Keepers Arrive

You know things are getting serious when migrating keeper bass are being caught in April. It usually doesn't happen. However, I saw it with my own eyes tonight as I saw at least half a dozen fish taken off the West Wall that were just about keeper size, give or take an inch or two.

The recent heat wave of the last few days has sent water temperatures upwards by about five degrees and that has gotten things moving. There are lots of schoolies right now along the West Wall at East Matunuck and keeper fish up to 30 inches are mixed in with them. Cocachoes and teasers still rule the fishing, but surprisingly I saw a good fish taken on a topwater plug tonight, something that is not supposed to happen in April. I also saw loads of fish breaking the surface last evening after small bait, and that is not supposed to happen in April either.

We are off to a strange start, and those who were complaining last week suddenly have smiles on their faces!

Finally!

The schoolies have finally arrived. Yesterday the southwest wind was blowing, the surf was good and temperatures were on the rise. It was a perfect recipe for the West Wall at East Matunuck to produce, and it did.

I landed 5 schoolies and 2 hickory shad. I saw a picket fence of about 20 fishermen land roughly 75-80 fish. Most of the fish were 14-22 inches with a at least one near keeper lifted onto the wall. Most of the fish were caught on Cocahoe minnows mounted on jigheads, but teasers were also hot. My shrimp teasers were doing well (see photo at right).

The fish are finally here. Let's hope it continues!

Season off to Dismal Start

It's April 23 and schoolie fishing should be hot right now. It's not. I've caught a grand total of 3 fish in April. Normally, I'd be logging in my 100th fish for April at this point. I caught one fish today (see photo at right) in the upper Bay on a Zoom fluke. I know of lots of guys trying at the West Wall where a scant few fish have been taken. I've been out in the upper Bay in my kayak and from shore 5 times in the last week with one fish to show for it. We can complain about and blame the cold and rainy weather, but I've seen good years with weather worst than this. So, what's the problem?

Early spring fishing is dominated by schoolies. These are fish that are under five years old that migrate northward from the Chesapeake Bay. If you check out the young of the year (YOY) index (number of juvenile fish netted) for the last five years, you will find that it is below average. That means fewer schoolies. Last year was an off year for schoolie fishing here in RI. I think that trend will continue this year. On the other hand, the YOY index back ten and twelve years ago was very high and that explains why we have had good numbers of keeper stripers around. I suspect that as May moves on we will see good numbers of keepers once again in the Bay.

Temperatures are supposed to rise into the 80's this weekend. If that does't bring in a big bunch of schoolies it will be a mighty lean early spring.

They're Back

It's been a tough couple of weeks in the Providence River with a fish or two here and there along with lots of dry runs. But, that all ended yesterday as the fishing lit up, once again. Mix a lot of rain, a big high tide at night, and a strong northwest wind and you've got the recipe for hot holdover striper fishing in the Providence River. Landed over 30 fish the last two evenings/nights at the river fishing a Zoom fluke in a smokey shad color on a quarter ounce head. The fish were all sizes from 12 inch dinks up to 28 inch keepers (see photo of keeper on right). There's a ton of fishermen out there just waiting for the first striper to be caught off the West Wall in mid April. Why wait, catch the action in Providence right now!

Uncomplicated Spring Schoolies

The first migrating schoolies are about to arrive in early to mid April. Catching them is not the complicated game it becomes later in the year. There are just two main lures to stock up on that will catch most of the fish.

Along the oceanfront the hot lure of the last few years has been a white, Cocahoe minnow (see photo at left). This fan tailed, plastic, fish-like body in a three or four inch length must be threaded onto a jighead from one quarter to three quarter oz. Go with a slow retrieve along the bottom with an occasional bounce of the rod tip. It works well in spots like the West Wall, Matunuck and Narrow River. Can't find these lures.....try Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle.

In Narragansett Bay, it is the Zoom Fluke in a light color like albino or smokey shad that will catch most of the schoolies from shore. Mount these fork tailed fish bodies on the smallest jighead that you can cast effectively (see photo at right). It works real well in places like the Providence River, The East side beaches and East Greenwich Bay.

These lures are best suited to light spinning outfits spooled with 10 lb. test mono. Expect April schoolies to run 12-24 inches, all throwbacks, but great to catch on light tackle.

Hot Week in Providence River

This has been a hot week of fishing for holdover striped bass in the Providence River. The two days of rain and unusually high moon tides have set up some strong currents and water flow and that's the trigger mechanism that gets the fish active. I suspect that strong water movement stirs up the bottom where the fish are grubbing for things like worms, shrimp and other tidbits.

The nights have been the best time to fish with the high/dropping tides producing the most action. I have been using a Zoom flukes (smokey shad color) on quarter ounce jigheads with light spinning gear. Monday was my best night this week with over 30 fish and several keepers. On all the other evenings I managed to grab an average of 6-10 fish. While there are a ton of striper fishermen out there anxiously waiting for mid April to bring the first migrating fish along the south shore, there are a small core of guys just smiling away in Providence every night this week.

Inconsistent Winter Fishing

We've been on a roller coaster this winter as fishing in the Providence River has been inconsistent at best. There have also been fewer striped bass this winter compared to past winters. In the last two weeks I have had several dry runs, but have also landed about 20 stripers including several keepers. Fishing has become strictly a nighttime affair with little action to be had in the daytime. It seems that the best nights follow rain in the daytime. Lots of rain bring a heavy flow of water down river from the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers. I think the fast flowing water disturbs the bottom just enough to wash down worms and shrimp that reside in the mud, setting up feeding.

Another phenomenon of recent weeks has been snagged fish. We are bumping into them while slowly working the jig along the bottom, yet the fish are not taking. This is evidenced by the numbers of fish I have fouled hooked in the last two weeks (about half the fish). I have also brought back lots of scales on my jig's hook to prove that the fish are there, yet not interested in hitting.