Thresher puts up 5 hour 40 minute fight

 Maridee II charter customers led by Tim Boynton and the 422 pound thresher they caught this weekend.

 AJ Dangelo of the Maridee II charter boat out of Galilee holds the tail of the 15 foot, 422 pound thresher shark they caught at the Gulley this weekend.

 Travis Barao of East Providence with the 7.2 pound fluke he caught off Newport earlier this month.

 Ethan Masciarelli (12 years old) of North Kingstown landed this 55.40 pound striped bass last week with an assist from his grandfather operating the boat chasing down the fish.

 Chris Pomeroy of Woodbury, CT landed this 9.25 pound fluke off Block Island aboard the Jeanie B charter boat captained by Russ Benn of the Seven B’s.

 Roger Tellier of North Kingstown with Capt. Dave Monti of Warwick and fluke caught off Newport last week.

Steve Medeiros of Coventry (RISAA president) with a fluke he caught Friday.

Thresher puts up 5 hour 40 minute fight

“It was the hardest fighting fish I’ve ever experienced.” said AJ Dangelo mate on the charter fishing vessel Maridee II. 

“At first when we hooked the thresher shark at 10:30 a.m. we stared out with each of the guys (led by customer Tim Boynton) going 15 minutes or so on the reel but by the end of the fight they were switching off every two minutes.  We had already caught three blue sharks and two makos that were released so when we hooked this fish we had already had a full day.

The fish fought hard and we didn’t see it until 2:30 p.m. but it didn’t offer a harpoon shot.  At 4:10 p.m. we were able to grab the leader and get the harpoon in her to end the five hour and forty minute battle.” 

The thresher was 422 pounds and fifteen feet long and was caught this weekend at the Gully fishing grounds. The Maridee II is captained by Andy Dangelo.

Shore fishing good and getting better

Steve McKenna noted striped bass shore angler and lecturer said, “Fishing has been pretty productive both in June and in July so far compared to recent years… particularly my last three trips in July.”  Steve fishes Narragansett and Jamestown shores using artificial lures of all types.  “The bite now is at night as the water has warmed.  We’ll fish at night until the end of September and then based on conditions will then try daytime fishing.”

“Fishing from shore has been very good.” said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside. “Scup fishing has been excellent from shore at Sabin Point, Providence and other locations all along the Providence shore as well as from Barrington Beach.  Anglers are using clam tongue, worms and squid with success. Striped bass have been caught from the Barrington Bridge in the 27” range with blue crabs fishing being very production particularly in 100 Acre Cove.”, said Littlefield.

Julian Trozzi of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown said, “Fishing from the Charlestown Breachway has been very good with anglers landing keeper sized striped bass, black sea bass, scup and some very large blue fish.  The bite is also good out in front from boats close to shore.”

DEM Environmental Police presentation Monday

“Some anglers complain that they are never around when they see a violation, while others complain they are around too often.” said Steve Medeiros, president of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA). Learn how DEM’s Enforcement Division works, its structure, challenges and responsibilities at a RISAA seminar Monday, July 27, 7:00 p.m. at the West Valley Inn, West Warwick. Separate dinner available from the West Valley Inn starting at 5:30 p.m. Non-members asked to donate $10 to RISAA’s scholarship fund when arriving, RISAA members attend free.  For additional information visit www.risaa.org .

Where’s the bite

“Striped bass fishing has been good at Block Island but you have to work for them.” said Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick.  “We are no longer fishing in the Bay but have been fishing with eels mostly at night at Block Island.  Some anglers are going just for a few hours and are leaving without success, but those that are working the tide changes and putting their time in are producing some very nice fish.  Ethan Masciarelli (12 years old) of North Kingstown landed a 55.4 pound striped bass last week.  He fought the fish by himself with his grandfather chasing it down with the boat.” said Landry.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle said Block Island is hit or miss.  Some customers go there and do well one day and then return and do poorly the next day.” Skip Stritzinger who fished Block Island last week said on the RISAA blog, “…we moved inshore in 25-35 feet.  It does not seem to matter where you are at the Island.   Southeast, Southwest or Northeast, the fish are stacked.   Flipping down wind and getting eels into the zone seems to help.  The fish are following the others so a second drift on the same spot is often not effective. At the same time throwing to followers is fun and a friend of mine hooked up well using Slug Go’s doing just that.   Smaller eels are better (as long as you can get them down).  No weight whenever possible. Keep it strealthish and slow.”

“Fluke fishing at Warwick Light has been good as well as Conimicut.” said Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle. “Anglers are jigging for summer flounder at Conimicut Light just east of the channel and are doing well.” said Littlefield of Archie’s Bait.  The Newport and Jamestown areas continue to be productive for fluke.  “Fish are being caught in 90 feet of water around the Newport Bridge.” said Ferrara. Travis Barao caught a 7.2 pound fluke off Newport when fishing the RISAA team fluke tournament.   I have been fishing in the Jamestown and Newport area six times in the last ten days and have done well.  Fished with RISAA president Steve Medeiros and RISAA secretary, Roger Tellier, both landed multiple fluke to 26”. Capt. Russ Benn of the Seven B’s was out on his charter boat the Jeanie B at Block Island this week and said, “Customer Chris Pomeroy of Woodbury, CT landed a 9.25 pound fluke.”  “Fluke fishing has been very good out in front of Charlestown.” said Julian Trozzi of Breachway Bait. Roger Simmons of the Frances Fleet said, “White flies and buck tail jigs were mentioned a few times by the crew as being productive, especially when conditions were more difficult. Generally seeing the fluke spitting up squid and some sand eels.”

Scup/bluefish.  “Scup fishing has been good at Hope Island and Sally Rock.” said Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait with bluefish showing up at Ohio Ledge.  “Bluefish seem to be more plentiful this year as they have been on the decline in recent years.” said Littlefield.  Anglers are catching many in the three to four pound range but some very large fish are being landed too.

Offshore fishing for tuna and sharks remained good this week.   

Freshwater. Noted area fly fisherman Ed Lombardo said, “Fished the Wood River on Monday night and the Hex hatch was at its best to date. Still not quite like it has been in past years but much better and more fish where up feeding on these Big Macs coming down the river. I fish my spinner pattern during the hatch, it works very well.”