Favorite places to catch spring striped bass

Jim Lundy caught this East Passage striped bass using a flutter spoon last week.

East End Eddie Doherty with a spring Cape Cod Canal striped bass.  Photo by Jeff Nickerson.

 

Grant Stark with the 46” striped bass he caught on Cape Cod last week.  Photo courtesy of ‘My Fishing Cape Cod’.

Favorite places to catch spring striped bass

The striped bass are here on their annual migration north.  Before relating where to catch them and how it is important to note that they are in tough shape as a species. 

Striped bass continue to be overfished and subject to overfishing so great care should be taken to catch and release fish safely to reduce fish mortality. 

Using one single hook rather than multiple treble hooks on lures helps.  Keep the fight short and try to keep the fish in the water when dehooking and releasing. Inline circle hooks are the law when using bait and no use of gaffs. 

Take your time when releasing the fish once the hook is out holding it by its tail (caudal) fin moving it forward and backward so water flows over their gills to revive them.  The fish will let you know it is ready to be released when it wags its tail fin in your hand, at that point just let it go.

The striped bass limit is one fish/person/day between 28” to less than 31”.

Some favorite spots and methods

Coves, ponds, rivers and along the ocean shore. Salt Pond and Narrow River, Narragansett; Green River, North Kingstown; and the Warren River are good spots. My favorite cove is Greenwich Cove in the spring (because I lived there, and it is the first place I ever caught a striped bass).  

I have caught bass from shore and boat at the end, middle and mouth of the Cove at Chepiwanoxet Point, Warwick; to the East Greenwich Town Dock and Scallop Town Park on the east side; to the Godard Park boat ramp all the way up to the State Beach.  My favorite baits are hard and soft plastic lures (both surface and swimming).                    

The East Passage of Narragansett Bay including the space between Popasquash Point, Bristol and Bear Point Prudence Island.  I have caught many large striped bass in this area (large for the Bay is 20 to 40 pounds), particularly trolling with tube and worm or fishing the channel pads and edges with menhaden (live or chunked) and large spoons that mimic herring and Atlantic menhaden. The channel pads from Bristol to Barrington are also great places to fish as they hold bait and stripers as the shipping channel acts as a bait conduit pushing bait up and down the East Passage of the Bay. Can fish this area from shore at Barrington Beach and Colt State Park fishing pier, Bristol. 

The West Wall of the Harbor of Refuge in Jerusalem area, South Kingstown; the Charlestown Breachway and any other jetty along the coastal shore.  These areas provide shore anglers (and boat anglers) with one of the best first Rhode Island striped bass opportunities as the bass make their run past the Connecticut coastline to Rhode Island.  Lures of all types are the baits of choice. 

Providence River in the cities of Providence, East Providence, Barrington, Cranston and Warwick.  The area from shore up the Seekonk River and at India Point Park and the Hurricane Barrier in Providence to Conimicut Point has been a very fruitful fishing area in early spring.  The most popular method in recent years has been live lining or fishing with cut up chunks of Atlantic menhaden.  

The hot areas to fish include the Hurricane Barrier down to Save the Bay on Fields Point in Providence.  Anglers have caught thousands of bass in this area. When the menhaden spawning runs are strong striped bass chase them up the Providence River to the Seekonk River all the way up to downtown Pawtucket.  Bass over 50” have been caught in this area.  Anglers can catch from shore in Pawtucket, Providence, East Providence, Barrington, Warwick and Cranston. 

Cape Cod Canal is now yielding fish for shore anglers.  Surfcasters are catching a variety of fish sizes.  “The middle of last week started with North Attleborough resident Justin “Shooter” Dorsey landing an above slot 33-inch striped bass on a rising east tide toward the west end with an Al Gags white Whip-It Eel. Another school followed with fish up to 40-inches caught mid canal by “Slap Shot Scottie” Ewell of Montague while casting a light-colored SP Minnow into the east tide,” said East End Eddie Doherty, Canel fishing expert and author. “Lures that seem to be working well this spring include white Joe Baggs Swarters, 5-ounce Bill Hurley Canal Killers, Albie Super Snax and 4-ounce Al Gags jigs.”

