Welcome to the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve's fishing page. Here you will find seasonal information about fishing in and around the Reserve.

In addition to our Annual Sustainable Fishing Contest - planned for August 17, 2008 - the Research Reserve will hold a Summer-Long Tournament and two weekend challenges. To learn more about the series click here.

To find out about sponsoring the Annual Sustainable Fishing Contest please contact Cheryl Tavares before July 27, 2008.

Click here to download the Sustainable Fishing Pledge/Registration Form.

Steamers and quahogs are collected at low tide. Steamers can be found just above the low tide line by digging by hand. Digging for quahogs involves wading in waist deep water and raking the bottom. Harvesting quahogs is prohibited in an eelgrass restoration site just north of the t-wharf. Buoys mark this area.

Tautog (blackfish) move into the bay when water temperatures rise in spring. This can be as early as April and they can remain through November. They settle on the bottom and lie against the pilings of the t-wharf, feeding on barnacles and mussels. This bottom-feeding fish will bite on clamworms, but prefers crabs, having flat teeth that are adapted for crushing shells. There is an abundance of Asian Shore Crabs that can easily be collected under rocks at the low tide line.

Bluefish (snapper blues) are also present early in the season; however fishing for them improves towards August and September and continues through October. Traveling in schools, they will bite on lures, eels, pogies, mackerel and chunks of fish. A long-handled net is helpful for landing one successfully on the dock. Beware of the blue's sharp teeth as you are freeing it from the hook!

Striped bass (stripers) are the favored fish for their size, fight, and flavor. Anglers usually fish for stripers at dawn or dusk, but midsummer nights may be the best time. As with bluefish, stripers are school fish that will bite on lures and eels. Bass anglers may also bait their line with herring, menhaden, or mummichogs.

Scup (porgy) are by far the most abundant fish landed on the T-wharf. They migrate into the bay when the temperature is between 55 ° and 77 ° typically May through October. Scup are bottom-feeding fish that will bite on a variety of bait. Among the most popular bait for scup are squid, clamworms, clams, quahogs, and periwinkles. It's best to have several types on hand as they seem to prefer different bait on any given day. This is a popular fish for families as anglers will be actively catching fish and can easily take home a bucket of scup.

Summer flounder (fluke) are among the most elusive to catch. They arrive in the bay in June and feed there through September. This flatfish lives in muddy or sandy bottoms and will even bury itself, providing the angler with the challenge of pulling it out of the muck. Some prefer to drift the bait or jig along the bottom, luring the fluke. Others bait the hook with live mummichogs or clamworms and let the bait sit on the bottom. Larger fluke are called “doormats” because they resemble a welcome mat as they are being reeled in.

In addition to these popular catches, there are several other species that make an appearance. The nuisance fish include sea robins, skates and cunner. However, black sea bass, rock bass, squeteague, mackerel, and even wahoo can be a pleasant surprise.

Bring your own bait or search the shoreline at low tide.

Either way, fishing from the T-wharf can be an enjoyable way to pass the time!