Rhode Island · Rhode Island Coast
STRIPED BASS FISHING
IN BLOCK ISLAND
Block Island is an outstanding destination for striped bass fishing, with peak season in June, July, September and good catches in May, August. Book a charter and target striped bass with local experts.
About Striped Bass Fishing in Block Island
The iconic striper is the most sought-after gamefish on the Atlantic coast. These powerful, line-ripping fish migrate from the Chesapeake Bay to New England each spring and fall, creating legendary fishing opportunities from Virginia to Massachusetts.
Striped Bass — called "stripers" or "rockfish" in the Chesapeake — are the most iconic gamefish of the Atlantic coast. Their silver body with bold black horizontal stripes, powerful build, and aggressive feeding make them a favorite from Virginia to Massachusetts. The spring and fall migrations create legendary fishing runs as massive schools move along the coast. Stripers are found in both salt and fresh water, and the Chesapeake Bay serves as the primary nursery for the Atlantic population. They are excellent eating, with firm, white, mildly flavored flesh.
Scientific name: Morone saxatilis
Striped Bass Seasonal Calendar — Block Island
Month-by-month availability for striped bass in Block Island, RI.
How to Catch Striped Bass in Block Island
Techniques & Bait
Live bait (bunker/menhaden, eels, mackerel) fished on a fishfinder rig or chunk rig near structure, rip currents, and drop-offs is the most consistent technique. Trolling umbrella rigs and tube-and-worm behind planer boards covers water during migrations. Casting topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers, Atom Poppers) into blitzing schools on the surface at dawn/dusk is the most exciting striper fishing. Fly fishing with Deceiver, Clouser, and Grocery Fly patterns during the fall run is world-class. Live eels drifted at night around rocky structure is the go-to for trophy fish.
Recommended Tackle
Medium to medium-heavy spinning rod (7-9 ft), 4000-6000 reel, 20-40 lb braid, 30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader. For surf casting: 10-11 ft surf rod, 6000+ reel, 50 lb braid. Fly: 9-10 weight rod with intermediate line.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Block Island
Top spots where local captains target striped bass and other inshore species.
Great Salt Pond
Great Salt Pond is Block Island's large inner harbor, connected to the open water through a narrow channel that creates tidal currents attracting striped bass, bluefish, fluke, and scup. The pond's deeper channels, docks, and eelgrass beds provide diverse inshore habitat where fish feed throughout the season. Kayak anglers and small-boat fishers work the pond's sheltered waters for consistent catches even when ocean conditions are rough around the island.
Old Harbor Basin
Old Harbor on Block Island's eastern side is a stone-breakwater-protected basin where striped bass, tautog, scup, and flounder congregate around the breakwater rocks and harbor structure. The breakwater's submerged rocks create ideal habitat for tautog that hold in the crevices year-round, while stripers patrol the edges feeding on crabs and baitfish. Shore anglers fish from the breakwater itself for some of the most accessible fishing on the island.
Trims Pond Outlet
Trims Pond on Block Island's west side drains through a narrow outlet onto Dories Cove beach, creating a freshwater plume that attracts baitfish and striped bass to the shoreline. Stripers stage near the outflow during incoming tides, feeding on silversides and juvenile herring washed down from the pond. This small but productive spot is a favorite for shore-bound anglers seeking stripers without needing boat access on the island.
New Harbor Channel
New Harbor Channel is the narrow passage connecting Great Salt Pond to Block Island Sound, and its swift tidal currents create a natural feeding station for striped bass, bluefish, and fluke. Fish stage at the channel mouth during tidal transitions, ambushing baitfish swept through the opening by the powerful current. Casting from the channel's stone jetties or fishing from a small boat at the entrance produces consistent action during peak tidal flow.
Other Species in Block Island
More fish you can target while visiting Block Island.
Striped Bass Fishing in Block Island — FAQ
The peak months for Striped Bass fishing in Block Island are June, July, September, October. During these months, Striped Bass are most active and abundant in the Block Island area.
Striped Bass fishing charters in Block Island are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Live bait (bunker/menhaden, eels, mackerel) fished on a fishfinder rig or chunk rig near structure, rip currents, and drop-offs is the most consistent technique. Trolling umbrella rigs and tube-and-worm behind planer boards covers water during migrations. Casting topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers, Atom Poppers) into blitzing schools on the surface at dawn/dusk is the most exciting striper fishing. Fly fishing with Deceiver, Clouser, and Grocery Fly patterns during the fall run is world-class. Live eels drifted at night around rocky structure is the go-to for trophy fish.
No — when you book a charter in Block Island, your captain provides all required Rhode Island fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Striped Bass regulations in Rhode Island include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Striped Bass in Block Island, you may also catch Bluefish, False Albacore, Black Sea Bass, Porgy, Fluke. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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