 

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass.  Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren, said, “The stiped bass bite has been very good in Mt. Hope and Narragansett Bays.  Anglers should know that Rhode Island and Massachusetts now have two different ways of measuring striped bass.”  In Massachusetts anglers must squeeze the tail (caudal) fin to take the measure from the closed mouth of the fish.  Visit Massachusetts - Striped Bass | eRegulations for an illustration on how to measure striped bass in Massachusetts. In Rhode Island measure from the mouth to the longest point of the tail fin, there is no squeezing allowed. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Customers are having difficulty catching slot size fish in the upper Providence and Seekonk Rivers.  Larger fish over 31” are being caught, earlier this month a 53” fish was caught. Baits working include live or chucked Atlantic menhaden with worms working best in the Seekonk River as all that mud up the Seekonk River holds a lot of worms.”  Angler Kevin Travares said “We fished Mount Hope Bay, the Sakonnet launch to Bristol to Roger Williams, etc. Chased terns and gulls on breaking schools of bass. Sometimes w/out birds, could spot them breaking top water.  Needed to move with the schools. 40-50’ of water/drop offs in channel worked.  Most fish were around slot, had some under 20” (nice to see) and a couple over 30 inches.”  Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “We've seen some impressive sizes, with reports of fish up to 47 inches caught in the Charlestown Breachway this week. Both tides have been productive, and they are actively feeding on a variety of bait, including silversides, needlefish, shad, eels, and squid.”

Tautog.  Anglers have filed fewer reports on tautog as not as many are fishing for them as they are now targeting scup, striped bass and other species that have arrived,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle. 

Summer flounder and scup are being caught throughout the region.  Manny Macera of Lucky Bait & Tackle said, “The scup are in with small fluke being caught too.” Angler Matthew Haczynski reported Saturday finding keeper fluke in the Block Island area with he and two others filling a cooler full of fluke.”  Angler Garey Vandemoortele, said, “We limited out on fluke in the Westport area last week when chartering on Three Sister Charters.  Clams and clam worms worked best.” 

Freshwater. For complete regulations, a list of trout stocked ponds, and a copy of the RI Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Guide visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov.

Block Island Tournament now includes mainland ocean beaches

 

Nine species: The Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament now includes nine species and a wind farm photo contest division.  

Expanded Tournament: Now fish an expanded fishing area in the Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27.

Donation: Members of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association with food and cash raised at their annual dinner that they donated to the Johnney Cake Center for Hope, Peace Dale.  

Tournament now includes ocean beaches

“We are thrilled that the Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament keeps growing,” said Capt. Chris Willi, Tournament Director and owner of Block Island Fish Works, a bait & tackle shop and charter fishing business located on Block Island, Rhode Island.  “We now are fishing for nine species with an expanded fishing area that includes areas south of the Newport and Jamestown Bridges including the Rhode Island ocean beaches to about fifteen miles south of Block Island itself.”

The tournament will start at 5:30 a.m., Saturday, July 26 and end Sunday, July 27, 12 noon.  There will be an ‘After Party’ at Capt. Nick’s Rock & Roll Bar, Block Island on Sunday, July 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a brief Tournament awards ceremony.

“This is a length only Tournament.  Participants download GotOne, the Tournament app, on their smartphone.  To make a Tournament entry they take a photo of their catch up against the Tournament supplied ruler and send the entry into the Tournament electronically. This makes it unnecessary to attend the awards ceremony to pick up prizes,” said Capt. Willi.

Species now include bonito, false albacore, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and mahi in addition to fluke, black sea bass, bluefish and striped bass.

Tournament entry fees are $150 per boat for up to six anglers and $35/shore angler.  Capt. Willi said, “Thanks to the Block Island Wind Farm and Ørsted as well as tackle shop co-sponsors, we are able to donate 100% of Tournament entry fees to the Block Island Fire Department and Rescue.”

Tournament highlights include:  cash cards/swag/and sponsor prizes totally $10,000;  boat, shore, youth, team and photo divisions; take a photo with the  Block Island Wind Farm shown and you can enter three photo categories each with $200 prize… most scenic, best fish photo and best team photo;  pick up participant bags at one of seven locations including Block Island Fish Works, Block Island; Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren;  Ocean State Tackle, Providence; The Tackle Box, Warwick; Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown; Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown; and  Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly.

