Fishing Report | EastBayRI.com - News, Opinion, Things to Do in the East Bay

Jim Lundy with a spring striped bass caught in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay off Prudence Island.

Clarification on new striped bass regulation

Currently, the striped bass regulations from last year are still in effect, meaning Rhode Island and Massachusetts anglers can retain one fish between 28” and 35” until the new … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 5/16/23

Fred DeFinis of Middletown caught multiple bass in the East Passage last week to 34”.  Soft plastic lures are working well.

Agency takes emergency action on striped bass

Last Tuesday, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission approved a new emergency slot size limit to be implemented this year of 28” to less than 31”, one fish/person/day. Presently … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 5/9/23

Mark Tracy of Barrington caught striped bass to 29” this weekend in the East Passage from the shipping channel to Potters Cove, Prudence Island. File photo.

It’s getting fishy out there

Freshwater and saltwater fishing in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are outstanding. Both trout and salmon fishing in stocked ponds is particularly good with an explosive largemouth bass … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 5/2/23

Peter Jenkins, chairman of the board of the American Saltwater Guides Association and owner of the Saltwater Edge, Middletown, says striped bass in trouble and asks anglers to take action.

Striped bass are overfished and still in trouble

The striped bass fishery on the East Coast is overfished and overfishing is occurring. The fishery experienced a significant increase in harvest in 2022, as the eighth-most abundant year-class on … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 4/25/23

Rick Wise of Wakefield with a striped bass he caught this week in Salt Pond using a white soft plastic lure.

Favorite ways to catch striped bass

We still have a lot of larger holdover striped bass in the 20- and 30-plus-inch range in the area. These are the fish that decided not to migrate south and ‘hold over’ here for the winter … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 4/18/23

John Migliori with a 25.5-inch pickerel he caught on Aquidneck Island last week.

Opening Day for fishing season is this Saturday

O pening Day of the freshwater fishing season in Rhode Island is at 6 a.m. this Saturday, April 8. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has stocked 100 waterways, many … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 4/5/23

Veterans often charter River Rebel Charters of Bristol to fish for free as part of the Veteran Angler Charters program.

Trout fishing is the ticket this month

Rhode Island lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams designated as trout-stocked waters are currently closed for fishing. However, the season opens Saturday, April 8, and runs through Feb. 29, … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 3/28/23

The New England Saltwater Fishing Show, taking place this weekend at the Rhode Island Convention Center, is already a record-breaker, with more than 300 booths and free seminars.

Fishing show this week is already a record-breaker

At press time, the New England Saltwater Fishing Show being held from March 10 to 12 at the Rhode Island Convention Center is already a record breaker, with booth sales revenue the highest it has … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 3/6/23

Researchers perform a necropsy (autopsy) in Brigantine, N.J., on a female humpback whale Jan. 15, 2023. Photo by Michael McKenna of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

Whale strandings are disturbing – What’s the cause?

In the past two months more than 10 large whale standings have occurred in the New York/New Jersey area. Some claim it is the sonar from the offshore wind survey vessels that confuses whales and has … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 2/22/23

Fly-fishermen works the cinder worm hatch.

Mass. implements right whale closures and restrictions

It was unusual to have right whales feeding on the surface in Cape Cod Bay last month. They usually appear there in the spring. Warming water, a change in bait and forage fish profiles and other … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 2/8/23

Tom Hood with a false albacore caught off Narragansett from his kayak. False albacore have grown in stature in the recreational fishing community. They are a data-poor stock.

Learning a lot more about false albacore

False albacore have grown in stature as a highly targeted recreational sport fish. These speedsters have thrilled shore and boat anglers, and have become a valuable addition to the recreational … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 2/1/23

Capt. Jack Sprengel of East Coast Charters will be the quest speaker at the Saltwater Anglers seminar on Monday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m.

Mass. warns about an early aggregation of right whales

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is alerting all mariners in Cape Cod Bay about the risk of vessel collision with a large aggregation of North Atlantic right whales recently observed in … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 1/25/23

Peter Jenkins, owner of The Saltwater Edge, Middletown, is co-sponsoring a ten-week on-line seminar series on striped bass fishing with Surfcaster’s Journal.

Possible discharge of nuclear wastewater into Cape Cod Bay

At press time the Cape Cod Salties Sports Fishing Club plans to hold a community forum on the possible discharge of nuclear wastewater from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant into Cape Cod Bay. … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 1/11/23

Tom Hood with a false albacore caught on his kayak earlier this year. Fishing for these speedsters was good in 2022 in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Warming water has brought false albacore and the forage they like to eat into our region in greater numbers.

North Atlantic right whales still endangered

NOAA Fisheries has released their five-year review of the endangered North Atlantic right whales at North Atlantic Right Whale 5-Year Review | NOAA Fisheries . The report finds the population is … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 1/4/23

DEM, Marine association provides boating community with virus guidelines

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association last week issued the following guidance regarding the safe operation of … more

4/9/20