Striper blitzes and tog pick up around Narragansett Bay

What's biting

What's next

Tide timing matters today. Both CO-OPS stations call for high water around 1:15 PM local and low water around 6:50 PM, so the afternoon is a falling tide that runs into dusk. Breachways and pond outlets tend to fire as bait gets pulled out on the ebb, so the last two hours of outgoing water into evening look like the window to plan around.

Expect more of the same over the next few days. Snug Harbor Marina reports false albacore along the beaches and weakfish caught by several anglers along the south shore, while Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) notes the albies are around but take work to stay on. Bluefish have been mixed into the same bait schools. Black sea bass remain plentiful, though Quonnie reports most are short of legal size. With the First Quarter moon overhead, the tide swing is moderate, so work the tide change rather than waiting on a big push.

Context

Mid-October is the core of the fall run in Rhode Island, and this week sits right on schedule. Bait leaving the salt ponds and estuaries drives the striper and bluefish action, while the bottom fishery shifts from sea bass toward tautog. Booked Off Charters notes that October into November is prime tautog time. Check current state regulations on size and possession limits before keeping any fish.