Weakfish in Narragansett Bay
From the July 1999 Issue of On The Water Magazine (Featured Photo by Joey Manansala)
Cycles of Weakfish Abundance
The population of weakfish, also known as squeteague, in the waters off Rhode Island has been up and down like a roller coaster throughout the 1900s. In 1924 Leonard Hulit wrote about the demise of the “sea trout” along the Atlantic coast. During the 1920s and ’30s, over 60 tons of weakfish went to an already glutted market to be used as fish scraps. In those days this was a common practice. Then, weakfish were so scarce in the 1960s that the Schaefer Fishing Contest eliminated that category because no fish were being caught or registered in the annual event. By the early 1970s, the weakfish had returned in great numbers. For the first time in memory, it was possible to catch 30, 40 or even 50 squeakers or more per tide. Most of these fish were between 14 and 22 inches, but they were good to eat and fun to catch.
As the ’70s came to a close, the numbers of fish began to dwindle, but their sizes went up dramatically. Fish in the teens became commonplace all throughout Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Then, by early 1982, the fish had all but vanished again from the bay. The last good catches that were made were from Block Island’s North Rip, which subsequently became famous in angling lore due to the amount and sizes taken at this time.
Squeteague began declining again for a number of reasons. The most often cited was overfishing, along with habitat destruction, eelgrass depletion, and natural cyclic occurrences. Gillnetting tons of juvenile fish caused overfishing in Delaware Bay; only after laws were passed that brought the netting under control did the weaks begin to rebound.
Another likely factor was the demise of the striped bass during that same time frame. With fewer stripers around, weakfish became an easy target for sportsmen and were taken in great numbers. Also at the same time, in 1974, and unknown to sportsmen in the northeast, a large percentage of weakfish were being taken off the coast of North Carolina to be used as pet food, The species own natural behavior was also responsible for its quick decline in numbers. Weakfish are very prolific when it comes to schooling and will pack tightly in dense schools in a given area to feed and to rest. Once one fish is found, it is pretty easy to do some serious damage to that particular school. Toward the late 1970s, with few stripers coming to market, the price of weakfish had skyrocketed.
Weakfish don’t usually roam vast expanses of water in either open bays or estuaries. Sometimes this behavior makes them hard to locate, but once you do find them, you’ll also find a lot more in the same area. The one thing that they do have going for them is that, from season to season, they are unpredictable…this year’s hot spot can be next season’s dud.
This fish’s scientific name is Cynoscion regalis, and refers to the northern variety: weakfish, yellow tail or squeteague. The name squeteague is a Native American name and is used mostly from Long Island, New York north up into New England.) The weakfish is a member of the croaker family; it usually makes a noise once it is out of the water. Some say it’s dog-like, others say it sounds like a frog. Suffice it to say that they croak and moan to the amusement of many that seek them.
Finding Weakfish in Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay has been one of the best places along the coast to catch weakfish for as long as anyone can remember. Squeakers arrive in catchable numbers around the middle of May and will stay until late October. Unlike other species, in which the smaller ones come first, weaks do it differently: it is usually the bigger ones that are on scene first, followed by the smaller ones later in the month. If there is a lot if rain during the late spring or early summer, it will push them out into deeper waters to seek a higher salinity factor.
The smaller specimens prefer back bays, rivers and estuaries, while larger fish, known as tiderunners, can be found in many of the same places as stripers and bluefish. Weakfish got their nickname “tiderunner” because of their preference to feed during a moving tide. When the tide stops, go home.
Weakfish are best taken in the early morning or early evening and at night. When the fish were plentiful in the ’70s, some of the biggest catches and biggest fish were caught after the sun went down.
The most productive way to catch weakfish by far is from a boat, but they can also be taken while fishing from shore and the surf. When fishing from shore, look for eelgrass areas in back bays to locate some fish. If surf fishing, you will usually find them beyond the white water or breakers. Very often, they will seek out the calmest waters around. Onshore winds are good for squeteague fishing when surf casting.
There are no “best times” or “for certain” times in fishing for weaks, with the exception of having moving water. Early in the season they can be found feeding at almost any time, but as the season progresses they tend to feed more toward dusk and into the night. Generally, in most bays and rivers, the last two hours of the flood and the first two hours of the ebb are best. Of course, this depends on local areas and conditions; in some areas it will be the last two hours of an ebb. ing tide, when the flow of water is just starting to slow down. Areas should be checked and fished on all stages of the tide to be sure you know the times.
At night, these gamefish will come to the surface to feed on squid, shrimp, silversides, mummichogs, worms, and anything else they can find. They like quiet back coves of bays and rivers that have some current. Coves that are muddy with little or no sand over the bottom and that warm up during the day are good spots to try. If there is a cove or river where there are rocky outcroppings and some current, you will probably find weaks in residence. Sandbars adjacent to deep water and close to an open bay will attract squeakers in great numbers, especially at night. They like to cruise the area between the bars and the dropoffs in search of food.
Often overlooked are the many marinas that are built in these areas. Marinas have plenty of weakfish structure. Docks, pilings, moorings, sunken timber, along with docked boats provide a haven for hiding baitfish and a place for weakfish to feed. Look for them under the lights of the marina and you will usually see a few darting in and out, feeding on shrimp or tiny crabs.
