Date: 2026-06-30
Holdover Stripers & Salt Ponds: Masses of sand eels are fueling an improved and wide-spanning striped bass bite, and they’ve also caught the attention of the fluke, sea bass, and the first-arriving bonito of the year. Striped bass continue to chew well throughout the state, and while they can be finicky at times due to the thick sand eel presence, there are more than enough willing to bite.
Trout Opener & Freshwater: Freshwater anglers are still finding strong trout action on mealworms, PowerBait, and nightcrawlers, while the largemouth are eating medium shiners and Yamamoto worms. Most designated trout waters are stocked prior to the opening day of trout season.
Tautog Outlook: Squid are still around, although the bite is getting a bit more inconsistent, while some nice blue crabs are showing up in the lower bay and providing a different option. These fish are being caught on the usual methods — jigs, eels, spoons, and the troll — but the topwater bite on the south side has been very strong this week.
Best Baits and Presentations: The two jigs that catch any species you want are the Daiwa Zakana KO and the Jigging World Giko.” Big striped bass caught this week aboard a local charter. Live eels seem to be the best bet for larger bass right now, but people are still catching on soft plastics and topwater especially during the early morning and evening.
Highlight Catches: Out around Block Island, the bass fishing has also been very good with lots of fish in the 20- to 40-pound class being caught and released.
Recent Changes: Most designated trout waters are stocked prior to the opening day of trout season. Opening Day of Trout Season occurs annually on the second Saturday in April and continues through the last day of February at midnight.