Register at BI Inshore Tourney | bi-fishworks (sandypointco.com); contact Block Island Fish Works at bifishworks@gmail.com or 401.742.3992. 

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass.  Angler Fred DeFinis of Middletown, said, “I fished in the East Passage last week for three days and landed a fair number of fish. By far, the most common size is 28-29 inches which are probably of the 2018 year class, the last good spawning year.” Expert fly angler and instructor Ed Lombardo, said, “I got one fish Thursday on an incoming tide  near Middle Bridge on the Narrow River.”  “Some nice stripers, especially during the rainy nights have been caught. Bass fishing has been consistent along the beaches and in the breachways. The rain seemed to slow down the worm hatch a bit,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown.  Angler Gil Bell fishing the surf in South County, said, “Caught a fact, sea lice free 30” striped bass which I released.”

Tautog.  “Tautog should continue to move closer to shore as the water warms up. Offshore water temperatures have just reached 50 degrees, while the pond temperatures hit the mid-60s this week. As a reminder female tautog can be full of eggs this time of year and is good sport to release them and keep the males,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle.  Capt. Mike O’Grady of Fishing Machine Charters, said, “Tautog fishing is good.  We are catching full boat limits with a bunch for shorts and a good squid bite too.” Angler John Migliori said, “Caught a 7.64 tautog from shore on Aquidneck Island this week using green crabls,”

Squid and summer flounder.  The squid fishing has been very good with anglers hooking up at night.  And, the fluke are right behind them. Angler Matthew Haczynski reported Sunday finding squid and fluke off Block Island, “We managed to boat three keepers between all the shorts in 75’-100’.  A few fish were tossing squid on the way up. A good sign of better things to come.”

Giant bluefin tuna bite is already on.  Offshore fishing angler Richard Pastore said, “Last Thursday a 600 pound giant was caught on a Ballyhoo rig between Cuttyhunk and Block Island.”

Freshwater. For complete regulations, a list of trout stocked ponds, and a copy of the RI Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Guide visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov.

Say no to boat tax

Tautog bite on:  Angler Greg Vespe of Tiverton, said, “Tautog fishing opened up this weekend in the mid and lower Narragansett Bay.  Caught our limit before our coffee was cold.”

Trout bite still good: “Greg Spicer caught multiple golden, rainbow and brown trout in Northern Rhode Island waterways last week,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence.

Boating sales and property tax proposed

On Tuesday night, May 5, 2025, the boating and fishing community spoke out against Rhode Island House Bill H-6256 at a House Finance Committee meeting.  The Bill proposes to remove the sales, property and use tax exemption on motorboats.

Bill sponsor Rep. John Lombardi of Providence said, “We have $5-million dollar boats being bought by people from out of state and they pay no sales tax on these yachts.”

However, this is not a luxury tax Rep. Lombardi is proposing,  but rather a tax on all 32,000 boats registered in Rhode Island each year, and according to the National Marine Manufactures Association about three out of four of them are owned by individuals with household incomes of less than $100,000.  So the new sales tax and property tax being proposed by Rep. Lombardi would tax thousands of working families in Rhode Island.

In a letter to the House Finance committee Rick Bellavance, president of the RI Charter & Party Boat Association, a membership of 51 small businesses in Rhode Island, said, “This bill would impact small businesses in the industry by introducing additional costs, with they might need to either absorb or pass on to clients.  The industry supports our tourism-based economy and the effects of H-6256 should be carefully considered as the bill would not support tourism and the charter fishing industry in Rhode Island.”

Scott Travers, executive director of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, with 7,500 affiliated members and 35 affiliated organizations, said, “Recreational fishing has a $419-million dollar economic impact on Rhode Island’s economy annually.  Many of our members own boats or fish with friends that have boats so this bill would harm recreational fishing as well as marine trades in Rhode Island.” See a Scott Travers interview at RI lawmakers consider imposing new tax on boats | WPRI.com.

