Block Island
Block Island (From Space)
Block Island is located at the extreme north end of the Long Island Sound where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. The 30 sq. mi. island is about 13 miles from both Connecticut (Point Judith) and Montauk. See maps above and below.
Block Island is part of Rhode Island. It was named after the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, who landed on the island in 1614. The island is a popular tourist destination. There is only one town on the island, this being New Shoreham. The island can be reached by a ferry ride from Point Judith.
Striped Bass Fishing Around Block Island
The island is well known for the great fishing in the waters around the island, especially for striped bass. Striped bass can be caught there from May to November.
Mohegan Bluffs
Photo by Alexey Sergeev
Crescent Beach
Stripers can be caught from both shore and boat. They can be caught during the day, but you can catch more and bigger ones at night.
Good spots to fish from the shore include the beaches below Mohegan Bluffs and Black Rock Point. Crescent Beach, the North Rips, Southwest Ledge and the jetty at Poop Shoot are also good. Maybe the most productive spots on the island are at the entrance to New Harbor and the Great Salt Pond at the Coast Guard station. Stripers wait for the baitfish that are flushed out as the tides empty these bodies of water. Many spots are rocky, like the boulder fields shown on the right, and require care to maneuver safely, especially at night.
Many large stripers have been caught around Block Island. Numerous stories have been published about the large stripers caught at Block Island during the early 80's. Stripers chasing sand eels in close to shore, mostly at night resulted in huge blitzes. Numerous stripers in the 50 and 60 pound range were caught. Needlefish lures and teasers ahead of swimming plugs did the damage. Needlefish lures with wire-through construction and with stronger hooks were developed back then to survive the beating the plugs took from these huge stripers.
Large stripers are still being caught at Block Island. On june 16, 2011 Peter Vican caught a 77.4 pound striper, from a boat, in the waters around Block Island. In 2008 Peter had caught a 76 pound 14 ounce striper there. To find out more about Peter Vican's stripers follow this link: Peter Vican's Stripers
Block Island Map
Block Island Map
One place that you can keep your boat on Block Island is at Chaplin's Marina shown below.
Chaplin's Marina
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