I had e-mailed John the following, and as he said in the other thread, I'm putting it up hear for everyone to answer and/or learn.

I was on a business trip to Ct Thursday, and since the meeting was short, I took my time coming home so as not to have to go back to work. I spent the time checking out the Rhody coastline, and I can tell ya, I was salivating at a few spots I stopped at. Had a few questions I
thought you might be able to help with.

I stopped at Misquamicut State Beach. Man, that's a nice beach. The gates
were open, but there was a sign that said the area is closed between dusk
and dawn. Do you know if they let you park to fish there in the early AM,
say 4 AM - 8 AM? A side question for my wife, what do they charge during the day to park?

Continued along that road, and found mostly private property until I
reached the breachway at Weekapaug. Right over the bridge is a fisherman's parking lot. Ever tried there? The current probably rips when the tide is moving, but thought it might be worth a shot. Just a little ways up the road to the right, you can park for 30 minutes, and that looks like an awesome spot. Any insight as to how much they enforce that, again in the early AM?

A mile or so before the turn off Route 1 for Matunuck State Beach, I
found a road that lead to Deep Hole Fisherman's parking lot. Ever tried there?

Also stopped at Matunuck State Beach, and the same questions for
Misquamicut apply.

Thanks, and I wish I had brought the waders and the pole Thursday, if
just to get in a few casts.

Hey Steve,

I'm putting my e-mail reply up (at least most of it, hehehe)...


I'll tell you, Rhode Island has probably more awesome fishing spots per mile of coastline than ANYPLACE I've ever seen. It really is that good.

I don't fish open beaches like Misquamicut all that often so I'm not up on the parking there. Most of the places I fish down there are rocky and less traveled. Most of the beaches offer parking at night to fisherman but some require a pass from the local town hall which can be difficult to access unless you are there during the week.

The next stop you mention is Weekapaug Breachway, one of three breachways in Rhody with the other two Quonny and Charlestown, and all 3 are big attractors of fish and crowds. One of the reasons they are hard to fish is because of crowds. Fishing from the breachways themselves can be a challenge to the first timer as you DO NEED KORKERS to fish these spots and there are certain unwritten rules about these places, especially on the dropping tide which is BY FAR the most productive, and especially at Quonny. You need to fish a rotation where one person will cast an eel or plug into the current and let the drift carry out well beyond casting range and into fish stacking up in the rips. Once you've passed a certain spot in the drift, you move up to a different rock and the next person casts. Usually four but no more than five are casting, drifting, or retrieving at any given time but you may have anywhere from 2-3 or 20 people waiting to cast. Especially on the weekends. I rarely fish Quonny, my favorite, because of the crowds they get. These really are not good places to chunk fish a static line because twenty people will take advantage of the drift and I've seen fly fisherman get bullied off the ends of the jettys because they would prevent the traditional (and most effective) methods of fishing those spots, drifting with plugs or eels.

Weekapaug and Charlestown both have lots but with Quonny, you are basically cutting through people's yards to get in. Charlestown has a fee but no one is there after 11pm til about 7am. 50/50 on whether they'll charge a fisherman...

Deep Hole is a great spot and parking is usually no problem but that spot is often busy if not crowded. Other good spots where you can park are Fresh Pond Rock and East Beach in the Quonny area and Charlestown beach, just to the side of the Breachway, also good beach fishing spots... The South side of Watch Hill is another popular spot for chunking but a bit of a walk with a lot of gear... Carpenters Bar, Green Hill, Narragansett, Point Judith. So many places from just Watch Hill to Narragansett to fish. Not even beginning to talk about the other side of Narragansett Bay by Newport and all...

I never fish Matunuck Beach during the meat of the tourist season so I don't know what to say about parking. There is a place I stash my truck for schoolie fishing in the spring but that's before the crowds park...

