SWE Fishing Report: 6.14.07

[Pete_G]

Since not too much has changed, we’re keeping the report fairly short this week. The Bay continues to be incredible for boaters, and solid for shore anglers. Eels have caught a few, live bunker and bunker chunks are king, big Pencils and needles have taken some big fish, and the 9” Tsunami shad if you can get it past the blues is also still producing. The time for the Tsunami has really passed, there’s just way too many blues at this point. There have even been a few random bluefish blitzes.



The surf has shown signs of life after being somewhat quiet. Big blues are prowling in many spots. Throwing big Pencils around sundown is a reliable producer for these fish. They aren’t blitzing or attracting the attention of birds, and it won’t be every cast, but they’re there.

Earl Evans with a nice bass about to go back into the water



Occasional bass are being caught in the suds too, but there are very few anglers who will say the fishing has been good along the Southern coast of Rhode Island. Anglers who have been pushing hard in the surf have caught though. Numerous bass in the mid-twenties for DZ, a 41 for Jim Sylvester, a 31 for Pete Guia, and more. Eels have been king, although a few good fish have been caught on the Needlefish. Pete Guia’s fish came on a 17A Bomber, red-head with a white body. An oldie but a goodie. All these shore caught fish either came from anglers who relentlessly fish the coast, or from anglers who have adjusted to the bunker driven fishery that has developed this year.

One more short before she goes home



One key for many successful fisherman this year has been the ability to adapt. If you’ve been at it long enough, maybe it’s just returning to old ways and techniques that were used in years long ago when there were bunker numbers like we are seeing this year. For newer anglers (“newer” being relative since it’s been a LONG time since there’s been bunker like this) exploring new spots or fishing known spots at new times has resulted in pay off.

Taylor with a schoolie about to be released



Remember that the Bay is where the overwhelming quantity of bait is, and to a large extent that is where a lot of the fish are. It’s not that fish haven’t been caught along the Narragansett and Newport shores, but most of the veteran anglers along those shores will readily admit it has been very tough. Unfortunately for those who like to fish spots where open ocean swell lands, the key word for a lot of big fish this year is “Narragansett Bay”. The Upper half in particular.

Some of the bunker from the Bay are starting to appear in the suds along the coast though. This could be marking the start of the bunker exiting the Bay. Keep watch in the near future, needless to say this is a recipe for giant fish and awesome fishing.

Bob Rabiner trying to get his 9" Tsunami back



The Bay will have to play out it’s course, which is somewhat tough to predict. The water is warming rapidly, but until those bunker think about making an exit it’s tough to picture this great fishing fading. It’s unlikely warm surface temps will scare fish out of the Bay. Down deep the water is more then comfortable for stripers and there’s plenty to eat everywhere.

A nice bass that fell for a Hab's "skunk" pattern Needlefish



If you’re not catching, change your ways. Often it’s not your fault, the water you’re fishing sometimes just doesn’t have fish. Now’s the time to do some exploring.

About to be released back into the night



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[Parker650]

Man...are these guys well dressed for striper fishing or what?!

[Pete_G]

The current superstition at the shop is that the better dressed you are, the more likely a giant striper will come over the gunnell or onto the rocks and splash you with blood or some other clothes staining material.

As a result, you get a fishing report like you see above.

Update:

I know of a 40 caught and released in the surf last night. More signs things could be changing along the Southern coast. I also took a spin around Newport before sundown and before heading out fishing and there's a lot of gulls in town. Most were sitting around but it's a sure sign something is happening.