Billy Silvia, skipper of the charter boat Can't Imagine, took Chuck Millard and his grandson, Nick, fishing out of Peekit Hill yesterday.

"We put our first bait in the water and within 20 seconds we hooked into a 69-inch, 174-pound bluefin tuna," the skipper said. "We fought it for a half hour and finally reeled it in.

"We are still going fishing and there are a few trips left this season before the tuna and Stripers move south."

Thanks to Nils Christensen of Ultimate Kayak Fishing for the report.

"The Rhode Island beaches from Watch Hill to Charlestown have schoolies just out of range feeding on small bait throughout the day with some occaisionally raiding into the surf. Its worth a shot if the seas don't build up too high."

There is no shortage of bluefish, he says. They are mixed in with schoolie bass along the beaches.

False albacore are still biting, too. " The action around Watch Hill and the inside of Fishers Island have been very good," he says. "Theres still a lot of bay anchovies and other small bait to hold them here. What this storm might do to the bait is questionable."

Meanwhile, Capt. Frank Blount, skipper of the Frances Fleet, reports more hot cod fishing.

His report:

Capt. Rich has consistently been finding good to excellent numbers of mostly very good size cod fish. A nice mix of dark and green fish but more and bigger green fish have been filling in recently which is always what we like to see. Last Sunday saw a nice pick of fish to 30 pounds with most anglers walking off the boat with several good size cod apiece. Quite a few fish in the high teens and 20s.

Capt. Ray reports the local porgy fishing has continued like gangbusters with limits the norm and super scup in the 1.5- to 2-pound range. A few bigger specimen over 3 pounds most days. Just a few good size bluefish, an occasional triggerfish and even a couple nice fat cod this past week mixed in with the porgies. Porgy fishing ends Oct. 15th however another superb fall fishery will begin on Saturday, Oct. 17 on a daily basis at 6 a.m. for the crustacean crushing critters we call tatoug.

Because the Bay's fisheries are changing, too, anglers must change their approach, he says.

"If you look at what people [on the Internet] are saying about the Bay, it's disaster, death and destruction," he says. "They're saying that they went out and didn't catch any fish, didn't see any fish, so the Bay is dead.

"I'm certainly no going to deny that there are problems in the Bay, but I and others who are on the Bay full-time do not see the end-of-the-world scenario that is being portrayed by many people."

While many fishermen were complaining about poor fishing in the Bay this summer, White and his clients were taking large striped bass in shallow water in the middle of the Bay, the charter-boat skipper says. There were times when large concentrations of stripers were feeding on big balls of bait. The bass and the bait were visible on sonar devices, but there were no feeding frenzies on the water's surface, so some anglers assumed that there were no fish in the area.

White remembers one trip when those conditions were in place. As he directed his guests to tie on lures that would mimic the bait beneath the surface, another boat trolled that looked nothing like the natural prey. "He trolled all around us while we were catching fish," White recalls. "You would think that he'd change his technique, but he didn't. And he didn't catch anything."

For anglers aboard the White Ghost this year, spring fishing was very good, the guide said. "For bottom fishing, the summer was extraordinary," he said.

"Bass? You had to work for them, but they were there. I wouldn't call it great, but it wasn't bad. I would say the overall stock of striped bass is down everywhere. It has nothing to do with the Bay. You can't catch what isn't there."

The nature of the Bay's baitfish population changes this season, he says. There seemed to be fewer peanut bunker but more bay anchovies, silversides, and "more sand eels than I have ever seen."

Overall, the nature of Narragansett Bay is changing, and fishermen have to study the changes and adapt to them, he says.

He will bring that message with suggestions to the next meeting of East Bay Anglers Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Riverside Sportsmen's Club.

She has scheduled a day-long fly-fishing clinic for Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning at the Kettle Pond Visitors Center in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"From casting techniques and fly tying to fly fishing some of Charlestown's premier fishing area, this all day workshop will teach you the basics of fly fishing," she writes."So, bring your chest waders and a bagged lunch and learn to fly fish."

The day will end with fishing on Ninigret Pond, said Ed Lombardo, pictured above with a striper he took on a fly at the Narrow River.

Families with children 10 and over are welcome The fee: is $40 per person. Space is limited, so reservations are required. For more information and registration materials, please contact Kimberly Sullivan by phone at 789-0281 or by e-mail at kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

"While tautog fishing near Narragansetton Sunday, I decided to try jigging for sea bass," writes Brian Skeffington, skipper of the Judith Ann. "My first drop had barely reached bottom when I felt a solid bite. As the fish came to the surface, I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when my son slid the net under a 2-foot codfish, solidly pinned to the lure.

"When's the last time you heard of anyone catching cod off Narragansett Beach!?"

Fly fisherman Joe Rovinsky writes:

I fished with Steve Denofa on Thursday with the rumor that the albies have made their appearance in the Stonington area. After searching the rips at sunrise, we found only small bluefish. Motoring over to Catumb Rock, there were plenty of diving birds and fish breaking on the surface. They were in fact false albacore, although they were not blasting like they usually do.

