Striped bass fishing is epic this summer

Striped bass fishing this year has been better than it has been for a long time. Early in spring, fish in the 30” to 40” class were caught frequently in our bays and estuaries, with larger fish in the plus-40” size caught as the season progressed.

Large striped bass in the 40-to-50-pound range are being caught regularly off Newport and at Block Island’s Southwest ledge.

It is important to note, particularly as the water warms, to engage good catch and release practices to reduce the mortality rate of released fish. Long fights with warm water and hot surface temperatures lead to increased mortality.

Anglers kill more striped bass when they release them (and they do not survive) compared to those that are legally taken. The striped bass regulation is one fish/person/day between the slot size of 28” to less than 31.”

So as water and air temperatures rise, anglers are encouraged to back off on the striped bass, as they are a species that is designated as overfished and presently in rebuilding plan with a low spawning stock biomass and very low recruitment (fish being born).

Angler Mark Tracey said, “Caught a 48-inch striper last week using a top water jumping minnow off the Southwest Ledge, Block Island when fishing with Captain Greg Snow of Snowfly Charters.”

“There’s a great population of medium-sized fish in the 15- to 30-pound class, along with schools of even bigger bass. The Ledge and the North Rip continue to be the names you are hearing most often, with fish coming on topwater plugs, live eels, live mackerel, soft plastics, Doc plugs, and everything in between,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown.

Ryan Collins of My Fishing Cape Cod said, “Member Ed Riley landed a 46-incher at the Monomoy Rips on Monday during one of our group trips, and yesterday’s Provincetown trip put the members on 20+ bass in the first two hours.”

Fishing camp was a whole lot of fun

“I never caught a bluefish — they fight hard,” “I cannot believe I caught a shark (smooth dogfish)!” and “This is the first fish I ever caught!”

These were some of the comments made on my boat as we (along with 20 other volunteer vessels from the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association) took 55 youth fishing on Narragansett Bay during fishing camp.

The Youth Fishing Camp is sponsored by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and is held at Rocky Point State Park, Warwick. The campers, from 7 to 12 years old, came from Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Camp is funded by RISAA, DEM and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.

Fishing appeals to our sense of adventure, teaches us patience and how to take care of the environment. Topics covered over the three-day camp included fish identification,  conservation, use of spinning and conventional gear and tackle, basic marine biology, how and why to use different baits and lures,  boating safety, knot tying, casting form shore, and fishing from private boats as well as a party/charter boat. And, this year fly tying and an introduction to fly fishing were provided.

Hats off to RISAA, DEM, and Safe Harbor Greenwich Bay Marina for donating dockage for vessels during camp.

Visit the RISAA fishing camp YouTube channel at RISAA Fishing Camp

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater fishing has slowed down a bit. “Anglers are no longer targeting trout. They are there, but customers are fishing for largemouth bass, and shiners are working well for them,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence. Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick, said, “The top water bite for largemouth bass is good; customers are landing them with success at Warwick Pond.”

Striped bass and bluefish

East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “Huge schools of silversides, rain bait and other small forage are hanging close to the edge, with mackerel and some bunker making appearances. Fish up to 39 inches have been caught sporadically, far and few between. Trevor “Postal” Woods lifted a 38-inch striped bass off the bottom while bouncing a green mack Savage Sand Eel on a day trip all the way from Vermont!” Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, said, “The striped bass bite continued to be great at Block Island’s Southwest Ledge, with multiple methods working to catch them.”

“The bass bite at Block Island is still very good,” said Marco Ialomgo of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, Warwick. The Brenton Reef area off Newport continues to yield very large bass.

Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle said, “The striped bass bite in the bay, all the way up the Seekonk River to Pawtucket, is now occurring late at night or early in the morning. With little rain, the water salinity is high and has attached squid into the mid and upper Narragansett Bay areas.”

Summer Flounder (fluke), scup, and black sea bass

“Anglers are catching very large scup at Rocky Point, Colt State Park and in North Kingstown and everywhere in between. Commercial black sea bass rod & reel fishermen are having no trouble catching their limits of jumbo-sized black sea bass.

Areas off the Sakonnet River and Newport are yielding keepers,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State. “Some keeper fluke are being caught off Newport,” said Marco Ialomgo of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle. “Customers are catching 16” and 17” scup in the East Passage, with a good bite off Tidewater Drive, Warwick, where we fished last week,” said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box.

Declan O’Donnel of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “If you are targeting fluke, do not overlook structure. Sticky bottom continues to outproduce clean sand.”

Tuna

“The canyon bite has been excellent, producing yellowfin, bigeye, and bluefin tuna. The mid-shore grounds are still fairly quiet, but every now and then anglers are finding pockets of life with bait, whales, birds, and a few tuna mixed in,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle.

Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina said, “All are waiting for the tuna, and last week things started to open up.”

Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net  or visit www.noflukefishing.com .