The middle or Center Wall lies just west of Pt. Judith, Rhode Island, forming the Point Judith Harbor of Refuge. Construction of the harbor walls began in 1891 and was ultimately completed in 1950. The Center Wall, as well as the East and West Walls, were completed in 1914, but repairs have been required due to storm damage throughout the years. When initially built, the rock structure of the Center Wall stood an average of 10 feet above sea level and averaged 20 feet wide. Again, repairs and storm damage over the years have changed these measurements. The Center Wall is roughly 6,970 feet long, the East Gap measures roughly 1,200 feet and the West Gap roughly 1,500 feet. With this all out of the way, the Center Wall is a formidable structure and is impossible to miss by both man and fish alike, and it provides excellent angling opportunities throughout the season.
In times when species such as cod, pollock and winter flounder could be found in catchable numbers inshore, the Center Wall provided year-round angling. In his book, “Saltwater Fishing is Easy,” Narragansett’s Jerry Sylvester spoke of catching pollock by shore from a local “breakwater” in December. Based on my knowledge of the author, I would infer that he was fishing one of the walls of the Harbor of Refuge. However, as 2018 is a much different time in our fishery than it was in Jerry’s day, today you can expect to do reasonably well from May through November with much slower action outside those months.
Beginning in mid- to late April, small schoolie bass can be found running not only the Center Wall, but also the East and West Walls, the latter being a favorite spot for many Rhode Islanders to dust off their striper tackle each season. As April gives way to May, the first commercial fluke catches are often made outside the Center Wall, followed by some recreational catches once their season opens. With a herring run up inside Point Judith Pond, this area can also play host to some large, early-season striped bass in this same timeframe; although these catches are not as prevalent today as they were when river herring numbers were more robust. I know of at least two 60-plus-pound striped bass that have been shot by spearos just inside the Center wall in the spring, so the possibility is there to tangle with a hefty lineside at this spot!
Throughout the summer, the waters around the Center Wall remain a good place for hunting fluke as well as black sea bass and scup. Be on the lookout for schools of striped bass and bluefish while you are bottom fishing as the rocky structure provides cover for baitfish, in turn attracting gamefish. This very attraction of baitfish is what often also results in the first late-summer sightings of green bonito and subsequently false albacore. This is, traditionally, one of if not the first inshore spot in Southern New England to find these fall favorites.
When the blackfish season is open in the spring and fall, the gnarly rocks of the Center Wall offer excellent structure for blackfish to hide. Both boat and kayak anglers can readily take advantage of this near-shore structure.
A few items of note need to be mentioned when discussing the Center Wall. First up, be cautious of motoring too close to or anchoring along the outer wall as at times some large ocean swells roll in, and keep an eye out for the wakes of large commercial boats and the Block Island Ferries that call Galilee their home. Also, there are several fish traps in this area that need to be avoided for obvious reasons.
