Narragansett Weather in May?

[Willie12]

Hi, I have to spend a couple of weeks in Providence starting May 7th for work, but I think can swing bringing my boat, and sneaking in some fishing time. I'll be fishing Narragansett Bay, putting in at Oaklands Beach.

What's the weather like in Narragansett in May? Prevailing winds? Looks like a north or south wind might be bad. How often is there a blow?

[captdom]

Hi, I have to spend a couple of weeks in Providence starting May 7th for work, but I think can swing bringing my boat, and sneaking in some fishing time. I'll be fishing Narragansett Bay, putting in at Oaklands Beach.

What's the weather like in Narragansett in May? Prevailing winds? Looks like a north or south wind might be bad. How often is there a blow?

Hi Willie,

You will be in the upper reaches of Narry Bay. Oaklawn beach is up in the Warwick Neck section of the bay, really close proximity to some of the best bay fishing in May for striped bass. The winds are typically mild in the morning, then usually are most active out of the SW on favorable days in the mid afternoon. Best times to fish early am and dusk. From Conimicut reach all the way up the Providence river to the hurricane barrier is very productive, the mud flats off Prudence and Bristol, and the areas around Quonset and Greenwich bay are all productive. If you want some good fluke and scup fishing, an 8-10 mile run south will get you to Beavertail or Newport, all within the confines of the bay; a solid 18' or so with good engine is all you need, and most days you will have a S/SW flow pushing you back home. Good access to deep water and very easy to navigate in 95% of the fishing areas you will be working. The NE blows are really the only terrible winds, there is a lee around you can usually safely find, with something to work on usually in May as it is the height of the inshore run for stripers...the fishing turns off in mid to late June when the water warms in the upper bay.

[Willie12]

Capt. Dom,

Great information, thank you. Tog, Stripers, Fluke, Scup, it's all good, whatever I can find that bites. I'll probably have from the time I get out of work until dark each day, couple of hours. My home water is the Upper Chesapeake, so I'm used to being prudent in big water. Can't wait to get up there. Now if I could just figure out how to get out of working.

[Fortunate One]

Willie,

If your putting in at the ramp at Oakland beach be aware that the channel leading from the ramp to the outgoing channel is narrow and on a windy day it's easy to get pushed onto the sand bar over there. The channel from the ramp runs straight to the channel leading into the harbor which you can head south and get into the bay. Don't try to take a short cut. Just head straight into the main channel.

Prevailing winds and the only winds worth fishing are from the south.

If it's blowing too much to head south then the upper reaches of the bay is a good place to start and is more sheltered. I use to go all the way up to the "red bridge" in Providence to catch stripers. That's actually up in the Seekonk River. Just stay in the channel to get there and you'll be fine.

Generally jigging through the humps up there at dusk will get some action. You can set up tied off to the bridge for chunking at night. You're just going to have to act fast to keep them out of the pilings.

If you want to set up and chunk for stripers in the morning, head north around Warwick light towards Providence. Set up anchor around the East Providence side south of the light house there on an incoming tide.

There are schoolies in the bay now. I saw them feeding in the lights last Friday.

If you're up for a run, go out the east passage off of Newport towards the 2A can. There's structure all around that can heading north towards seal rock. Seal ledge starts right off of the 2A can. It's a good areas to pull tube and worm as well as drift eels. You can always chunk there too.

Dom mentioned some good areas around the islands. The north side of Patience Island in 25' of water on the incoming tide can be hot.

I prefer the east side of the bay. Especially the Newport area just outside. If you go out side of Newport, make sure you stay to the right of the cans going out. That will keep you away from Brenton's reef, which you'll most likely see the waves breaking over. I've never had a lot of luck fishing the reef itself. I prefer to go to Seal Ledge slightly to the east, and then over to the beaches. But be careful of you head over to the beaches, there is a fish trap over in that area.

Good luck.

[Willie12]

Sounds great Fortunate, thanks again. How's the pleasure boat traffic?

[Fortunate One]

Willie,

There will be times at the ramp when you're going to have to wait. A lot of people don't grasp the concept of having your boat ready to go once it's your turn to hit the ramp. The earlier you leave the better off you'll be. There's another ramp in East Providence Collier Park. Check with DEM to see if it's open. I believe it is. That's a good ramp to fish the upper bay and into the Seekonk river as well as the Hurricane barrier.

The boat traffic is not bad in the upper end of the bay. Parking at the ramps is limited but don't plan on going out mid day if it's a nice weekend. Although in early May you might be OK as far as parking spots go.

