Fishing Forecast April Full Moon Period 2022

Before we begin I want to offer some insights regarding how and why I break the season down into these moon periods. I look at each period as 15 days which is, roughly, half of a month—it’s the seven days before, the day of the new or full moon and the seven days following. The moons have great influence on the ocean and the fish. The moons drive the tide timings and the strength of the current, they also drive the measurable height of the tide. For nighttime fishing the moon phases dictate how dark the night will be if there is no cloud cover. My own observations over 20-plus years fishing for striped bass from the surf, tell me that there is no denying the fact that these periods of stronger currents are usually the times when bodies of fish make a move, into or out of a bay, from one region to another or even just a few miles down the beach. These 15-day cycles are a manageable chunk of time that I feel we can offer enough insights to help you find the fish you’re looking for.

Striped Bass

(Open all year, 1 fish between 28 and 35 inches per angler, per day)

The first “fresh” fish of 2022 have still not arrived, although there have been some rumors of sizable fish out in the middle of Narragansett Bay, we’re taking those reports with a grain of salt, it is April after all. The weather is looking good for almost two weeks straight, and it is a certainty that the big move will take place between now and the next moon. The stripers that are being caught are holdover fish coming from many well-known backwaters throughout Rhode Island and Narragansett Bay. Look for the first schoolies to show in the Breachways or at the West Wall, once that happens the corners of the Newport beaches should ignite within a couple days. Now is the time to stock up on the small stuff, small soft plastics and light bucktails—we’re big fans of the Jeck’s Bucktails in daytime special, pink or chartreuse. For soft plastics we lean on, Bass Assassins, Zoom Flukes and Keitech Swimbaits. The Owner Inshore Slam Jighead is a killer option for springtime fishing because it comes in a wide selection of weights, features a corkscrew collar and a beefy hook that’s scalpel sharp. It won’t take long for those first arrivals to start smashing top, so grab a few Jumpin’ Minnows, Coltsniper Walks or Heddon Super Spooks and don’t rule out the 1-ounce floating Little Neck Popper from Super Strike either. The night guys should be looking to small swimmers like the SP Minnow or Mag Minnow to find those fish in the dark. This will also put you in the best position to hang that first 30-plus incher of the young season. It isn’t happening yet, but once it starts, it happens fast.

Predictions:

Fresh schoolies will hit the West Wall or SoCo within the next 5 to 7 days, Easter Sunday if I had to make a guess—the fish seem to know when most people won’t be able to fish and show up on that date. From there, things will move fast and we’ll be talking about the first 30-inch class stripers by the time we ink the next report.

Blackfish:

(Spring season April 1 to May 31, 3 fish per day 16” or greater, only 1 may exceed 21 inches in legth)

There’s really not much to report on the blackfish front. There have been a few taken on the cod ground south of Block Island and a few little ones pulled from the rocks around Point Judith. Most of the guys putting in the effort are finding a few small cod or nothing at all for their efforts. If you’re heading out for your first togs of the season, swing by our Tog Jig Page and see which ones pique your interest.

Predictions:

Even by the time we post our next forecast, togging will still be in it’s first week of ‘decent’ action. In these next two weeks, it’s unlikely that things will get really good. Fish shallow structure and be mobile if you want to be the first one to ice a Rhody keeper this spring.

Bluefish

(Open all year, 3 fish per angler, per day, no minimum size)

One angler reported finding a pile of bluefish around Jamestown on April 3rd while out hunting for early tog. These fish were on squid and were in the 4- to 6-pound class. The jury is still out on whether or not this was an April Fools joke, but no one has landed one since and there have been no reports of blues from Long Island or Connecticut either.

Predictions:

Blues will not be a regular player on the New England fishing scene until after May 1. But keep an eye on South County after that, last year saw insane numbers of big blues for most of the month of May in that region.

Weakfish

(1 fish at 16 inches or greater, open all year)

We have not yet heard of the weakfish of 2022, but if this year is like last year we will hear about the first ones before the next report hits your inbox.

Predictions:

Weakies showed early last season and stuck around for a long time. There were some early fish taken up inside the Narrow River, and also at Matunuck. Once their numbers were up, the fish took up residence in places like Apponaug Cove, Bristol Narrows and other tributaries throughout the upper bay.