Rhode Island fishing reports
157 reports for Rhode Island — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Stripers Push to Deeper Water as Narragansett Bay Hits Full Summer Mode
Saltwater Edge Blog's late-June forecasts signal a clear seasonal turn heading into the July 4 holiday weekend: striped bass have pulled off their shallower spring haunts and moved to deeper, cooler oceanfront water — a shift the blog noted tends to define the second half of June and carry firmly into July. The squid bite that was running 'fantastic' through the June new moon is expected to have eased significantly by now; Saltwater Edge predicted it would slow within roughly two weeks of that late-June report. Scup, black sea bass, and fluke have settled into their usual summer stations across the Bay and offshore ledges. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this update, so precise water temperature data is absent. One notable regulatory backdrop: the 2026 RI recreational fishing regulations arrived without new protections for bonito or false albacore, per Saltwater Edge — two species the shop described as 'the backbone of our fall fishery.'
Stripers and squid running hot as Block Island bass push early July
The Saltwater Edge reported excellent striped bass fishing this week across Rhode Island, with fish keying heavily on squid during low-light hours — early morning and late evening producing the most consistent action. Per The Fisherman — Rhode Island, Block Island has become the top draw for larger bass, with Snug Harbor Marina noting that while local fishing remains solid, Block Island is the best bet right now for bigger fish. Booked Off Charters confirmed superb striped bass results when conditions allowed, though strong winds forced several trip cancellations late last week. Fluke remains the tough story: Booked Off Charters reports only about a dozen keepers per trip, and Snug Harbor Marina echoes that keeper counts are running light for this time of year. On a brighter note, black sea bass are showing up in growing numbers along the beaches per Snug Harbor Marina, and scup have moved into local waters in force. Squid continues to be a standout bite for both shore and boat anglers day and night.
Stripers Lingering in Narragansett Bay as Cool Water Extends the Run
The Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) reported in their late-June new moon forecast that striped bass and squid fishing in Rhode Island have both been "fantastic" — and, thanks to water temperatures that stayed cooler than normal through the second half of June, neither fishery was showing signs of slowing. That cool-water carry-over is the dominant story heading into July 1. Fluke, scup, and black sea bass have settled into their summer holding spots around the bay, per Saltwater Edge's June full moon preview. Offshore, OTW Saltwater's July 1 Northeast report puts tuna as "on fire from Maryland to New England," though anglers targeting trophy bluefin in Southern New England should know the season closes effective July 3, per On The Water. No live buoy readings are available for this report; all conditions reflect current angler accounts. Check local forecast before heading out.
Stripers shifting to the oceanfront as Narragansett Bay enters full summer
Per Saltwater Edge Blog (RI), both striped bass and squid fishing have been 'fantastic' through the June new moon, with cooler-than-expected water temperatures extending the late-spring bite well into late June. Now at the full moon, Saltwater Edge's June forecast notes that bass are making their seasonal push toward deeper, cooler oceanfront water: the Bay's familiar mid-summer transition. Scup, black sea bass, and fluke are settling into their summer structure. On The Water reports glide baits have emerged as the dominant striper presentation of 2026, with large-profile swimmers drawing strikes where topwaters have slowed. Squid, which was still producing strong at the new moon, is expected to taper as surface temperatures climb, a shift Saltwater Edge had anticipated for this two-week window. Tonight's full moon is driving aggressive tidal movement through Bay channels; dusk and dawn rip transitions are the prime windows to target before summer doldrums take hold.
Stripers and Squid Hold Strong as Narragansett Bay Enters Summer Mode
Saltwater Edge Blog's June Full Moon forecast notes that Rhode Island's second half of June marks the shift into summer fishing patterns, with striped bass beginning to move toward deeper, cooler oceanfront water as Bay temperatures tick upward. Despite the seasonal transition, the shop's June New Moon update reported that striper and squid fishing had been "fantastic" with "no signs of slowing down" — a welcome extension of spring-like conditions driven by cooler-than-average water temps that persisted unusually late into the month. OTW Saltwater's June 26 striper migration map confirms bigger bass are now keying on sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring as the spring-to-summer transition progresses. Scup, fluke, and black sea bass have settled into their summer Bay locations per Saltwater Edge. With tonight's full moon producing some of the month's strongest tidal exchanges, rip lines and structure edges are the prime targeting windows. No NOAA buoy readings were available for this report; verify current water conditions locally before launching.
Stripers and squid running strong in Narragansett Bay at full moon
Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) described both striped bass and squid fishing in Rhode Island as "fantastic" through the June new moon, with "no signs of slowing down" — a verdict that carries directly into today's June 30 full moon window. The Fisherman (Northeast) reinforces the regional picture for the week of June 25, confirming pockets of big fish around Block Island and along the Cape for stripers. On The Water's striper migration map (June 26) notes that bigger bass are now keying on squid, sand eels, bunker, and herring as the spring push transitions to summer patterns. Fluke action shows modest improvement regionally, while black sea bass have been dominated by shorts all month — though anglers who move spots are finding keeper concentrations, per The Fisherman (Northeast). Saltwater Edge also flagged that water temperatures have stayed cooler than expected well into late June, a condition that appears to be extending the inshore striper and squid bite past its typical window.
