What fishing can do for you

 Geoff Monti had no trouble catching his limit of tautog (to six pounds) off Newport this Saturday

Tim Stanhope of Bellingham, MA with a ten pound pool winning cod caught on the Frances Fleet.

What fishing can do

I fished with family and friends this past week.  And I have to tell you it was great. 

It reminded me of what I have always known, but often forget.  Sometimes I get caught up in the frenzy to catch fish when taking people fishing for hire as a charter captain.  And somethings, I loose perspective and think it is all about the fish.

What fishing with my son Geoff, and friends Chuck, Kevin, Steve, Jim and Rick reminded me of this past week is that sometimes it is not all about the fish.  But rather it is about the bond that is developed and enhanced between mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, father-in-laws, old and new friends.

Fishing affords you the time to get to know someone.  You talk about challengers and dreams, and sometimes just have plan old fun.

Thank you Geoff and friends for helping me keep a proper perspective about fishing.

New model helps determine impact of climate change on fish habitat 

A new approach by U.S. Geological Survey scientists to modeling water temperatures resulted in more realistic predictions of how climate change will affect fish habitat by taking into account effects of cold groundwater sources.

The study, recently published in the journal Ecological Applications, showed that groundwater is highly influential but also highly variable among streams and will lead to a patchy distribution of suitable fish habitat under climate change.  This new modeling approach used brook trout, but can be applied to other species that require cold water streams for survival.

"One thing that has been missing from other models is the recognition that groundwater moderates the temperature of headwater streams," said Nathaniel Hitt, a fish biologist and study coauthor. "Our paper helps to bring the effects of groundwater into climate change forecasts for fish habitat."

Climate change models predict that summer air temperatures will increase between 2.7 and 9 degrees Fahrenheit in the eastern United States over the next 50 to 100 years. Such increases in air temperatures will increase water temperatures of streams and rivers and pose a significant threat to fish like brook trout that have low resistance to warming water temperatures. 

Brook trout are an important cultural and recreational species with specific restoration outcomes identified in the new Chesapeake Bay Agreement.

"Our models help improve the spatial resolution of climate change forecasts in headwater streams," said Craig Snyder, a USGS research ecologist and lead author of the study. "This work will assist conservation and restoration efforts by connecting climate change models to places that matter for stream fishes."

The study is available on the ESA website at http://www.esajournals.org/doi/10.1890/14-1354.1.

Workshop and public hearing on fishing regulations

A workshop on proposed commercial fishing regulations for Rhode Island will be held November 16, 4:30 p.m., followed by a public hearing at 6:00 p.m. at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, Coastal Institute Building, Hazard Room.

Public comment will be solicited on amendments to "RIMFR - Finfish" including commercial management for summer flounder, bluefish, scup and black sea bass as well as editing changes and proposed amendments to the RIMER- Legislative findings.

Small businesses which are either currently licensed, or in the future may seek a license to harvest, buy, sell, or produce seafood products, as well as the small businesses that provide services related to those engaged in such industries, are requested to comment on the proposed regulations.  Comments should focus on how proposed regulations can be changed to minimize the impact on businesses affected.

A copy of the proposed regulations is available for review through November 16, 2015 at the Marine Fisheries offices, or by mail. A copy of the proposed regulation(s) has been filed with the Office of the Secretary of State’s website at http://sos.ri.gov/ProposedRules/. Proposed regulations are also available on DEM’s Website.

Written comments concerning the proposed regulations may be submitted to Peter Duhamel, Division of Fish and Wildlife  Marine Fisheries office, 3 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, RI 02835 no later than 12:00 Noon on November 16, 2015.

Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission annual meeting

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) will hold their 74th Annual Meeting November 2‐5, 2015 at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort in St. Augustine, FL.

Many key issues that will impact recreational anglers in Rhode Island will be discussed and/or determined.  Stock assessments, reports and fishery management plan recommendations on species such as tautog, scup, black sea bass and summer flounder are expected.  Some species, such as summer flounder and tautog, may have more conservative regulations due to overfishing and/or recent stock assessments.

For agenda and meeting materials, visit http://www.asmfc.org/home/2015‐Annual‐Meeting. You can also attend meeting sessions via a go to webinar or listen in via conference call.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass fishing is good along the coastal shore but many anglers are focusing on other species. “This week we had a school of bass in the 20 pound range come through the south shore in the Green Hill area and anglers did well.  But it is hit or miss this time of year as the fish are moving, migrating south.  There one day and not the next.  The North Rip has been good too.  Anglers are using diamond jigs with success and eels at night or early morning as the bluefish are killing the eels during the day.” said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown.

“Black sea bass opened up again in Federal waters (October 22) so anglers can keep their Rhode Island limit of seven fish.” said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina. “Black sea bass being open in Federal waters is big, now anglers targeting cod fish in places like the East Fishing Grounds can keep some of the sea bass they have been catching when targeting cod.” “Guys are still targeting black sea bass and are doing good.”  said Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren.

Tautog fishing has been outstanding.  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence said, “Customers of Capt. B.J. Silvia, Flippin Out Charters, landed seven fish that were ten pounds or over in the past two weeks.  Fish are in the Bay and off the coast biting on both Asian and green crabs.  Anglers caught tautog all the way up the Providence River right at the Save the Bay facility.”  I fished off Newport Saturday with my son Geoff Monti and he had no trouble limiting out with fish to six pounds.  The beauty is that not only are the tautog plentiful but anglers are picking up a number of black sea bass as a bonus when tautog fishing. I fished off Newport again Tuesday with a friend (in 60 feet of water) and we boated only one tautog, did not check in shore were there were a ton of boats. Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “Local tautog fishing has been quite good. Friday and Saturday were the best days where there were quite a few angler limits with the largest fish pushing the eight pound mark. Varying numbers of keeper sea bass are mixed in with a few small cod starting to show both keepers and shorts.”   Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait said, “You still hear some anglers complain about catching a lot of shorts but for the most part customers are landing five to eight pound tautog.  They are catching them with green crags and Asian crabs.  Jigs are working too.”  Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina said, “We sold a record number of crabs.  Anglers are fishing and catching off Narragansett at River Ledge and Brenton Reef, Newport.  Anglers are catching tautog off Scarborough and at the Pt. Judith Light but the fish are smaller as the larger ones have been picked over.”

Cod fishing.  Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “The biggest fish last week was twenty pounds with hi hook scoring five keepers. Sea Bass reopened in federal waters for Friday and anglers aboard easily attained limits of jumbo sea bass to five pounds. Mixed in on all the trips have been varying quantities jumbo porgies and some nice size ocean perch along with an occasional bluefish.”

“Squid fishing is good in the Jamestown and Newport areas.  Anglers are catching squid at Ft. Wetherill, Ft. Adams and on the Goat Island causeway.” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle. “Squid fishing is great.  Some customers are walking out of here with $50 to $100 of squid jigs.  They are catching them in Newport on the Causeway and Jamestown at the usual places.” said Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait.

Freshwater fishing for trout is good, particularly at ponds stocked by DEM in the past two weeks.  Visit www.dem.ri.gov for a list of ponds. “Trout at Carbuncle Pond and at Lincoln Woods are taking PowerBait worms as well as small and medium shiners.” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle.