New England’s Boating and Fishing Paradise

BOATERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD find harbor in more than 50 acres of anchorage and more than 100 public moorings. No boat? No problem. Rental boats and a charter fishing fleet await to take visitors out on the Great Salt Pond, the Block Island Sound, and, of course, the Atlantic Ocean for striped bass, bluefish, tuna,

bonito, mahi-mahi, shark, and more. The island hosts premiere races and fishing tournaments including the Tri-State Canyon Shoot-out Fishing Tournament and the Storm Trysail sailboat races.

Why not take to the miles of sandy beaches and rocky shoreline for fly fishing and surf-casting — shore access is unrestricted around the entire island. Just don’t forget to stop by the island’s two tackle shops for bait or suggestions about where the action is. Don’t forget about the clam flats, either!

For mooring, anchorage, licensing and docking information, visit the Block Island Tourism Council’s web site at blockislandinfo.com or call the Harbors Department at (401)466-3204.

Block Island Fishworks

Tri State Canyon Shoot-out.

Catching fish with Hula Charters. Photo by Capt. Matt King

Pond & Beyond Kayak . Photo by Corrie Heinz Twin Maples

Capt. Matt King, Hula Charters

Capt. Matt King

Growing up in Narragansett, R.I., Block Island was a fixture on the southern horizon, and also in plain site of some of the better surf breaks. In my early school years I had gone on a few field trips with science class to the Bluffs, Rodman's Hollow, and Clay Head. In the late 80s, when surfing became an obsession for me, my buddies and I started exploring the coastline of Block Island for spots we could paddle out. Many times when we thought the conditions were right, a few of us would venture away from our backyard breaks, board the ferry, and search for an uncrowded line-up. Sometimes we found it, and some

www.blockislandinfo.com www.blockislandinfo.com times not. It was my first taste of surf travel. Only 13 miles away, back then the island felt like it was 13 thousand miles away.

It was the summer of the millennium when I decided to take a break from Hawaii, and took a job as chef at Eli’s restaurant. I had spent nearly a decade on Oahu pursuing a career in the culinary arts, and up until that point, had never entertained the idea of relocating back to Rhode Island. I returned to the island for a second year to work during the summer season, and then again in 2002 — only this time I did not return to Hawaii, and I spent my first full year on Block Island. I spent most of the fall climbing around the rocky shoreline, night and day, throwing needlefish with my 10 foot surf caster. There was a small core group of guys that were doing the same, and we just got after it every night. As fall transitioned into winter, the game changed to hunting — and back then it was hunters’ paradise. Tripled-up with good surf during the colder months, I realized that Block Island was the package I didn't know I was looking for.

I started Hula Charters the following summer in 2003, and turned one of my lifelong passions of fishing into a business — professional surfer had

My Block Island

never become an option. Block Island has always been on the map as the place to be when it comes to striped bass fishing. Shoreline fishermen, casting in the surf, and boat fishermen fishing the rips and reefs, have landed some of the largest on record. I am grateful to call this island home, and spend most days of the season on the waters around Block Island.

Several years into my transition from the Pacific Ocean back to the Atlantic, I eventually went on to own and open a pair of cafés on the island. The seasonal components of being a Block Island business owner had some unique challenges in some aspects, but in trade, has afforded me the freedom to travel during the wintertime. When I am away, it offers a time to reflect and give perspective of how unique and special my Block Island is. For being a mere 13 miles from the mainland, the island is a refreshing distance away from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding areas. There is a sense of pride and community that is the foundation of what keeps this place special, and has managed to keep things relatively slow. Of the many places I've been fortunate to see and visit, I am grateful that I can earn a living here, and call this playground home.