The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category (Commercial) Fishery closed after seven days. Based on the best available landings information, the General category October through November subquota is projected to be reached shortly

Commercial fishers aboard vessels with an Atlantic Tunas General Category or Highly Migratory Species Charter/Headboat permits may not retain, possess, or land large medium or giant Atlantic bluefin tuna from 11:30 p.m., October 7, 2025, through November 30, 2025. 

The recreational fishery is not affected by this closure as the recreational bluefin tuna fishery is currently closed.

For details visit Closure: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category Fishery Through November 30, 2025 | NOAA Fisheries.

Long-term repair to Charlestown Breachway to begin

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the Town of Charlestown, and the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) announce that a long-term repair project of the Charlestown Breachway will begin in mid-October with the initial mobilization of equipment and materials. 

$8.4M in funding has been allocated for the project, with $5M contributed from a DEM request and allocated by the State through CRMC, $2M from CRMC for dredging, and $1.4M provided by the Town of Charlestown.

Hats off to the State of RI and town of Charlestown for investing in such a great recreational resource in Rhode Island.

The project will restore the Breachways’ structural integrity, improve safe navigation, stabilize the coastline, and preserve essential water flow to maintain ecological balance, and water quality. Construction is expected to be completed by April 2026 ahead of the camping and beach seasons, with vegetation restoration completed by fall of 2026. To learn more visit: https://charlestownri.gov/breachwayinformation.

Boater survey will enhance 

whale and boater safety 

New England states are assisting Florida Fish and Wildlife and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to help improve communications with marine boaters about the presence of whales in coastal waters.

To guide the initiative, they are conducting a survey to learn more about the communication preferences of boaters. Responses will help guide them streamline communications about boating safety and whales.

Please type or paste this address into your browser to take the ten minute survey, https://www.research.net/r/PVVPZ8Z [research.net] .

Rhode Island Marine Fisheries 

Council to meet October 20

The Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council will meet Monday, October 20, 6 p.m. at the URI Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI.

The in person and online meeting will address a number of commercial fishing issues including reporting requirements, lobster trip tag transfer application period for State vessels, horseshoe crab closures a new and full moon, summer flounder exemption certificate renewals and transfer after sale of vessel as well as sever Shellfish Management Area Oyster harvest regulations.

For a copy of the agenda with supporting information and how to join online visit the council’s meeting calendar page for October 20 at Public Meetings Calendar | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater fishing for largemouth has been good with the trout bite good in waterways that have been stocked for the fall. Massachusetts has completed most of their southeastern waterways and Rhode Island is expected to stock soon too.  For license and trout stocking information in Rhode Island visit www.dem.ri.gov/fishing and in Massachusetts visit www.mass.gov/service-details/trout-stocking-report .  Chad Katch of Sam’s Bait & Tackle, Middletown, said, “Rhode Island plans to stock trout in waterways shortly but that should not stop anglers from fishing as the largemouth bite in area ponds remains strong.” 

Samual Costa of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown, said, “Customers continue to catch largemouth bass, the bite is pretty good in area ponds.”

Striped bass, bluefish, bonito, and false albacore. Katch of Sam’s Bait & Tackle, said, “The striped bass top water bite has been very good with anglers catching bass in the Bay as well as out in front with bluefish mixed in. Albies are still here with separate schools but also mixed in with striped bass schools.” 

East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “The Canal is on fire with the fall run in high gear! Monday through Wednesday of last week produced an estimated 200 striped bass on the lines of Canal Rats in a legendary well known Big Ditch spot. Favio Rideiro of Hyannis landed 15 of those stripers, all big with the largest at 48 inches on a 5.8-ounce white Striper Gear Rocket. ‘Slap Shot Scottie’ Ewell caught a fat 42-inch linesider mid-week that fell for his black Savage Sand Eel during the west ebb tide. Catch of the week goes to expert surfcaster ‘Bull’ MacKinnon who tallied 16 bonito and 19 bass on top with the largest striper measuring out to 51 inches that fell for a Dave Johnson white pencil custom made for Bull! Most of these fish were caught on a west dropping tide.” 

Samuel Costa of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, said, “The striped bass bite has been spotty as fish transition during the fall migration; however, anglers are catching bass along with a fairly decent false albacore bite out in front of Newport, Beavertail with anglers hooking up at the Hazzard Rock area off Narragansett.” 

Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Bass fishing has been solid across southern Rhode Island, with the beach bite picking up steam. Some stretches are hotter than others, so keep an eye on the wind—it’ll tell you where the bait (and the fish) are stacking up. The breachways have been producing, particularly at night, with some bonus morning action.”

Tautog fishing remains fairly strong for anglers in our lower Bays and along the coastal shore. “Tautog have been in lower water 15’ to 20’ but some reports of fish caught off Beavertail too,” said Costa of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle.  

Katch of Sam’s Bait & Tackle, Middletown, said, “The tautog bite is great with customers catching some large fish.  Anglers are still catching from shore so the fish are still in low water too.”  

Friday Scott Travers, Executive Director of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association, and I fished off Newport in 58 feet of water in the Brenton Reef area, we caught tautog to 22 inches with the largest black sea bass about that size too. So both keeper black sea bass and tautog were on the ticket off Newport.

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. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net, visit www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com or www.noflukefishing.com .