If you want to explore south county, the state ramp in Point Judith is a good ramp and from there you can go out front by Point Judith light and fish for stripers in the holes and among the rocks. If you're into pulling wire line just out front of the light is productive. You'll make the humps easy enough out front. Just don't get to close to shore if it's breaking.

From that ramp you can be to Block Island in about 1/2 hour in a decent boat. The area to fish there is the North rip. It's a sand bar coming north from the island that's marked by a buoy on the northern tip. Snapping wire and drifting eels works there, but sometimes it's loaded with more blue fish than bass. The southwest ledge of block island is productive with wire line and eels. There's an area off the southeast side refereed to as Black Rock, on the inside of the can in about 20 to 25' of water, where you anchor and chunk using 3 way rigs bouncing them back in the current. Don't over chunk though because the stripers will just hang back and get fed. You'll see boats lined up there early because when it's on over there it's a blast. You'll be in them for a whole tide. We caught monster fluke there one time after the tide slowed. The fluke came in at slack tide after the stripers left and they jumped on chunks.

But there's guys that make a living guiding in the upper reaches of the bay. So you really don't have to travel far. You can fly fish up there too. Just be aware not to stray too far out of the channel in the Seekonk River. It gets shallow quick, just mud bottom but you don't want to get stuck. And also if you head up in the Seekonk watch out for the sculling teams from Brown. You don't want to swamp them if they're practicing. I think the Seekonk is productive this time of year because of the herring running up into the fresh water. The Stripers follow them up and feed.

Bring a hooded sweatshirt if it's blowing, you'll be comfortable. May want to bring some light rain pants to knock the wind down if you're headed out in the evening. Bring a handheld light to spot the unlit buoys. If you're an experienced boater and fisherman, you'll have fun exploring.

Here's a video someone posted from last May. The sound is bad but it gives you an idea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEgrEAFHrCg

About 1:14 in the video they are off of Quonset Point which is just south of the Oakland beach ramp. If I had to guess I'd say it's about a 10 to 15 minute ride south from the ramp doing 20 knts. This is on the west side of the bay. Oh and watch out as you come out of the channel and returning. Once you get beyond the point, where the Warwick Light is, if you're heading south there's a red can, I'm not sure what number it is, but it marks a submerged rock so DO NOT take a short cut and ride to the right of the can heading south. You most likely won't get near it coming into the bay, but look at a chart first if you don't have a chart plotter on board.

Looking at that video, that's what you can expect to see out there if conditions are right. Schools of stripers and birds on top. Look for the birds and you'll find stripers. Unfortunately sometimes it takes wind to get them schooling and actively feeding. Find that going on and you'll have a blast casting to them.

My name is Mike, drop me a private message when you get situated and if I have some local info on the bite I'll be happy to pass it along.

Enjoy your stay.

[Willie12]

Thanks again, Fortunate. I'm generally pretty well prepared for anything boating and weather wise, and been studying the chart for a while. I have a freshwater bass boat, shouldn't have a problem getting around in all but the worst conditions. And if the water's flat I can cover 10 miles in 9 minutes. Block Island though, that's a little far across open ocean. I won't likely attempt that. But definitely will explore as much as I can in the bay, and maybe sneak out around the corners. I'll be easy to spot, just look for the boat that doesn't belong. Look out fishies.

Oh, where's the closest bait shop between the airport and Oakland? I'm staying at the Hilton Garden. And I''ll PM you Mike when I get up there. Thanks again.

[Fortunate One]

Ray's Bait & Tackle‎
287 Arnolds Neck Drive
Warwick, RI 02886
(401) 738-7878

Probably the closest to your place of stay. Just south 3 miles from where you're staying. Cheep places to eat where you're staying: Greenwood Inn. Right on Jefferson BLVd. There's a Legal Seafood on Post Road and a bunch of other restaurants and fast food places around the area. DeAngelo Sub shop on Jefferson to the north of your hotel.

You're staying at a good location.

[rirockhound]

And if the water's flat I can cover 10 miles in 9 minutes. Block Island though, that's a little far across open ocean. I won't likely attempt that. But definitely will explore as much as I can in the bay, and maybe sneak out around the corners. I'll be easy to spot, just look for the boat that doesn't belong.

Please make sure you really watch out doing 60 down the bay.... in a bass boat... please...

[Capt. Ray Stachelek]

Willie,

There's another ramp in East Providence Collier Park. Check with DEM to see if it's open. I believe it is. That's a good ramp to fish the upper bay and into the Seekonk river as well as the Hurricane barrier.

You may be thinking Bold Point Boat Ramp in East Providence. Collier Park Ramp is in Providence off Allens Avenue at the Electric Co.
The other two ramps in East Providence are located in Riverside/Barrington line, Haines Park and Sabin's Point.