Lots of comments at fisheries meeting… just the way it should be

Mike Bucko of Bucko Bait & Tackle makes his point at Monday’s fisheries meeting.

Lots of comments at fisheries meeting… just the way it should be

If one of the objectives of the Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) new “Lean Initiative” meeting format is to encourage participation at fisheries meetings, Monday night’s meeting at the URI Bay Campus was a big success. 

Over 80 fishermen openly and freely expressed their points of view on primarily recreational fishing quotas, proposed regulation options and user group proposals.  I say user groups because in fisheries management a variety of groups compete for access to the same finite resource (see striped bass example below).

Monday’s meeting combined what normally takes place over four different evenings into one night.  Multiple meetings have hampered angler attendance in the past.  Traditionally participation at Advisory Panel meetings held over four different evenings are limited (three to six fishermen, fifteen or twenty if an important issue is being discussed).  Often times those that participate are industry leaders that can sway votes on important issues without getting perspectives from average fishermen because they are simply not in the room.

There was no doubt at the 4:30 p.m. workshop that different user groups including private anglers were in the room to listen to stock status, last year’s fish landings and proposed regulation options for summer flounder, black sea bass, tautog, scup, striped bass and others.  Anglers were able to ask fish managers and marine biologist questions, express their point of view and support or not support proposed regulation options as well as propose alternative options. 

The workshop was followed by an official public hearing at 7:00 p.m. Fishermen comments were recorded to pass along to the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (RIMFC) for their March 2 meeting and then will be passed along  to DEM Director Janet Coit along with Council recommendations as part of the input she will receive for her decision making process.

Fishermen in the room did not agree on regulation options, however, the points of view of many were heard together in a public setting in a much more robust way than traditional Advisory Panel meetings.

If you missed the meeting, it is not too late to comment as DEM has extended the public comment period. 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 February 26, 2015.  Email all communications to peter.duhamel@dem.ri.gov  .

Meeting highlights

Striped bass took center stage with nearly an hour and half of discussion at the meetings.  Coastwide the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), which sets regulations for east coast migratory species, approved a one fish at 28” for all anglers with the caveat that states could come up with conservation equivalency options that achieved at least a 25% reduction in striped bass landings in 2015.  Striped bass fish stocks, particularly the spawning stock of egg bearing females is on the decline and all agree that something has to be done to reduce landings.

Conservation equivalency was the sticking point at the meeting; many anglers did not know or did not feel that a two fish solution was appropriate even if it reduced landings by 25%. 

Every user group has their perspective on fishing quotas and regulations, particularly striped bass.  Two options were proposed in the presentation Monday… one fish at a minimum size of 28” for all anglers, and then a second option that was one fish at 28” for private anglers and two fish at a minimum size of 32” for charter and party boats.

Some for hire party and charter boat operators at the meeting claimed they earn their living by taking people fishing so they advocated for two fish at 32” for their customers.  Many claim their customers fish once a year compared to private anglers and the impact on the fishery is minimal.  They also say charter boats contribute greatly to tourism and the economy and should be treated differently from private fishermen because it is a business not recreation.

Capt. Denny Dillon, representing the Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association said, “Each year our industry contributes about $25-million to Rhode Island’s economy in economic impact. We need the two fish to attract customers.”

Peter Jenkins of the Saltwater Edge, Newport said he was representing a group of ten bait and tackle shops and that he (and they) supported, “One fish at a 28” minimum size for both private recreational anglers and charter boats.”  Many bait and tackle customers practice catch and release, yet many also fish in tournaments and take larger, and larger, egg bearing fish.

Commercial fishermen at the meeting wanted one fish at 28” and did not want their commercial counterparts, the party and charter boats, to have the right to take two fish.

Michael Lanni said, “If commercial boats are taking a 25% reduction and private angles are bound to one fish at 28”, the charter and party boats should be limited to one fish too.”  Lanni continued to say he was not pleased with the new “Lean” meeting format because he did not get a chance to meet with others on the panel to decide how they felt about proposed options.

