Fishing memories last a lifetime. And the good news — you do not need a lot of money to start creating them for you, family members and friends. Fishing connects you with the environment, it is a healthy outdoor activity that young and old can participate in — Rhode Island fishing access points to the Bay and ocean are plentiful.
The key is making it an adventure. Start with your local bait and tackle shop. “The bait and tackle shop is the first stop you make to help plan and purchase what you might need for your fishing adventure," said Greg Vespe of Tiverton, expert angler and member of the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council. "I take my grandchildren there to help pick out bait and purchase needed supplies for the day. Bait shops are filled with live bait, frozen bait, gear and tackle that children cannot see anywhere else.”
Tackle shop associates are also excellent resources who can point you to local fishing spots and suggest what you might need to catch fish there.
For me, early morning close to sunrise or late afternoon, early evening to dusk are good times to fish away from the crowds.
Here are three public fishing spots that have yielded fish for anglers:
The Larry Mouradjian Rocky Point Fishing Pier in Warwick . The T-shaped pier features built-in benches and a covered, shaded area. “The Rocky Point Pier has become a fish magnet or attractant," said Tom Giddings, owner of the Tackle Box in Warwick. "So many people have fished there since it opened four years ago that fish know they can get a good dinner there. Customers have caught scup, fluke, sea robins, black see bass, striped bass and bluefish there. It is a great spot to fish.” Bring a cart that you can wheel down from the parking lot.
Colt State Park Fishing Pier in Bristol. The pier is on Narraganset Bay in the East Passage, just a few hundred yards from the East Bay shipping channel that acts as a fish conduit pushing bait and fish up the Bay. “The fishing pier at Colt State Park is a great place to fish along with the shoreline at the park," said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence. "Anglers catch scup, sea robins and black sea bass with bluefish, school striped bass and keeper striped bass there depending on the time of year.”
Pier Five/Monaghan’s Dock in Narragansett has parking and good access. It is one of the few ocean facing piers in Rhode Island. Anglers have caught scup, summer flounder (fluke), bluefish and striped bass from the pier. And in late summer and fall, it is one of the few shore locations where you can catch false albacore.
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass and bluefish. “Striped bass fishing, particularly around Block Island, has been outstanding," said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina in South Kingstown. "Anglers are catching nice fish with just about any method. Trolling umbrella rigs, tube and worm, using flutter spoons and often soft plastics." Chad Ketch of Sam’s Bait & Tackle in Middletown reported: “We have an outstanding bass bite in front of Newport. Anglers are hooking up trolling tube and worm, using eels and there is a surface bite during low light conditions at dawn and dusk.“ Giddings said: “We had large schools of bluefish enter the Bay under the bridges this weekend.” "East End" Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said that "Zak 'Attack' Baker of Sagamore Beach was slowly reeling his blue mack Magic Swimmer, bearing two hooks, through the flooding east tide when his lure got hit hard, followed by strong tugs. Zak was thinking he might be fighting a 40-pounder, but the battle ended with a bass of about 20 pounds on each hook.”
Fluke (summer flounder), black sea bass and scup. “The fluke bite is excellent off Newport with some nice black sea bass mixed in,” said Ketch. Conti said: “The fluke bite along the southern coastal shore and around Block Island had been good some days and bad others. Anglers are catching black sea bass, too, when fluke fishing.” Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown reported: “Back side of Block has still been more productive than the south shore. Black sea bass fishing has been consistent, especially if you are targeting them on rock piles and wrecks. Jigs and bait on the bottom are the key. Double teaser rigs with a sinker on the bottom is a fun way to catch them and adds a little bend in the rod if you double up.” Giddings said: “The fluke bite along with plate size scup and squeteague are being caught at Rocky Point fishing pier and in front of Warwick Light.”
“Bluefin and yellow fin tuna bite has been outstanding at the Fishtails and Atlantis with anglers getting multiple hook-ups," Conti said. "Giant fishing is restricted to commercial fishing right now, but that bite has been outstanding as well, at the Gully and Butterfish Hole"
Freshwater. “The largemouth bite has been very good with shiners working well for customers," Giddings said. "Ponds producing well for customers include Johnston Pond and Lake Tiogue in Coventry."
Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business that focuses on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy and fisheries-related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net or visit noflukefishing.com .
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Going fishing? Start the day with a visit to your local bait and tackle shop
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