7/10/26 Sand In My Boots!
Southern Rhode Island Fishing Report – July 10th
Sand In My Boots
There's nothing quite like July in Southern Rhode Island. Warm water, long days, sandy feet, and plenty of fish to chase.
If you've turned on the news this week, you've probably heard about another great white shark being spotted in Rhode Island. Every summer these headlines make people think the ocean is suddenly full of sharks. The reality is they've always been here. As the water warms and bait arrives, sharks follow. We just know about them more now thanks to drones, social media, and tracking tags.
We finally picked up some much-needed rain this week, even though we're technically still in a drought. That little bit of freshwater helps cool things off, gets nutrients moving, and freshens up the salt ponds. Sometimes it's exactly what the fish—and fishermen—need.
Striped Bass
The bass bite remains solid along the South Shore, Block Island, and local reefs. Live eels, mackerel, and scup continue to be favorite live baits, while trolling, jigging, and casting are all producing fish.
We're beginning to see larger schools of smaller bass entering the bay, which is a great sign for the rest of the summer. While the salt ponds have slowed compared to spring, they're still holding a few quality fish, especially around moving water during the incoming tide.
If you're fishing artificials, soft plastic eels, Docs, Gravity Tackle Eels, and large Joe Baggs Patriot paddle tails continue to produce.
Tuna
The tuna pushed a little farther offshore over the weekend, making for tougher fishing. Not many boats found consistent action Saturday or Sunday, but that should change quickly.
Once warmer, cleaner blue water slides back onto the grounds, expect the bite to turn right back on. Sand eels remain abundant, and all the ingredients are there for another excellent week offshore.
Remember to keep a spinning rod rigged and ready. When tuna erupt on top, they usually don't stay there long.
Fluke
The fluke bite continues to improve every week.
Most quality fish are coming from 30–55 feet, although there are still fish being caught shallower. Plenty of shorts continue to keep rods bent, but more and more anglers are finding fish in the 22–23 inch range.
Don't overlook the salt ponds either. Channel edges, current breaks, and deeper holes continue to produce quality fish, especially during moving water.
Bucktails tipped with Gulp!, squid strips, or live bait continue to be top producers.
Black Sea Bass
Sea bass fishing remains excellent.
One thing many anglers don't realize is just how aggressive large sea bass can be. It's not uncommon to have a keeper sea bass grab a live eel intended for a striped bass. Usually it's more of a surprise than anything else—but when it's dinner-sized, nobody complains.
The larger fish continue to stack up around rock piles, wrecks, and the wind turbines. Smaller fish are beginning to fill in the gaps, which is typical for this time of year as water temperatures continue to rise.
Lure of the Week – Yo-Zuri Mag Popper (10% Off)
The Yo-Zuri Mag Popper has earned a reputation as one of the premier offshore and surf topwater lures on the East Coast.
Its oversized cupped face throws an incredible amount of water while producing an aggressive popping action that draws strikes from long distances.
The patented magnetic weight transfer system gives anglers exceptional casting distance, making it an excellent choice for reaching breaking fish from the beach or boat.
Perfect For
- Tuna
- Striped Bass
- Bluefish
- Mahi
Features
- Tough ABS Resin Body
- Patented Weight Transfer System
- 3X Heavy-Duty Hooks
- Heavy-Duty Split Rings
Did You Know?
What Sharks Are Swimming Around Rhode Island?
Summer is shark season in Southern New England.
As water temperatures climb into the 60s and 70s, baitfish move inshore—and sharks follow.
The species anglers are most likely to encounter include:
- Blue Shark
- Thresher Shark
- Shortfin Mako
- Brown (Sandbar) Shark
- Smooth Dogfish
- Sand Tiger Shark
Great White Sharks also visit Rhode Island waters each summer, although they're far less common than media coverage sometimes suggests. Most adult whites spend much of the season around Cape Cod, while younger sharks frequently move throughout Rhode Island Sound and Block Island.
Should You Be Worried?
Not really.
Rhode Island has recorded only two confirmed unprovoked shark attacks in its history.
Most sharks are simply following schools of baitfish and have little interest in people. If you see seals, schools of bait, or feeding birds, just be aware that predators may also be nearby.
Sharks are an important part of a healthy ocean ecosystem and help maintain balanced fish populations.
What's on the Menu?
The bait buffet continues.
- Sand eels
- Squid
- Mackerel
- Peanut bunker
- Juvenile scup
- Mummichogs
- Shrimp
When there's this much food around, matching the hatch becomes more important than ever.
We're fully stocked with:
Live eels
Fresh mackerel
Sandworms
Bunker
Squid
Clams
Get Ready Now
July is one of the busiest months of the season.
Before leaving the dock:
- Check your drag.
- Inspect knots and leaders.
- Replace rusty hooks.
- Restock bucktails and terminal tackle.
- Check rod guides for chips.
- Clean and lubricate your reels.
- Keep a topwater rod rigged—you never know when fish will explode on bait.
Stop by the shop or shop online anytime:
We're open 7 days a week.
Shop Hours
Monday–Saturday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Weekend Weather
Friday (7/10)
Wind: SW 5–10 kt
Seas: Around 2 ft
Wave Detail: SE 2 ft @ 7 sec • W 1 ft @ 3 sec
Chance of afternoon showers
High: 85° | Low: 71°
Saturday (7/11)
Wind: S 5–10 kt
Seas: 2–3 ft
High: 81° | Low: 67°
Sunday (7/12)
High: 80° | Low: 62°
Weekend Tides (Breachway Flow)
Friday (7/10)
Incoming: 12:47 PM → 7:47 PM
Outgoing: 7:47 PM → 2:51 AM*
Saturday (7/11)
Incoming: 2:51 AM → 8:16 AM
Outgoing: 8:16 AM → 1:54 PM
Incoming: 1:54 PM → 8:52 PM
Outgoing: 8:52 PM → 3:49 AM*
Sunday (7/12)
Incoming: 3:49 AM → 9:22 AM
Outgoing: 9:22 AM → 3:02 PM
Incoming: 3:02 PM → 9:53 PM
*Denotes after midnight (following day)
It's on. Get out there and get tight.
Good luck this weekend and tight lines
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