New England Fishing Show expands learning experience

All in the family. Elisa Jackman with her father Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, RI will have a major presence at the New England Saltwater Fishing Show once again this year.  The show will take place March 8-10.

New England Fishing Show expands learning experience

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) has increased the number of seminars, demonstrations and workshops to over 60 during their Friday, March 8^th to Sunday, March 10^th New England Fishing Show taking place at the RI Convention Center.  The show is the largest of its type in the Northeast with over 250 exhibitors including tackle, rods, reels, lures, electronics, charter guides, boats, motors, accessories, clothing and much more.

The seminars will take place in four different locations… the “Main Stage”, a 200-seat area that will continue to present some of the top anglers on the East Coast; “Workshops” in a more personal 50-seat seminar area; a “Casting Lane”, to demonstrate surf casting and fly fishing; and a “Demo area” with no seats designed so anglers can see gear, products, and the speakers close up. “All four areas will be in continual operation during the weekend with seminars and demos running every hour.” said Steve Medeiros, RISAA president.

Seminar topics presented by some of the best regional fishing guides and captains include fishing for daytime stripers by Capt. BJ Silvia and Greg Vespe; secrets for catching big tautog by Capt. Greg Meyers; Block Island stripers by Pete Vican and Don Smith; how and where to catch bigger fluke by Capt. Dave Monti; light tackle sharking by Capt. Bruce Macomber; and a host of other topics.  Check topics, speakers, seminar times at www.risaa.org.

Tickets for the show are $8.00 each online (minimum purchase of two tickets online) with a special $1 online discount coupon at www.nesaltwatershow.com , or you can call for advance tickets at 401.826.2121.  Sunday is family day, all women and children 12 and under admitted free.

Learn how to land hard-tail species at Rhody Fly Rodders meeting

Captain Eric Thomas, fishing guide for 25 years, will be the guest speaker at the Tuesday, February 19 Rhody Fly Rodders meeting at the Riverside Sportsman’s Club, East Providence.  Captain Thomas will talk about how to land different hard-tail species including Atlantic Bonito, false albacore, skipjack tuna, and school bluefin tuna. He will concentrate on Atlantic Bonito and false albacore as they are the species that have consistently been showing up off coastal shores in recent years. Learn about the tackle he uses, for both fly and spinning rods, and the baitfish, flies, lures he uses as well as  location, boat tactics, landing and releasing these super fast fish.

The meeting will start with some fly tying at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation will start at 7:30 p.m. Monthly bucket raffles with free coffee and cookies. Bar refreshments are available.  Directions to the Riverside Sportsman’s Club: from Providence take Rt. 195 east to Exit 7 Route 114. Travel south approx. 4 miles. Take left reversing direction at median entering Barrington just after WPRO Radio Station. Continue north for one mile; take right at Riverside Sportsman’s club sign on Mohawk Drive.

Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council meetings

There is a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday, February 19 to consider management plan recommendations on striped bass, spiny dogfish, sharks and lobster management plans.  The hearing will take plans at 6:00 p.m. in the URI Bay Campus Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI.  Check AP and public hearing details at www.dem.ri.gov.

The process for regulation recommendations includes input and discussion at the species advisory panels, then on to a public hearing for comment (usually several species considered at the same meeting), and then recommendations move to the RIMFC for consideration.  The Council takes formal votes on recommendations and passes them on to DEM director Janet Coit for consideration.  The next RIMFC meeting to discuss AP and public hearing recommendations is scheduled for March 4, 2013.

RISAA seminar Monday, January 28

A RISAA seminar will be held Monday, February 28, 7:00 p.m. at the West Valley Inn, 4 Blossom Street, West Warwick, RI.  Topics to include a presentation of sea disasters by Michael Tougias author of “A Storm Too Soon”, which tells the story of a storm with 70’ waves. "... I like to transport the audience into the heart of the storm so that they ask themselves 'what would I have done?’… I enjoy doing these programs.” said Tougias.  The second topic for the evening will be on Fishing Safety with Dr. Craig Pruitt who will speak on health for boaters and fishermen, a subject he knows well as he is an avid outdoorsman himself.  Dinner served by West Valley Inn between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Public is invited to attend with a $10 donation to the scholarship fund, RISAA members no charge. Cost of dinner is separate.

Where’s the bite

Cod fishing is still about the only saltwater fishing game in town.  Last week the cod bite was mixed, good earlier in the week and then it softened as the storm approached.  Contact the Seven B’s at www.sevenbs.com or Frances Fleet boats at www.francesfleet.com .  The Seven B’s reported a good day of fishing Wednesday, “The fish started biting about an hour after setting anchor. Several limits on the boat and everyone went home with fish. Some nice size Pollack in the mix.”