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Pawcatuck River is a public river in Washington County, Rhode Island, managed by State of Rhode Island (public / navigable water). You can fish it on a Rhode Island inland fishing licence; bank access is at RI DEM boat launches, Trout Management Area parking areas and bridge crossings. Rhode Island has no blanket streambed-access law; away from a public access point, wading or bank fishing may cross private property, so check current signage or ask permission. Public access confirmed via marquee water.
Part of the federally-designated Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers System — Rhode Island's best inland trout and smallmouth bass water, and its only National Wild and Scenic River.
It runs roughly 30 miles through the South County region. Anglers here mostly fish for brook trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel. Live flow and gauge height come from the Pawcatuck River At Westerly, Ri USGS station shown below. The nearest other mapped waters on PiscaMaps are Pawcatuck River (Wide Water) and Poquiant Brook.
Species from PiscaMaps water-type profiles, RI DEM trout-stocking records and hand research.
Night fishing: No statewide night-fishing closure in Rhode Island on inland freshwater; Scituate Reservoir has its own posted access hours under the Providence Water permit program.
Boats: Most Rhode Island ponds take a car-top or small trailered boat via an RI DEM access point; Scituate Reservoir prohibits all boats to protect the drinking-water supply.
Bank & bivvy camping: Camp at Rhode Island state parks and management areas (Burlingame, Arcadia, George Washington); DEM access points themselves are day-use only.
Tackle: Statewide bass and pickerel limits are generous; trout limits and any special artificial-lures-only water follow the current DEM freshwater fishing abstract for this specific water.
Boat ramps: 2 mapped — Boat ramp, Boat ramp.
Camping: 2 sites mapped nearby — Mystic KOA Holiday, Mystic KOA Holiday.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors.
Loading live flow & gauge height…
Live from USGS gauge 01118500 — Pawcatuck River At Westerly, Ri. Full gauge data →
Anyone 15 or older needs a Rhode Island freshwater fishing licence — the resident annual is about $21, the non-resident annual about $36, with cheaper short-term non-resident options also sold. A separate saltwater licence (RISAL, free to register) is needed for tidal/coastal species. Residents 65 and older and anyone under 15 fish free. Buy from RI DEM at dem.ri.gov. A Rhode Island freshwater fishing licence covers this river under the state's public-trust doctrine for navigable water.
Every water carries species, bank & boat access, current regulations and live water conditions — and members get Swim Mapper, Catch Logger and Trip Planner. It's the only US map with a dedicated carp-water layer.
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