Steve Medeiros, president of the Rhode Saltwater Anglers Association said, “It was our understanding that the ASMFC has already approved a two fish at 32” conservation equivalency proposal for RI.”  Representatives on the commission from RI supported that proposal.  The feeling was that proposal was going to be approved anyway.  “So RISAA submitted a proposal option that included a two fish conservation equivalency option with the stipulation that the reduction be 31% (the same level of harvest reduction that private anglers would be bound to with one at 28”) and include the elimination of the captain and mate fish.” said Medeiros.  Historically captains and mates have been allowed to take two fish on each trip. “Adding the mate and captain’s fish to the proposal would at least save four egg bearing fish each trip.” said Medeiros.

Throughout the week and at Monday’s meeting, many charter captains spoke out for and against the two fish charter and party boat options.  One of the proposals that had many heads nodding at the public hearing was made by Capt. Charlie Donilon of Snappa Charters.  Capt. Donilon said, “Something has to be done, everyone knows what’s going on out there, we have less and less fish.  I recommend that charter boats take 1.5 fish per customer and give up the two fish for the mate and captain.”
This proposal would have a great impact on the fish. Now a charter boat with six passengers, a mate and captain can take sixteen fish (this would still be the case with the RIPCBA proposal).  However, Captain Donilon’s proposal would have that same vessel taking a maximum of nine fish, just one more than a private boat of eight fishermen and the fish are 32” rather than 28”.  So in terms of conservation it could surpass the reduction value of the coastwide solution of one at 28”.

Other species discussed at the meeting

Even though RI overfished its quota of summer flounder, most at the meeting supported the status quo option of an 18” minimum size at eight fish/angler/day with the same season length.

Tautog support fell to status quo (the same as last year), 16” minimum size with split seasons… three fish in the spring and late summer seasons with a six fish bag limit in the fall (with a ten fish boat limit which does not apply to charter boats).

Rhode Island needs to reduce its black sea bass landings by one third.  The solution that received the most support was one that started the season as early in June as possible with one or two fish and then increased the number of fish to five or seven in the fall.  Both 13” and 14” fish should be considered.
More to come on these regulation options as they are reviewed and voted on by the RIMFC on March 2.
 

Striped bass panel says lead “yo-yo” rigs OK

45 years fishing for stripers: Capt. Al Anderson’s latest book, Island Stripers, is the result of countless hours of charter fishing at Block Island.  

Open access to the Pawcatuck:  Thanks to DEM’s purchase of four acres along the Pawcatuck River, Westerly, RI those fishing, canoeing and kayaking now will have better access to the River.

Striped bass panel says lead “yo-yo” rigs OK

Last week, the Striped Bass Advisory Panel of the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council voted not to recommend a ban on a certain type of “yo-yo” fishing rigs. Lead “yo-yo” rigs are used by some commercial and recreational rod and reel fisherman.  The number of anglers using them is not known, however, commercial rod and reel fishermen at the meeting and on the panel said they use them.

The practice of yo-yoing involves inserting a lead weight into a dead baitfish such as an Atlantic Menhaden and the use of a rod (wood or metal skewer like a coat hanger or a wire) in the fish to maintain its shape and control it like a puppet when sent to the bottom or to various depths in the water column.  The bait is then moved up and down (like a yo-yo) to mimic a bait fish in distress to attract striped bass to the bait.  The bait is effective in attracting large stipend bass for those that have mastered the technique.  It is practical because you do not need a live well to keep bait live, you can catch and prepare them ahead of time and it is far less expensive for commercial rod and reel fishermen than buying live eels, another popular way to catch large bass. Some commercial striped bass rod and reel fishermen who fish often to catch their quota of fish in season have found it a practical and effective way to fish.

The Panel heard testimony from commercial fishermen on the panel that the lead found in the bellies of striped bass is not harmful to the fish because they catch fish that have lead in their bellies and they are alive.  Others said that there are many other commercial and recreational fishing techniques used that contribute greater to the mortality of striped bass and that they were being singled out.  Techniques such as up-fishing by commercial draggers (the practice of continuing to catch bass until you catch the largest fish possible discarding smaller striped bass that to not survive after release) and recreational anglers that put too much stress on fish by fighting them for a long time and once released they do not survive. 

The issue before the Panel referenced a proposal from Massachusetts that advocated for a ban on just certain types of yo-yo rigs.  The Rhode Island proposal was to allow yo-yo rigs as long as the lead weights were attached to the terminal tackle (so the weights could be pulled out of the bait fish and retrieved).  This proposal was rejected by the Striped Bass Advisory Panel with members relating that “no scientific evidence”, “no studies” exist that proves lead ingested by striped bass is harmful to the fish. 

