Bluefin tuna running hard

 Alex Appolonia of North Kingstown with the 80 pound bluefin tuna he caught last week when fishing with his father and uncle at the Dump (about 50 miles offshore).

 The Maridee II crew with the 40” bluefin they caught last week 50 miles offshore.

 A total of fifty veterans, family members, friends and care givers fished on charter boats from the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association last week.

Steve Brustein and Kevin Fetzer caught over 22 keeper fluke and black sea bass fishing in the windmill area off Block Island Saturday.

Bluefin tuna running hard

Fishing offshore can be very exciting and challenging.  You travel long distances, sometimes in rough seas and bad weather. 

However, when a bluefin tuna hits your rig going 30 miles/hour it all becomes very exciting.  And, you see things offshore that are remarkable.  Sites you do not ordinarily see along the coastal shore and in the bays.

You see porpoise, all types of whales and more exotic fish like marlin, mahi mahi and Wahoo.  And, the big prize that most seek is the tuna. 

Last week bluefin tuna (BFT) fishing exploded off Rhode Island shores.  The bluefin were not 100 miles out at the canyons, nor were they off Cape Cod but about 50 to 60 miles offshore at a place called the Dump.  Here’s what happened.

Matt Conti of Sung Harbor Marina said, “All the bait and food is at the Dump not further out at the Canyons.  Whales were at the southern sections of the dump with some large fish being caught and they are catching 40” to 60” bluefin tuna with yellowfin tuna mixed in at the northern end of the Dump.  Most guys have switched to tuna fishing from shark fishing but there are still plenty of sharks around too.”

I spoke with Matt yesterday and he said, “The northeast wind and rough seas kept boats at the dock
Tuesday and Wednesday this week, however, it may be a good thing as the water may cool just a bit and keep all the bait in place.”

Alex Appolonia of North Kingstown caught an 80 pound bluefin at the Dump Thursday.  He was fishing with his father Eric on his Uncle David Appolonia’s boat.  

Avid offshore fisherman Richard Pastore said, “We started fishing at the Fingers which is just above the center of the Dump at about 7:30 a.m. on Saturday with whales, birds, dolphin and a one degree temperature break.  Schools of medium size bluefin tuna were breaking on the surface… at 8:00 a.m. a fish hit and almost spooled me until I finally turned it.  A few minutes later we gaffed a 51” BFT which weighed about 100 pounds. An hour later the black bar hooks up again with another identical fish. Their bellies were jammed with sand eels to the point where I don’t know how they expected to swallow the 14” squid that they hit on my spreader bar.” 

Capt. Rick Bellavance said, “The charter boat Maridee II got into some 40 inch Bluefin tuna on Sunday within 50 miles from Point Judith.  “I spoke with my brother Doug Thursday at 9 a.m. and they had boated their fist bluefin.” said Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly. 

Charter Fishing Association says ‘thanks for serving’

Last Tuesday, July 26 twelve charter fishing vessels from the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association took veterans fishing aboard their vessels out of the Port of Galilee.   It was the third year in a row that veterans, many of them with disabilities, family members, friends and care givers (about fifty of them) where out on the water with charter fishing association members in Rhode Island.

Everyone on the trip caught fish.  Capt. Rick Bellavance, president of the RIPCBA, said, “The veterans caught black sea bass, scup, fluke, striped bass and sea robins. We thank them all from the bottom of our hearts for their service and tremendous sacrifices.”

Jenny McLaughlin, adaptive sports case manager from the VA Boston Healthcare System said, “I continue to be humbled by the number of captains that continue to come out each year and volunteer/donate their time and boats for our Veterans to fish… the captains and mates did great accommodating each Veteran and their ability.”

Tautog season opens

The recreational tautog season opened August 1 and will run through October 14^th with a three fish/person/day catch limit.  In the next period of the season, from October 15^th to December 15^th the catch limit will jump to six fish/person/day. A maximum of ten fish per vessel applies during all periods.

Where’s the bite

Freshwater fishing has slowed with warming water.  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence said, “Largemouth bass are still being caught at Turner Reservoir in Rumford and at Ten Mile River.  Pickerel perch, bass, trout and carp (on the north side) are being caught a Lincoln Woods.”

