WWFG Fishing Reports

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 Post subject: Newport, Rhode Island Fishing Oct 12th

HELLO ANGLERS:
DUE TO STRONG WESTERLY WINDS, THE SMALL-CRAFT FLAG WAS RAISED FOR MUCH OF LAST WEEK. FOR THOSE WHO VENTURED OUT, THE FISHING WAS GOOD IF YOU COULD GET YOUR ANCHOR TO HOLD. LARGE SEA BASS TO THREE POUNDS HAVE SHOWN UP ON THE HUMPS JUST SOUTH OF BRENTON REEF. SCUP WERE FEEDING VORACIOUSLY, AND THE BASS AND BLUES WERE SEEN NEARLY EVERYWHERE AT THE BAYâ€™S MOUTH. AS THE FALL BAIT MIGRATION CONTINUES, THE BASS AND BLUES HAVE FINALLY BEGUN BLITZING , DRIVING SMALL BAIT ONTO THE ROCKS FROM THE BEACH AT HAMMERSMITH TO PIRATES COVE ON BRENTON POINT. ECSTATIC SHORE FISHERMEN WERE FINALLY HITTING FISH IN THE DAYTIME. THESE FEEDING FRENZIES HAVE BEEN FEW THIS SEASON. MANY ANGLERS HAVE COMPLAINED. ALL WEEK, GREAT SURFACE DISPLAYS WERE IMPRESSIVE WITH SMALL FINGER MACKERAL AND MULLET BOILING. HUGE SCHOOLS OF SMALL STRIPERS AND LARGE BLUES FEASTED ON TINY MINNOWS. SMALL CROWDS OF ONLOOKERS GATHERED ON THE SHORE TO WITNESS THE PERFORMANCE..
SOME BIG BASS WERE TAKEN THIS PAST WEEK BY THE NIGHT OWLS. BOBBY MELLO, A FINE LOCAL ANGLER WHO HAS FISHED OUR SHORES FOR FIFTY YEARS INFORMED ME OF THIS NEWS. BOBBY HAS BEEN HITTING BASS CONSISTENTLY FROM 3:30 -6:30 AM CASTING FIVE-INCH SLUGOES WITH A SMALL BARREL WEIGHT JUST BEHIND THE HEAD. WHILE MOST OF US ARE STILL FAST ASLEEP, BOB HAS BEEN SLAMMING BASS. HE TELLS ME THE SHORE FISHING HAS BEEN THE BEST IN YEARS. HOOKING DOZENS OF BASS AND RELEASING MOST, BOB CAME HOME WITH A 37 AND ON ANOTHER TRIP, A FORTY-THREE. BOB LIKES THE SHORELINE BETWEEN FORTY STEPS AND DORIS DUKEâ€™S. SHORE ANGLERS ARE USUALLY TIGHT- LIPPED AND SECRETIVE ABOUT THEIR SPOTS.THANKS FOR THAT GREAT TIP, BOB.
ON SATURDAY, THE ABBATES OF NEWPORT ENJOYED AN EXCITING TRIP WITH US. CHRIS AND HIS DAD, GUY, AND THEIR GUESTS DAVE PAUL, AND DAVE HINDS STARTED THE DAY RIGHT . ON FIRST CAST, CHRIS HIT A BASS AND DAD A BLUE DURING A FEEDING FRENZY AT THE MOUTH OF THE BAY. SOON AFTER, WE HEADED TO A WRECK OFFSHORE . THERE, THE FISHING WAS TERRIFIC WITH LEDGEMONSTERS SLAMMING ON EVERY DROP. THESE BEASTS PROVIDED OUR GUESTS WITH AN EARLY MORNING WORKOUT FOR OVER TWO AND A HALF HOURS. THESE LEDGEMONSTERS RAVAGED OUR SMALL SARDINES AND PREVENTED THE BASS FROM COMPETING FOR THESE TREATS. AFTER 28 LEDGEMONSTERS WE HEADED TO BRENTON REEF FOR SOME BASS FISHING. DAVE HINDS HIT A NICE BASS ON A CHUNK RIGHT OFF. THE SCUP SHOWED SHORTLY AFTER AND TORE OUR BAIT OFF QUICKER THAT WE COULD REPLACE IT. WHEN WE LANDED AT THE DOCK CHRIS â€˜S FAMILY WAITED TO GREET US AND VIEW THE CATCH. A GREAT CATCH IT WAS. GREAT JOB TO THE ABBATES.
LOCAL ANGLERS WAIT ALL SEASON FOR THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER WHEN BLACKFISHING REALLY HEATS UP . BLACKFISH FEED PRIMARILY ON CRABS AND MUSSELS. THIS SUCCULENT WHITE FISH IS A LOCAL DELICACY. THESE TAUTOG (BLACKFISH) WILL BE FEEDING FURIOUSLY TO PACK ON WEIGHT FOR THE WINTER MIGRATION OFF SHORE. DOZENS OF BOATS WILL ASSEMBLE AT THE HUMPS NEAR R-2 THIS WEEKEND IN PURSUIT OF THESE GREAT TASTING FISH. COMMERCIAL TAUTOG FISHING BEGIN ON THE 15TH. FOR RECREATIONAL ANGLERS, ON OCTOBER 17TH CATCH LIMITS ON BLACKFISH INCREASES FROM THREE FISH PER DAY TO 8. THE SIZE IS 16 INCHES FOR ALL. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE. TIGHT LINES. CAPT. TIM FLAHERTYCHARTERS.COM 401 848 5554