Boating

  • Sweet September

    Kari Curtis
    Thu, Sep 20
    If you have not spent time on Block Island in the fall, you should. There is less traffic on the roads, the beaches are not as congested, the locals are, well, friendlier, and the fishing can’t be beat. Let’s face it — fresh fish and Rhode Island go hand-in-hand. Locally caught fish is a seafood...

  • Fishing Column

    Capt. Hank Hewitt and Capt. Chris Willi
    Mon, Jul 30
    Come August, the Block Island inshore waters are graced by the presence of off shore visitors in the form of little tuna, the Atlantic bonito and the false albacore. The false albacore is also known as ‘little tunny’, and ‘albies’, is the most populous tuna in the Atlantic. They are considered a...

  • Moving across the water: kayaking

    Corrie Heinz of Pond & Beyond Kayaks
    Mon, Jul 30
    The Salt Pond offers paddling options for all ages and abilities. Do a little research and you are certain to have a fantastic experience. Here are some insider tips and advice for paddling on the Great Salt Pond. Want peace and quiet? Kayak in the early morning or evening. New this season Pond and...

  • July Fishing

    Capt. Hank Hewitt and Capt. Chris Willi
    Wed, Jun 27
    Historically, when we think about the Block Island fishery, the first species of fish comes to mind is the iconic striped bass, followed closely by the voracious blue fish, and taking up the rear to complete the catching triad is the succulent summer flounder, also known as fluke. For the past few...

  • Sailing into tradition

    Cassius Shuman
    Tue, Jun 5
    BIT Category: 
    News
    That’s the motto of the newly revamped Block Island Race Week, which is being hosted jointly by the Block Island and Duck Island Yacht Clubs in waters two miles to the west of the Great Salt Pond. About 40 sailboats sporting a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, from regional yacht...

  • June fishing on Block Island

    Sol Schwartz
    Fri, May 26
    Dust off your fishing gear, folks. Fishing has already begun on Block Island! The month of June is an exciting time for anglers on Block Island. You’ve probably at one time or another seen a hopeful fisherman looking over the bridges or docks for any sign of baitfish in the water. That’s what June...

  • Block Island Race Week to host five Class Championships

    K. Curtis
    Fri, May 26
    Founded in 1965, Block Island Race Week (BIRW) is considered by many to be America’s original destination regatta. Racing on Block Island Sound in late June often brings ideal conditions for these sailboats and continues to be the ideal venue for this highly competitive and social regatta. This...

  • Celebrate the Pond Day

    Sun, Jul 31
    Everyone is invited to celebrate Block Island’s treasure, the Great Salt Pond, on August 13 with over 11 events, from 11 island organizations, showcasing its variety and importance. You can catch aquatic wildlife in the pond with The Nature Conservancy, or walk the marshes with the Ocean View...

  • July Fishing is Awesome

    Sol Schwartz
    Sat, Jul 2
    July Fishing is Awesome! Last July, Block Island had a very strong month of fishing. If you were anywhere near the docks in Old Harbor, you couldn't miss all the giant striped bass being brought in by charter boats. This year should be no different. All of our fishy friends are already here in...

  • 25 Must See Things on Block Island in the Fall

    Scott Comings at The Nature Conservancy
    Wed, Jun 1
    Here are 25 natural wonders (in no specific order) to see in on Block Island in the Fall. How many have you seen? 1) North Blazing Star – Block Island is the only place this state-endangered species is found in Rhode Island. This purple wildflower is best seen at Turnip Farm. 2) Hodge Family...

  • Happy Fish of July!

    Sol Schwartz
    Tue, Jun 30
    July is a very busy fishing month on Block Island! By now, all of the most common species we see have arrived in numbers. Whether you’re fishing from shore or by boat, Block Island has plenty to offer in July. In order to predict how the month will look, it’s good to look at last year around this...