Summer flounder and black sea bass.  Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, said, “The windmill area at Block Island was pretty good Sunday for fluke and there are plenty of black sea bass being caught too.”  Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “It seems that the fluke and black sea bass action has moved south of the Jamestown and Newport Bridges and out in front.”  This weekend I fished with Kevin Fetzer and Steve Brustein at the Block Island windmills and did well with black sea bass and fluke to 24 inches. “The fluke bite is now off Block Island or along the coastal shore with few fish being caught in the Bay.” said Dave Henault of Ocean Stale Tackle.

“Bluefish in the Bay at Ohio Ledge and Barrington Beach have been big in the 12 and 13 pound range.” said Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick.  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle said, “Huge blue fish in the 40” range are being caught in the Seekonk River and other parts of the Bay.”

“The Scup bite has been very strong at Warwick Light, Sabin Point, Colt State Park, the Mt. Hope Bridge and the fish have been big… some topping 20”.” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle.  Anglers continue to catch scup around any structure in the Bay.  Add water movement that pushes around the bait and the bite improves tremendously.

“Striped bass fishing remained strong at night at Block Island and is better during the day than it was with anglers successfully using eels as bait.” said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina.  “Anglers are catching striped bass off Newport in the Brenton Reef area.” said Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait.  Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said, “Customers are catching striped bass off Newport and Jamestown using both eels and Atlantic menhaden.  Block Island has been good for bass too.”

Bonito are here.  No reports of big numbers being caught yet but anglers at Block Island and along the coastal shore have hooked up.  Angler Eric Appolonia reported catching a bonito when trolling with an umbrella rig at the southwest ledge area of Block Island two weeks ago.  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle report a customer caught one in the Pt. Judith area this weekend.

The fishing is hot… on the water and on your plate

Eric Appolonia, North Kingstown, with a 24” tautog caught off Newport southeast of Seal Ledge.

 Angler Greg Vespe of Tiverton landed three squid at once.  Greg reports an outstanding squid run.

 Alex Appolonia of North Kingstown (a senior at Bishop Hendricken High School) with tautog caught while fishing with his father Eric on No Fluke Charters off Newport.

Tim Gilchrist with a 36” striper he caught near shore at east beach Quonnie.  Tim said, “A lot of school bass were mixed in. Most successful lure was a white 4” Storm Shad fished slowly.”

Giant bluefish (14.17 pounds and 33”) caught by Gil Bell of Charlestown, RI at a Washington County Beach last week.

The fishing is hot… on the water and on your plate

Tautog fishing this past week was hot.  Arguably the best it has been in years. And so was fresh Rhode Island seafood on plates in Newport and around the state.

This week, Newport Restaurant Week partnered with Rhode Island Seafood, a collaborative formed by the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to support local fishermen. 

The aim of the collaborative is to increase awareness and consumption of locally fished species. The RI Seafood seal, which is appearing on Newport Restaurant Week participant’s menus, guarantees that a menu item’s seafood was landed right here in Rhode Island waters.

The RI Seafood Seal Initiative is actually a state- wide effort available on fish throughout the state as long as the processor landing the fish has applied to participate in the program and has been approved to use the seal because they guarantee that the fish has been landed in Rhode Island. 

Once approved, customers of processors landing the fish all along the supply change can use the RI Seafood seal such as distributers, fish markets, supermarkets and restaurants.

Recreational fishermen who eat their catch, know that locally caught seafood is fresher, in that the time from ocean to dinner plate is less.  Of course, locally caught seafood doesn’t guarantee freshness.  We still have to be advocates at the market and in restaurants and ask if the seafood was landed in RI, does it have the RI Seafood Seal and how old is the fish.

And remember, in a fish market it is OK to ask to smell the fish.  Fish the smells fishy won’t necessary harm you, however, it does mean that bacteria has set in and implies that the fish is older.

The RI Seafood Seal is a good step to help insure consumers that the seafood they buy and eat is landed here in Rhode Island and supports local fishermen.

Reel Recovery to be featured charity at Rhody Fly Rodders

The Rhody Fly Rodders will feature their charity of choice ‘Reel Recovery’ at their annual fly tying for charity meeting Tuesday, November 17^th, 6:30 p.m. at the Riverside Sportsmen Association, East Providence, RI.

‘Reel Recovery’, the beneficiary of this year’s annual fly tying event is a national organization that offers a retreat for men recovering from cancer.  Experienced tyers will take the lead and instruct meeting participants on how to tie their favorite patterns.

