No Fluke

Striped bass fishing lights up along the coast

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Striped bass are here in our bays, coves and along the coastal shore. Great reports of large keeper fish being caught. On Sunday, May 29, the commercial striped bass season opened so catching those prized larger fish has become more competitive.

Anglers are working for their fish employing a number strategies and tactics until they find out what works for them where and when they are fishing.
Derick Kolodziejczak of Johnston fished the upper Narragansett Bay and rivers Tuesday night with good success. Derick said, “We caught a 28" around 5:30 p.m. by the Henderson Bridge in Providence using a Rapala X-Rap lure, casting and retrieving it at various speeds. 

There was plenty of bait down low but not much chasing them. It was a rainy evening but no wind and the water temperature was about 57 degrees. At about 7 p.m. the stripers just turned on for about 20 minutes chasing the bait to the top.  I landed a 22 pound, 38” fish at the old rusty bridge at the Gano Street boat launch.”

Many anglers are fishing at night for striped bass already, which is a practice that generally takes place later in the season. Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick said, “My fishing partner Adam James of Warwick caught a 40 pound, 41 ½ inch, striped bass off Warwick Light at night and a 33 pound fish the following night. The bass were caught with Atlantic menhaden chunks fishing off the bottom and using a bait runner reel.

So now is the time to try your luck with striped bass in the upper Bay. Grab your gear, fish from shore or boat, and be prepared to employ a variety of tactics until one seems to work for you.

National Seminar Series moves to Taunton

This season’s 30th Annual Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series in New England will be held in Taunton, Massachusetts. The Seminar Series brings decades of experience and expertise to eight of the most active and engaged fishing communities in the country and this year the Taunton area will be one of them.

As the nation’s longest-running educational program on recreational marine fishing tactics, the series covers the how-tos and where-tos of catching gamefish. Every seminar is hosted by George Poveromo, host of “World of Saltwater Fishing” on NBC Sports, with the help of local fishing experts and captains.

Each seminar is five hours and covers a variety of tailored topics relevant to the regional fishing environment, including weather conditions, controlled-depth fishing, tools and technology, and the effects of tides and temperature on fish. The series employs a team-teaching concept, where four experts take the stage for each session.

The first seminar is scheduled for January 7 in Fort Myers, Florida and the session in our region is scheduled for March 4 in Tauton, Massachusetts.

Fishing camp filled

Steve Medeiros, president of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association said, “Registration for our pilot fishing camp at Rocky Point is closed, we filled our 40 slots and have a completely filled waiting list. So no more calls please.”

Where’s the bite

Striped bass fishing remains strong in the Bay with fish being caught casting lures and trolling but the bait of choice that continues to land the larger fish is Atlantic menhaden. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence boated a 34” fish live lining a pogie north of Conimicut Light. Derick Kolodziejczak of Johnston landed a 22 pound, 38” striped bass near the Gano Street boat launch using a Rapala X-Rap lure. Most of the action with larger bass continues to take place north of Conimicut Light with smaller fish being taken in the Popasquash Point to Bear Point area of the East Passage of the Bay. Steve McKenna, noted shore angler of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown, said, “The striped bass bite had from shore was early and now the fish are getting larger.” No bass bite reported at press time at Block Island. Fish continue to be landed along the southern coastal shore.

Fluke fishing was mixed last week with rough seas and turbid water. As the water clears and warms the bite is expected to improve and move closer to shore. The Frances Fleet reported a fair fluke bite last week.

Squid fishing last week was slow with dirty water but reports over the weekend were expected to improve as the water clears and warms up a bit.

Freshwater fishing improved over the weekend at waterways restocked with trout by the Department of Environmental Management. Visit dem.ri.gov for a list of ponds that have been restocked.

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shellfishing for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. He is a RISAA board member, a member of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association and a member of the RI Marine Fisheries Council. Contact or forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit his website at noflukefishing.com.



Dave Monti

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