Rhode Island

BAY
Striped bass and bluefish have been biting in the waters off Conimicut Point, says David Henault of Ocean State Tackle. The action peaks between 4:30 and 6:30 a.m. Otherwise, it's dead in the heat of the day. John Lisi caught stripers up to 42 inches between midnight and 4 a.m. Tuesday at Beavertail Point. He was casting eels.

BEACHES AND SALT PONDS
"The big news continues to be the inshore bluefin tuna," writes Bob Neilson of Wildwood Outfitters. "Twenty- to 40-pounders are the norm with larger fish mixed in. They are chasing small fish, so metal lures -- such as Deadly Dicks, Kastmasters, Crippled Herring and l-Jacks -- are working. The fish are all over the place from Scarborough to Westerly. Just a reminder that permits are needed. The penalties for not having one are a fine up to $10,000 fine and your boat." Mike Neto caught 12 of the little bluefin about four miles off Newport, said Henault. He was using jigs and Tsunami plugs.

"Fluking has been hot right off the Center Wall of the Harbor of Refuge with fish up to 12 pounds being caught," said Neilson. "Mike McVeigh was out fluking and caught many skates which, he says, are surprisingly good table fare." Fluke fishing is also good off the Pink House in Misquamicut, says Bill McEvoy of King Cove Outfitters. Off Isabella Beach on Fishers Island, an angler caught two big fluke; one weighed 8.75 pounds and the other 9.5 pounds, McEvoy said. Wading anglers are catching fluke in the channel of Quonochontaug Pond, says Cameron. They're using small jigs with live mummichogs on the ebb tide.

Janice Lachance caught a 54-pound striped bass this week, according to Ron Mouchon of Breachway Bait & Tackle. Dan Lacroix caught his limit of stripers in 20 minutes Wednesday; he was fishing live bait at the one of the reefs off Charlestown with Mouchon. Keeper-size bass are biting in Quonochontaug Breachway and off the Weekapaug Fire District very early in the morning, said Don Cameron of Captain Don's Bait & Tackle. Here's an odd one: Angela Kelly caught a 20-pound striper on a tube-and-worm rig that she was casting in the surf. Tube rigs are made for trolling.

Mouchon reports that "acres and acres" of 4-pound bluefish have moved into the waters off Washington County's beaches. Scup are scarce off Point Judith, but they abound off Westerly and Stonington, Conn., according to McEvoy.

OFFSHORE
Ray Lasky and Steve Tezner had a 30-pound albacore on the line at the Fish Tales this week. The fish was almost close enough to the boat to grab the leader when a 600-pound blue marlin surfaced and inhaled the tuna. "They were still shaking the next day," said Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina.

Not much is happening until you get 60 miles offshore, he said. Then the action is spotty with yellowfin, albacore and marlin on the bite.

BLOCK ISLAND
The North Rip has been producing a lot of striped bass for anglers fishing eels, said Neilson. The action on Southwest Ledge is still strong, according to Conti.

Aboard Wayward Sun, Mike Arsenault is catching mahi-mahi south of the island.

TUNA TALK
Three readers criticized last week's Fishing Report for saying that fishing for the small bluefin tuna is a catch-and-release proposition unless you have a federal permit. The readers noted that a federal regulation says it is illegal to even target bluefins without a permit. It's one of those rules created by bureaucrats who expect enforcement agents to be mind readers: If you're casting a Deadly Dick, Kastmaster or Crippled Herring, who is to say that you're targeting bluefins? At this time of year, metal lures are popular for catching bluefish, bonito, little tunny, and striped bass. If you do want a permit, it is available for $22 online at www.nmfspermits.com.

FRESHWATER
Jim Allen caught a 26-inch carp at Roger Williams Park in Providence this week, said David Henault of Ocean State Tackle.

Tom Babbitt landed a 5-pound largemouth at Canada Pond, the pond alongside Route 146 in Providence. On Stump Pond in Smithfield, bass as large as 4 pounds have been striking shiners.

BEST BITES
South County reefs:
Bass, bluefin tuna, bluefish
Block Island:
Striped bass, fluke
Providence County ponds:
Largemouth bass