If you must fish during the day, then look for areas where weakfish can hide and there is sufficient bait present in the area. During daylight, they prefer water that is at least eight feet deep; they will feed right on the bottom and not come up to bait or lure. Look for deep holes next to flats, bars, rock piles and entrances to harbors.
How to Catch Weakfish in Rhode Island
One of the nice things about the return of weakfish is that they are readily taken by a vast number of methods and tactics. From boat, shore, surf, bridges and tidal sod banks, they are usually eager to oblige an angler who puts in his time.
Without question, one of the most popular methods in Little Rhody is to chum with squid, shrimp or clams. Squid is cut up into little pieces and tossed overboard a little at a time. Shrimp is thrown over, four or five at a time, and allowed to drift back in the current. Clams can be cut up and fed into the current like squid. Today, you have to catch your own shrimp for chumming. Years ago, shrimp were available from bait dealers and usually sold by the quart or gallon. You will find shrimp in back bays, near and around tall eelgrass or saw grass. They can also be found around docks and pilings and in the headwaters of small feeder streams lay, you have to catch your own shrimp chumming. Years ago, shrimp were available from bait dealers and usually I by the quart or gallon. You will find mp in back bays, near and around tall grass or saw grass. They can also be netted around docks and pilings and in the headwaters of small feeder streams and creeks.
To gather enough bait, use an 8- to 10-foot two-man seine and drag the grass line. A fine mesh hand net can also be used to scoop them from pilings and bulkheads. Shrimp can also be trapped in minnow traps set at docks; just bait the traps with either crackers or clam bellies.
The most often asked question I get is, how much chum is enough? Well, it really all depends on how long you intend to fish. I usually have two gallons of shrimp, two or three gallons of clams, or four or five pounds of squid. To begin, anchor in an area where weakfish are known to be. Toss over a few handfuls of shrimp to start on the downside tide and continue this until the fish show up. The one big mistake that anglers make is that they chum too heavily and feed the fish. The other is not watching how fast the tide is running and how far back your chum is going. Once you have chummed an area for half an hour to an hour and there are no fish, move out to find another spot. If the fish are there, they will usually follow the chum line right to the boat.
For rigging up, use a small circle or baitholder hook, and only enough weight to keep the bait just under the surface in the feeding zone. Let out line in varying lengths in the chum line until you find just where the fish are holding.
Sea worms are also very good for weakfish, and can be fished in two ways. The first is underneath a bobber or balsa float on a 3-to 4-foot leader. Pencil floats or other long bobbers are good for this type of fishing; you just let the float and worm drift slowly in the current. The second method is to use a high-low rig, with or without a spinner. One hook is placed on a leader about a foot off the bottom and the other is placed up top, about three feet higher. Some fishermen like the spinner rigs of years past, like a Niantic or willow leaf. I’ve used walleye rigs from the Midwest with good results.
A popular method in the 1970s was to use a 9-inch Mann’s Jelly Worm in strawberry or purple color. At the time it was pretty much all we had. Sometimes the fish wanted the plastic more than they did the real thing. The worm was placed on a small jig head, cast out and retrieved very, very slowly.
Squeakers will also take artificial lures. Small poppers, Kastmasters, Hopkins lures, small jigs and swimmers will all take fish at times. It will depend on their mood. When using jigs, start with yellow, then try pink, then red and white or purple and white. Small swimmers and poppers that are red and white, chrome or yellow will also work. The new soft plastic baits that are now available offer a tremendous variety of new lures with which to catch weakfish. Fin-S lures, Slug-Go’s, Mister Twister Grub Tails and shad bodies will take any that you run into. Keep the sizes on the small side to begin with until you see how large the fish are. Jig head sizes should range from 1/4 ounce to 1/2 ounce, depending on how fast or strong the current is running.
Live baits can also take weakfish; small herrings, big mummies, large silversides, bay anchovies, and shoestring eels can be live-lined when they are available.
Tackle for Catching Weakfish
Our newer, lighter, more sensitive rods are just the ticket to catch weakfish. Try not to use a rod that is too stiff; you will miss a lot of fish. A light to medium-light action rod is all you will need. Weakfish are called weakfish for a good reason – their mouth, or the membranes surrounding it, is very soft and is easy to tear if you are not care-ful. Keep lines in the 8- to 12-pound-test range; for most of the fish that are available right now that is all you will need.
Anglers can also use fly-fishing equipment, which adds lots of sport. Some even use their fly rods to drift shrimp and worms. The light rod allows for quick, easy hook-ups, without tearing the fish’s mouth.
Early and late into the day, and at dark, you can use a floating intermediate line, which will get you through most conditions at those times. As the day wears on and the sun gets high, go to a full sinking line or a shooting head to cover the water from 10 to 18 feet deep. Start off with yellow or pink flies, then switch if you haven’t gotten any hits. Clouser Min-nows, Lefty’s Deceivers, Bendbacks shrimp patterns and anchovy patterns are all you will need.
The last two years have seen squeaker numbers on the increase; in 1998 we caught over 150 weakfish in just a few weeks’ time. The largest one taken by one of my customers was just over seven pounds. Although we did see some fish in the 9-to 10-pound range last season, I think it will be a few more years before we see good numbers of fish this size. These are beautiful fish and a great addition to fishing Narragansett Bay. You also don’t have to wait until fall anymore to get that grand slam: in Narragansett Bay, you can do one in the spring and another in the fall.
Source: https://onthewater.com/weakfish-in-narragansett-bay
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