No Fluke

Where’s the bite?

Posted

The bluefin tuna bite remains strong with Mahi, bonito and mackerel being caught too. Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters said, “The bluefin tuna bite is outstanding. With the front that moved in last week we thought the fishing would get better or worse. It is definitely better. I was out fishing at the Block Island Wind Farm at the beginning of the week and saw bluefin tuna busting the surface all around turbine #5. The water in the area is warm, 70 degrees, so conditions are right. Many are catching small school tuna but there are some larger fish in the 110 pound range mixed in with them. These fish are spooling recreational anglers but some commercial fishers who are prepared for the large fish are landing them.” Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle said, “Both chub mackerel and king mackerel are being caught as well as bonito.” Fish are being caught both east and west of Beavertail Point along the coastal shores. “One angler caught a king mackerel in the bay. And, the tuna bite remains strong, particularly when the water is clear. Angler James Monti fished with his sons Jude and Rowan for bluefin. Rowan (eleven years old) said, “I only want to fish for bluefin tuna for the rest of my life.” Fishing hot shot angler Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren said, “The bluefin tuna bite has been great. We hooked up at Cox Ledge last week boating a couple of nice fish.”

Scup and black sea bass. “Scup are being caught all the way up to Save the Bay which is unusual,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle. Scup fishing along America Ledge and Great Ledge on the northwest side of Jamestown has been very good as well just about anywhere in the bay where there is structure and water movement.

“Fluke fishing seems a bit better at places like Fire Island with Block Island fluke fishing shutting down a bit. The fish are either in large, in the 25” range at Block Island, or they are all shorts. The fish closer to shore are in the 20” range and are more consistent,” said Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters. “The fluke bite has been good along the coastal shore but you have to stick with it to catch them. Pt. Judith, Narragansett has been good, even the southwest side of Block Island with fish being found off Newport to the Sakonnet River,” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle.

“Striped bass fishing at Block Island is still very good with very large fish being caught there as well as off the reefs off Fishers Island and Watch Hill. Eels seem to be working for those fishing the reef areas,” said Mike Wade of Watch Hill. Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle said, “Striped bass and bluefish fishing from Newport to the Sakonnet River has been outstanding. Anglers are hooking up with fish 20 to 40 pounds using eels or trolling with tub & worm or umbrella rigs from 9er’s Lures. And the Cape Cod Canal has exploded with squid and mackerel bringing the big fish into the Canal.”

Freshwater fishing has been active with shiner being the bait of choice for many. Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, said, “Top water fishing for largemouth bass with frogs in lily pad areas is working for anglers as well as large swim baits for largemouth bass. The best time of day is dawn or dusk when things are the coolest. Things are a bit hot now for trout fishing.”

Dave Monti holds a captain’s master 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@verison.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.

Dave Monti

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.