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Home » Columnists

Fishing Report

Autumn Water

Capts. Chris Willi and Hank Hewitt

Thu, Oct 4

Category:

Columnists, Fishing Report

For many New England anglers, Autumn marks the beginning of the end of the season. So unless you’re a hunter or like to ice fish, there is a desperate scramble to get as many fishing days in before December comes. Autumn also marks the “fall run” of striped bass, which as of late hasn’t been much...
Fishing Report: Summer blues

Capts. Chris Willi and Hank Hewitt

Fri, Aug 24

Category:

Fishing Report

Bluefish: the New England piranha, yellow-eyed devil, gear-wrecking gator… and the most underrated angling experience ever. The bluefish is a pelagic fish that is found everywhere in the world except the Northern Pacific. Here in New England, we see cyclic populations come through with year to year...
It’s on!

Capt. Chris Willi

Fri, Jul 20

Category:

Fishing Report

Coming into the middle of July and we have finally seen some bigger fish caught — and in good numbers — around the island. Fishing from the shore has been good all along the south side of the island using big swimmers and needlefish. There is a large presence of mackerel on all sides of the island...
Fishing Report: The bite begins...

Capt. Chris Willi

Fri, Jun 22

Category:

Fishing Report

Unseasonable weather and cooler water has made the start of the 2018 season a little slower than normal. However, we can report the island fishing has turned the corner the week leading up to Father’s Day. This is the week fishermen can have nights of catching a dozen fish or more. That’s the case...
Fishing report: Fishing comes to life

Capt Chris Willi and Capt. Hank Hewitt

Fri, Aug 4

Category:

Fishing Report

Kicking off the August fishing report, we’re pleased to say the catching is good. Starting with the surf zone, the stripers are cooperating at multiple spots around the Island, at sunset and through the night. Shortly prior to sunset, up to full dark, large, noisy, surface lures are turning their...
The fish are here

Capt. Chris Willi and Capt. Hank Hewitt

Sat, May 27

Category:

Fishing Report

At last, after a seemingly interminable winter, the fish are here and the season is underway. To lead off with a shore-based report, the striped bass are here in numbers, yet no keeper sizes as of yet. They are feeding around sunset and sunrise in the Coast Guard Channel, and throughout the Great...
The unseen benefit of the wind turbines

Capt. Hank Hewitt

Sat, Apr 8

Category:

Fishing Report

As we witness the growth of offshore wind farms, there seems to be a benefit to them not readily apparent to most, yet known to anglers. The benefit of these installations is a term anglers refer to as structure. Structure comes in many different forms, yet has the same effect: it attracts marine...
Processing and preparing squid

Capt. Hank Hewitt

Fri, Dec 9

Category:

Fishing Report

In last week’s article, I wrote a primer on squid fishing. This week we look at processing it, and a fun recipe to prepare. First and foremost, if you have never worked with fresh squid, they have the potential to make a mess if their ink sack is disturbed or ruptured, which is almost unavoidable...
Schoolies

Sol Schwartz

Sat, Nov 12

Category:

Fishing Report

There are a lot of bass out there, folks. The gradual drop in water temperatures has slowed the anticipated arrival of big fish, but there are a lot of schoolies all around the island right now. You should definitely get out there and catch some. Squid fishing has been unbelievable lately...
Fall fishing is great!

Sol Schwartz

Fri, Oct 28

Category:

Fishing Report

What a beautiful week for fishing! Perfect fall weather has given anglers plenty of opportunities to go out for the big one. Typically, this is the time of year when we start to see huge numbers of squid showing up in the harbors. There are also large amounts of other bait around the island keeping...
Still Time

Capt. Chris Willi and Capt. Hank Hewitt

Sat, Oct 15

Category:

Fishing Report

The report from the beach is still decent for striped bass, with a good numbers of schoolies all around the island and in the harbors. Most fish have been taken on topwater and with metal-lipped Danny-style plugs. Unfortunately, there are a good number of seals coming in, which doesn’t help fishing...
Striped bass prizes

Sol Schwartz

Sat, Oct 8

Category:

Fishing Report

Water temperatures around the island are finally starting to drop. After this last week’s northeast blow, along with cooler nights, we are definitely set for fall fishing. I’ve noticed the squid in both harbors are a little bit bigger lately, as well as an increased amount of small baitfish such as...
Fall run has begun

Capt. Chris Willi and Capt. Hank Hewitt

Sat, Oct 1

Category:

Fishing Report

Now that we are into October, we are happy to report there is a solid presence of a wide variety of fish in the waters around Block Island. Starting with the beach and surf, stripers and blues are busting on large surface plugs during the light change at sunrise and sunset on both the east side and...
Fish at the Channel? Albie there!

