Rhode Island Fishing Report- June 2, 2022

Rhode Island Fishing Report 

The Frances Fleet in Point Judith is seeing continued success on the cod grounds, especially with some better weather providing ample opportunities to get out there. Both the half day and full day trips this week saw limits for most anglers, with drift conditions being strong all week. Both bait and jigs have been producing, with either fresh squid or pink shine Gulp being top producers. The evening squid trips have also remained consistent, with high hooks managing a full bucket on most trips. The daily fluke trips will continue to sail at 7 AM when the weather allows and check the website for updated squid schedule.  

Jay, at Pamela May Charters has used some varying methods over the past week and has continued to find success with most of them. On Saturday, he was finding bluefish to 15-pounds on topwater plugs and topwater flies around Greenwich Cove. On Sunday, they focused on livelining bunker around Mt. Hope Bay and managed a good pile of slot bass, along with a few overs. The reports have also been strong for anglers heading out to Block Island, with most reporting the best early season striper fishing in years.   

Connor, at Tall Tailz Charters was happy to report that the bay is still on fire! The early season striped bass fishing has been as good as ever, with more and more hungry fish showing up in the area each day. Live pogies have been working the best, but topwater offerings, SP Minnows, and Parker Spoons are also producing quality fish. 50+ fish days have been common, with a vast majority coming on topwaters. The weakfish bite has also shown no signs of slowing with big schools of quality fish patrolling the west bay.  

Dustin, at Rhode Island Kayak Fishing Adventures told me the fishing has been strong across the board throughout Narragansett Bay. Stripers of all sizes are being caught on several presentations, with both artificials and live bait. Bluefish are everywhere and are willing to tear up just about any offering you throw at them. The weakfish bite has slowed a bit, but there are still ample opportunities to come across a few. Black sea bass and scup action has improved, with relatively easy limits of both species, along with some encouraging improvements in the fluke reports. Anglers working the freshwater are still reporting solid largemouth action, along with some nice golden trout. Dustin’s schedule is filling up quicky, so be sure to check out www.rikfa.com to book ASAP. 

Dave at Ocean State Tackle in Providence reports that the striped bass bite is still going strong across the state, although the East Bay has slowed a bit, with most of the fish coming from the upper reaches of the Providence River. The area around Mt. Hope Bay is also producing some quality bass up to 40-inches or so. A good push of larger bass has started to show up out front and at Block Island, with Umbrella Rigs producing well when the fish start to get finicky. Bottom anglers are reporting slow but steady improvements in the fluke and scup bite in the Bay and along the South County beaches.  

Rick, at Priority Charters reports that the striped bass bite continues to be lights out across the state, with plenty of fish of mixed sizes. Solid reports have come in from Block Island, Point Judith, the Newport coast, and up in Narragansett Bay. Out at Block Island, trolling umbrella rigs or working jigs in the rips has been the top producer, while live bunker and casting spoons has been the ticket for anglers fishing closer to home. Rick has also continued to target cod, including a 20-keeper trip that he had last week. They have also started to find some nice fluke after switching over from striped bass fishing, while the full-day dedicated fluke trips are seeing limits of quality fish on most trips.  

Captain Rob, at Newport Sportfishing Charters has continued to find no shortage of big striped bass this week, with consistent catches to 40-pounds throughout the mid/upper Bay. There have also been some reports of some better fish showing up at Block, so it seems we’re not too far off from strong fishing throughout the state. He was also encouraged by the fluke fishing this week. While it is far from lock and load, if you can locate them, you can generally put together some good numbers of quality fish.  

Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Fishing Forecast

Striped bass continue to pile into Southern New England, providing ample opportunities for anglers across Rhode Island and Connecticut. Striped bass of mixed sizes can be targeted across Rhode Island, with steady action in and around the Bay, along with some red-hot early season action at Block Island. Gator bluefish can also be found spread out in the same areas, and while the bonus weakfish bite has slowed a bit, they are still popping up with some regularity around the Bay. Bottom anglers are finding some improved fluke action around the Island, and we should be seeing the South County beaches start to wake up any day now. Connecticut anglers can continue to take advantage of steady bass and bluefish action in and around the tidal rivers, along with a push of bunker and larger bass to the west that should be filtering through the state more and more each day. Fluke fishing seems to be better to the west than the east, but they can likely be found across the Sound, while the sea bass season has opened and early results are strong on the deeper reefs, rockpiles, and wrecks.