Get hooked on fly fishing

 Travis Barao of East Providence with a cod he caught when fishing with his father Gil at Cox’s Ledge.

 Karen Franzesem Farmingdale, NY with 8.4 pound fluke she caught on the Frances Fleet.

Amanda Prisco of Warwick with black sea bass she and family caught off Newport.

Get hooked on fly fishing

Lean how to freshwater and saltwater fly fish this fall at the Department of Environment Management (DEM) fishing training program.

 

DEM is offering three programs:  Introduction to Freshwater Fly-fishing, Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Addieville East Game Farm, Mapleville; Introduction to Saltwater Fly-fishing, Saturday, October 17, 900 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the US fish and Wildlife Service’s Kettle Pond Visitors Center, Charlestown; and Fall Fly-tying 2015, sessions held on six Mondays beginning November 2 to December 7, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the North Kingstown Community Center.

Instructors for all classes are knowledgeable and experienced fly-fishing instructor guides and most belong to organizations such as Trout Unlimited, Rhody Fly-Rodders and United Fly-Tyers. The freshwater and saltwater lessons are $15 and the fly-tying classes are $5 each or six for $25.  Space for all classes is limited and registration is required.

For information and registration materials contact Kimberly Sullivan in DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education program at 401.539.0019 or at kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

Black sea bass limit increases to seven

The black sea bass catch limit increased to seven fish/person/day last week. Anglers are reporting a good bite off Pt. Judith, at Block Island, off Newport, along the southern coastal shore and in the Bay in the Jamestown and Newport Bridge areas. So now is the time to try to catch some for your dinner plate as they are a great eating fish. 

Black sea bass facts

Black sea bass (BSB) is a delicate, sweet-tasting saltwater fish. The firm, white flesh of this species is a favorite of many.  They have the ability to adjust their color to blend in with the bottom with colors ranging from grey, brown, black to a deep indigo hue.  BSB are hermaphroditic fish… they begin life as female then turn male.  They put up a good feisty fight but do not grow to be huge fish in the Northeast.  The largest black sea bass caught was 9 pounds, 8 ounces and about 19.7” long.   Ideal water temperature for black sea bass is 59 to 64 degrees.

How and where to catch black sea bass… rigs and bait

Rigs often used to catch black sea bass have two hooks approximately 12” to 16” apart with a bank sinker to hold bottom.  Squid or sea clams are most often used as bait.  Anglers often catch them while fishing for summer flounder (fluke) or tautog because they are on or close to the bottom.  They can also be caught with jigs and many prefer this method.

Any underwater structures… rocks, wrecks, piers and jetties will attract black sea bass.  The larger males are generally found in deeper water.

NOAA seeks assessment working group members

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking members for regional stock assessment workshop working groups for upcoming assessments of monkfish, black sea bass, surfclam, ocean quahog and maceral.  The way members for working groups are selected has been revised.  Members of the SAW WG must have the technical expertise and knowledge required to make meaningful contributions to the stock assessment.  Applications for the black sea bass group are due September 21, other assessment group applications are due September 30.

For information contact Olivia Rugo, NOAA Regional Office, at 978-675-2167 or email her at Olivia.Rugo@noaa.gov.

Learn “The Little Things” about fly fishing

The Narragansett Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU225) will host its monthly membership meeting Wednesday, September 30, 6:30 p.m. at the Coventry/West Greenwich Elks Lodge, 42 Nooseneck Hill Road (Rte. 3, Exit 6 off of Rte. 95), West Greenwich, R.I.  This will be the first indoor meeting of the season.

Learn about the "The Little Things” (seemingly the minor factors that can make a big difference in your fishing results) from Steve Culton, an experienced fly fishing guide, professional fly tyer, and freelance writer from neighboring Connecticut.  Steve’s passions include fishing for trout, stripers, steelhead, and in small streams with wild brookie populations.  For information contact Ron Marafioti (401) 463-6162.

Newport International Boat Show September 18^th-20^th

The largest boat show in New England, the Newport International Boat show, will ‘kick off’ the fall boat show season, Thursday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20^th.

The Newport International Boat Show provides visitors from around the world a venue to see the latest boats and product offerings from hundreds of manufacturers and dealers, including dozens debuting for the first time in the United States. Show planners are offering a variety of educational and fun activities for boating enthusiasts of all ages and experience.  For information visit www.newportboatshow.com.

