Fishing, Boating & Kayaking

Yes, you can fish at Colt State Park. RI DEM lists saltwater fishing and an accessible fishing pier there, plus a state-run concrete boat ramp with 4 feet of water at mean low tide and a canoe and kayak launch, all on Narragansett Bay. Anyone 16 or older fishing with a hook and line needs a Rhode Island saltwater license ($7 a year for residents, $10 for non-residents) or a license from a state Rhode Island honors.

The Accessible Fishing Pier

DEM's amenity list for Colt starts with an accessible fishing pier, and its park map marks the fishing spot with a universal-access symbol at the north-west corner of the park, at the top of the Area 2 lawn, with parking beside it. Because it is built for universal access and has parking beside it, it suits anglers who use a wheelchair or would rather not climb over rocks. Bring your own gear and bait; DEM does not list a bait shop or rentals in the park.

Do You Need a Fishing License?

Yes, for most adults. To fish recreationally for finfish in Rhode Island's marine waters, DEM says you need one of:

• a Rhode Island Recreational Saltwater Fishing License,
• a National Saltwater Angler Registration, or
• a saltwater license from a reciprocal state. Rhode Island honors licenses from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine.

A yearly Rhode Island license costs $7 for residents and $10 for non-residents; a seven-day license is $5 for anyone. Rhode Island residents over 65 and active military stationed in Rhode Island get the license free but must still obtain one. Yearly licenses expire every December 31. Buy online through DEM's licensing site or from participating bait and tackle shops.

Who Does Not Need One

DEM lists these exemptions: anglers under 16, anglers on licensed party or charter boats, holders of a reciprocal state's license or a NOAA Fisheries registration, holders of a Highly Migratory Species angling permit, anglers on leave from active military duty, and anglers who are blind or permanently disabled. Casting a net for bait does not need a license, but the state's bait-net rules still apply.

Shellfish, Lobster and Crabs

The license covers finfish only. DEM says a separate recreational lobster license is needed to take lobsters, non-residents need a separate recreational shellfish license to take shellfish, and non-residents may not harvest blue crabs. Shellfish areas also open and close with water quality, so check DEM's shellfish closure map before you dig. DEM's history of Colt recalls families walking out from town to dig clams and quahogs in Mill Gut; whether that is allowed today depends on those current closures.

Sizes, Limits and Seasons

DEM publishes minimum sizes, possession limits and seasons for recreational saltwater species, and they change from year to year. Check the current table on DEM's marine fisheries pages before you keep a fish.

The Boat Ramp

DEM lists Colt State Park as public boat launching site 22 in Bristol: a state-owned and operated concrete ramp off Hope Street (Route 114), with 4 feet of water at mean low tide. The park map places it on the north shore, west of the entrance, with a universal-access symbol and a parking lot. DEM lists no launch fee for Colt. The ramp is open the same hours as the park, sunrise to sunset, and state rules prohibit mooring or berthing a boat overnight except in designated areas. Bristol's other public ramp, at Independence Park at the foot of Church Street, is a linked concrete slab (DEM site 21).

Kayaking and Paddling

DEM lists paddling among Colt's experiences and a canoe and kayak launch among its amenities. The park's west shore faces open water on Narragansett Bay, and Mill Gut, the tidal inlet in the middle of the park, drains and fills with the tide. Check the wind and the tide before you go out. Wear a life jacket and tell someone your plan.

Fishing Nearby

Haines Memorial State Park in Barrington, also on the East Bay Bike Path, lists saltwater fishing and has a handicap-accessible boat ramp. See Haines Memorial State Park.

Before You Go

Parking at the pier and the ramp is free (parking). The park closes at sunset (hours), so plan an evening tide accordingly. Dogs are fine on a short leash (dogs).