THE BREACHWAYS OF SOCO, RI

My first real surfcasting experiences took place atop the rocks of the three breachways located in South Country, Rhode Island: Weekapaug, Quonochontaug and Charlestown. Each one has its own unique quirks and intricacies that can only be learned over time, but for the most part they are similar enough to be lumped together into one single Hot Spot of the Week. All are accessible in the family car and provide some of the most consistent season-long action in the region.

Fishing begins some time in April for the first-of-the-year schoolies. While Charlestown receives most of the fishing pressure, all three are viable early season spots. Armed with small bucktail jigs or jigheads adorned with rubber baits, many anglers catch their first stripers here each season. This is primarily a daytime bite fueled by warming weather and southwest winds.

As the season progresses and the waters warm, larger stripers mix in with the smaller ones as herring and transient bass arrive. Now is the time to make the move to the night-bite, and herring imitators take priority. In the days when you could liveline herring, many large bass were pulled from the rocks here in May and June. Nowadays, seven-inch Finnish swimmers, Sebiles and the standard bucktail jig and pork rind trailer get the nod. Eels can produce at times, but anglers often overlook them early on in the year.

Moving into the summer months, daytime action is led by anglers seeking scup, fluke, sea bass and blackfish by soaking baits on the bottom. It is quite easy at times to load up on a pile of mixed fillets when the bite turns on for these delectable bottom-dwellers. Keep an eye out for schools of adult bunker that often pop up and be ready to snag and drop a livie back into the rip for a shot at the occasional large bass by day.
Later in the summer, peanut bunker, silversides and bay anchovies arrive and with them come hordes of harbor blues. These can be great fun on light tackle or for the newbie surfcaster looking to hone their skills. Most days there is a quick push of fish at first and last light with random schools popping up throughout the day. Be prepared for bonito and false albacore to show at times as well. Weekapaug breachway, for some unknown reason, produces the most consistent action on these speed demons.

With the onset of the fall run, there will be no shortage of fishing pressure along these well-known and highly productive locations. The ease of access and consistency of landings keeps drawing anglers back week after week and season after season. Luck into a tide when bunker or mullet dump out on the ebb tide and you’ll be in for a memorable night for sure.

The action in the breachways usually continues right on into November and December with fish lingering much longer than the late-season fishing pressure would reflect. If we are lucky enough to experience a near-shore sea herring run as was the case in 2011, the breachways can produce some large stripers and blues right up until those last fleeting casts are made.

To reach the breachways from the south, take I-95 north to exit 92, head right off the exit and pick up Route 78 south. At the end of the highway, take a left and head north on Route 1. From the north, take I-95 to exit 9, Route 4. Route 4 becomes Route 1. Off of Route 1, Weekapaug is located at the end of Weekapaug Road; Quonochontaug Breachway is located at the end of West Beach Road and Charlestown Breachway is located at the end of Charlestown Beach Road.