Fishing in Rhode Island in April....

[uglychild]

Can anyone tell me basically at what point the fish show up in Rhode Island? I was looking to trailer my boat down to Pt. Judith at some point and was hoping for some insider information. Much appreciated.....

[DonWil]

Hi Ug I live at the Point and the last few years, the bass have been showing up, some time late April. Don

[ppatricelli]

I hope I'm not giving anything away, and for what a 33 year old fishing report is worth, and since I'm 2700 miles away right now, I lived for a year on Great Salt Pond in Wakefield. Around the 15th I began seeing an early morning crowd right at the pass around the peninsula leading to the upper pond. When I finally investigated they turned out to be live alewife slingers who were pounding BIG stripers who slipped in before or coincident with the schoolies. It was a very ingrown, very quiet, very EARLY MORNING, closed group. But VERY interesting.
FWIW.
Peter Patricelli

[PeterJenkins]

Two of the best early season spots for schoolies are Second Beach in Newport and Carpenter's Bar in Matunuck. The web cam at www.rhodetrip.com looks at the bar when pointed East.
First fish have been caught as early as the last week in March some years. They will take the "slowest Sluggo ever" barely turning the crank and the take is subtle. With tremendous patience the same technique can be replicated in a Clouser.
The fish are tight to the beach and a boat doesn't seem necessary.

[PeterJenkins]

Here's a good shot of the bar
http://www.rhodetrip.com/archives5.htm

[rockfisherman]

Sorry for the delayed reply. I live a stones throw from the Salt Pond. The last few years the schoolies have been showing the last week in March at the West Wall and at Carpenter's Bar (Deep Hole Public Fishing Area) off Matunuck Beach Road. West Wall is at the end of Succotash Road at the East Matunuck Beach exit. Traditionally, these are the earliest season spots in the area. And they are easily fished from shore, you need not bring your boat.

I don't know if they show earlier than that...say this weekend for example...I may have to find out ;-);