RI Fish Report Blog, May 22 - May 28

[pittedsopitted]

I have mostly had luck on the Bayside, but this morning it bust wide-open on the oceanfront, caught six bass ranging from 18 to 28 on hydro monster shot. Switched away from it a couple of times to try for larger class fish but no dice.
 

Also got my first tog this morning, just not in a way I’d ever imagined. I saw some stubbier fish breaking the surface and thought they were Seabass, however, In the back of my mind I kept thinking those looked like tog. Well, to my surprise, they were, and they too wanted a piece of the plug.

[Kooky]

Got out last pm, and despite great conditions i continue to zig while the fish seem to zag.  Not a skunk but not far off.  Talked to a few other fishing and everyone was complaining about lack of fish in this area.  Saw some larger baits seeming to get pushed around but no takers.

[sikcrodbends]

On 5/24/2023 at 7:52 AM, Kooky said:

Got out last pm, and despite great conditions i continue to zig while the fish seem to zag.  Not a skunk but not far off.  Talked to a few other fishing and everyone was complaining about lack of fish in this area.  Saw some larger baits seeming to get pushed around but no takers.

Seems like since the herring left the striped bass bite slowed waaay down. I covered a good stretch of Narr Bay over the last week, covering darn near the north-south & east-west extent and was scrounging for bites. Fished areas that historically have been very productive for me. Finally saw some bunker around last night but they are not the large schools like I’ve seen in previous years. I know a few folks that have been on quality fish over last two weeks but it was only for 1 or 2 nights, and those bigger fish were on the move. This first big push of bass moved in and out very quickly, hence the good Mass reports  but still a lot of fish west of us so maybe June will surprise us. 

And I will say that the fish definitely seem to be using the bay differently compared to years passed. Going to continue the grind and embrace the suck! LOL

[bdowning]

On 5/24/2023 at 7:14 AM, pittedsopitted said:

I have mostly had luck on the Bayside, but this morning it bust wide-open on the oceanfront, caught six bass ranging from 18 to 28 on hydro monster shot. Switched away from it a couple of times to try for larger class fish but no dice.
 

Also got my first tog this morning, just not in a way I’d ever imagined. I saw some stubbier fish breaking the surface and thought they were Seabass, however, In the back of my mind I kept thinking those looked like tog. Well, to my surprise, they were, and they too wanted a piece of the plug.

That tog catch is real different. Been fishing RI since the 80s and have yet to catch a tog on a plug  !

[MakoMike]

On 5/23/2023 at 12:49 PM, notime said:

Anyone seeing Seabass yet?

We caught a couple while togging last week.

[Peelin' Drag]

Echoing the same as a couple others. After a hot start it's been a tough go from the shoreline lately, in both the upper bay and ocean front at historically very productive spots for me. Even around the new moon it was difficult, which was disappointing. Found a couple here or there but the production dropped significantly over the last two weeks. Big bait is non-existent. Found some snot bait at one spot last week (maybe herring fry or silversides?) that even had the blues putting their noses up. Hopefully we see some large bunker move into our waters as thick as they have been the last two years. That should ignite the bite

[Wave afterwave]

Has anyone tried mt hope bay , Tauton river , kikky , Swansea , Fall River areas ? I’m wondering because each year the bass seem to chance the bunker schools north then push out toward the cape and threw all them points and rivers and off into buzzards , so I’m wondering if because there was so much bait around all winter once it got warmer the bunker was ready to go and started pushing east early 

[sikcrodbends]

On 5/24/2023 at 2:36 PM, Wave afterwave said:

Has anyone tried mt hope bay , Tauton river , kikky , Swansea , Fall River areas ? I’m wondering because each year the bass seem to chance the bunker schools north then push out toward the cape and threw all them points and rivers and off into buzzards , so I’m wondering if because there was so much bait around all winter once it got warmer the bunker was ready to go and started pushing east early 

Spot on with the historical bait movement; I’m just not convinced we even had enough adult bunker to really entertain the stripers that we had here in early May. I’m just now seeing the typical boat traffic that tells me that we have adult bunker, but even the rec boats are few in number. Even the kayak guys I’ve talked to are witnessing a lack of adult bunker. We did have a lot of peanut bunker holdover and I saw those schools firsthand this spring but from my own time on the water I never was successful fishing over them. Herring was the better option. Next couple weeks will be telling as things migrate our way from the west. What caught my attention is how dismal the upper bay has been and how on last moon there was a flurry of quality fish caught throughout ocean front. I just don’t think the typical quality biomass is sticking around due to lack of big bait. But like I said, maybe things west of us will provide some better entertainment in coming weeks. 

[Wave afterwave]

On 5/24/2023 at 2:44 PM, sikcrodbends said:

Spot on with the historical bait movement; I’m just not convinced we even had enough adult bunker to really entertain the stripers that we had here in early May. I’m just now seeing the typical boat traffic that tells me that we have adult bunker, but even the rec boats are few in number. Even the kayak guys I’ve talked to are witnessing a lack of adult bunker. We did have a lot of peanut bunker holdover and I saw those schools firsthand this spring but from my own time on the water I never was successful fishing over them. Herring was the better option. Next couple weeks will be telling as things migrate our way from the west. What caught my attention is how dismal the upper bay has been and how on last moon there was a flurry of quality fish caught throughout ocean front. I just don’t think the typical quality biomass is sticking around due to lack of big bait. But like I said, maybe things west of us will provide some better entertainment in coming weeks. 

There was definitely quality fish that stopped by out front , hit spots as like fueling stations rested up , ate and took off lol

[JimKu]

Couple of slow nights this week in my backwater spots. Both trips started with a schoolie with the first couple of casts giving the impression that it may be a good outing. Well after the first fish it was very slow. Caught a few small bass with lots of time in between. Current barely moving this week. 

 

[SurfMoon]

Poaching situation has been rampant in the  river. Hell has been for a while especially from shore. Watched a boat in prov river keep at least 10 this am, black bags getting filled from shore. 
 

Bass keyed in on the pogie schools with blues in the mix.

 

Can anyone share the DEM hotline #?

Would be interested in the impact if they set up shop at the India point boat ramp, place is always filled with short carcasses

[DanCbass]

On 5/25/2023 at 10:04 AM, SurfMoon said:

Poaching situation has been rampant in the  river. Hell has been for a while especially from shore. Watched a boat in prov river keep at least 10 this am, black bags getting filled from shore. 
 

Bass keyed in on the pogie schools with blues in the mix.

 

Can anyone share the DEM hotline #?

Would be interested in the impact if they set up shop at the India point boat ramp, place is always filled with short carcasses

401-222-3070 (24hrs)

[Kooky]

They will probably not show but its always worth calling it in

[bdowning]

On 5/25/2023 at 10:04 AM, SurfMoon said:

Poaching situation has been rampant in the  river. Hell has been for a while especially from shore. Watched a boat in prov river keep at least 10 this am, black bags getting filled from shore. 
 

Bass keyed in on the pogie schools with blues in the mix.

 

Can anyone share the DEM hotline #?

Would be interested in the impact if they set up shop at the India point boat ramp, place is always filled with short carcasses

 

Should be a real treat there this weekend. 

[Zeek]

Small bait lately.. 

6” sluggos and 3” nlbn 

Took a couple 30” fish on the wrong tide this week and then this morning was all micro bass on the right tide