Rhode Island
Looking to land the big one? Here’s where to catch big bass and fluke in Rhode Island
Narragansett Shark fisherman, Charlie Donolin,
Narragansett Shark fisherman, Charlie Donolin, talks about how he tags sharks to get information for research
The Providence Journal
Every angler wants to catch big fish. Not just big, but our biggest ever, our personal best.
But where to catch big fish and how to catch them is not magic, but rather it is all about the food. You need to be where the food is with ideally fast-moving water that tosses bait around making them easy pickings for larger fish.
Here are some popular places and methods for catching big striped bass and summer flounder (fluke).
Where to catch striped bass
The striped bass limit is one fish/person/day between 28 inches and (under) 31 inches. The largest fish in spring have been caught way up the Providence River as the bass are following Atlantic menhaden and herring up rivers where they spawn.
So, the best way to catch large bass, particularly in the East Bay Area of Narragansett Bay is with Atlantic menhaden cut up into chunks or live lining them. Other popular methods include flutter spoons which mimic distressed herring or Atlantic menhaden as well as trolling tube and worm from a boat.
You can catch them from land at India Point Park, Kettle Point, Sabin Point, Conimicut Point and along the shore in Warwick, Cranston, Providence, East Providence, Barrington, and Bristol.
And from boats it is a matter of finding the schools of Atlantic menhaden. Good places are channel edges from the southern tip of Prudence Island, up the Providence River to the Hurricane Barrier.
Summer fishing for big bass is generally done around Block Island on the Southwest Ledge, the Southeast Light and in the Cape Cod Canal from shore as well as around and off Newport and Watch Hill.
Where to catch summer flounder
The summer flounder or fluke limit is six fish/person/day, 19-inch minimum size. Fish are most commonly caught from boat on a drift, but can be caught from shore at Conimicut Point, Colt State Park, and off jetties in South County.
The largest fish are generally caught on edges. Channel breaks, on the sandy area just beyond the base of structures such as a jetties and ledges.
Fluke face into the current to feed, so you want to drag your bait over the front of them, drifting with the tide and wind in the same direction when in a boat or slowing pulling your bait over the bottom when on land.
Squid is the bait of choice. Some anglers cut it in fine strips yet others like to use the whole squid with others using what they catch that day… strips of bluefish, sea robin, etc.
Ten-plus pound fish can be caught at Warwick Light in spring; the Newport and Jamestown Bridge area; Austin Hollow, Jamestown; off Newport’s Brenton Reef area to 80 feet of water, along the southern coastal shore and off the Sakonnet River area to three miles out drifting over humps and bumps. Big fish are also caught around Block Island, the East Fishing Grounds and Cox Ledge with the biggest slabs caught at Nantucket Sholes.
Block Island Tournament expanded
The Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament now has nine species with a fishing area that includes areas south of the Pell and Jamestown Bridges including Rhode Island ocean beaches to about 15 miles south of Block Island.
The tournament is Saturday, July 26 to Sunday, July 27. A smartphone app is used to enter fish, no need to go to Block Island to win. Register at BI Inshore Tourney | bi-fishworks (sandypointco.com).
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass. Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren, said, “The stiped bass bite has been very good in Mt. Hope and Narragansett Bays. Anglers should know that Rhode Island and Massachusetts now have two different ways of measuring striped bass.” In Massachusetts anglers must squeeze the tail (caudal) fin to take the measure from the closed mouth of the fish. Visit Massachusetts – Striped Bass | eRegulations. In Rhode Island, measure from the mouth to the longest point of the tail fin, there is no squeezing allowed. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Customers are having difficulty catching slot size fish in the upper Providence and Seekonk Rivers. Larger fish over 31 inches are being caught, earlier this month a 53-inch fish was caught. Baits working include live or chucked Atlantic menhaden with worms working best in the Seekonk River.” Angler Kevin Tavares said “We fished Mount Hope Bay, the Sakonnet launch to Bristol to Roger Williams, etc. Chased terns and gulls on breaking schools of bass. Sometimes w/out birds, could spot them breaking top water… Most fish were around slot, had some under 20 inches (nice to see) and a couple over 30 inches.”
Tautog. Ryan Collins of ‘My Fishing Cape Cod’, said, “The red hot tautog bite earlier this month seems to be cooling off a bit on the Cape as other species like scup move into the area.” Said Henault, of Ocean State Tackle, “Anglers have filed fewer reports on tautog as not as many are fishing for them as they are now targeting scup, striped bass and other species that have arrived.”
Summer flounder and scup are being caught throughout the region. Macedo, of Lucky Bait & Tackle, said, “The scup are in with small fluke being caught too.” Angler Matthew Haczynski reported last Saturday finding keeper fluke in the Block Island area. He and fish mates filled a cooler.” Angler Gary Vandemoortele, said, “We limited out on fluke in the Westport area last week when chartering on Three Sister Charters. Clams and clam worms worked best.”
