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Light Tackle angling in Southern New England Waters
with Capt. Bill Murphy

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The 2012 Season

                                                       April :

The Rhode Island Shoreline will soon start to see signs of life, typically it starts with small Stripers being caught along the Newport Beaches and down at the West Wall in Narragansett. These fish will all be fresh fish with the tell tale Sea Lice hitch hikers on them. Once the water temps reach around 47 degrees we will see an increase in activity starting off the 2012 season.

I generally start to wade fish around the third week of April in search of Stripers in Diapers. I'll hit tidal rivers and back bays with small flys and small paddle tail plastics.

About this time I also start to put the finishing touches on the boat and gear in preparation for the first splash of the season. I usually splash the boat around the last week in April going on scouting missions in Narragansett Bay looking for signs of life.



                                              MAY :

As a rule, Stripers start to arrive in decent numbers by the second week in May with Mothers Day being the target date. At this time larger fish start to move in and we will be looking for Herring balls and the occasional bass exploding on Herring.

Normally we are fishing Rhody Flatwing's, Deceivers, Clouser's and Half-n-Half's on 8-10/weight's depending on conditions. We will also be using Soft Plastic's like Storm Shads and Zoom Super Flukes as well as a veriety of jig's and plugs such as Gliders and Topwater Poppers and Spook's. Occasionally will may need to deploy the larger 9" Plastic's to dredge up the Big Girls from down below.

**The action will soon start to heat up, so contact us and reserve your spot on the calender before you miss out on this great spring time fishery. If you've never fished Narragansett Bay in the spring, you don't know what your missing!

Late MAY into JUNE :

Little Rhody Charters will be primarily fishing in Narragansett Bay from May until the Bass bite slows down sometime in mid to late June. We will also be making occasional runs to Cape Cod Bay for Stripers.

We'll be looking for Silversides, Herring, Mantis Shrimp, and Mummichugs which will keeping the predators pretty happy. Once the water temps come up a few degrees in late May we should start to see Bunker Madness with adult Menhaden and other larger baits like Spearing and Squid as well as Juvenile Alewives. Every season we also run into crab hatches in the bay that are just plain fun and much like trout fishing.

I like to be flexible when it comes to weather and location, and on the right day's I may head off towards Cuttyhunk and the Islands as weather permits. I usually like to make an annual pilgrimage to the Merrimack River Early in June as well, it can be prime time for big fish on the fly and it also offers great night fishing with big surface plugs.

Late June into July :

This season we will also be concentrating more on Block Island towards the end of June and into July. The Block has been offering up some real quality bass the last few seasons. This will be one of my primary spots weather permitting. As the summer progresses I will also start to focus more on Cape Cod Bay in search of Stripers & Bluefin Tuna. Last season CCB offered great striper fishing for many weeks and it was not uncommon to have a 30 fish day with the average size being in the 15-23 lb range.

                                                Late July into August:

This time of the year always has alot to offer, but you often have to cover some water to find the real action. I am often running to Block Island for Bass & Blues with the added bonus of Atlantic Bonito. These fast little critters are a blast on light tackle, they can be finicky but once you figure them out it's "Game On!" Other times I'm fishing in front of Newport looking for top water action, there's nothing like a big bass exploding on your top water bait, NOTHING!

                                             Late August into the fall:

Things really start to change towards the end of August. Often we see an influx of Bonito, False Albacore and Bluefish. The last couple of years we haven't really had alot of Peanut Bunker so we have seen fewer Blues than normal. This season I've seen alot of bait in the estuaries and harbors and thousands of Blues offshore, which could indicate that our fall may be pretty exciting.

As the Summer fades and turns to Fall, the real action begins in the way of southern migration. As the water temps drop, the bait starts to filter out of the bays and estuaries and begins it's migration south. Guess who's waiting for the dinner bell to ring, you've got it, Mr. Bass and his buddies.They need to fatten up for they're journey south and that means loads of fun for anglers.

