The Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament ended Sunday, July 23 with a winning striped bass measuring 48 inches caught by team “Frayed Knot” led by Capt. Richard Lipsitz of North Kingstown with the Best Scenic Photo in the Block Island Wind Farm going to Dariusz Kolodziejczak of Johnston.

The First Place Team category saw a three way tie between team Tightlined led by Taylor Ingraham of Norwalk, CT; Defiant led by Eugene Burger of Cutchogue, NY; and team Grateful 5 including Rick Black, Dustin James as well as Flynn, Hayes and Tucker Jansen who were also awarded the Best Team photo in the Block Island Wind Farm area.

Angler Colin Mansfield of Medford, MA dominated the shore division with a 29-inch striped bass and a 33-inch bluefish taking first place for both shore division species.

Twenty-five teams participated in the two day event. Capt. Chris Willi of Block Island Fishworks, tournament host, said, “We increased participation by a third for a total of 122 anglers and we were able to make a $6,000 contribution to the Block Island Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department.” 

Capt. Willi said, “Thanks to Ørsted (owners of the Block Island Wind Farm) and their sponsorship of the Tournament we were able to donate 100 percent of Tournament fees to the Fire & Rescue Department along with a gift from Capt. Nick’s Rock & Roll Bar where the Tournament awards ceremony was held.”

Over $10,000 in prizes, gift cards and tournament swag were awarded at the “After Party” on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The Tournament included shore, fly fishing, youth and boat divisions. Striped bass and bluefish for all divisions plus black sea bass and fluke for boat and youth divisions. Also, a team prize with photo division prizes taken with the Block Island Wind Farm in background were awarded for best fish, best scenic and best team photos.

Tournament co-sponsors were Whalers Brewing, South Kingstown; Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown; The Saltwater Edge, Middletown; Ocean State Tackle, Providence; Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown; and Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly. 

Visit www.SandyPointCo.com/bi-inshore-tourney for full Tournament results once they become available.

Where’s the bite?

Tuna. “Customers are hooking up with school bluefin tuna about seven miles south of Beavertail. A customer was reeling up to heavy up on her jig when their first bluefin hit,”  said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick. 

Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Offshore reports have been very good with bluefin, and yellowfin tuna being caught south of the island. Most of the action has been on the troll but a few fish are being caught jigging.”

Summer flounder (fluke), black sea bass and scup. O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, said, “The fluke bite in local waters has been good still a lot of shorts but some nice fish mixed in (7-8lb). A new batch of squid just moved in with plenty of other bait in the water to keep them satisfied. A trick while targeting fluke when the tide is slow or slack is to cast out, let your bucktail sink to the bottom, and then retrieve.”

Last week angler Shaina Boyle of Smithfield caught a 27-inch fluke drifting north of the Newport Bridge with an incoming tide.

John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside, said “Fluke fishing and black sea bass fishing have not been good. Anglers are catching both species in the Bay but mostly shorts. The scup bite remains strong in the Bay.” 

“The scup bite is very strong with 14 to 16 inch fish being caught at the Newport and Jamestown Bridges. Anglers are killing it at Rocky Point Pier catching large scup, with the Greenwich Bay area yielding some nice squeteague at Sally Rock and anglers are catching keeper fluke at Warwick Light,” said Giddings of the Tackle Box.

Striped bass. Littlefield of Archie’s said, “The striped bass bite in the Providence River is not good. The water is very warm. Last week it was 82 degrees.” 

The bass bite at Block Island on the Southwest Ledge remains strong with multiple bass in the 40 to 50 inch range being taken. O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, said, “Striped bass fishing is still very good but, as the water continues to warm the bite is better earlier in the morning or at night. Also try live eels on deeper pieces of structure to try to lure the fish out. The ponds have been coming alive on the incoming tides with stripers coming airborne after sand eels.” 

Greg Vespe of Tiverton caught his personal best last week, a 51-inch, 52-pound striped bass he caught off Newport free swimming an eel with Capt. Mike Littlefield of ArchAngel Charters.

Freshwater fishing for largemouth bass continues to be good early morning and at dusk when things cool off or when anglers target shaded areas under trees. “Little Pond behind Warwick Vets is yielding largemouth bass in the four pound range, and we are just starting to hear that customers are catching Pike at Gorton’s Pond in the Apponaug, Warwick,” said Giddings of the Tackle Box.

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 and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verison.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.