Freshwater. For complete regulations, a list of trout stocked ponds, and a copy of the RI Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Guide visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov.
Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net, visit www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com or www.noflukefishing.com .
Rhode Island
R.I. leading multi-state lawsuit against Trump administration housing policy – The Boston Globe
Rhode Island and other states had recently won a ruling against HUD’s attempt to overhaul a federal homelessness grant program in fiscal year 2025.
US District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy found that HUD acted arbitrarily and capriciously in imposing illegal conditions on billions of dollars in funding for the Continuum of Care program, through which HUD distributes billions of dollars to state, local, and nonprofit agencies to support housing and services for people facing homelessness.
For more than two decades, HUD had followed a “Housing First” model, which prioritizes rapid placement in permanent housing without requiring people to first meet conditions such as sobriety or a minimum income threshold.
However, on June 1, the Trump administration moved forward with new rules for fiscal year 2026 that seek to re-implement a cap on permanent housing. The new Notices of Funding Opportunity will set aside $1.3 billion for transitional housing and supportive service-only grants — which the coalition of states say will have the effect of capping permanent housing projects at about 68 percent of the funds.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner announced the new terms on June 1, saying the old model didn’t work.
“The ‘housing first’ experiment failed Americans by warehousing the vulnerable without results. This ideology promised to end homelessness. Instead, billions of taxpayer dollars were spent while homelessness increased to record levels,” Turner said in a statement. “Housing alone will not solve a crisis driven by addiction and mental illness. Under President Trump’s leadership, HUD is making necessary reforms to put recovery first.”
HUD said that the new Notice of Funding Opportunity for $4.04 billion through the Continuum of Care homelessness assistance program would support organizations that facilitate treatment and recovery and “prohibit funding the widespread use of illicit drugs and distribution of paraphernalia.”
The lawsuit alleges that the new conditions will mean a large number of permanent housing projects funded by the Continuum of Care program will lose funding, which will lead to people being evicted, placing further strain on state and local governments.
“Instead of investing in programs that help people stay safe and housed, the Trump Administration has embraced policies that risk trapping people in poverty and punishing them for being poor,” the 44-page lawsuit alleges.
The shift threatens housing for at least 97,000 residents of CoC-funded permanent housing across the country according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
The states argue that HUD’s actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act for failing to proceed with notice-and-comment rulemaking, and for being arbitrary and capricious. They ask the court to declare that the challenged conditions are illegal and to block HUD from implementing them.
Along with Neronha, attorneys general from all New England states except for New Hampshire have joined the lawsuit. The coalition also includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
Amanda Milkovits can be reached at amanda.milkovits@globe.com. Follow her @AmandaMilkovits.
(WJAR) — Thirty-two years ago was the commissioning of a Navy submarine named after the Ocean State.
Maria Stephanos was on board the USS Rhode Island on July 9, 1994.
Rhode Island was the Navy’s 15th Trident class ballistic submarine.
It was commissioned in Newport and was the first to be christened in its namesake state.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — They come from all walks of life, including many professionals in the community, taking time out of their busy days to welcome students to school with enthusiasm and handshakes.
“We learn a lot of new handshakes, too,” Kobi Dennis said. “High-fives. Pounds with an explosion. We get a little bit of everything.”
It’s the Handshake Initiative, the brainchild of now Central Falls Police Chief Anthony Roberson.
Everybody can use some encouragement, and students in Rhode Island get that the minute they head toward the school building.
Initially, the students and parents didn’t know what to think.
“I was confused because I thought it was going to be a normal day,” said one student.
“Their parents were getting out of their cars trying to see what’s going on,” Reservoir Avenue School Principal Cynthia Torres said.
But now, they crave it.
“It makes me feel motivated,” another student said.
Dennis adds in an etiquette component.
“Teaching the kids how to shake hands, look one another in the eyes with a firm grip — girl or guy — firm grip and say ‘hello’ and introduce yourself, that’s part of the initiative as well,” Dennis said.
Providence school superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez said it sends a strong message.
“We hear you, we see you, and we’re here for you,” Montañez said.
Torres strategically uses them on standardized test days.
“They say, ‘I’m going to do really good today,’” she said.
“It makes me feel encouraged to do better in school,” a student said.
They’ve connected with thousands of students across Rhode Island.
“It’s about shaking hands and building relationships, but it’s also about letting young people know that there are professionals in the community cheering for them every single day,” Dennis said.
Do you know of a nonprofit organization or volunteers doing great work in your community? Fill out a short nomination form for “Community Treasures.”
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