Sol Schwartz

Fri, Sep 23

Category:

Fishing Report

S eptember fishing on Block Island can be so rewarding and diverse. The cool nights and warm days make fishing for all different species much better. During the day, if you are anywhere near the Great Salt Pond, you’ll see boaters and surf casters alike chasing the bonito and false albacore (albies...
The little tunny

Capt. Chris Willi

Fri, Sep 16

Category:

Fishing Report

To kick off this week’s report, I’m pleased to report the arrival of false albacore ( Euthynnus alletteratus ) or little tunny. The bonito caught on the leading edge of Tropical Storm Hermine have seemed to move out, being replaced by false albacore showing from the Coast Guard Channel and...
Hermine doesn't stop the fish

Sol Schwartz

Fri, Sep 9

Category:

Fishing Report

So a hurricane came through and showed its face... big deal! The fish are still swimming the Block Island waters. Being that it was a northeast wind that we had, it will be interesting to see what it does for the fishing these coming weeks. Since our water temps are still up and there is lots of...
Varieties of fish all over

Capt. Chris Willi and Capt. Hank Hewitt

Sat, Sep 3

Category:

Fishing Report

This week’s shore fishing report shows a slow pack of stripers coming up on the east side sand beaches. At the beginning of this week, however, an offshore swell had big waves pounding the east and south sides of the island. Keeper bass have been taken at night on the east beaches just outside the...
Monster blues

Sol Schwartz

Sat, Aug 27

Category:

Fishing Report

Late summer fishing on Block Island is a time for changes. Striped bass fishing begins its lull before the fall and we start looking out for other species to show up. When our waters reach their warmest, the bigger stripers typically stay in deeper waters until the temperature drops near the shore...
No bones about it

Capt. Chris Willi

Fri, Aug 19

Category:

Fishing Report

Starting off this week’s fishing report: the stripers are seen daily by bathers from Mansion Beach all the way into town, as far south as the Beachead Restaurant. Catching them during the day is quite tricky, but the best bet is with a fly rod and crab patterns — fished behind the breaking waves...
The search for little tuna has begun

Sol Schwartz

Fri, Aug 12

Category:

Fishing Report

In the next few weeks, Block Island will see its highest water temperatures for the whole season. The warm water is definitely primed for baitfish, which in turn keeps the big fish around. Already, for the beginning of August, we are seeing great catches from both boat and shore. One thing to keep...
Fishing Report: It’s All Happening

Capt. Chris Willi and Capt. Hank

Fri, Aug 5

Category:

Fishing Report

The shore report this week stays strong with many of the surfcasters reporting stripers being caught around the island from dawn to dusk. The North Light, Scotch to Mansion Beach, Southeast Light, and Black Rock have all been producing fish. The Coast Guard Station still has large scup and small...
Peaks and valleys

Sol Schwartz

Sat, Jul 30

Category:

Fishing Report

Mid-summer is when we see fishing around Block Island go into a peak and valley pattern. Certain days it’s red hot and everyone is catching, other days very few fish are caught. The upside is that more bait seem to be around from last year, so the fish are here. Shore fishing has been very good...
Quality over quantity

Capt. Chris Willi and Capt. Hank

Fri, Jul 22

Category:

Fishing Report

This week’s fishing report sees the catching remaining good. From the beach, striped bass have filled in with both numbers and to a good size. For the heavy-duty surf caster, and wet suiter, the south and southeast sides of the island are producing numbers of teen class weight fish, with reports of...
School's out for summer!

Sol Schwartz

Fri, Jul 15

Category:

Fishing Report

It's a great time to be on Block Island! This week has seen some really successful numbers from both shore and boat. The mild temperatures have kept the water temperature at an even level, which has kept production at a good rate. A few days of strong east winds have dirtied up the waters a little...
Time to catch

Capt. Chris Willi & Capt. Hank Hewitt

Fri, Jul 8

Category:

Fishing Report

Starting off this week’s beach and surf report, we are pleased to say the bite on good-sized stripers is solid with good numbers as well. The venerable needlefish lure design, a legendary staple for Block Island surfcasters, has been the best producer over the latter part of last week. Some of the...
Fishing report: Fish have arrived!

