Rhode Island's Saltwater Fishing is Poised on the Edge
by Captain Jim Barr on 04/01/12
It's April 1st and many R.I. anglers are like race horses in the starting gates, awaiting the signal that the 2012 fishing season has started in earnest. There have been striper "fish sticks" on the Aquidneck Island beaches for a week or so and there have been some decent stripers taken through the cold months primarily in upper Narragansett Bay and the Seekonk River... like every year, but the serious fishing/catching has not as yet kicked off. Herring have been in their runs for several weeks now and that annual migration will continue into early May. Winter-over stripers in the Narrow River have been banging these migrating herring. My fishing gear, fly inventory and boats are "locked and loaded" and after I get my taxes filed next week, I will begin prospecting for decent size fish. A trip or two into Worden's Pond in South Kingstown is on the agenda to hunt for Pike and Largemouth. Stocked trout fishing in R.I. waters holds no interest in my book. I don't want to appear snobbish, but if I do venture out for any trout fishing it's going to be a trip to Cape Cod to fish in Nickerson State Park, specifically Cliff Pond. There are several shallow water "shelves" that provide some outstanding midging and dry fly action that can be a blast... for me, it's a rite of spring making that enjoyable trip to Brewster, followed by an italian dinner and a craft brew...sweet stuff.
My first serious striper angling will begin in Ninigret Pond for the annual cinder worm "hatch". This wonderful fishery offers top water sight fishing for stripers of all sizes... short casts, lots of fish, gorgeous scenery and an opportunity to reacquaint with old friends and new folks as well. I still have several very good days in May and early June for charters to the salt ponds for the worm hatch fishing, so if you're interested, please contact me. Email and telephone contact information is plastered all over this website.