Stripers Push Deeper as Full Moon Marks Summer Shift in Narragansett Bay
Saltwater Edge Blog's June Full Moon forecast signals the seasonal transition is underway: striped bass are pulling out of their spring inshore haunts and moving toward deeper, cooler oceanfront water. On The Water's June 26 striper migration map corroborates the shift, with bigger bass now concentrating on sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring as the regional fishery pivots from spring to summer mode. Back inside the bay, Saltwater Edge reports scup, black sea bass, and fluke have settled into their usual summer holding spots. Squid fishing had been exceptional through mid-June; Saltwater Edge's New Moon forecast described both squid and striper action as "fantastic," but that same forecast predicted squid would begin tapering off by the full moon. No NOAA buoy data was available for this report cycle, so check local stations for current water temps before launching. This week's full moon tides and fast-moving rips set up well for working bass on structure.
Stripers and Squid Stay Hot in Narragansett Bay Through Full Moon Weekend
Striped bass and squid fishing have been the standout story in Rhode Island this June, and heading into the June 28 full moon, both are still producing. Saltwater Edge Blog's recent new-moon forecast noted that water temperatures have been staying cool through the second half of the month — an unusual grace period keeping fish active longer than typical. Per Saltwater Edge, the striper bite has been "fantastic" with no signs of slowing, and the squid fishery is equally strong. On The Water's June 26 migration update confirms bigger bass are now keyed on sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring as the spring run shifts into summer patterns. Full-moon tides will run strong this weekend, creating aggressive nocturnal feeding windows on rips and structure throughout Narragansett Bay. Scup, black sea bass, and fluke are settling into their usual summer spots per Saltwater Edge. Plan your tides and get on the water.
Doormat Fluke Running Deep as Narragansett Bay Enters Summer
Captain Mike Littlefield is hunting sand eels over deep structure for doormat fluke in Rhode Island waters, per On The Water's recent report on big summer flounder in Little Rhody. That deep-water fluke pattern lines up with typical late-June conditions in Narragansett Bay, where summer flounder push to cooler offshore structure as water warms. On the striper front, OTW Saltwater's final spring migration report of 2026 — dated June 23 — indicates the main push has moved north toward Maine, with Captain Lou Tirado describing an early-summer bite taking shape there. OTW Surfcasting's concurrent piece on the state of striped bass acknowledges a mixed picture coast-wide: fish are present but results depend heavily on location and timing. No live buoy or gauge data was available for this report. First Quarter moon supports active feeding windows around tidal turns. Bluefish and scup round out the typical summer Bay species mix for late June.
Stripers on Squid Are Red-Hot as Narragansett Bay Enters Summer Mode
Rhode Island's striper bite is firing on all cylinders heading into late June. The Saltwater Edge Blog reports that striped bass have been feeding heavily on squid — both inshore and around the bay — with the most consistent action at dawn and dusk, though fish are catchable during daylight too. Booked Off Charters confirms excellent bass fishing on every window wind allowed them offshore, with large schools of sand eels and squid fueling the bite. For anglers chasing cows, Snug Harbor Marina points to Block Island as the week's standout address for bigger fish. Squid remain abundant for shore and boat anglers alike, day and night, per the Saltwater Edge. Fluke fishing is a different story: both Booked Off Charters and the Frances Fleet describe the flatfish bite as a real grind, with bait plentiful on the grounds but keeper counts running well below what's typical for this point in June.
Stripers and squid firing strong as Narragansett Bay heads into summer
Per The Saltwater Edge (RI), striped bass are firing on squid during the low-light hours of dawn and dusk, with reports of consistent action for both shore and boat anglers throughout Narragansett Bay. Squid schools remain stacked, and that bait concentration is keeping fish in the area. The picture is more mixed for summer flounder: Booked Off Charters described fluke as "a real grind," with only a dozen or so keepers on recent trips despite abundant bait including large schools of sand eels and squid. The Frances Fleet echoed that sentiment, noting fishing is "behind where it should be for this time of year." On a brighter note, Snug Harbor Marina reports larger black sea bass showing up along the beaches and good numbers of scup on the move. Block Island is drawing the biggest stripers right now, per Snug Harbor. Water temperatures have stayed cool, per Saltwater Edge, sustaining the bass and squid bite but likely delaying the fluke push.
Stripers Hot on Squid Around Block Island as Fluke Grind Continues
The Saltwater Edge reports excellent striped bass action on squid in Rhode Island waters, with the most consistent bite locked to early-morning and late-evening low-light windows. Tony Guarino of Booked Off Charters described striper fishing as 'excellent' on trips not canceled by mid-week winds and rough Saturday seas. Snug Harbor Marina points to Block Island as the spot for larger fish, with local Bay action solid but Block the clear destination for size. Fluke has been the frustrating counterpoint: Booked Off is seeing only around a dozen keepers per trip, and the Frances Fleet reports fishing running behind schedule for late June despite large schools of sand eels and squid on the grounds. On the positive side, black sea bass are on the uptick along beaches, and scup are showing in good numbers — the Frances Fleet also notes a growing mix of keeper sea bass among the fluke, a promising sign.