Coastal conditions

Point Judith

Harbor · Rhode Island · Southern New England

Current Coastal Rating

Fair · 63

Beta

Conditions are fair, but confidence is reduced because some coastal inputs are partial or prediction-based.

Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.

Should I Go?

Trip conditions only. Target-species activity and seasonal fishery patterns are not yet included.

Consider

Trip conditions may be workable, but important cautions or data limitations remain.

Low confidence Important source checks or coastal inputs were unavailable.

Evaluates trip conditions using weather, tides, currents, waves, daylight, and active alerts.

Recommendation scope

  • Shore

Boat and kayak conditions are not included in this recommendation.

  • Jetty and breachway conditions can differ sharply from the buoy and require local judgment.

About this recommendation

Uses StrikeTracks coastal policy 2026-07.

Service Status

Degraded

Recommendation confidence is low while the verdict remains Consider.

Recommended window

Saturday · 10:00 AM–1:00 PM EDT

Window score

73

Max wind
10 mph
Max gust
14 mph
Daylight
100% of window
Tide state
rising
Current event
Slack in window

Why

  • Strong daylight coverage supports the evaluated window.

Automated species match

Likely targets for this window

Matched to the same safe fishing window used by Should I Go?

  • Striped bass illustration

    Striped bass

    Strong match
    • In the typical seasonal window
    • Tide pattern aligns

    Common approaches: Breachway and beach casting

    Common presentations: Pencil-style surface plug, Soft-plastic sand eel, Bucktail jig

  • Bluefish illustration

    Bluefish

    Strong match
    • In the typical seasonal window
    • Tide pattern aligns

    Common approaches: Breachway and beach casting

    Common presentations: Pencil-style surface plug, Soft-plastic sand eel, Bucktail jig

Striped bass and Bluefish have similarly strong profile matches for this window. Based on seasonal presence and tide.

This is automated, profile-based guidance—not a guarantee of catch or a statement of fishing regulations.

Current Readings

Updated Sep 5, 2026, 7:21 AM

Marine Buoy

Marine Buoy selected

Source

  • NDBC Block Island, RI buoy
  • 33 mi from destination

Regional buoy measurements may differ from protected harbor conditions at this destination. Significant wave height is not shoreline surf or breaker height.

Water temperature
70.2°F

Updated 52 min ago

Significant wave height
2.3 ft

Updated 52 min ago

Dominant wave period
7 s

Updated 52 min ago

Average wave period
4 s

Updated 52 min ago

Past 7 Days

Marine Buoy

Marine Buoy selected

Water temperature

Window Aug 29, 2026, 7:21 AM Sep 5, 2026, 7:21 AM (rolling 168 hours)

Water temperature over the past 7 days. 328 observations · from Aug 29, 2026, 7:26 AM · to Sep 5, 2026, 6:30 AM Range 70.2°F to 75°F.

Readings decreased over the available period.

328 observations · from Aug 29, 2026, 7:26 AM · to Sep 5, 2026, 6:30 AM

  • NDBC · Block Island, RI · Station 44097
  • Regional marine station
  • Approximately 33 mi from destination
  • Observation type: observed
  • Unit: °F

Nearby coastal destinations

  • Rhode Island · Southern New England · Bay

    Approximately 12.8 miles away

  • Rhode Island · Southern New England · Shore

    Approximately 13.5 miles away

  • Rhode Island · Coxes Ledge / Southern New England · Offshore

    Approximately 27.3 miles away

Predicted Tides

Predicted

Falling

Next low tide

Sep 5, 2026, 8:10 AM

In 48 min

0.4 ft MLLW

Previous

High · Sep 5, 2026, 2:40 AM · 2.7 ft MLLW

Following

High · Sep 5, 2026, 3:17 PM · 3.5 ft MLLW

Tide station at destination

Point Judith, Harbor of Refuge · NOAA 8455083

Predicted Tidal Current

Predicted

Current predicted speed is not available for this interval.

Next: Slack · 10:36 AM · 0.0 knots

Following: Max flood · 1:03 PM · 0.6 knots

Current prediction station at destination

Harbor of Refuge, south entrance · NOAA ACT2266 · 0.8 mi from destination

NOAA current station

Planning note

These values are tidal-current predictions, not real-time observed currents. They describe conditions near this prediction station rather than the entire surrounding coastal area.

Data coverage

This station provides max-current and slack-water events, but not a continuous current-speed timeline.

Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.

Fishery Profile

Fishery Overview

Point Judith harbor, breachways, and ocean structure

A multi-setting Rhode Island fishery combining harbor refuge, breachway current, rocky ocean structure, and exposed beaches. Each setting responds differently to weather and tide.

Fishery type
  • Harbor breachway
  • Ocean structure
Fishing modes
  • Shore
  • Inshore boat
Habitat and structure
Harbor refuge · Breachways and jetties · Exposed beaches · Rocky ocean structure

Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026

Not a live bite forecast.

Fishery Targets

Bass and bluefish anchor the fishery. Structure species broaden the options, and bonito or false albacore are short late-summer opportunities.

Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations

  • Striped bass illustration

    Striped bass

    Primary

    Morone saxatilis

    Currently in a typical seasonal window

    Typical seasonal window: MAY — NOVEMBER

  • Bluefish illustration

    Bluefish

    Primary

    Pomatomus saltatrix

    Currently in a typical seasonal window

    Typical seasonal window: JUNE — OCTOBER

  • Tautog illustration

    Tautog

    Secondary

    Tautoga onitis

    Currently in a typical seasonal window

    Typical seasonal window: APRIL — MAY; SEPTEMBER — NOVEMBER

  • Summer flounder illustration

    Summer flounder

    Secondary

    Paralichthys dentatus

    Currently in a typical seasonal window

    Typical seasonal window: MAY — SEPTEMBER

  • Scup illustration

    Scup

    Secondary

    Stenotomus chrysops

    Currently in a typical seasonal window

    Typical seasonal window: MAY — OCTOBER

  • Atlantic bonito illustration

    Atlantic bonito

    Seasonal

    Sarda sarda

    Currently in a typical seasonal window

    Typical seasonal window: JULY — SEPTEMBER

  • False albacore illustration

    False albacore

    Seasonal

    Euthynnus alletteratus

    Also called Little tunny

    Currently in a typical seasonal window

    Typical seasonal window: AUGUST — OCTOBER

Typical Seasonal Targets

  • Striped bass — MAY — NOVEMBER
  • Bluefish — JUNE — OCTOBER
  • Tautog — APRIL — MAY; SEPTEMBER — NOVEMBER
  • Summer flounder — MAY — SEPTEMBER
  • Scup — MAY — OCTOBER
  • Atlantic bonito — JULY — SEPTEMBER
  • False albacore — AUGUST — OCTOBER

Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.

How to Fish Point Judith

Typical September approaches include breachway and beach casting and structure and pelagic casting for Striped bass and Bluefish.

  • Breachway and beach casting

    Cast current seams and beach troughs for bass and bluefish.

    Best for

    • Striped bass
    • Bluefish

    Modes

    • Shore
    • Inshore boat

    Setup

    • Breachway casting setup
  • Structure and pelagic casting

    Jig local hard bottom or cast compact metals when pelagics show.

    Best for

    • Tautog
    • Summer flounder
    • Scup
    • Atlantic bonito
    • False albacore

    Modes

    • Shore
    • Inshore boat

    Setup

    • Structure and pelagic setup

Common Tackle Setups

  • Breachway casting setup

    Longer spinning setup for current and beach casting.

    Rod
    8–10 ft medium-heavy spinning rod
    Reel
    Spinning reel with smooth drag
    Main line
    Casting braid
    Leader
    Abrasion-resistant leader
    Terminal tackle
    Snaps for plugs
    Presentation
    Adjust lure weight to the breachway flow.

    Used for

    • Breachway and beach casting
  • Structure and pelagic setup

    Boat or controlled shore setup for structure and fast pelagic casts.

    Rod
    Medium to medium-heavy spinning rod
    Reel
    Smooth-drag reel
    Main line
    Braid
    Leader
    Leader matched to rock or clear water
    Terminal tackle
    Jigs and light snaps
    Presentation
    Keep a compact metal ready for surface activity.

    Used for

    • Structure and pelagic casting

Typical September Lures and Flies

Common lure and fly families associated with this month’s techniques.

  • Pencil-style surface plug

    Lure
    • Striped bass
    • Bluefish

    Surface · Sweep, twitch, pause

    Work across current seams and keep the plug on top without excessive splash

  • Soft-plastic sand eel

    Lure
    • Striped bass
    • Bluefish

    Shallow to midwater · Steady, twitch, slow

    Swim or twitch just above the bottom on flats and bar edges

  • Bucktail jig

    Lure
    • Striped bass
    • Bluefish

    Shallow, Midwater, Bottom, Variable · Jig, twitch, steady, drift

    Hop, swim, or drift depending on depth and current speed

  • Tautog jig

    Lure
    • Tautog

    Bottom · Jig, slow

    Keep the jig close to structure and move it in short lifts

  • Fluke bucktail presentation

    Lure
    • Summer flounder

    Bottom to shallow · Drift, jig, slow

    Maintain intermittent bottom contact across edges and transitions

  • Compact casting metal

    Lure
    • Atlantic bonito
    • False albacore

    Shallow to midwater · Fast, steady

    Lead showing fish and keep a fast, even retrieve

General seasonal guidance, not a live recommendation, product endorsement, or guarantee of success.

Access, Safety and Regulations

Access

Use designated beaches, public jetties where open, and launches; respect harbor operations and posted closures.

Primary hazards

Jetty rocks, inlet current, surf, and vessel traffic demand conservative decisions.

Fishery considerations

  • Breachway flow is highly tide dependent; harbor refuge and open-ocean structure are separate environments. Regional buoy 44097 is not a local inlet or surf observation.
  • Ocean swell can close out beaches and make jetties hazardous even when the harbor is comparatively protected.

Regulations

Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.

Location and Access

Cataloged coastal fishing destination

Harbor · Rhode Island

Loading map…

The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.

Data Sources

Planning limitation

Coastal conditions can vary over short distances. Predictions and remote observations are planning information, not guarantees of access or safety.

  • Harbor-of-refuge entrance currents are not Point Judith Pond interior currents.