Highlights of the testimony I gave at the hearing are as follows:

”Over the past 20 years about 75 percent of my charter customers came from out of state, which is tourism.  I am constantly refereeing customers to hotels, restaurants and bait & tackle shops.  Tourism, boating and fishing are a major driver to Rhode Island’s economy.

We have been known as a boating and fishing friendly state in part due to no taxes on boats.  To enact sales and property taxes on boats will change this perception.  We will no longer be the boating and fishing friendly state.

This change in perception, will have a profound  negative impact on the number of boaters, fishers and tourists that come to RI.  The income generated from these taxes will be minimal to the positive impact Rhode Island has enjoyed by being perceived as a boating and fishing friendly state.

So I ask anglers, boaters, members of the House, Senate and Administration please do not support a boat sales and property tax.  Let the State of Rhode Island remain a boating and fishing friendly state that will continue to help drive our economy.”

According to the Rhode Island Maine Trades Association, the state’s marine trades sector collectively accounts for over 13,300 jobs and $2.65 billion in gross sales.

More to come as we follow this bill though the legislative process.  For now the bill has been put on hold for further study like all bills heard Tuesday night.

 

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass fishing for holdover striped bass (fish that did not migrate south) continues to be very good with anglers catching keeper striped bass 28” to < 31”.  “Recent sunny days have warmed the water and we're seeing a good mix of sizes, from smaller school bass up to impressive fish over 30 inches. We've also noticed a few worm hatches last week where fish have been present. It looks like these hatches will soon be expanding from the more secluded coves to the open edges of the ponds,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown.  Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “Still not much action in Apponaug Cove area, but some anglers are picking up fish at Conimicut Point, Warwick with isolated reports of fish in Greenwich Bay.”  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Fish to 34” are being caught in the Providence River and West Passage with school bass being caught in Greenwich Bay.  Natural baits such as clam, squid and oms are working as well as flutter spoons as there are not many Atlantic menhaden available.”

Tautog.  “We've been getting some positive reports on tautog, with customers having success both from the shore and by boat. There have also been a few reports of cod in deeper waters.” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle.  Dustin Stevens of Rhode Island Kayak Adventures, said, “I like to use half of a green crab with legs off in the spring as the fish seem to like softer baits.”  Angler Greg Vespe of Tiverton, said, “Tog fishing exploded over the weekend with a nice mix of males and females in the mid and upper bay now that the water is 52.8 so they are chewing.  We had our limits before our coffee was cold and then just played around trying new spots.”

Freshwater trout fishing is still a good bet with trout stocking recently occurring in RI and MA waterways.  For complete regulations, a list of stocked ponds, and a copy of the RI Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Guide visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov.

 

Spring tautog season in full swing

 

Angler Richard Reich said, “Caught this 24”, 7.24 pound tautog last Thursday in 20 feet of water off Narragansett.  It was our best of eleven fish on jigs with Asian crabs with two anglers fishing.

Kayak angler Tom Houde with a string of three tautog, his limit, caught in spring two years ago.

Spring tautog season in full swing

The spring tautog season in Massachusetts and Rhode Island opened April 1 with a 16” minimum size, only one fish may be greater than 21.  The season runs through May 31 with a three fish/person/day limit and a ten fish per boat limit (does not apply to charter boats).

In Massachusetts the limit reduces to one fish from June 1 to July 31. In Rhode Island the season closes in during peak spawning and reopens once again with a three fish/person/day limit on August 1 along with Massachusetts. Some of my favorite tautog fishing tips learned from the experts. 

·       Keep rig simple to reduce tie ups, I prefer an egg sinker rig with one hook extended below the sinker on a swivel, or a one hook conventional rig with a dropper loop and sinker.  Today the most popular rig for anglers are jigs of all sizes and colors.

·       Anchor over or near structure, and fish the entire boat or area if on land, even casting a bit as tautog are territorial, a few feet make a difference, also let anchor line in and out to change position unless you have and electric motor.

·       Be prepared to chum as needed, I use a mixture of cut-up sea clams and crushed crabs

·       I use 30 to 40 pound braid line with a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader of equal value to enhance a direct connection to the fish and the line does not stretch when the fish tries to run back into structure, my fishing rod is a medium action rod.

