October Water temps

[Striperhound]

I noticed just how warm the water still is last night. Many would say that it will prolong the season, True or False what does everyone think?

I dont think it will, I think it is a sunlight thing, angle of the sun, darkness vs light. With that being said, the end is coming based on the reports of small bass and bluefish blitzing Boston North. We all have said when we see the rat bass the end is near. IMHO the rats stay close to shore and the big girls are deeper out of shore reach except when things line up like bait and wind. Big cold front coming this week. I caught large last night but did not see one school of bait. No bait equalls a shortened season even with warm water temps. Junk science or not lets hear what everyone thinks?

[Dave]

I agree with the hours of light and angle of sun triggering the fall run and also with the large runs of small fish near the end (usually during the day) but the end is far from near. Remember the warmest water temps of the year are the end of august through September so the water temps should still be warm. It's been a strange kind of off year for bait in Rhody this year so no surprise there, there is bait present it's just not as concentrated or in as many locals as were used to. We still have a good month and a half to two months of good fishing left. The key is knowing where, when and how.

[ChiefLinesider]

I think that the dropping water temps are what signal the migration. There are incredible reports up north all the way to Maine coming in during the first week of October. That huge area of stripers/blues have no choice but to head South. The temp up North is 55 degrees along the coast.

I believe that once the temperature drops to 60 degrees & below along the coast of rhode island the fish will begin to move into our waters. The way the water temp looks I would bet on a late season. The surface temp chart is still reading around 64. Which is too warm for any self respecting striped bass of a larger size.

60 degrees the fall run catching begins in ernest.

[nofish]

That is a new one for me, but it is interesting. I still have to go with water temps as being the controlling factor though. I believe our water temps are still at 60 so the run is about to begin once it gets around 55. The cooler water temps up north starts the run as the migration begins to points south.

[crazygoof]

Originally Posted by nofish

That is a new one for me, but it is interesting. I still have to go with water temps as being the controlling factor though. I believe our water temps are still at 60 so the run is about to begin once it gets around 55. The cooler water temps up north starts the run as the migration begins to points south.

So other than water temps what are indicators of the fall run? I see folks down at the beaches in Newport, but don't see any fish. I haven't seen birds working any where either, especially in the bay north or south of the bridge. I keep looking and waiting for the "run" but am I missing something?

Current temp is about 63, up a couple from 2 days ago.

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/natl.html

[Pete_G]

The lack of bait scares me the most. Last year (2 years ago?) we found gigantic schools of quality bass almost 25 miles out off RI mauling herring. Literally almost as far as you could see. We were on a late November tuna hunt. THAT, was our fall migration, that year.

[thewaterfordstriper]

i think it is a combo of both. the light angles and duration of the sun triggers when the fish leave maine. but the water temperature being so warm prolongs the season. the last warm fall, early winter we had, i picked fish up to new years in the sound.

[Kevin J]

Lot's good input. Here's my 2 cents and ofcourse, none of us really know (much like thinking the Tigers would get swept only to see them humuliate the NYY )

I think the water is still warm and should be for a while
I think there is a lack of bait = bad but why are we still getting fish? (see my new thread)
I think we need some steady SW winds to keep the bait near us
I think we need to pay close attention to the reports coming from the canal guys in the next few weeks.
I think I need to fish more to catch more