04-04-2014, 11:35 PM
The water temp in Newport is currently 39.9 degrees as of this morning (ref: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=nwpr1). Last year, it was warmer, earlier. It first hit 50 in mid-April. Then it stalled right around 50. Fishing reports and people seemed to catch handfuls or no squid. People didn't really ever catch much in Newport until the Fall run. Jamestown was catching some in the Spring and the Cape was supposedly great, but I didn't fish either of those areas. As to when squid move in, it is generally accepted that they move in when the water temp gets to 50. As to when the very first squid get here, that's anyone's guess. As an indicator, out on the Cape/Islands, their run usually starts a week or two in advance of Newport. As to how strong the run will be this year, again, that's anybody's guess. The NOAA catch numbers (ref: http://www.nero.noaa.gov/ro/fso/reports/...40329.html) for squid this year are far higher than the catch numbers for squid last year, so maybe this will be a banner year... or, maybe not. Based on the rate of climb of temperature though, the water has been rising a degree every 3-5 days, so roughly guestimating, it should hit 50 in the end of April or the beginning of May. Sunny days and calm seas should help that along though.