Rhode Island Sound

Saltwater
Sound

Rhode Island Sound

Saltwater
Sound

Sq. miles: 608
Boat Ramps: 1
Access Points: 1
Species: 38

Rhode Island Sound is a dynamic and productive saltwater fishery forming the ocean gateway to Narragansett Bay. This open sound, where tidal ocean water mixes with brackish bay outflow, features a transition from deep, rocky ocean ledges and swells near its mouth to varied nearshore structures. It is a renowned destination for migratory species, offering year-round opportunities from shore and boat. The sound's proximity to major estuaries creates rich feeding grounds, supporting a diverse fishery that changes dramatically with the seasons.

Rhode Island licenses and regulations6 to check before you go

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Rhode Island Sound and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

African Pompano

Alectis ciliaris

Albacore

Thunnus alalunga

Atlantic Bonito

Sarda sarda

Atlantic Cod

Gadus morhua

Atlantic Croaker

Micropogonias undulatus

Atlantic Mackerel

Scomber scombrus

Bigeye Tuna

Thunnus obesus

Black Sea Bass

Centropristis striata

Blue Runner

Caranx crysos

Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus thynnus

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

Bonefish

Albula vulpes

Cunner

Tautogolabrus adspersus

Florida Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus

Gray Triggerfish

Balistes capriscus

Greater Amberjack

Seriola dumerili

Haddock

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Little Tunny

Euthynnus alletteratus

Lookdown

Selene vomer

Mahi-Mahi

Coryphaena hippurus

Mangrove Snapper

Lutjanus griseus

Northern Kingfish

Menticirrhus saxatilis

Northern Puffer

Sphoeroides maculatus

Permit

Trachinotus falcatus

Pollock

Pollachius virens

Sandbar Shark

Carcharhinus plumbeus

Scup

Stenotomus chrysops

Snowy Grouper

Hyporthodus niveatus

Spiny Dogfish

Squalus acanthias

Spot

Leiostomus xanthurus

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis

Summer Flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

Swordfish

Xiphias gladius

Tautog

Tautoga onitis

Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri

Weakfish

Cynoscion regalis

Winter Flounder

Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Yellowfin Tuna

Thunnus albacares

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Rhode Island Sound. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

King's Beach Access

Access Point

Know where you can legally fish on Rhode Island Sound

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Rhode Island licenses and regulations

Rhode Island Boating Regulations

When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.

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Rhode Island Coastal & Inland Waters

A RI Recreational Saltwater Fishing License covers all Rhode Island marine waters as well as offshore federal waters and neighboring state waters for finfish and squid. Rhode Island honors licenses from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine for anglers fishing in RI marine waters. Freshwater fishing requires a separate freshwater license issued by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

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Rhode Island Federal Waters & Offshore Rules

Beyond 3 nautical miles, NOAA Fisheries and the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils set the rules, and your RI license still satisfies the angler registration requirement in those waters. Vessels fishing for or retaining Atlantic highly migratory species such as tuna, billfish, or swordfish must carry a separate federal Atlantic HMS permit issued by NOAA Fisheries. Tilefish anglers fishing north of the Virginia-North Carolina border also need a federal recreational tilefish permit.

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Rhode Island Saltwater Fishing License

Anyone 16 or older fishing recreationally for finfish in Rhode Island marine waters needs a RI Recreational Saltwater Fishing License, issued by the Division of Marine Fisheries, or a National Saltwater Angler Registration, or a valid license from a reciprocal state including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. Anglers aboard party and charter boats are exempt, as are Rhode Island residents over 65 and active military stationed in the state. Children under 16 do not need a license.

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Rhode Island Saltwater Size & Bag Limits

Size limits, seasons, and possession limits apply per species and are subject to change throughout the year; the Division of Marine Fisheries maintains the current table. Striped bass, summer flounder, black sea bass, tautog, and bluefish are among the species with specific rules. Check the official limits page before every trip.

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Rhode Island Shellfish Closures & Advisories

Rhode Island residents may harvest quahogs, soft-shell clams, mussels, surf clams, oysters, and bay scallops recreationally without a license; non-residents must obtain a non-resident shellfishing license from the Division of Marine Fisheries. Harvest areas are classified by the DEM Shellfish Program and can be closed due to bacterial contamination, harmful algal blooms, or rainfall, so you must check current area status before harvesting. Closure maps and classifications for all named growing areas are posted by DEM.

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Take Rhode Island Sound with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Rhode Island Sound to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Rhode Island Sound to find where and when fish are biting for you.

Get the onWater Fish app

Free on iOS and Android

Tides, wind & water conditions (10 day forecast)

On open water, wind and tide matter as much as the weather. See the best times to fish Rhode Island Sound and check the marine forecast before you launch.

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