The West Wall is just east of Matunuck State Beach, the next road off RT1 that says Snug Harbor/Jerusalem. The Wall is near the end of the road and there is some parking there. I'll be putting up plenty of West Wall info when that starts up in a few weeks, hehehe...

Again, like I posted on the board, you may want to cut and paste your original e-mail on the board 'cause you'll get a very informative response from some of the other Rho Dyslanders about those spots....

Later,

John


I don't know what issues you would have for parking really early in the morning and if you are only fishing Rhody before the fish get to your favorite Mass Spot. There might be some problems at the big public lots like Misquamicut and Scarborough Beach (Narragansett) but some of the smaller spoys might be OK til about 6 in the morning. I think those beaches open by 6:30-7Am and you might want to be out by then... You also don't want to quit Rhody when the fish get to the Cape Cod Bay, still make the occasional trip to Rhody ;D

Off season (beach season , not fishing season) you can park there no proble. During the season I'd be gone before the beach actually opens. Late at night you can park in many of the places at Misquamicut. Just be gone before people wake up. I don't know what it costs to go there. I would think they charge to park and out of state plates pay a little more. You want to look at that beach. Its a classic beach where if you read it , there are some good spots that develop.

I've never seen anyone have a problem at the Weekapaug fishing parking lots. (both sides now) I guess that in the summer , they might ticket people who try to park there all day to o to the beach. You want the breachway flowing out but choose which side based on the tide outside. Last two hours of the breachway drop , you want to be on the west side. Rest of the tiem on the drop , you want to be on the east side.

Deep Hole is good . Sometimes the parking lot is full of surfers but usually its pretty empty. Fish there at the bar way to the east. Its a good walk out there. If you want to chuck bait there , throw it between the bars.

I assume you mean East Matunuck State beach. Early morning your best bet is to park near the rail fence where you would park to get to the Wall. Lots of times the fish school up in the first couple of hundred yards of beach next to the wall.

Hi Steve:
As for Misquamicut state beach, fisherman can park there and fish all night all day from September 15th to about MAY 20th (changes yearly). During the prime beach season all public beaches allow fishing from 6:30PM to 7:30AM. However, overnight parking is limited. Misquamicut state beach parking is about $5.00 a day (you can buy an annual pass for $20.00).

If you went the opposite way you would have seen the Andrea hotel on the beach side. They keep the lights on all night long, this is always a good spot to fish and you can park there at night.

BTW you went right by Weekapaug Bait & Tackle next to the Breachway Market(signs are out being painted for the new season). There are fisherman's lots on both sides of the Weekapaug bridge, open 24 x 7 all year for fishermen. There are quite a few good spots along this breachway based on incoming or outgoing tides, as well as the end on both sides (best on the outgoing). The 30 minute parking area is called Weekapaug point, this is also a great area (korkers a must). If you would have continued following the road past the point to the yacht club you would have found additional parking(night only during summer) and a great beach to fish just over the dunes), comes right back toward the rocks at the point.

As for the rest of the places, John's description is quite accurate. If you are ever in the area again stop by the shop, we will be glad to help you out.

Thank you, gentlemen, now I'm getting all excited. Don, I did continue down the road and saw the yacht club, lots of parking but it said residents only, etc. I guess I just need to get familiar with the area and the customs. I will definately stop by the shop and say hi, etc.

Saltheart - when I stopped at Misquamicut (man these Indian names, I was back and forth three times to the thread to get it right!), my eyes lit up. Am eager to read that beach and find the holes. The questions about parking rates were for the wife, as while she usually goes to Duxbury, she would love it at Misquamicut. However, she doesn't tag along at 3 am, so it's seperate cars, and usually as she shows up, I'm leaving!

Thanks again, guys, and I think I know where I might be one of the days of Good Friday/Patriot's day weekend!!!!!!

Steve:
You will be welcome to park at the shop also...can explain about a couple of good holes behind the Dunes Resort and access areas that are little known. BTW beach pass for RI is $50.00. Many access points along Misquamicut, East, Central beaches.

