Fishing with Capt. Al
Capt. Al Anderson is a name anglers along the Rhode Island coast recognize for steady expertise and a lifetime on the water. For more than four decades he has run charters out of Narragansett, R.I., aboard his 42-foot express fisherman, Prowler, guiding clients to some of the most productive bass waters around Block Island. Anderson has distilled that experience into a practical, readable volume titled Island Stripers: A Fisherman’s Guide to Block Island Bass, a self-published guide offered for $19.99 through the publisher.
Island Stripers is organized as a collection of observations, insights and tips gathered from 45 years fishing the Block Island sound and surrounding waters. Rather than serving as a technical textbook, the book reads as a seasoned captain’s handbook — blending practical advice with an understanding of the natural forces that shape fish behavior. Anderson writes about tides and currents, seasonal runs, and the long-standing debate of lures versus live bait, offering guidance that is immediately useful to recreational anglers and fellow guides alike.
Readers will find clear explanations of why tide changes matter, how current lines can concentrate fish, and what seasonal movements anglers should expect during spring, summer and fall. These passages translate the scientific underpinnings of fish distribution into actionable choices: where to set up for a morning bite, when to present a particular lure, and how to read the water for structure and activity. The book emphasizes observation and adaptation, encouraging anglers to combine local knowledge with the mechanics of fish behavior.
Anderson’s authority is grounded in a long history of hands-on research and fieldwork. A 2012 inductee into the International Game Fish Association World Fishing Hall of Fame, he has participated extensively in tagging programs that support fisheries science. Over the course of his career he has tagged nearly 60,000 game fish for scientific study — of those, some 43,000 were striped bass. That level of involvement gives his writing an empirical dimension: the patterns he describes reflect thousands of tag-and-release encounters and decades of seasonal trends.
Because the book is self-published, its tone remains conversational and focused on utility. It is aimed at anyone who spends time chasing bass around Block Island waters: weekend anglers looking to improve their catch rates, charter skippers seeking local insight, and conservation-minded readers interested in how tagging data informs management. Anderson’s stories and case examples illustrate how small adjustments — a different presentation, a shorter retrieve, or shifting focus to a current seam — can make a measurable difference.
Beyond specific tactics, Island Stripers advocates for a respectful approach to coastal fisheries. Anderson emphasizes that an angler’s success is connected to stewardship: careful handling, support for tagging and monitoring programs, and attention to seasonal protections all contribute to healthy bass populations that will sustain fishing for future generations. The book’s combination of practical technique and conservation-minded perspective helps bridge recreational fishing with the scientific work that sustains it.
For anglers planning a trip from Narragansett or a visit to Block Island, Capt. Al’s guide offers a compact primer on local conditions and best practices. Whether you’re casting from a charter on the Prowler or learning to read the tides from shore, the book provides clear, experience-based advice to improve both catch success and enjoyment on the water. Island Stripers: A Fisherman’s Guide to Block Island Bass retells a lifetime of lessons in a way that is accessible, applied, and rooted in decades of hands-on tagging and field observation. Available for $19.99 from the publisher, it is a practical companion for anyone serious about striped bass around Block Island.
October 2013 issue