·       Your rig should be on the bottom, be patient particularly in the spring as the bites are not as frequent.

·       Be prepared to fish different types of rigs and bait presentations depending on conditions and what fish want i.e. conventional rigs, jigs  and various baits (green crabs, Asian crabs, clam bellies).

 

New cod and haddock regulation areas

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has filed final regulations which will go into effect on May 9, 2025 concerning cod and haddock as well as other groundfish. Federal rules apply to all fishing activity in federal waters and Massachusetts accommodates the possession and landing of groundfish lawfully taken in federal waters that do not conform to state rules. For information on the new interim federal emergency rules visit NOAA Fisheries Implements an Emergency Action to Ensure the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Continues Uninterrupted.

New cod management area: Massachusetts has implemented its management areas for codfish consistent with pending changes to the federal stock boundary delineations. All state waters north of Cape Cod and those waters down the backside of Cape Cod and east of Nantucket west of the 70^th meridian are now considered Western Gulf of Maine; all other state waters are now Southern New England. Effectively, this designates that band of waters east of Cape Cod and Nantucket south of 42° 00’ north latitude from Southern New England into the Western Gulf of Maine.

Moratorium on Southern New England Codfish:  DMF has also adopted a moratorium on the harvest and possession of cod by commercial and recreational fishers within the Southern New England cod management areas. While there is little cod catch occurring in these state waters, this action is designed to backstop anticipated federal rules.

Recreational Limits for Gulf of Maine Haddock and Western Gulf of Maine Cod: At this time, the recreational fishing limits for haddock and Western Gulf of Maine cod remain status quo, consistent with federal regulations. For Gulf of Maine haddock the open fishing season is April 1 – February 28 with a 18” minimum size and 15-fish bag limit and for Western Gulf of Maine cod, the open season is September 1 – October 31 with a 1-fish bag limit and 23” minimum size.

 

Massachusetts extends Small Vessel Speed Restriction

During a partial aerial survey on April 29, the Center for Coastal Studies documented 52 right whales in Cape Cod Bay, including three mother/calf pairs, all of which were skim feeding at the surface or just below the surface. This feeding behavior makes them highly susceptible to vessel collision. Acoustic detections of right whales on a near real-time monitoring buoy in Cape Cod Bay also shows a continued strong presence.

As a result of the ongoing presence of right whales, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is extending the small vessel speed restriction in Cape Cod Bay through May 15, 2025. Small vessels (less than 65’) are required to travel at speeds no greater than 10 knots in this area. Right whales are highly susceptible to injury and death due to vessel collision. A complementary federal speed restriction in the same area applies to vessels 65’ and greater.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass fishing for holdover striped bass (fish that did not migrate south) continues to be very good with anglers catching keeper striped bass 28” to < 31”.  East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “Rob Fishsticks’ Pesa is on the board with his first striped bass of the season, a holdover caught in the Taunton River that fell for a small green mack Savage Sand Eel and “Hammerin’ Jack” Barton has been doing well in the same area for the past two weeks with Savages & FishLabs.”  Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle said, “Still no action in Apponaug Cove and Greenwich Bay area, no birds feeding and not much bait in the water, things should break open soon as the water warms.”

Tautog.  Angler Richard Reich of Narragansett and his fishing partner caught eleven tautog in 20 feet of water off Narragansett last Thursday.  Their largest fish was 24” and 7.24 pounds caught on jigs with Asian crabs. “Shore anglers fishing the jetties have not been doing as well as those anglers fishing the reefs off Watch Hill.  The bait of choice that seems to be working best are white crabs if you can get them,” said Paker Mandes of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly.   Dustin Stevens of Rhode Island Kayak Adventures, said, “It was windy and cold but I can’t complain about a successful opening day for Tautog! Two keepers, two shorts, not too shabby.”  Justin was fishing in 15-31 feet of water and his average time from drop to bite was about ten minutes.  “I like to use half of a green crab with legs off in the spring as the fish seem to like softer baits.” 

 Freshwater trout fishing is still a good bet with trout stocking recently occurring in RI and MA waterways.  For complete regulations, a list of stocked ponds, and a copy of the RI Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Guide visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov.