Washington County, RI · Atlantic Ocean
Block Island
A storied striped-bass island 12 miles off the Rhode Island coast — the Southwest Ledge and the island's rips and beaches produce trophy stripers and bluefish through the fall run, with summer flounder (fluke) on the surrounding sand. A bucket-list surf and boat fishery reached by ferry from Point Judith.
Live · updated
Top picks today
Striped Bass & Bluefish — tied at the top (25/100)
2 species tied for best of 3 tracked at Block Island.
High Surf Advisory issued July 21 at 2:31PM EDT until July 23 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Today's Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:45 AM | High | 3.2 ft |
| 6:58 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 2:21 PM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 8:40 PM | Low | 1.0 ft |
Species at Block Island
3 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 2 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Striped Bass Skip the Striped Bass trip today. In season 25/100
What's helping
- 66°F water — inside striped bass's active range
- incoming tide — striped bass prefers incoming tide
What's hurting
- 18 mph wind — strong wind — chop and difficult casting
- 5.2 ft seas — building seas — uncomfortable and hard to hold position
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Morone saxatilis — Maryland's state fish. Anadromous — runs into Bay tributaries to spawn each spring. Targeted by trolling, jigging, live-lining, and surf casting. Locally called "rockfish."
Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–35 ft.
Last verified 54 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Daily creel
- 1
28–31" slot, 1 fish/day. Inline (non-offset) circle hooks required when fishing with bait.
Source: Rhode Island regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#1 Bluefish Skip the Bluefish trip today. In season 25/100
What's helping
- 66°F water — inside bluefish's active range
- incoming tide — bluefish prefers incoming tide
What's hurting
- 18 mph wind — strong wind — chop and difficult casting
- 5.2 ft seas — building seas — uncomfortable and hard to hold position
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Pomatomus saltatrix — Toothy, aggressive pelagic predator. "Snapper blues" invade the lower Bay and coastal bays in summer; bigger choppers along the Atlantic coast. Hits metal jigs, topwater, and cut bait savagely — wire leaders recommended.
Prefers. Water 60–80°F (ideal 70°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–50 ft.
Last verified 54 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 3
No minimum size. 3 fish/day from shore or private boat (more on for-hire vessels).
Source: Rhode Island regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
#3 Summer Flounder Skip the Summer Flounder trip today. In season 21/100
What's helping
- 66°F water — right in summer flounder's ideal range
What's hurting
- incoming tide — summer flounder prefers outgoing tide
- 18 mph wind — strong wind — chop and difficult casting
- 5.2 ft seas — building seas — uncomfortable and hard to hold position
- NWS alert active — check the alert before heading out
About. Paralichthys dentatus — Locally called "fluke." Flatfish that ambushes bait off sandy and mixed bottom. Drifting bucktails tipped with Gulp! or live minnows through Ocean City and Chincoteague inlets is the classic method.
Prefers. Water 58–75°F (ideal 65°F) · outgoing tide · depth 10–100 ft.
Last verified 54 days ago on 2026-05-29. Open source page →
- Min size
- 19"
- Daily creel
- 6
19" minimum, 6 fish/day, May 1–Dec 31.
Source: Rhode Island regulations · verified 2026-05-29.
Location Info
Water Body
Atlantic Ocean
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Rhode Island
Coordinates
Notes
RI: striped bass 28–31" slot, 1/day (inline circle hooks with bait). A premier fall-run destination.
Local reports & rules for Block Island: Rhode Island DEM fishing & regulations → · fish-consumption advisories (EPA directory) →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Block Island?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Block Island you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Block Island?
Block Island is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Block Island?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Block Island against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Block Island have?
Block Island has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. RI: striped bass 28–31" slot, 1/day (inline circle hooks with bait). A premier fall-run destination.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Block Island?
state agency regulations apply at Block Island. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Block Island tidal water?
Yes. Block Island sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.