters just closed, but heavy stocking across Connecticut has anglers scheming for ways to get out of work and honey-do lists. If fresh “stockies” aren’t your thing, there are a whole slew of other species to target from white perch to holdover striped bass. In the saltwater scene, cod fishing bounced back in a big way this week southeast of Block Island. Both codfish quantity and quality were up since our last forecast with impressive catches up to 45-pounds! If you can’t go fishing, then naturally the next best thing to do is learn about it; there’s an informative seminar on fishing the lower Connecticut River this Saturday at River’s End. Read More
February 23, 2012
The mild weather we’ve been experiencing lately has been spreading cases of ‘spring fever’ to anglers across the region. Ice-fishing equipment is getting packed away and swarms of anglers are uncovering boats and dusting off open-water gear. From freshwater fishing for trout, crappie, perch, pike, and smallmouth bass to holdover stripers and codfish opportunities in the brackish and saltwater scene, there are a bounty of ways to achieve a tight line this weekend. Read More
February 16, 2012
Unless you’re willing to drive a ways, ice fishing is pretty much out of the question at this point. On the other hand, our ice-free bodies of water are creating unique fishing opportunities this winter. Anglers are cashing in on open water trout, bass, pike, pickerel, and perch – in February! For those that prefer the saltwater variety, codfish or holdover striped bass are good options too. Another great excuse to get out the house this weekend is the Northeast Hunting and Fishing Show in Hartford, where you can visit favorite vendors and network with anglers from all over the region. Read More
February 09, 2012
Old Man Winter will come out of hiding this weekend with some ice-making weather, but it seems too little too late for many deprived hardwater anglers in southern New England. Thankfully, there are plenty of other fishing opportunities to take advantage of during this unusually mild winter. Codfish continue to be an option off Block Island, as Rhode Island headboats are reporting solid action on clams lately. In freshwater, fishing for trout, yellow perch and smallmouth bass has been keeping plenty of anglers busy as well. There is also a cooperative striped bass population in the lower Housatonic River that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Read More
February 02, 2012
The most bizarre winter in recent memory took it a step further this week with temperatures reaching into the 60’s on the first day of February. Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted six more weeks of winter this morning, but I’m not buying into it. Even though the ice fisherman in me is whining like a schoolgirl, it’s hard to not embrace the spring-like warmth. You’d be hard-pressed not to find an angler lately who isn’t itching to break out their boat or open water gear. Many did just that over the last few days, capitalizing on freshwater opportunities like trout, pike and smallmouth bass, or targeting cod, herring and holdover striped bass in tidal waters. Read More