If you have not fished a tautog tournament, this is the one to enter. The AnglerCatch RI Tog Classic will be held Sunday, Oct. 13 from sunrise to 2 p.m.
There are over $50,000 in prizes and great online and in person auction items to bid on, and a great party after which will be held at the Portsmouth Portuguese American Club, 35 Power Street, Portsmouth. The after tournament dinner, raffle and awards ceremony are something you will not want to miss with live music and much more.
Tournament entry is simple at www.ritogclassic.com. Prizes are awarded to the top three fish in each division. There are adult shore, boat and kayak divisions as well as a Junior Angler Division for those under 12 years old. The entry fee is $100 for adults and $30 for Junior Anglers. Fish are weighed in from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Portsmouth Portuguese American Club.
This year the Tournament is cosponsored by AnglerCatch, the angler smartphone logbook app with a purpose (to account for angler fishing catch and effort), the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (as they are seeking to enhance tautog catch and effort data to help manage the species) and Ralph Craft of Crafty Custom Rods Tournament Founder who is still tournament director this year as he provides guidance for new tournament sponsors.

Fly fishing clinic for women
The Rhode Island Chapter of Trout Unlimited in conjunction with South Kingstown Land Trust will conduct a Fly Fishing Clinic for Women on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Kingstown Land Trust Barn, 17 Matunuck Beach Road, Wakefield, RI.
Sheila Hassan of Cast90, a Fly Fishers International Master Casting Instructor, will lead the Clinic. Key Clinic instruction components include an overview of fly fishing rods, reels and lines; essential fly fishing knots and terminology; how to make a roll cast and basic cast; as well as false casting and shooting line.

The $25 program cost includes lunch. Register in advance by Oct. 16. The clinic is limited to 20 women. Register at https://secure.etransfer.com/RICTU/WomensClinic.cfm or email Susan Estabrook at susan@ysrinc.com and please put “women’s clinic” in subject line.

Where’s the bite?
Striped bass, bluefish, bonito. Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, said, “ The striped bass bite is good off Watch Hill and Charleston beaches with a diminished bonito bite. However, we had some reports of False Albacore being caught off the West Wall of the Harbor of Refuge, but that bite faded quickly. Hope the come back stronger this fall.”
“The bass bite is on in the Greenwich Bay area with anglers catching school bass and keepers right here in Apponaug Cove with larger fish still being caught off Newport,” said Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, Warwick.
East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author said, “Fish have been scarce for some, but many were able to locate bass on the east flood tide like John ‘Captain’ Morgan who reeled in a healthy 34-inch striper that attacked his green mack FishLab on the bottom. Attleboro first grader Sage Nicholson muscled in a 36-inch striper from the incoming east flow that fell for her blue mack Savage Gear Sandeel and during the same tide six surfcasters had their rods bend simultaneously with nice fish that looked to be at least 40 inches! The bluefish invasion is keeping the tackle shops busy stocking soft plastics.”
Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Striped bass are now feeding on smaller baits including silver sides and rain bait. There have been a mix of striped bass, blues, bonito, and an occasional Albie along the South shore of Rhode Island. Most fishing is structure dependent with an occasional open water beach blitz. In the coming weeks we expect to see more of these open water blitzes. The best way to make sure you get into one is putting in your time or having good luck. The Breachway’s are hot at night with some fish being caught in the morning and evening. Fishing in the ponds has been.”
Expert kayak angler Tom Houde said, “I was part of the plastic navy out there Friday morning at Brenton Reef. Most fish were Stripers, Bluefish and some Bonito around along with many short Black Sea Bass. I took one slot fish home for seafood chowder.”
Fluke (summer flounder), black sea bass, scup and cod. The black sea bass bite is still good however, the summer flounder (fluke) bite has faded. “Keeper black sea bass being caught by anglers tautog fishing but if you want to target them your best bet are the East Grounds, South of the Block Island Wind Farm and Sharks Ledge,” said Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina.
Tautog. “The blackfish bite has been good from boats and shore. Even with all the sand around the Charlestown Breachway we are pleasantly surprised to see customers catching their fair share from the rocks,” said O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle.
“We have a good tautog bite in 25 to 30 feet of water off Charlestown and in the boulder field at Scarborough Beach, Narragansett. The Bay is good too in lower water depths,” said Cahill of Snug Harbor.
Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, said, “Customers are catching keeper tautog south of Hope Island and at General Rock in North Kingstown.”
I fished the General Rock, North Kingstown area Monday and caught two keeper tautog in about two hours of fishing time in 18 feet of water. I intentionally monitored the Revolution Wind cable installation barge and its safety vessels on channel 16, the vessels did not interfere with fishing, I did hear several hailing calls to vessels transiting the area asking the to pass work boats to port or starboard, all were made in an orderly fashion with very cooperative mariners.
Tuna. “Tuna fishing continues to be good but spotty as it is hard for anglers to follow them with rough seas and wind, they are not getting out multiple times a week. The bite was strong in the middle of last week at the Gully, however, that bite faded over the weekend,” said Cahill of Snug Harbor.
Dave Monti holds a master captain’s 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.