BAY

Billy Silvia, skipper of the charter boat Can't Imagine, has been catching blackfish off Hog Island light and on the wrecks of Mount Hope Bay. Nils Christensen of Ultimate Kayak Fishing stayed at Silvia's Prudence Island home over the weekend, and he reported, "We had a great time of fishing, and despite the bad weather Friday and Saturday morning we got into some nice tautog and fluke."

John Viveiros of Main Bait weighed a 10.5-pound blackfish this week. He recommends Stone Bridge and the railroad bridge in Tiverton, Fogland Point, the Brightman Street Bridge and Hicks Bridge in Westport. Kevin Kendrick of Edwards Fishing Tackle said blackfish have been biting outside the breakwater at the Navy base, but the waters inside are off-limits. He also suggests fishing crabs at the Prudence Island T-Wharf, off the Hinckley Dock in Portsmouth, Ocean Drive and the Cliff Walk. To the north, tautog have also been biting near Conimicut Light, on Ohio Ledge and off Rumstick Point, said John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle, who also reported an unusual 9-pounder at Sabin Point.

Fluke have been biting in the waters off Sakonnet Point, said Viveiros. Other spots off Newport also hold fluke, says Kendrick, adding, "but they're not the big ones everyone is waiting for."

Wednesday, Silvia fished near the Providence hurricane barrier. He caught bluefish and keeper-sized stripers on menhaden, said David Henault of Ocean State Tackle. Thursday, Peter Phipps spotted bass feeding on menhaden between Bold Point and India Point.

"Live lining pogies yielded bluefish between Prudence and Patience," said Nils Christensen, "and we watched birds working all around the island." Fishing a 3-inch jerkbait, 5-year-old Charlie Mottur caught a 24-inch bass and his sister, Abigail, 7, caught a 31-inch keeper on a 4-inch Storm Shad. They were fishing near the Prudence Island ferry dock, said Sam Toland of Sam's Bait & Tackle. A lot of small bass have been biting off Pine Hill Point and Sally Rock this week.

To the east, keepers have been mixing with schoolies at Commonfence Point, Taylor Landing and inside the Westport River, said Viveiros. Tube-and-worm rigs are catching bass from Colt State Park to Ohio Ledge, said Littlefield. Smaller bass have been biting near Sabin Point and Bold Point.

Squid jigging has been slow, said Kendrick, but a few anglers have been catching squid after putting in a lot of time at the Goat Island Causeway. Small pods of squid also have been moving in and out of Bristol Harbor, said Littlefield.

BEACHES AND SALT PONDS

Bass fishing is improving along the south shore and Little Narragansett Bay. Squid have moved into Long Island Sound, and they are attracting larger bass, said Bill McEvoy of King Cove Outfitters. Surf fisherman Mike Dunphy caught an 18-pounder at Deep Hole this week, said Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina. The cinder-worm hatch on Ninigret Pond was disappointing Wednesday night, said Ron Mouchon of Breachway Bait & Tackle, but there are bass there. Pete Sozek caught a 30-inch fish on a fly.

Schools of menhaden have moved into the Pawcatuck River, according to Ryan Sansoucy, skipper of the charter boat Hush Fly Fishing.

Flounder fishing continues to be good in Ninigret Pond, said Mouchon. Flatfishing has been holding up well in Point Judith Pond, too, said Conti.

Conti reported that fluke fishing is improving off the beaches. Eric Taylor caught two 7-pounders this week, and an 8.8-pound fish was taken in the waters off Charlestown.

The first sea bass of the year have appeared, according to Wednesday's report from the Frances Fleet.

OFFSHORE

Shelly Robins caught a 51-pound, 15-ounce cod this week aboard the Yankee Clipper out of Gloucester, Mass, said John Viveiros. A 47-pounder was also taken on that trip.

Locally, anglers fishing with the Frances Fleet caught cod in the 8- to 10-pound range Wednesday, along with red hake, blackfish, pout and perch.

In the waters south of the East Grounds, cod as large as 28 pounds were biting this week, according to Al Conti.

FRESHWATER

"The pre-spawn largemouth bite is picking up in South County ponds and lakes as water temps are rising," says Gary Dolloff of the Green Hill Bass Club. "Some nice fish have been taken at Indian Lake by my friend, Rich Williams. He fished a small, shallow diving crankbaits to take a couple of bass over 3 1/2 pounds last week. Spinnerbaits are always a good early-season choice. I enjoyed a good morning's fishing at Watchaug Pond last weekend. A few 3-pound fish were caught using a slow-stop-slow retrieve."

Bass have been taking shiners on Stump Pond in Smithfield and Twin River Reservoir in North Providence, said David Henault.

Peter Amaral caught a 4.5-pound salmon on Stafford Pond in Tiverton this week, said John Viveiros.

BEST BITES

Point Judith party boats:

Fluke, cod, pout

Providence to Bristol:

Bass, bluefish

South County ponds:

Bass

HOT BYTES

For more frequent fishing reports, go to Hot Bytes in the sports section of projo.com.

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."

*-Morning tide