The flies will be collected and then sold at fishing shows and meetings, with all proceeds donated to ‘Reel Recovery’. 

For information contact Peter Nilsen, president, Rhody Fly Rodders at pdfish@fullchannel.net or 401.633.5329.

Capt. Al Anderson to release new book… Tag is in the Fish

“Simply put, my book ‘Tag is in the Fish’ is about both traditional and electronic fish tagging along with some information about my personal tagging of both bluefin and stripers.” said Capt. Al Anderson about his new book now at the publishers.  Capt. Anderson who had been a charter captain out of Pt. Judith operated the charter fishing vessel the Prowler for many years.

The book talks about the tagging efforts of various agencies including The Billfish Foundation, The Cooperative Game Fish Tagging Program of NMFS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Cooperative Tagging Program, and the American Littoral Society.

Information on how to purchase the book will be released shortly.

Where’s the bite

Squid fishing has been very good with reports of anglers catching squid in Newport, Jamestown and in Narragansett.  Angler Greg Vespe of Tiverton said, “Squid fishing has been outstanding in the lower bay.    I even got a triple header the other day, my first ever.  Most nights between 10 and 40 pounds.   I hope it will hold until the temperature start to get down towards 50 degrees.”  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence said, “Squid fishing has been insane.  Some anglers are catching them on striped bass lures like pencil poppers.  Squid are everywhere.”

Tautog fishing remains off the charts.  It has been the best tautog fishing in a few years with many anglers catching their limit on the southern coastal shore, off Jamestown and Newport.  Some nice fish have been taken in Narraganset Bay at favorite spots such as Hope Island, General Rock, the Providence River and in the Warren River.  Angler Eric Appolonia and I fished off Newport last week and hooked up with nine nice keepers to 24” in a matter of two hours. Fish were caught on an egg sinker rig designed with a single hook below the sinker on a swivel.  The bite off Newport was strong Sunday as well, fishermen on board my boat  reached their limit, with two to three shorts to every keeper. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle said, “Fishing at Coddington Cover Sunday was difficult. Anglers caught most short fish there.” Chris Jalbert of Westerly and fishing partner Dan Simas of Bristol easily caught eight keepers last week said, “Fish were caught on a simple rig of surgeon's loop with sinker (2-3oz) and a dropper loop 3-4" above the loop with a green crab on a 5/0 octopus hook. Whole and cut crabs worked equally as well. We were fishing south shore of RI in 25-30' water. It's been a very good couple weeks of fishing once water got below 60 degrees.”  Phil Mattson of Breachway Bait & Tackle said, “Tautog fishing off the Charlestown reefs has been great as well as off Pt. Judith.  Anglers are catching fish in 20 to 40 feet of water.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside, said customer Albert Bettencourt and fishing partners caught about eighty fish to get to their limit of ten keepers. They fished the Rose Island Newport area. Other areas where anglers are doing well from shore include the old Jamestown Bridge, the Wharf Tavern and Colt State Park areas.” Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “Black fish action has been remarkably consistent with most days seeing a third to one half of fishers limiting out. Several fish in the 10-11 pound range this past week and a fair amount of others 7-8 pound fish. Tremendous amounts of short tog as well. Only a couple days saw any real quantity of sea bass mixed in, they do seem to be thinning from the inshore grounds as water temps slowly cool. A handful of keeper cod and some short cod along with a few red hake and even a couple conger eels were recorded this past week.”

Striped bass and bluefish fishing from shore all along the southern coastal shore have been very good.  Phil Mattson from Breachway Bait said, “Striped bass fishing from the beach in Charlestown as been very good with school size bass as well as 15 to 25 pound fish.  And, at night 30 to 40 pound fish are being caught on ells at night.  During the day anglers are using Storm Shard, Bucktails and shallow water diving lures with success.”  Mattson said, “The blue fish bite has been good too with some large fish in the 12 to 15 pound range being weighed in this week.”  Tim Gilchrist said, “Lots of early morning stoolies almost on the shore at east beach Quonnie with a few large fish in the 36” range mixed in.  Most successful bias was a white 4” Storm Shad fished slowly.”   Angler Gil Bell of Charlestown said he landed a giant bluefish (14.17 pounds and 33”) a Washington County Beach last