Young anglers aim to hook big fish

Big bass bite: Capt. Rick Bellavance of Priority Fishing Charters, said “There were miles of striped bass from 20” to 46” at Block Island this week.” Like this 40 pounder caught by a customer last Sunday.

Summer flounder (fluke) like this seven pounder caught on Priority Fishing Charters were entered in the Fluke Til Ya Puke Tournament last Saturday.  The winning 10.20 pound fish was caught off Montauk, NY.

Young anglers aim to hook big fish

This is the week for young anglers.  They will be fishing in Narragansett Bay on Saturday, June 22 and Thursday, June 27.

Plan fishing in Greenwich Bay accordingly this Saturday as the RI Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) will hold their 21^st annual Take-a-Kid fishing day, Saturday, June 22.  Approximately forty volunteer vessels and 125 shore and boat volunteers will take 119 kids fishing in Greenwich Bay trolling for bluefish.

Fishing will be followed by a 12 noon cookout at Brewers (Safe Harbor) Cowesett Marina, which donates the use of boat slips, staging and cookout areas.  Youth participation is limited to organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs, Scouting Troops and city recreation departments. 

The aim of the program is to teach children about the ocean, environment, boating and give them an opportunity to fish.  Often children participating have never seen the saltwater, never mind ride a boat and fish.

Youth Fishing Camp, Tuesday, June 25-June 27

The RI Saltwater Anglers and the Department of Environmental Management Youth Fishing Camp is full with a waiting list, but watch for this camp next year.  The Camp will be held at Rocky Point State Park, Warwick, Tuesday, June 25 to Thursday, June 27 for children 7 to 12 years old. 

Steve Medeiros, RISAA president said, “The goal is to introduce youngsters to fishing. We find children of all backgrounds and cultures are attracted to fishing for all the right reasons and our aim is to give them a proper introduction to the sport.”

Topics to be covered over the three day camp include fish identification,  fishing laws, use of spinning and conventional gear and tackle, knot tying, basic marine biology, how and why to use different baits and lures, casting and fishing from shore as well as boating safety and fishing on a boat.

The fishing camp is sponsored by the RI Saltwater Anglers Foundation in partnership with RI DEM Aquatic Resource Education Program, US Fish & Wildlife and Brewers Marina. 

 Saltwater Fly Fishing School, Saturday, June 29

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Resource Education Program will hold a Saltwater Fly Fishing School, Saturday, June 29 at the Narrow Rive Bridge, Route 1A Boston Neck Road, Narragansett.  All students must have some fly fishing experience.

Edward Lombardo, local fly fishing expert and school instructor said, “Equipment including fly rod, gear and flies will be provided, however, participants should bring their own waders.”  The cost of the program is $15.00 per person which includes lunch. Students must be 16 years or older. Ages 16 and 17 need be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.  Register with Kimberly Sullivan at 401-539-0037 or kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ tournament big success

The 14^th Annual ‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ fishing tournament held Saturday, June 15 was a big success once again.  Organizers, Captains Brian and Peter Bacon of Big Game Sport Fishing charters, South Kingstown, say it is the largest summer flounder (fluke) tournament in the world.  The tournament has multiple entry categories and over $50,000 in prizes.

Capt. Peter Bacon said, “We had our fingers crossed with the weather Saturday and lucked out with an eight hour window of good weather during the Tournament.  About 90 percent of the fish we weighed in were in the six to seven pound range. The largest fish, we had about four fish over nine pounds, were caught off Montauk, NY.”

12,001 anglers participated in the Tournament, down slightly from last year, likely due to the predicted bad weather.  The ‘biggest fluke’ prize of $5,000 went to Bill Robinson with a 10.20 pound fluke; followed by Nino Averso, 9.74 pounds; and third place went to Eric Alleyne with a 9.38 pound fluke.”

For additional information and a complete list of winners visit www.biggamefishingri.com or the tournament Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FlukeTilYaPuke/.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass/bluefish.  The Cape Cod Canal continues to light up with striped bass. David Jeffers of Red Top Sporting Goods, Buzzards Bay, said, “The squid are in the Canal and the bass are here feeding on them.  We weighed in a 44 and a 35 pound fish this week.  Fish are being caught on the bottom with jigs.” Capt. Rich Bellavance of Priority Fishing Charters said, “Sunday the bass fishing at Block Island was outstanding with miles of fish in the 20 inch to 46 inch range. We are catching them on umbrella frames and parachute jigs.  They are feeding on small sand ells.  The southwest corner has been the best but there are fish at the north end (although smaller) and the southeast side is yielding blues and bass.”  Douglas Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly said, “The beaches are producing smaller striped bass with larger ones being caught on the reefs.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside said, “There are not a log of pogies around in the Providence River/Pawtucket area.  Anglers are catching keepers in the Conimicut Light and Rumstick Point areas trolling tube & worm.”  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Steven Estrada caught a 45” striped bass at India Point Park, using Atlantic menhaden chucks.”  The bluefish bite in the mid Bay area continues to improve.  Jim Laird on the RISAA blog said, “Fished out of East Greenwich Bay with my nephew today and trolled up a mess of bluefish. We must have caught over 40 in three hours and they all ran around 2 – 3 lbs. The choppers are much bigger this year.”

Fluke fishing is mixed.  Capt. Peter Bacon of BIG Game Sport Fishing Charters said, “During the ‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ tournament last Saturday anglers fishing the south side of Block Island had to battle dog fish to land fluke.” Doug Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters said Tuesday, “The fluke bite along the southern coastal shore has been outstanding with anglers hooking up with a lot of nice black sea bass which they will be able to take starting June 24 when the season opens in RI.”  “Fluke are being caught in the mid-Bay region on the shipping channel pads in the Prudence Island ‘T Wharf’ area.” said Henault of Ocean State Tackle. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle said, “Some reports of customers catching keeper fluke drifting along the side of Dutch Island in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay in 40 to 60 feet of water.”

Scup.  Dave Henault said, “Scup to 16” are being taken under the Mt. Hope Bridge and off Barrington.”  John Littlefield said, “The scup bite is just starting to improve with fish being caught at Colt State Park.”

Freshwater fishing.  Dave Henault of Ocean State said, “The trout bite is off, however, customers are catching largemouth and the carp fishing has been very good.”  Doug Wade of Watch Hill said, “The largemouth bass bite at Chapman’s Pond in Westerly had been very good.”