Rhode Island fishing reports
156 reports for Rhode Island — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Fall run builds in Narragansett Bay as bonito fire up
Rhode Island's fall transition is underway. Saltwater Edge in Middletown reports baitfish pushing out of the salt ponds and along the beaches, fueling surface feeds from striped bass, bluefish, and green bonito, with bonito and even a few Spanish mackerel showing over the past couple weeks. False albacore haven't arrived locally yet, per Quonnie Bait and Tackle, though The Fisherman (Northeast) notes a few albies already showing in Cape waters, including one over 16 pounds, so the bay could be next. Striped bass anglers are doing well on larger fish at night with live eels on the incoming tide or slack water, per Quonnie Bait and Tackle, though sharks remain a persistent nuisance around Block Island per Snug Harbor Marina and The Fisherman — Rhode Island. Fluke are drifting into deeper water as black sea bass and scup stay strong on the local reefs.
Bonito swarm Narragansett Bay as the fall run builds
Green bonito are thick along Rhode Island's south county beaches and around the Harbor of Refuge this week, per Saltwater Edge and reports collected by The Fisherman — Rhode Island — the fish are keyed on larger forage like sand eels and herring, which shop reports say actually makes them easier to fool than when they're chasing smaller bait. The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England video forecast likewise notes good numbers of bonito showing in RI waters this week, several of the larger variety. False albacore haven't shown up locally yet, though Saltwater Edge expects albies to enter the conversation within the next couple weeks. Striped bass fishing has been a bit slow due to high water temperatures and sharks, per Saltwater Edge, but the fall migration should turn that around soon. Bottom fishing stays the reliable fallback, with strong fluke, black sea bass, and scup action reported across multiple RI shops and charters this week.
Bonito flood Rhode Island beaches as the fall run kicks off
Green bonito are thick along Rhode Island's south county beaches right now, feeding on larger baits like sand eels and herring that make them easier to fool, per The Fisherman — Rhode Island. Striped bass fishing has been a bit slow due to high water temperatures and sharks, per the same report, but should pick up as the fall migration gets underway. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI)'s own August Full Moon forecast confirms the pattern, noting bonito and a few spanish mackerel over the past couple weeks with albies hopefully not far behind, and The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England forecast has RI waters holding good numbers of bonito this week, many of the larger variety, plus a few albies already showing off the Cape (one over 16 pounds). Bottom fishing stays reliable: Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle, via The Fisherman — Rhode Island, both report solid fluke and black sea bass action, with keeper-sized sea bass numbers rising.
Bonito Signal Fall Run's Arrival in Narragansett Bay
Green bonito are showing up in solid numbers along Rhode Island's south county beaches and around the Harbor of Refuge this week, according to Snug Harbor Marina and The Saltwater Edge. Those fish are keying on larger forage, sand eels and herring, which the shop says makes them easier to fool than earlier in the summer. False albacore haven't shown locally yet, but Snug Harbor says they could arrive any day, and The Fisherman's New England forecast notes a strong bonito push in Rhode Island waters this week with a few albies already popping around Cape waters, one over 16 pounds. Striped bass remain the slow spot in the mix, held back by warm water and shark pressure per The Saltwater Edge, with the fall migration expected to change that soon. Bottom fishing stayed the more dependable bet: Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle both report strong fluke and black sea bass action, with fluke pushing toward 10 pounds.
Bonito bite heats up in Narragansett Bay as albies loom
Green bonito are thick around Narragansett Bay's south county beaches and the harbor of refuge this week, with fish keying on larger forage like sand eels and herring that's actually made them easier to fool than earlier in the season, according to Snug Harbor Marina and The Saltwater Edge, both via The Fisherman — Rhode Island. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) says the fall run is officially kicking off, with bonito and a few Spanish mackerel already showing and false albacore expected any day. Striped bass fishing has been sluggish, slowed by lingering warm water and shark pressure per The Saltwater Edge, though the fall migration should turn that around soon. Bottom fishing remains the more reliable bet: Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle both report strong fluke, black sea bass, and scup catches, with a few fluke pushing 10 pounds. Offshore, Booked Off Charters and Snug Harbor Marina are finding good recreational bluefin tuna action.
Green Bonito Fire Up Narragansett Bay Ahead of the Fall Run
Green bonito are the story in Rhode Island right now. They're thick around Block Island and the south county beaches, feeding on bigger bait like sand eels and herring, according to Saltwater Edge — and the same push showed up mixing with big stripers and even dolphins in and around Narragansett Bay this week, per The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England video forecast. False albacore haven't shown yet at Snug Harbor Marina, but Saltwater Edge expects them any day as baitfish shift from the salt ponds and rivers toward open water. Striped bass fishing has lagged, slowed by high water temps and sharks, per The Fisherman — Rhode Island, though captains expect the fall migration to change that soon. Bottom fishing stayed dependable: Frances Fleet logged near-limit fluke and black sea bass with some fluke pushing 10 pounds, and Quonnie Bait and Tackle reported rising sea bass numbers plus excellent scup action from shore and boat.