**All trips booked between May 10th and June 1st 2012 will recieve a discount towards a Fall Trip in 2012.

I run the boat most seasons until late November, most angler have hung it up for the season and start making plugs or tying flies.

This action can go on until the water temps get as low as 47 degrees which is generally around the first week of December.

littlerhodycharters@cox.net

About Little Rhody Charters

Capt. Bill Murphy / Little Rhody Charters:

Fully Insured & Licensed USCG Captain / 25 Ton Master
Certified in First Aid and CPR

Bill has 15 years of experience on the water and is currently running a Bombardier Fish Hawk 180CC which is trailered.

Bill prides himself on being a versatile angler and Captain which allows him to make changes in fishery choices & location based on current conditions which will better accomodate the angler. Our trailering ablility is just what is needed for southern New England waters, our rapidly changing fishery and weather conditions will often dictate where we need to launch the boat on any given day.

Most fishing is done with Spin & Fly gear with an emphasis placed on top water action, site fishing and structure fishing. I will do my best to keep the outing interesting and active, I also hope that all of my sports have fun and learn something while their on the water with me.

*Please note that I do not troll as I think it is boring and lacks excitement.

All tackle and safety equiptment is provided, anglers are welcome to bring their own tackle subject to inspection by the captain.


Has the Recession put a crimp in your budget?

      **Looking to save a few bucks? :**

                      We now offer a
   "Fish with the Captain" Charter option

          This charter option is a great way to get on the water without
           breaking the bank, it's also a great way to salvage a trip if
                                      your partner can't make it.

                                        Here's how it works:

1 Angler gets to fish with the Captain for 1/2 or Full day charter at a reduced rate. This is a great way to learn tips and techniques about fishing, location and boating from Bill.

Or, let's say you and a friend book a charter, your friend gets sick or can't make it. By choosing the "Fish with the Captain" option, you can still keep your charter for a reduced rate without loosing your deposit by having to cancel. It's a pretty good option in these economic times.

*Please notify the Captain 24 hours prior to Charter if you would like to choose the "Fish with the Captain" option.

                         Charter Rates:

   Please use the Contcat Us Page to request current Charter Rate
   information. I will then e-mail you our current rates and answer
   any questions you may have about booking a charter.

   Thanks,
   Capt. Bill


                              New gear aboard the Fish Hawk :

This season I have brought the following gear onboard:

Rainy's Flies, Nautilus & Bauer Reels, TFO Axiom Rods, Fin-Nor & Quantum Reels, I Fly Fly Rod Holders, Fin-Nor & Cam Sigler Rods as well as Braid fighting Belts for Fighting Blue Fin.

                  Capt. Bill is on the following "Pro Staffs":

                  Nautilus Reels                    Rainy's Flies
                  Temple Fork Outfitters      Regal Vise
                  Icon Products                      Team I Fly / Fishing Solutions
                  Cam Sigler                          Korkers
                  Umpqua

Also, Little Rhody Charters is now a member of the Tag-a-Tiny Tuna program which allows us to tag juvinile Blue Fin tuna for the Large Pelagics Research Center at the University of New Hampshire.

Cape Cod & the Islands

Little Rhody Charters will be starting to make runs to Cape Cod Bay & the Islands in Early June in search of Cow Stripers and Bluefin Tuna. Contact us if you'd like to hop on board for either a Bass or Tuna day in Cape Cod Bay or a run out to Cuttyhunk and the Islands for Big Bass.

Cape Cod Bay Tuna trips are all light tackle using Spinning Gear and 14-17wt fly rods. These are exciting trips which generally put you right in the top water game. You may also help the Captain with the "Tag A Tiny Tuna" research program by tagging and releasing a Blue Fin Tuna.

We'll start posting in this column more regularly as the season progresses.

Until the next post remember,

It's all about the Grab !!

            Reserve your Charter dates before it's too late.