Rhode Island Fishing Report – December 31, 2020
The party boats continue to catch a mixed bag of bottom fish, while shore anglers are finding keeper-sized holdovers in the rivers, and the local ponds are fishing well for stocked trout.
The party boats continue to catch a mixed bag of bottom fish, while shore anglers are finding keeper-sized holdovers in the rivers, and the local ponds are fishing well for stocked trout.
Holdover striped bass action is holding steady and freshwater fishing continues to produce on open water without skim ice.
School striped bass can still be found but most of the local linesider anglers are heading to the typical holdover haunts for solid holdover bass action.
With the tautog season about a week away from closing and the bite slowing, anglers have been getting into a mixed bag of cod, sea bass, scup, cunner, and red hake when boats have been able to sail.
Holdover striped bass are sensing the cold and starting to make their way up into tidal rivers and estuaries.
Tautog action has been strong while cod, sea bass, and scup have been rounding out catches at their normal early winter haunts.
Striped bass action remains excellent in the Western Sound, while at Coxes Ledge, the cod continues to pick up and the sea bass action has been strong.
Warm water temperatures are keeping the tautog bite hot and should continue to do so through the next few weeks.
Tautog fishing remains good with plenty of hungry fish and near boat limits on most trips.
Although the saltwater action has started to slow, togging remains very strong and there are still tons of schoolie striped bass in the area