Projo Fishing: HotBytes

David Porreca of Blackstone Flies caught and released several schoolies, as well as a 16-pound keeper, yesterday from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. in 9 feet of water in Bristol Harbor. He was casting a gray-and-white Clouser Minnow on a sinking line, aboard Ray Stachelek’s charter boat, Castafly.

A bit later, Stachelek and Porreca joined the sport-fishing fleet just off Prudence Island’s Potter Cove and watched some wire-liners take small fish on umbrella rigs, but there wasn’t much action otherwise.

Chris Willi of Block Island Fishworks sent this e-mail yesterday:

"It looks like a promising summer considering the past week of fishing. Tuesday marked the end of nine days of rain and the beginning of good fishing for many Block Island fishermen. The usual spots have produced steadily throughout the week: North Light, Charlestown, Coast Guard Channel, Old Harbor Point, Ballard’s. There are sand eels galore and lots of squid seem to be the bait fish are gobbling. Sizes have been mostly schoolies but Jamie Johnson landed a 32-pounder using a Surf Hog, a new soft plastic by Eben Horton in Wakefield. So some larger fish are around.

Needlefish, bombers with teasers, and bucktail jigs have also worked. Incoming tides at night appear to be the best time, but fish were caught today on the outgoing during the middle of the day. Fly guys will find plenty of fish as well, with no crazy fly needed. Best bets include sand eel patterns, black Half n Halves, white Deceivers. A few regulars have had good luck flounder fishing off Paynes Dock, a great place to fish with the kids and catch dinner. Look for the Memorial Weekend report on Sunday night."

Stu Cohen of Coventry caught a 44-inch long northern pike weighing 22.5 pounds on Johnson’s Pond. He said it took him 20 minutes to get it to shore. He was using a #6 trout hook with 6-pound-test Spiderwire without a leader.

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