Bonito thick on RI beaches as albies and fall bass loom
Per The Fisherman (Northeast)'s New England video fishing forecast this week, mackerel schools are mixing striped bass and bonito into "ferocious feeds" in and around Narragansett Bay, with recreational-size bluefin tuna also showing south of Block Island. On the beaches, The Saltwater Edge and Snug Harbor Marina (via The Fisherman — Rhode Island) both report green bonito thick along the south county shoreline and around the Harbor of Refuge, keying on larger baits like sand eels and herring rather than small forage. False albacore haven't shown up yet, per Snug Harbor Marina, but could arrive any day. Striped bass fishing has been a bit slow overall, which The Saltwater Edge attributes to high water temperatures and shark pressure rather than a lack of fish, with better numbers expected once the fall migration gets underway. Inshore, Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle both describe solid fluke and black sea bass action, with a few fluke pushing 10 pounds, while Booked Off Charters reports a strong bluefin bite plus yellowfin and mahi mahi on canyon runs.
Bluefin Bite Ignites Off Rhode Island as Fall Run Approaches
Snug Harbor Marina reports the recreational bluefin tuna bite "really took off" this past week, with most fish coming on jigs and soft plastics like RonZ and a few on trolled live bait, while green bonito are showing in good numbers along the south county beaches. Booked Off Charters had two keeper-class bluefin in the box by Sunday morning and made a run to the canyons for yellowfin, mahi, and triggerfish. Inshore, the tuna bite is finally turning more consistent sound of Block Island and Montauk, per The Fisherman — Rhode Island. Bottom fishing remains steady, with Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle both noting more keeper black sea bass and good numbers of scup. Striped bass have slowed with water warming toward 70 degrees, and Snug Harbor Marina flags an overabundance of brown sharks complicating the bite. Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) says the fall run is starting to kick off as baitfish push toward the oceanfront.
Bluefin and Bonito Fire Up Narragansett Bay as Fall Run Nears
Recreational bluefin tuna are finally clicking off Block Island and Montauk, with Snug Harbor Marina reporting the bite "really took off" this past week on jigs and soft plastics like RonZ, while Booked Off Charters logged two bluefin in the box locally before running out to the canyons for yellowfin, mahi, and trigger fish. Saltwater Edge notes bonito and even a few Spanish mackerel have shown over the past couple weeks, with false albacore expected soon as baitfish shoals push from the salt ponds toward the oceanfront. Striped bass are the outlier: Snug Harbor and Quonnie Bait and Tackle both describe the bite as slower, with water nearing 70°F and an overabundance of brown sharks complicating things. Bottom fishing stays the reliable fallback, with Frances Fleet and Quonnie both reporting solid keeper black sea bass and scup, plus fluke working in 50-70 feet.
Narragansett Bay stripers key on soft plastics as fall run nears
Saltwater Edge Blog, based right in Rhode Island, called July a lackluster stretch of tough fishing and heat, but this week's August new moon forecast turns the corner: crisp mornings are finally starting to feel like fall, southerly winds are back in the mix, and the shop says fall run fishing is on the doorstep for Narragansett Bay. Striped bass remain the marquee target, and the same shop's step-by-step guide to rigging your own Slug-Go underscores how central soft plastics have become to that bite, a shift On The Water also flags this season, noting soft plastics have overtaken plugs as the go-to surf presentation for stripers. Fluke fishing continues through August, and On The Water's hookset tips are a useful refresher for keeping more keepers on ice. No live buoy or gauge readings were available for the Bay this cycle, so pair this report with a local forecast check before you launch.
Bluefin Bite Ignites Off Block Island as Bay Blitzes Fire Up
The Fisherman's Rhode Island roundup this week points to the inshore tuna bite finally clicking into gear, with boats connecting consistently on the grounds south of Block Island and Montauk. Snug Harbor Marina, quoted in that report, says the recreational bluefin push "really took off," mostly on jigs and soft plastics like RonZ, while Booked Off Charters had two bluefin in the box on a Sunday morning run. Inside Narragansett Bay itself, a mackerel influx is mixing stripers and bonito into ferocious surface feeds, with dolphins showing up too, per The Fisherman (Northeast)'s video forecast. Bottom fishing stays the steady producer: Frances Fleet and Quonnie Bait and Tackle, also via The Fisherman — Rhode Island, report keeper fluke off the beaches and around Block Island, plus improving black sea bass and a good scup showing. Surf-caster striper action has been slower and more of a dawn-and-dusk game as water temps push toward 70°F, per that same report.
Black sea bass and fluke steady in Narragansett Bay as fall run looms
Black sea bass are producing well across Narragansett Bay this week, with Frances Fleet reporting more keeper-sized fish alongside nice scup, and Quonnie Bait and Tackle confirming good numbers of both species holding over structure in 50 to 70 feet of water. Fluke fishing remains steady off the beaches and around Block Island per Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) and Frances Fleet, with anglers picking through short fish to find keepers. Striped bass are a mixed bag: The Fisherman — Rhode Island notes a slower bite at night and early morning as water temps push toward 70 degrees, while The Fisherman (Northeast) reported striper blitzes running from Narragansett to Plymouth this past week. Bonus offshore action is heating up too, with a recreational bluefin bite that Snug Harbor Marina says "took off" on jigs and soft plastics, plus green bonito showing in good numbers along the south county beaches.