  • On the Dock

    Tue, Jun 30
    BIT Category: 
    Community
    Fishing is a favorite island sport. The island hosts many fishing tournaments each summer like the Bluefish Derby Tournament, the B.I.V.F.D. Fishing Tournament, and the Tri-State Canyon Shootout. Both Old Harbor and New Harbor are home to charter boats that are ready to give you a taste of the...
  • Worker’s Perspectives

    A Week in the Life of an Instructor at the Block Island Club

    Brooke Hammarskjold
    Tue, Sep 2
    For the past 13 summers on Block Island, the majority of my time here has been spent at my home away from home, the Block Island Club. Located on the northeastern side of the Great Salt Pond, the club was a place for me to further my passion for sailing, expand my (short-lived) interest in tennis,...
  • I Tried It!

    Full Moon Paddle

    Brooke Hammarskjold
    Tue, Sep 2
    On July 12th, as many admired the super moon (a full moon that appears even larger than usual because of its closeness to the earth) from their houses, I was lucky enough to be out on the Great Salt Pond, part of a group of kayakers on a tour led by Corrie Heinz, owner of Pond and Beyond Kayak...
  • Behind The Bar

    Tiffany Hewitt on the ferry Anna C.

    Lisa Stiepock
    Thu, Jul 31
    Tiffany Hewitt on the ferry Anna C. Q:How long have you been bartending on the ferry? A:I've been working for Interstate 17 years. I started out answering phones and selling tickets and in the summer of '98 I started bartending. The owner Sue Linda is my great aunt. My mom worked with Sue...
  • Cottage Industry

    The Block Island Oyster Company and Raw Bar at the Beachead

    Sara Dunleavy Berge
    Thu, Jul 31
    I watch oyster farmer and entrepreneur Dave Deffley swim out to his boat; while I take photos from the dry shoreline my sense of adventure pales in comparison. He swings around the back pond and picks me up at the Hog Pen, camera and note pad in tow. Once aboard, I find a place to perch amidst tubs...
  • I Tried It

    Banana Boating

    Isabella DeLeo
    Thu, Jul 31
    From a distance, I have often watched the banana boats serpentine through the harbor. With great curiosity, I would listen to the shrill cries of the people aboard these absurd canary yellow, banana-shaped tubes as they tore through the water with accelerating speed. I would watch them send a few...

  • The Block Island Club Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

    Brooke Hammarskjold
    Mon, Jun 9
    This summer, the Block Island Club will celebrate 50 years of providing recreational activities to its members. The club, a not-for-profit run by a Board of Governors, is situated on the Great Salt Pond, and offers its members lessons in tennis, arts, swimming, sailing and other water sports. In...

  • Kayak for Conservation

    Corrie Heinz
    Mon, Jun 9
    The Great Salt Pond is Corrie Heinz’s home away from home. As the owner/operator of Pond and Beyond Kayak, she’s out on the pond whenever the weather allows, so she knows the ins and the outs of the place and all the ecosystems and subcultures it holds. She grew up out here, went to school here...
    corrie heinz, pond and beyond kayak

  • The Nautical Word

    Margie Bucheit
    Sun, Sep 1
    At a home with one of those outrageous Block Island views overlooking the Great Salt Pond, a group of boat lovers and sailors have gathered to celebrate. The sun sets, an American flag is lowered, and a cannon is fired. Welcome to Summer 2013, Block Island Yacht Club style. One of only a few events...

  • S**t Happens; Call the Pumpout

    Margie Bucheit
    Thu, Aug 1
    This job is not for the faint-hearted. It requires courage, stamina when dealing with unpleasant aromas, people skills, boat piloting abilities and fast reflexes. If the equipment fails, it may be necessary to jump quickly into the water. Welcome to Ryan Koehler’s world of pumpout. On the Great...

  • Readying the Great Salt Pond for Summer

    Margie Bucheit
    Mon, Jun 3
    In a dirt parking lot near Dead Eye Dick’s, harbormaster Steve Land and assistant harbormaster Kate McConville are elbow deep in bottom paint, motor oil and dead impellers. It has been a long winter, but finally warmer spring breezes hint at what’s to come. It’s time to ready boats for the water,...