Mid-Bay hot with
striped bass action like these two 16 pound striped bass caught by Kevin
Pellegrino off Poppasquash Point, Bristol.
Research to identify mercury levels in scup
The Rhode
Island Saltwater Anglers Foundation has awarded a $12,166 grant to Roger Williams University to drive new research that
will measure mercury levels in scup, a native fish frequently fished and
consumed by Rhode Island recreational fishermen. The research will assist the
Rhode Island Department of Health in establishing new guidelines for safely
eating scup, which account for 23 percent of the total recreational catch in
Rhode Island.
Over
the next year, Roger Williams University Associate Professor of Biology David
Taylor and marine biology student Sean Maiorano ’ 14 (from Briarcliff Manor,
N.Y.) will analyze mercury levels of scup to enable the Department of Health to
update fish consumption advisories, should a change in mercury risk be
identified. The effort is aimed at encouraging safe, healthy consumption of
scup, a fish that Taylor anticipates will measure low in mercury levels.
Dr.
Taylor has conducted a lot of research in this area. To determine how much fish
and what species area residents are consuming, Taylor surveyed eating habits of
280 local fisherman and their families and found that they eat 80 percent more
fish relative to the national average. Further, approximately 29 percent of those
surveyed reported eating scup on a regular basis. Taylor has performed
comprehensive research on mercury contamination in striped bass, bluefish,
tautog, black sea bass, summer flounder and winter flounder from Narragansett
Bay. When the analysis on mercury in scup and other species concludes,
consumption advisories will be updated.
Steve
Medeiros, president of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Foundation said, “We
are very pleased to offer this grant in support of Taylor’s important research into mercury levels in our
local scup. This is an important fish caught by local anglers and consumed by
thousands of people. Our Foundation
believes that this research will aid everyone to determine if consumption of
scup could lead to exposure to mercury. We are sure that this work will help
improve the overall recreational fishing experience and we are pleased that such
fine research will be conducted at a local University.”
For
additional information about research and news from the University’s marine and
natural sciences programs, visit http://departments.rwu.edu/mns/.
The scoop on scup
Scup
(or porgy) are plentiful in local waters as the stock was officially declared rebuilt
in 2009 as it increased 30-fold from 1997 to 2008 largely due to conservation
measures.
Scup are a small,
mild tasting fish. Locally, they are fished for by anglers for food and not
just sport. Scup has been cited
as an underutilized fish species. NOAA says on their website in taste tests participants discovered the lesser known scup has a
subtle, delicious flavor and is an excellent alternative to more popular white
fish.
Scup facts
·
Scup can grow as large as 18” and three pounds and can live for
over twenty years
·
Scup migrate north
and inshore to spawn in the spring, then migrate south and offshore in autumn
as the water cools/
·
The Atlantic States
Marine Fisheries Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
jointly develop management measures for the scup, however, individual states
may set different regulations for the scup
·
In Rhode Island the scup
shore and private angler minimum size is 10”, 30 fish/person/day from May 1 to
August 31 and from November 1 to December 31; and 45 fish/person/day from
September 1 to October 31. However,
Rhode Island has a special area provision… while fishing from shore at India
Point Park, Providence; Conimicut Park, Warwick; or at Stone Bridge, Tiverton,
RI anglers may poses up to 30 scup nine inches or greater in length from May 1 through
December 31. Party and charter boat
regulations are slightly different.
Operation dry water
Safe boating patrols will be stepped up
June 28 to June 30 in a joint operation conducted by the Department of
Environmental Management’s Division of Law Enforcement and US Coast Guard Units
from Castle Hill and Point Judith. The effort is part of Operation Dry
Water, a coordinated national weekend of Boating Under the Influence (BUI)
detection and enforcement. It is aimed at reducing the number of
alcohol-related and drug-related accidents and fatalities, and making
recreational boaters aware of the dangers of alcohol and drug use on the water.
Recreational
fishing guide
The
Department of Environmental Management announces the publication of the first
annual Rhode Island Recreational Saltwater Fishing Guide, which is now
available at bait and tackle shops, marine supply stores, town halls, chambers
of commerce, and other locations throughout the state. The guide is also
available online at www.eregulations.com. The guide features boat
ramp locations RI saltwater fishing regulations (minimum sizes, fishing season,
catch limits) features written by area experts on how and where to catch
certain species and a host of other information. The guide is funded entirely
through excise taxes that fishermen pay on tackle, fishing equipment and fuel
through the federal Sportfish Restoration Program, and licensing fees through
the RI Recreational Saltwater License Program.
Where’s the bite
Fluke (summer flounder) fishing is good in the
lower Bay around both the Newport and Jamestown Bridges with anglers fishing
these areas talking their limit (eight fish/angler, 18” or larger). Larry Norin
launched at Wilson Park, North Kingstown this Friday at 4:30 p.m. and was done
by 8:30 p.m. He fished south of
the Jamestown Bridge. Norin said, “We were drifting north at
over 2 knots. I needed 12 ounces to hold bottom…we started to catch fish.
As we made shorter drifts we found the fish concentrated in one area so
we just kept making shorts drifts over and over again… all fish kept were in the
20” to 22” range.” John Owens reports on
the RISAA blog that he limited out in just four hours fishing north of Dutch
Island to just north of the Jamestown Bridge this past Friday with fluke to 24”. He also landed two nice keeper sized black
sea bass. Fluke fishing is still good off Warwick Neck said John Wunner of
John’s Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown.
Wunner said, “We have guys catching their limit frequently. So it has been a good year for fluke so far.”
Striped bass fishing is still good in the
upper Bay in the Providence River. Capt.
Fred’s Charters reported “I had James Elkins charter, his father and son
on leave from his Sub based in Pearl Harbor out Friday morning for
stripers.” They landed two keeper
striped bass 29” and 37” using orange Hogy tubes with worms when trolling the
Providence River. John Wunner of John’s
Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said, “Fishing hasn’t been this good in ten
years. The bass have sea lice which
would indicate they have just arrived in the Bay from the ocean. It seems like the
middle of the Bay is getting a lot of actions now with anglers catching bass
all around Prudence Island and Hope Island.”
John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle , East Providence said
the bass bite has been very good between Nayatt Point, Barrington Beach and
Rumstick Point. I weighted in a 29 pound
bass this week caught off Rumstick Point.
They seem to be going for chucked Menhaden.” Action out at Block Island has been consistently
good with smaller fish, larger fish are now becoming more prevalent.
Squeteague (weak
fish) continue to make their presence know with fish landings in the 23” range
both at Warwick Neck and off the Southern tip of Prudence Island.
Scup
fishing continues to explode with large fish being caught at Colt State Park
and at the Mt. Hope, Jamestown and Newport Bridges. “I weighed in several scup in the one pound
twelve once range.” said John Wunner of John’s Bait & Tackle.
No comments:
Post a Comment