07/17/10 - The fishing around Block Island is going off. Plenty of bass and bluefish to keep anglers busy from both boat and beach. This weekend is the 6th Annual Block Island Volunteer Fire Department Fishing Tournament. Grounds on the north, south, east and west all are holding fish. The pesky dogfish have moved offshore and are hardly a nuisance. Live bait and artificial lures are working with equal success. The fishing is just all around good, and I hope it lasts.

The tourney starts Friday, July 16, at 6 p.m. Contestants must pre-register at either Twin Maples (Beach Avenue) or at BI Fishworks (Ocean Avenue). Species targeted are striped bass, bluefish and fluke.

The fee is $40 and juniors under 16 are only $20. With the registration fee comes an opportunity to compete for prizes for largest fish for each species. You also get a tourney T-shirt and a ticket to the awards barbecue. Tournament and state record holder Peter Vican, who caught the monster 76.4-pound striper two years ago, has once again generously donated more than a dozen sports memorabilia pieces that will be available in the silent auction. Last year there was some great stuff and this year, Pete says, is even better. In addition many local businesses have contributed prizes, gift certificates and an array of goodies for raffle and awards. This tournament is a lot of fun and goes to a very important cause.

Good reports from every one this week. Captain Bill Gould from the G. Willi Makit reports the east side has been consistently good lately. In his 28th season, Bill has been doing his thing, keeping the rods bent for his customers. Gould says that Old Harbor Point up to the Southeast Lighthouse has been good with plenty of big blues and some good-sized stripers. Bill says the tube and worm combo has been best for bass and umbrella rigs have been great for two or three bluefish at a time in the deeper water.

On the north end there have been birds working from dawn until dusk with blues and bass feeding below them. Fred Bowman on the Bottom Line reports he has been bouncing diamond jigs on the slow drift under the birds and absolutely “hammering them … lots of action with mostly fish in the teens.” Fred says it has been non-stop action all last week. The light tackle fishermen have their share of action to north as well. Pat Quinn checked in and said spooks and jumping minnows have been working great from his 13-foot Boston Whaler. He reports his best day last week was 36 striped bass in a 90-minute trip. Way to go Pat!

There has been an armada of boats on the drift in 50 feet of water just outside the Black Rock red can. That is because the fluke bite has been pretty good on the backside. There are still a lot of throwbacks but definitely enough keeper-sized fish out there as a gentleman enjoying a mudslide at Champlin’s told me. He said the incoming tide was better and bare hooks with fresh squid jigged up the night before were working well. Last year the fluke bite got real good at the end of July into the first week of August. We will see what happens this year. Remember the size limit is 19.5 inches this year.

If you are fishing this week please don’t forget you will need a saltwater fishing license. If you have Massachusetts, New York or Connecticut license, Rhode Island will honor that. You can purchase a license online at www.ri.gov/DEM/saltwater. The price is $7. Kids under 16 do not need a license.

The forecast is calling for hot and muggy temps. Do yourself and your family a good one and go fishing this weekend. The bite according to some is the best they have seen in decades. There are fish just about everywhere. Stop in one of the tackle shops and get the up-to-the-day info on where to go. Think about entering the tournament this week. I’ll say it again: it’s a lot of fun and it is an important cause to support and, besides, where else on Block Island can you get a T-shirt and cookout and a weekend of fun for $40? See you at the awards ceremony.

Aloha,

Capt. Matt