CHowdahead, here a tip you can use... go to
www.surfcasting-rhodeisland.com
That's Joe Lyon's site and he is one of the site's sponsers. Joe sells a book called "Fishing New England - A Rhode Island Shore Guide". This will provide you with a lifetime of fishing spots in RI. Many of the spots are major bass producing areas. ALso Joe is a shore guide and if you have the $, its worth it to get first hand training. My other advice is: Fish at night, and fish early morning hours and night fall.
Observe whats around you, fish are animals and are in tune with the wind, tides and moon, you need to be too.
good luck and have fun.