Sol Schwartz

Fri, Jul 1

Category:

Fishing Report

Happy summer, everyone! The good news along with the arrival of the summer is that the fish are here, as well. All of the common species of fish and bait have found their seasonal home and the boaters, as well as shore fishermen, are catching them up. From boat, eels are already being used for the...
A beach report

Capt. Chris Willi

Fri, Jun 24

Category:

Fishing Report

Steady and consistent striped bass action highlights this week’s beach and shore report. The past week, strong northwest winds made it pretty hard fishing, but those who put their time in at the surf zone found fish — most over 30 inches. Monday evening offered up solid bites of keeper-sized fish...
Small bass with every cast

Sol Schwartz

Sat, Jun 11

Category:

Fishing Report

The fish are definitely here. The last two weeks we have seen a huge increase in bait around the island, which in turn has brought in the fish. Squid are in New Harbor, but for the most part they are still fairly small. The warming temperatures are most likely the cause for the recent upswing, and...
Fishing Report

Get your fluke on!

Christopher Willi

Fri, Jun 3

Category:

Fishing Report

This week’s report sees the season heating up from the shore, with schoolies to low end-keeper sized bass making things fun for the surf casters. The west and southwest sides of the island are producing most consistently, both for me personally, and from reports we are receiving from night owl...
Time to fish!

Sol Schwartz

Fri, May 27

Category:

Fishing Report

Hello everyone! The time of year is upon us when we’ve put away the snow shovels and bring out the fishing gear. Some of the more dedicated fishermen have already been at it for weeks, but if you’re just getting back into it, you haven’t missed too much yet. It’s important to have your gear working...
It's go time

Capt. Chris Willi & Capt. Hank Hewitt

Fri, May 20

Category:

Fishing Report

We are extremely pleased to finally report striped bass being caught from the island shores. Once the east winds subsided and the south and west winds arrived, so too did the stripers. The ‘first fish’ honors go to Ricky ‘The Phantom’ Hall who landed the first reported striped bass last Wednesday...
The fluke are back

Hank Hewitt

Fri, May 6

Category:

Fishing Report

To start off this week's fishing report, The Great Salt Pond is beginning to produce. The winter flounder are becoming active. I had decent action fishing over them last week. More and more bait is filtering into the pond, and while putting in some evening fishing time looking for striped bass, I...
Dewinterization

Capt. Chris Willi

Fri, Apr 22

Category:

Fishing Report

Spring is definitely in the air and the itch to get on the water is becoming unbearable. We talked about getting fishing gear ready in the last article, so let’s move on to getting the boat ready to hit the water. ‘Dewinterization’ is the term used for the spring preparation of a boat. This, of...
Prep Time

Capt. Chris Willi

Fri, Apr 8

Category:

Fishing Report

As Hank warned in the last column, “Don’t be fooled by mother nature,” the weather sent us one more dose of snowy coldness to keep things in check. Don’t let this deter optimism for an end-of-month start to the saltwater fishing scene, however. The last week of April and the first week of May are...
Don't be fooled by Mother Nature

Hank Hewitt

Sat, Mar 19

Category:

Fishing Report

The days are getting longer with the sun setting later. The air is warming, and the birds are singing a spring song. These late winter happenings have me awakened from my winter dormancy and seeking the harbingers of spring, signaling the return of the fish I so eagerly pursue with rod and reel...
Fishing Report: The Best Time

Capt. Chris Willi

Sat, Mar 5

Category:

Fishing Report

One of the most asked questions for a fishing charter business by customers planning their vacation is “when is the best time for fishing?” The answer to this can be the snarky “anytime is a good time to fish,” to the specific “go to the Poop Chute one hour after the top of the outgoing two days...
Hey, Captain!