Bottom line: 17 albies and 6 bass over the two days, with Dave being top hook landing 11 false albacore and 6 bass. The tunny all were about the same size, with the largest being maybe 7 pounds. Sure looks like the false albacore are back in town.

Mike McGaw reports: "On Monday's morning tide, Dawn McCauley of Middletown caught several fish with this linesider kept for the dinner table. There are lots of bluefish on the southwest corner but working the tube and worm deep is still producing some nice stripers."

"Bonito and albies are around on the east and south sides. Loads of bluefish on the east as well.

"Vaille had the three Bs today - blues, bass, and bones. Yozuris, topwaters, and plastics all worked. We used Skok's nasty needle flies to get some as well.

"Seabassing is good right now with legal size. Fluke still a little tough. Monster scup are around - had one nearly 4 pounds -- like a hubcap.

"Word is the Mud Hole has tuna; it's sure to be a parking lot this weekend.

"A reminder to everyone that the Block Island Inshore Fishing Tourney is Sept. 18 - 20, and is presented by the Block island Lions Club. Info is available on our tourney page - proceeds benefits the National Childrens Cancer Society and Island Charities. Hope to see everyone again."

"Here is a cool catch made by my son Lucas Berg, age 15, from the West Wall last Monday," writes Andy Berg of North Kingstown. "It's a Spanish mackerel. I used to catch a ton of them while growing up in South Florida, but I've never seen one in my seventeen years of fishing Rhode Island.

Jim White, author and skipper of the charter boat White Ghost, was catching keeper bass and large bluefish yesterday morning on the upper Bay, according to David Henault of Ocean State Tackle.

Fly fishermen have been doing better than conventional anglers when it come to catching false albacore, said Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina.

David Henault said the albies stretch from the East Wall to Watch Hill.

Robin also said, "Surf casting finally seems to be picking up, too. From Misquamicut Beach, anglers have been bringing in sea bass, stripers and some nice bluefish. East Beach has some harbor blues hanging out. Clams seem to be doing the trick there. Weekapaug had more action this week. Scup are being caught, but also the end of the jetty fishermen landed blues and a couple keeper bass this week. Quonny Pond is still seeing a fair share of scup along with snappers. Tons of silversides are keeping the stripers in the back of the pond. Tube and worm rigs are still hooking big fish."

Evidence that the fluke bite is still on: John Rainone, skipper of the charter boat L'il Toot, sent this photo of his mate, Kenny Landry, with a doormat that weighed just under 12 pounds.

Erik Grubb releases a 17-pounder

For the past seven years, River Bend Farm Visitor Center in Uxbridge has been the site of the Annual Carp Fish and Fun Day. This year's event will take place on Sunday, Sept.13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to anglers of all ages and experience.

According to Erik Grubb, volunteer with the National Park Service VIP Program and founder of Blackstone Carp, "Carp fishing is more challenging than you may think. It is beginning to gain popularity in the US, and is really big in Europe. Many first time carp anglers are surprised by the size and power of these fish, being that the smallest ones caught are often over 4 pounds, and fish in the 8-20 pound range are common in the Blackstone. Our state record right now sits at just over 44 pounds. If that doesn't get you excited I don't know what will."

Grubb said, "A limited number of rental (at no cost) poles will be available, [but] we suggest bringing your own if you can. Materials and instructions to make special bait rigs will be provided. A variety of standard baits will be on hand as well, but you can always bring a secret recipe along. Experienced anglers will be on hand to assist and demonstrate techniques. An award certificate will be given to each person who catches a carp."

Prizes will be awarded at the end of the event in a variety of categories, including largest carp caught, most carp caught, oldest person to catch a carp, youngest person to catch a carp, and the staff favorite, Ranger's Choice Award. "Above all, this is a fun and friendly derby where all peoples interested in fishing can get together and catch some good fish."

To get there from Rte. 146, take the Uxbridge exit for Rte. 16. Turn onto Rte. 16 east. Drive two miles to the traffic lights, and turn left on Rte. 122 north. Drive 1.25 miles, and turn right at the traffic light onto Hartford Ave. In one mile, turn right on Oak Street at the UMass Memorial Tri-River Family Health Center. The visitor center is just down the road in the red barn on the left.

The owner of Block Island Fishworks continued: "Big swell and BIG fish, and the only other two boats were good friends. We had the whole south side - amazing morning! David and Duncan Fox landed several fish over 40 inches using nothing more than a 6-inch plastic in rainbow.

"The south side seemed to slow a bit the past couple weeks and was heavily fished. We managed to find some smaller pockets to work away from the crowd and had lots of success. Sinking line in deeper water was the way to go for this week. Sand eel flies were all that was used.

"Bonito were finally caught in the New Harbor Channel. Those willing to camp out for the day were able to get into a good blitz - patience pays off.

"The bluefin tuna are reported to be close as well. We ventured between the Fairway Buoy and Acid Barge and had one small one and lots of life: whales, porpoise, and birds. Had a few big marks on the finder as well."

Clarification: If you read the Fishing Report online this week, you know about the 50-pound bluefin that Paul Hooper caught on a fly rod. It also appeared in today's paper in the Outdoor Notes column.

Somewhere between my desk and the newspaper, another zero was added to the fish, and it became a 500-pounder.