Don, what are the time/date constraints for the Rhody Beach pass???

Thanks

John:
Beach passes are valid from June 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002. Beaches can be driven from September 15th to Just before Memorial Day weekend (sorry I was wrong earlier). However, the dates vary by as much as a week or 2. Last year they closed the entrances on April 30th and opened the entrances the Saturday after Labor Day September 9th.

Times are 24 hours a day from the September opening date throughout the year.

Entrances change on a yearly basis. The state or property owners' may decide to close or open entrances. We try to list all entrances at the shop. I will also list them on the site this year.

Thanks Don, I didn't think they were open during the meat of the summer but hoping you knew a loophole in the system, hehehe...

the beaches on rhode island are closed to driving on april 15. charlestown east beach is open year round on the back track, in which you need to have a beach pass and also pay a fee just like any ri state beach. a parking pass can be bought and used there as in any state beach throughtout the year. then, it's free parking at any state beach.

charlestown st beach (breachway) does have a guard shack where they charge to get in, especially during tourist months, but you don't need to pay if you are fishing. it is a rarely heard rule that is in place there. tell them you are fishing and they are supposed to allow you to get through free. but, i wouldn't push you're luck on weekends during the day if it's bright and sunny.

RI has some of the best shore line in new england for fish . I still havent figured out the parking situation along its coastline , Im still learning as I go . Charlestown is a good spot for fisherman to park as was said they rarely break stones when ive been there . I have never been there during the summer daylight hours not that I have any reason to go there during that time . Well maybe for a hottie search (only kidding honey). Don I will be stopping in your shop this year for some parking tips and permit locations . Thanks in advance . I know where you are as I have been there before just never introduced myself .

Last year, I had no problems at Charlestown, even with out of state plates but I was only there at night... Steve, another place for you to consider is the Narraganest Town Pier. Parking is tight but not that early in the morning and you can park right along the sea wall...

I know I'm getting tired and I'm about ot hit the racj, but did someone mention the Andrea Hotel??

Been to Charlestown a few times myself and have never had a problem...even like John said with out of state plates....But then again it was at least after six or seven at night so.....

Question about the Andrea Hotel.....where about is that???? Sounds like I MAY have fished there without even knowing it.....just curious....

I have also been to weekapaug Bait &taclke and I am not sure I have met you Don but if I did Thanks for all the info and help! HA!HA! made a few trips down there last year......nice shop and nice help!!! :)

The Andrea Hotel is on the road that runs along Misquamicut Beach. I think its Atlantic Ave. same road as weekapaug bait and tackle. From Rt 1 , you go south at Dunn's Corner (Mobil Station) you'll see the breachway and near the end a bridge where you can take a right. Thats the road. The bait shop is there as soon as you go over the bridge and the Andrea is about a half mile down , right on the water. I like the Andrea as a drinking and eating place but people who I know who have stayed there say sleeping is tough do to the music coming from the bar. They are good to fisherman though. I don't know if they still do but for years they maintained an acces spt to the beach for the 4X4's.

Nope...I think I was further down.....same street but not the same place!

Might have been the same place as the Andrea is probably a couple miles down from the breachway, past those LOVELY big houses on the dunes there (where the road floods in heavy rain) passed several hotels on the left and the resteraunts at the intersection on the right... The Andrea is the last hotel (pretty sure) on the right. After that maybe another 2 blocks of homes until you get to that last private way...

The nice thing about the Andrea is how they are to the fishermen. Alot of people stay there during the Tri-State Torunament and they also use the Andrea as the official HQ of the meet. As far as fishing it, when the lights are on the surf and the bait gets active and the birds are active, sometimes the fish get active too. I've caught some blues in front of there but no bass. One October (2yrs ago??), the wind was howling right on shore and the wood plugs were going no where but there was a tourney going on. I tied a 3 oz sinker with a redgill teaser and was humming it out into the surf and managed a couple blues when most had even given up trying...