Capt. Chris Willi

Sat, Feb 20

Category:

Fishing Report

A few months ago we did an article on what to take into consideration when choosing the right charter boat for your trip. After all, if you’re going to drop a few hundred dollars you want make sure you’re going with a safe, experienced, and qualified individual. The preeminent qualification of any...
Geeking out…

Capt. Chris Willi

Sat, Feb 6

Category:

Fishing Report

Every year the largest fly fishing show on the East Coast kicks off in the mid-Atlantic state of New Jersey. Held at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, the show brings over 400 fly fishing suppliers, retailers, guides, outfitters, authors, fly tyers, and educators under one roof and...
Fishy reading for the cold days ahead

Capt. Chris Willi

Mon, Jan 18

Category:

Fishing Report

Okay, folks, it's winter time and there’s no better time to catch up on your reading… and of course I mean about fishing. Here are three nonfiction books I recommend for anyone who fishes for striped bass. Each have a message, all of which are important, all of which any true sportsman should...
"The Feast"

Capt. Chris Willi

Thu, Dec 24

Category:

Fishing Report

The Holiday Seasons are filled with various traditions and customs, most of which originate from religious, ethnic, or family beliefs. Culinary traditions dominate the holiday season and it brings the opportunity for family to enjoy a meal together –something of a rare occurrence in today’s world...
The worst time of year

Cap. Chris Willi

Sat, Dec 12

Category:

Fishing Report

It’s coming. It’s almost here. A time that most New England fishermen try to delay as long as possible. The time that inevitably comes at the end of a season, no matter how hard it’s wished away. It’s the time when you have to hang up the rod and reel, stow the lure bag, and settle in for the...
The mighty cod

Capt. Chris Willi

Sun, Dec 6

Category:

Fishing Report

December is here and the water and air temperatures are unseasonably warm, giving hope to diehard surf casters that a run of striped bass will happen before Christmas. Otherwise it won’t happen at all. All indications point to a strong possibility of a shot of big bass coming through — a large bait...
Dress for success

Capt. Chris Willi and Hank Hewitt

Sun, Nov 22

Category:

Fishing Report

Even as November presses on, the water temps are still quite warm. Sand eels have moved in good numbers at the Coast Guard Channel and in Harbor and Trim’s Pond. Schoolie bass are moving around New Harbor at night, congregating around the docks. There are decent bass being caught on the...
Fishing Report: Temperatures are perfect for striped bass

Sol Schwartz

Sun, Nov 15

Category:

Fishing Report

The conditions for large striped bass have been perfect for a few weeks already. Slightly higher water temps were probably what was to blame for their late arrival, but it looks like they’re here now. The stripers are not the only targeted species right now, either. There is plenty to do. Boaters...
Dead or alive – rigged eels

Chris Willi

Sun, Nov 8

Category:

Fishing Report

The highlight of this report is that some quality bass in the 40-plus inch size were landed (and verified with pictures) by surfcasters plying their craft in the earliest morning hours. Areas range from the Southwest Point, to the Southeast Light and rigged eels accounted for the better fish, with...
Albies everywhere!

Sol Schwartz

Sun, Nov 1

Category:

Fishing Report

The weather has been amazing lately. Perfect fall weather has given fishermen plenty of opportunities to go out for the big one. This time of year, when most boats are already out of the water, the shoreline becomes the destination for anglers. Large schools of peanut bunker have kept many of the...
Tentacled delicacies

Capt. Chris Willi and Hank Hewitt

Sun, Oct 25

Category:

Fishing Report

October usually marks the beginning of the end for the fishing season. Docks are shut down and boats hauled out, the long anticipation for next spring gets many of us through the winter. For those who wait it out as long as possible (like us), there is still some decent fishing to be had when the...
Look out for the monster bass

Sol Schwartz

Sun, Oct 18

Category:

Fishing Report

Water temperatures around the island are finally starting to drop. After last week’s northeast blow along with cooler nights we should finally be set for fall fishing. I’ve noticed the squid in both harbors are a little bit bigger lately, as well as an increased amount of small baitfish such as...
Fishing Report: The Fall Run

Capt. Chris Willi and Hank Hewitt

Mon, Oct 12

Category:

Fishing Report

Mother Nature hosts amazing shows of natural force from time to time on her stage we call earth. This last week was an example of such, with sustained winds in excess of 40 knots, large tides, and a big ocean swell. We on Block Island call these ‘shore days,’ but some call it ideal fishing weather...
Fishing Report: Warm water means fish go deeper

Sol Schwartz

Sun, Oct 4

Category:

Fishing Report

It’s the beginning of October and the weather is amazing on Block Island! There’s still plenty of beach time left in the season and, with the smaller crowds, it’s a perfect place to be. However, this wonderful weather isn’t helping the striped bass much, especially off the beach. In order for the...

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