Looking for the best fishing spots in RI? Here's what fishermen have to say
Who gives away the location of their favorite fishing spots? Fortunately for us, a lot of people do. They believe in sharing their fishing spots because they know the sense of adventure and bonding that fishing brings to them, their families and friends, and want to share.
Saltwater
East Greenwich Cove, East Greenwich/Warwick, provides an accessible fishing spot both on the eastern Godard Park, Warwick side and the East Greenwich side to the west. The East Greenwich side of the cove provides plenty of parking at the town parking lot on an upper tier above the public boat ramp and at Scallop Town Park at the southern end of the Cove. Anglers fish off the town dock and all along the shore. All the shoreline on the Godard State Park side is open for fishing.
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Narrow River, Narragansett, has been a great spot for hold-over stripers in the winter as well as spring and fall bluefish and striped bass fishing. Anglers fish from the Narrow River Bridge and catch scup, summer flounder as well as shad, striped bass and bluefish. Local fly fishing expert Ed Lombardo said: “Often the bite is much better on the incoming tide on the River.”
Colt State Park, Bristol, and Rocky Point Park, Warwick. Two state parks with parking and access. Both locations feature great shore fishing as well as fishing from a pier. Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box in Warwick said: “The Rocky Point Fishing Pier is a fish magnet. Multiple anglers with a lot of bait in the water has attracted more fish there than ever before, including scup, summer flounder [fluke], black sea bass, bluefish, tautog, striped bass, even northern kingfish.”
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Freshwater
Olney Pond, Lincoln Woods is fished 12 months a year as the state-owned pond often freezes in the winter. Anglers can expect to catch trout, bass, pickerel, crappie and carp there. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence said: “Olney Pond is one of my favorite freshwater ponds to recommend because it has great shore access, good parking and is stocked well with a number of natural coves and inlets.”
Carolina Pond, Richmond, is a state-managed pond with good water access. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management runs the Carolina Trout Hatchery as well as the Trout Pond within a management area. These are great places to take the kids to learn about and catch fish. Access to Carolina Pond and the management area is off of Route 112.
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The Wood River at the Old Stone Dam, Richmond/Hopkinton. “The Old Stone Dam in Richmond is one of my favorite spots," said Steve Brustein of North Kingstown. "Parking is easy. You can fish above the dam, but I hammer the trout in the white water. Live bait with worms or meal worms work well; spoons work well, too. Working the white water takes some practice but pays off all summer long.”
Where’s the bite?
Tuna. “The school tuna bite for bluefin and yellow fin has been good with a lot of small giant bluefin tuna being caught, too," Henault reported. "Some fish are now on the surface, so anglers are using poppers to catch them as well as trolling and jigs when the fish are down.” Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown said: “Call the shop to find out current information as to where anglers are catching tuna.”
Summer flounder (fluke), black sea bass and scup. “Fishing for fluke has been pretty good right here in the Bay at the red bell in front of Warwick light with some weakfish being caught there, too,” Giddings said. “Fluke fishing has been good along the coastal shore with a lot of shorts but also reports of limit catches, including fish into the 7- to 8-pound range," said O’Donnell. "Fishing for black sea bass has also been picking up locally with more keepers being reported.” Henault said: “Anglers are catching fluke and squeteague in front of Warwick Neck with a strong scup bite and black sea bass fishing improving.”
Striped bass and bluefish. “Striped bass are being caught in the Bay at night with anglers chunking Atlantic menhaden, while large bluefish are popping up in the Bay," Henault reported. "The Newport bite is still yielding large striped bass with reports of some bonito off Newport.” Giddings said: “Schools of bluefish keep popping up in the Bay with the striped bass bite fairly strong off Newport with some reporting false albacore in the area.” Kayak angler Tom Houde of West Warwick said: “We are still catching some great bass at Brenton Reef, Newport, trolling tube and worm where I caught a 39-inch fish last weekend.”
Freshwater fishing for largemouth bass continues to be better early morning and at dusk when things cool off. Giddings said: “Freshwater fishing remains strong in the city and region. Fish are still ducking the heat; fishing deeper water and shaded areas is a good idea.” Henault said: “Carbuncle Pond [Coventry] and Stump Pond [Smithfield] are producing largemouth bass for customers. The bite is still primarily with shiners.”
Dave Monti holds a captain’s master 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 www.noflukefishing.com.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Saltwater or freshwater, RI anglers are happy to share their favorite spots
