Hot weather and high fuel prices have reduced the number of fishermen on the water. Fishing remains good on the Bay and the reefs of Rhode Island Sound, Block Island Sound, and Long Island Sound.

BAY

Bass are still feeding on menhaden in the upper reaches of the Bay, but some large fish have moved to the lower Bay, according to Kenny Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, who recommends the waters off Conanicut Point and Bonnet Shores. George Viau of the Tackle Box weighed a 51.65-pound bass taken by Chip Berard aboard Predator off Jamestown. He was trolling a spring-loaded, fluorescent-green tube Wednesday.

In Newport, Kevin Kendrick of Edward’s Fishing Tackle has been weighing bass as large as 36 pounds. The stripers took menhaden off the Cliff Walk and Ocean Drive. A 44-pound bass struck an eel.

Bass also are biting around Prudence Island, Ferrara says, but bluefish have moved in.

Ferrara’s daughter Marguerite, caught 24- and 26-inch fluke off the Warwick Country Club Wednesday evening. Fluke are also biting off Sakonnet Point, according to John Viveiros Jr. of Main Bait.

Scup are biting in the waters off Rocky Point, Ferrara says. Scup as large as dinner plates have been taking bait along Sachuest Point, Ocean Drive, and the Cliff Walk in Newport, according to Kevin Kendrick.

In Jamestown, Greg Zeek of Zeek’s Creek said bluefish have been popping up near House On The Rock. Bass have been taking eels on the reefs out front, and fluke are biting along the beaches. Scup fishing is improving at Taylor Point and House On The Rock. A lot of bluefish have been caught in the waters along Ocean Drive, says Kendrick.

BEACHES, SALT PONDS

A new batch of fluke has moved in along the beaches, says Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina. They have been biting in about 45 feet of water off Green Hill, Five Cottages, and the center wall off Point Judith. Thom Pelletier, skipper of the charter boat ThomCat, said, “Got out to the fluke grounds on Wednesday … and … we found the fish a little further west this time, off of Green Hill. Around 50 feet of water produced best. We got a fair number of keepers but an equal number of throwbacks. Green Monstas tipped with fresh local squid were the hot offering.”

To the west, doormat fluke have been biting off the Carousel in Watch Hill, off Misquamicut and near Old Reef, reports Jim Gray of Gray’s Boat Yard.

Anglers fishing the back of Fishers Island are starting to catch fluke and striped bass, says Don Michaud of King Cove Outfitters in Stonington.

Some very large bass have been taken on the reefs of Long Island Sound. That’s where divers are spearing monster bass, according to Michaud. Catumb and Watch Hill reefs have been hot this week, according to Gray.

Large scup have moved to deep water, says Conti. Anglers have been doing pretty well in the waters near the Napatree bell buoy and off East Beach, says Gray.

“We fished the Narrow River on an incoming tide, Wednesday night,” reports Ed Lombardo. “Not much baitfish showing but fish did take shrimp patterns. The fishing was slow even though all the conditions seemed right: new moon, fast moving water, and little wind.”

OFFSHORE

Bluefin tuna have been spotted near the Acid Barge, according to Conti. Ted Pazan landed a 150-pounder.

Blue sharks and a few threshers are moving to the east of the Horns, says Conti. Mako sharks are scarce.

FRESHWATER

Ed Hughes caught some large pike on No. 5 Mepps spinners while wading Worden Pond in South Kingstown.

Bass have been taking shiners during the day and surface poppers at night on Stump Pond in Smithfield, according to Rudy D’Agostino of the R&Y shop.

Trout fishing has been slow, D’Agostino said, except for Tarklin Pond in Burrillville where dry flies have been working. It looks as though the Wood River got a fresh stocking at Route 165 this week, said Hughes. THE TIDES

The moon causes tides and affects the activity of saltwater and freshwater fish as well as animals on land. Anglers generally find the best fishing two hours before and after a high tide, but fish and other animals also become active around the time of low tide. This table shows the height of tides in feet at Castle Hill near the mouth of Narragansett Bay. Recreational shellfishermen prefer to dig for clams when the tides are lowest, shown on the chart as "minus tides."

tmeade@projo.com