Narragansett Bay Bottom Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
5-hour bottom fishing charter targeting five local speciesEarly 6 AM departure accommodates up to 4 guestsCaptain provides bait, rigs, and fish cleaning service
There's something special about getting on the water at first light, knowing you're about to spend five solid hours bottom fishing some of Rhode Island's most productive waters. This early morning charter kicks off at 6:00 AM sharp, giving you and up to three other anglers the perfect setup for a memorable day on Narragansett Bay. Your captain takes care of all the heavy lifting – bait, rigs, tackle, and most importantly, putting you on the fish. By the time you head back to the dock, you'll have a cooler full of cleaned, table-ready fish that'll make for some seriously good eating.
This isn't your typical crowded party boat experience. With just four spots available, you get plenty of elbow room and personalized attention from your captain. The beauty of bottom fishing in Narragansett Bay is that it's accessible for everyone – from kids trying to land their first keeper to seasoned anglers looking to fill the freezer. Your guide knows exactly where the fish are holding based on tides, structure, and seasonal patterns. You'll be anchored over prime spots where Black Seabass stack up around rocky bottom, or drifting sandy flats where Flounder and Scup love to feed. The relaxed pace lets you actually enjoy the experience instead of rushing from spot to spot.
Bottom fishing is all about precision and patience, and your captain has both dialed in. You'll be using high-low rigs with circle hooks, perfect for keeping multiple baits in the strike zone while minimizing gut-hooked fish. Fresh squid, sea worms, and clams make up the bait spread – each species has its preferences, and your guide switches things up based on what's biting. The boat stays positioned over structure using GPS and fish finder technology, so you're always fishing the most productive water. When the bite is hot, it's not uncommon to have doubles and triples going at once. The key is keeping your bait on bottom and feeling for those subtle taps that mean dinner is on the line.
Striped Bass are the crown jewel of Narragansett Bay fishing, and bottom fishing can produce some real surprises when schoolie bass move in to feed on the flats. These fish fight hard and taste even better, especially the 18-28 inch fish that make perfect table fare. Spring and fall offer the best action as bass follow baitfish through the bay's channels and coves. Black Sea Bass are the bread and butter of this trip – chunky, hard-fighting fish that love rocky bottom and structure. They're aggressive feeders and excellent eating, with most fish running 12-16 inches. Peak season runs from May through October, with summer months producing the most consistent action.
Scup, also called porgy, might not win any beauty contests, but they make up for it in numbers and flavor. These silver fish school up tight and when you find them, it's often fish-on-every-drop action that keeps everyone busy. They're perfect for kids and beginners since they bite aggressively and fight just hard enough to be fun. Southern Flounder round out the target species list and they're absolute dynamite on the dinner plate. These flatfish bury in sandy bottom and ambush prey, so it takes some skill to feel their subtle bite. Fall months produce the best flounder fishing as they fatten up before heading offshore for winter.
If you're looking for a top-rated fishing experience that combines great action with a relaxed atmosphere, this bottom fishing charter delivers on both fronts. The early start means you beat the afternoon winds and have the rest of your day free once you're back at the dock with dinner sorted. Your captain's local knowledge and commitment to putting you on fish makes this a customer favorite among families and small groups. With deposits being non-refundable, it's worth booking early to secure your preferred date. Whether you're a Rhode Island local or visiting from out of state, this is the kind of fishing trip that keeps anglers coming back season after season.
This 32' Mirage is your ticket to productive bottom fishing on Narragansett Bay. Twin 300 HP Yamaha engines get you to the fish fast and bring you back smooth, while the fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating Black Seabass, Flounder, and Scup. The spacious deck gives all 4 anglers room to work without tangled lines, and the onboard livewell keeps your catch fresh. Top-shelf Shimano gear is ready to go, plus GPS and radar keep you fishing safely even when fog rolls in. The built-in icebox handles your drinks and lunch, so you can stay focused on filling the cooler with dinner. Perfect setup for families or small groups who want to bring home quality seafood without the hassle.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are chunky, hard-fighting fish that love hanging around structure like wrecks, rocks, and old pilings. Most of ours run 1-3 pounds with some nice 4-pounders mixed in during summer months. They're bottom dwellers found in 20-60 feet of water and really turn on from late spring through early fall. What makes them popular is their scrappy fight - they'll dive straight for cover when hooked - plus they're one of the best eating fish in the bay with firm, white meat. These fish are also fascinating because they start life as females and change to males as they grow. The local secret is dropping squid strips or sea worms right to the bottom around structure and keeping steady pressure when you hook up - they'll try to cut you off on rocks if you give them slack.
Stenotomus ChrysopsScup, also called porgy, are one of the most reliable fish in the bay and perfect for families getting into fishing. These silver-scaled beauties typically run 12-16 inches and are found around rocky areas, pilings, and wrecks where they feed on shellfish and worms. They're most abundant from May through October when the water warms up. What guests love about scup is how cooperative they are - they bite readily on simple rigs with squid or clam, making them great for kids and beginners. They also make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. My local trick is to use a small hook with fresh clam and jig it slowly just off the bottom - scup have small mouths but once you find a school, you can fill the cooler quick.
Paralichthys LethostigmaFlounder are masters of camouflage - these flat, oval fish hide in sandy and muddy bottoms waiting to ambush baitfish. Most of ours run 15-18 inches, though you can hook into some nice 3-4 pounders. They're found in shallow areas of the bay, especially around drop-offs and channel edges. Best fishing is late spring through fall when they're active in warmer water. Guests enjoy flounder because they're sneaky fighters and make some of the finest eating fish you can catch - pure white, delicate meat that's restaurant quality. The trick with flounder is patience - they often just mouth the bait before committing, so give them time to fully take it. Use live minnows or strips of squid on a light sinker and let it sit on the bottom near sandy areas.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the crown jewel of our bay fishing - these silver beauties with their distinctive black stripes typically run 20-40 pounds and put up a serious fight. You'll find them around structure like drop-offs and rocky areas, especially during their spring and fall migrations through Narragansett Bay. They're most active during dawn and dusk when they move into shallower water to feed. What makes them special is the combination of their powerful runs and fantastic eating quality - firm, sweet meat that's perfect for the dinner table. The key to landing them consistently is using fresh bait like herring or squid near the bottom around structure, and being ready for that initial strike because they hit hard and don't give up easy.
South Kingstown, RI