|
Sign Up to Receive Our Snappa Charters, Rhode Island Fishing Reports!
RI Fishing Reports
2011 Newsletter
The 2010 RI cod fishing season started with this captain having high expectations. After two weeks of limited success in early April, my high hopes had quickly faded. Such disappointing results forced me to cancel or delay remaining cod trips until things improved. It wasn’t until after April 25 that the cod began to bite. Based on the 2010 conditions, the 2011 cod season will not begin until mid to late April. Cod fishing in RI did improve in the months of November and December, so you may want to consider a late fall trip.
By May 20th, Block Island striped bass with their voracious appetites had moved into the waters southwest of Block Island. With the largest RI striped bass in the 30-40 pound category, trips remained quite successful with us filling the 2 fish/person quota on most days. After June 10th, we began fishing near the north end of Block Island where we had a nice mixture of bass and bluefish. Because of Block Island’s close proximity to Point Judith, this allowed our charter groups more fishing time. With a short boat ride, many people chose to fish for the less expensive half day. The Block Island twilight bass trips were the most productive because there were fewer boats to contend with. This allowed the fish to chase bait to the surface and feed. As a result, we were able to catch some nice size striped bass on spinning gear. By early July, the surface action had slowed. Not to miss a beat, we changed over to diamond jigs and worked off the bottom. Drifting through the rip tide at the north end of the island was the preferred method of fishing for 95% of our charter groups. Using light-weight graphite rods, you could feel every movement from a 30 pound bass to a 12 pound blue. On one of our 6 hour twilight trips, 132 bass and blues were caught on diamond jigs. Trolling with artificial lures was available for those who still enjoy that method of fishing. Excellent RI striped bass fishing continued throughout the summer and into the fall months.
Rhode Island shark fishing was in full swing by June 13th. For the next three weeks, we experienced RI blue shark fishing like it was 20 years ago. Some of the groups tagged over 10 sharks per trip. The RI mako shark fishing was a bit off during this period but it did improve later in the season. One of our most notable trips took place on June 26th when we caught a bunch of blues and a bonus 282 pound thresher shark. Another exciting trip took place on July 9th when a group caught 9 sharks on a 6 hour half day shark fishing trip. RI offshore shark fishing continued through late September.
I had anticipated a good RI tuna fishing season but that went the same way as the cod. It was my worst season for tuna that I recall over the last 39 years of fishing. We will have to wait and see what the 2011 tuna season brings to us.
RI porgy and sea bass fishing began in mid September. Most anglers filled their daily quota of 45 porgies /person, along with quite a few sea bass. The action continued to improve until October 13th when the fishery was closed by fisheries management. The RI sea bass fishing was again opened on November 1st. The sea bass action wasn’t what it was before the closing, but continued to hold up quite well.
The RI blackfish or tautog fishing in Narragansett Bay was off from what it was in the previous season. Some anglers filled their quota while others struggled. Wind was a big factor during the height of the RI tautog fishing season. Stirred up water made it difficult for the fish to find our baits and feed on them while rolling seas made it hard on the anglers to feel the bite.
SPECIAL NOTE: Please visit my “Discount and Special Offer” web page for some tremendous bargains being offered this year. Specifics including prices, times, type of trip and number of passengers are explained. All discount dates correlate to the best fishing times in the 2010 season.
FUEL SURCHARGE: Regardles of fuel prices, Snappa Charters will hold all listed rates for groups or individuals who send their deposits by April 1st . Groups or individuals who send their deposits after April 1st may be subject to a fuel surcharge of $25 (inshore). $50 (offshore). or $5/person for individuals, if fuel prices reach $3.50/Gal. and at each .50 cent incremental increase thereafter.
NEW FEATURE Sign Up to Receive Our Snappa Charters Fishing Newsletter and Weekly Reports!
|
