Here is a timetable of what I think will happen based over 50 years of keeping fishing logs.
Middle of April- First stripers of the season, these fish that will have sea lice on them and will be caught along the oceanfront. I tend to go by April 15th, give or take a few days. Oftentimes, a warm southwest blow will be the mover that will push schools of fish onto the shore. Jigs, bucktails, paddletails and flukes on jigheads will be your top producers.
Late April/Early May- Stripers will start to be caught in Narragansett Bay by boaters and shore fishermen. Shallow locations where the water warms up quickly will be your best bets. Jigs still work but the fish will quickly start to hit topwater plugs as the waters warm. You might even see some big fish as the first pogy (menhaden) schools enter the Bay. These should attract some over slot fish.
Early May- Bluefish will arrive in the beginning of May especially if we hit a warm spell. The last few years have delivered some big blues in the early going. It could happen along the oceanfront or in the Bay, but my bet is that I'll get the first blue over 10 lbs. from the Bay. They, too, will be on the tails of migrating menhaden.
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