Capt. Ray Stachelek of Cast a Fly Charters.
Location: Point Jude, Rhode Island
An eclectic array of fishing conditions, that’s the story in RI this week.
Weather conditions continue to be warm with very little winds.
No problem finding schools of bluefish in the upper bay. No matter what side of the East and West Passages you look, they are everywhere. No specific areas required. Blues up to ten pounds are pushing peanut bunker all along the surface. Best bests on the western side are Quonset Point, Round Rock, and Greenwich Bay. Over on the East Passage, look for surface frenzies around Hog Island, Providence Point, and Ohio Ledge. Plenty of action north of Conimicut Light too.
Further south along the ocean, striper fishing can be spotty. The fall migration of stripers is showing some signs of beginning. Occasional pods of silversides and anchovies are being harassed by small schools of five pound bass. Most of the activity is at dawn and shuts down rather quickly. A few larger stripers can be caught in the surf using needle and popper plugs just before dawn.
Good news is the return of albies along the walls. Anchovies have returned but in smaller numbers than we had two weeks ago. Fish are still selective feeding on ¾ inch size baitfish. It is frustrating and demoralizing at times, especially when they are all around the boat to catch one.
Pete Laviolette and his son Chris returned to Rhode Island this week. Residents of Calgary Canada, they both look forward to some fall saltwater angling. Weather was great and they were greeted to some magnificent sunrises and calm seas. Tides were low this week and not much current. Most shores were depleted of baitfish so there wasn’t a consistent bite. They managed to boat a few bass throughout the morning.
The mouth of Charlestown Breachway produced bluefish to 12 Lbs. on the dropping tide. There is nothing like trying to leverage a 12 lbs. bluefish in breachway current with a fly rod. The fights are amazing. They had plenty of bluefish the following day in upper Narragansett Bay.
The real treat for both and the main reason coming to RI is for albies in the fall. Any angler knows who is worth their salt knows how humbling, frustrated, and humiliating this addiction is. How amazing it was to have a double hookup together. What are the odds? Chris beat the odds latter along with all the albie rules we follow. Most of us rely on stealth presentations and the exactness of our fly patterns. I for one, use camo lines, fluorocarbon leaders, and small translucent flies for albies. Imagine to my chagrin when Chris using a multi-colored orange sink tip line, thick mono leader, and a fly that looks like nothing on the water, hooks up. What a rush and surprise. Chris went back home happy as can be, Aye!
Chris and his trophy albie. A job well done.
Pete with an early morning striper.
A monster bluefish falls for Pete’s offering.