Where’s the bite

Striped bass fishing continues to be strong on Block Island’s Southwest Ledge with anglers landing bass using eels.  This week even the day bite has been good.  Anglers Peter Vican and Don Smith said they have been doing well at night hooking up multiple times as many as fifteen fish a night.  Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina said, “Customers are catching bass on eels even during the day.  Fish are in the 25 to 30 pound range.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle said, “A few school size bass are being caught a Barrington Beach but the blue fish bite has been very good there with fish in the 3 to 5 pound range.”  “Block Island bass fishing is still hot with good sized keepers being caught from the Charlestown Breachway.” said Julian Trozzi of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown.  “Business has been very good this weekend.  Fluke, black sea bass, and striped bass are all biting at Block Island.  We have sold a lot of eels to customers going bass fishing on Block Island.” Fly fishing expert Ed Lombardo said, “We have been fishing the Narrow River which is producing great hickory shad fishing. Lots of bait in the rivers right now mostly silversides in sizes from 1” to 4” in length. Small flies made of black buck tail over white buck tail with a body made of silver tinsel are working very well, 2” in length. Lots of action and fun on 6 to 8 wt. rods. The Charlestown Breachway has a lot of bait and shad as well, bass are not up inside of the rivers yet, water is just too warm. Bass are being taken on the beaches and at the month of the river.”

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing is still good. “Customers are still catching fluke on the southeast side of Block Island and at the hooter buoy off Pt. Judith in about 80 feet of water.” said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor.  I fished this weekend off Newport and found fluke fishing very difficult landing three small keepers about 19 inches".  Julian Trozzi of Snug Harbor said, “Fluke fishing off Green Hill has been good, but the fish have not been large.” Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “We had some limit catches, especially earlier in the week. A few fish in the 8 to 9 pound range earlier in the week for pool winners with 6-7 pound fish the pool fish average later in the week. Various forms of gulp worms, whole squid, hi lo buck tails and regular rental rod set ups all had their respective moments in the sun this past week so be prepared to vary your approach when necessary.”

Bonito fishing is still very good.  Matt Conti of Snug Harbor said “The green bonito are all around from Narragansett to Westerly but they are up and down so you have to chase them.”  Julian Trozzi of Breachway Bait & Tackle said, “There is an awful lot of bait in the water and the bonito fishing is good as they chase bait all along the southern coastal shore.”

Scup fishing is good in most places.  John Littlefield of Archie’s bait said, “Anglers are catching scup at Sabin Point, Hanes Park and Colt State Park.”

Black sea bass (BSB) fishing (with an enhanced angler limit of seven fish per day as of September 1^st) has been very good.  “Albert Bettencourt of Riverside and two fishing partners’ boated 21 sea bass to five pounds in less than two hours at Block Island.” said John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle.  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “A good number of black sea bass limits this week with many fish in the 2 to 4 pound range with a decent amount upwards to and even over 5 pound on a few outings.”  Angler Dick Pastore said, “BSB fishing west of southwest ledge (off Block Island) Sunday with great success. Large squid baits on fluke rigs, although a single hook with a few beads and maybe a spinner does just fine. Fish were in 85’ of water. Size ranged from 14” to 22”.”

Offshore fishing. “Cod fishing is still good at Coxes Ledge.” said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor. “The yellow fin, big eye tuna and sword fish bite has been good at the west Atlantis canyon area.  Anglers are having success chucking and chumming this week.  They have caught yellow fish tuna in the 80 pound range.” Conti said.  Patti Ferrara of Ray’s Bait said, “We sold several flats of mackerel to anglers fishing offshore. The offshore bite is good.”  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “Anglers on our first offshore tuna trip crushed the yellowfin tuna with many of them easily limiting out. Nice fish mostly in the 40 to 60 pound range with the best around 70 pounds. A good amount of mahi was caught as well. Frances Fleet captains reported the ocean to be alive with bait and tuna busting all over the place. Some big swordfish came into the slick including one estimated at well over 300 pounds but no offering could tempt the fish. The bite was reported to be primarily a bait bite with just a few on jigs and no bite on the troll.” Angler Dick Pastore said on the RISAA blog, “One enormous blue shark released. Had two white marlin in the slick at different times. Was chumming with mackerel pieces and butterfish with menhaden chum bucket over the side. Each white marlin hung around for 15 minutes. Threw a butterfish bait at the second one and he inhaled it. Had 30 pound fluorocarbon leader which he bit off at the knot in about 10 minutes. Another boat on my dock hooked up a white marlin on a green machine Saturday. There are a bunch of these fish around.”