Although a lot of research with lead and waterfowl has been conducted, little research has been done with lead and fish.   For example, a study done on more than 2,000 bald eagles examined by The Fish and Wildlife Service from 1963 to 1986 showed that 119 were diagnosed as having died of lead poisoning (studies like this one lead to the banning of lead shot for waterfowl hunting in 1991). The Department of Natural Resources of the State of Michigan relates on their “lead” website page, “Lead poisoning has been recognized as a mortality factor in waterfowl since the late 1800's.  Lead poisoning cases today are either the result of ingestion of bullet fragments, spent lead shot or fishing sinkers and jig heads during normal feeding activities. When the lead reaches the acidic environment of the gizzard (loons, ducks, geese and swans) or the ventriculus (eagles), it is worn down, dissolved, and absorbed into body tissues. Once the lead reaches toxic levels in the tissues, muscle paralysis and associated complications result in death.”

Striped bass presentation 

Capt. Al Anderson has produced a new presentation about his latest book and tag & release efforts and is reaching out to fishing clubs and organizations interested in having him as a quest speaker. Capt. Anderson is the South County charter captain that was inducted into the IGFA’s World Fishing Hall of Fame in 2012 for his conservation ethic and noted authoring in the fishing world.  His latest book, Island Stripers, is the result of countless hours of charter fishing at Block Island.  Contact Capt. Anderson at ahatuna@aol.com or 401.783.8487.

20^th Annual Providence Boat Show this weekend

The 20^th Annual Providence Boat Show is being held this Friday, January 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, January 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Sunday, January 20 form 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Rhode Island Conventions Center. Show organizers expect a great show.  Tickets $10 at the door.  Visit www.providcenceboatshow.com for a list of exhibitors, online tickets, etc.

DEM preserves property along the Pawcatuck River

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has acquired four acres of land in Westerly that will enable the creation of an excellent fishing and boating access site on the Pawcatuck River. 

“The Pawcatuck is very popular for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and other forms of outdoor recreation. But currently, no safe public access exists between Bradford and Westerly on the Pawcatuck - a beautiful stretch of river that supports Rhode Island-raised stocked trout and warm water fish species,” said DEM Director Janet Coit.  “Thanks to this acquisition, DEM will be able to make this spectacular site and several miles of the river readily accessible to the public.”

Located on Post Office Lane, the property includes over 500 feet of river frontage.  In conjunction with DEM’s purchase of the land, the state obtained an easement across the right of way from Potter Hill Road which will be used by the public to access the riverfront.

Three Advisory Panels to meet January 30… attend and provide input

DEM is having a series of three RIMFC advisory panel meetings that impact recreational fishing on January 30th.  The status of fisheries, policies and regulations that work their way into DEM species management plans are discussed at the meetings. So, now is the time to let your voice be heard by attending advisory panel meetings. Visit www.dem.ri.gov  (Marine Fisheries page) for agendas.   The three panels include a tautog meeting at 4:30 p.m., a summer flounder advisory panel meeting at 6:00 p.m. and a black sea bass and scup panel meeting at 7:30 p.m.  This new format, offering multiple advisory panel meetings on the same night, hopes to enhance angler attendance at the panel meetings.  All meetings will be held at the URI Bay Campus, Coastal Institute Building in the Hazard Room on South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI.

More to a vote than meets the eye

Cod fishing good: With high winds and seas, charter and party boats have had difficulty getting out fishing for cod.  This catch of cod was landed by angler Frank Gionfrido and anglers on the Lady K out of Snug Harbor.

More to a vote than meets the eye

I spoke with Bob Ballou, assistant to the director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and Rick Bellavance, president of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association about the December 14, 2012 Atlantic Slates Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) deliberations and votes on Amendment 2 concerning the management of Atlantic Menhaden coastwide.  Ballou and Bellavance along with Bill McElroy, treasure of the RI Lobstermen’s Association, represented Rhode Island at the ASMFC meeting.

Captain Bellavance said, “The Rhode Island delegation has one vote… so the three of us deliberate, come to a consensus and then cast our vote.”  Bellavance continued, “There were diverse opinions and proposals on the issue… industry processors of Atlantic Menhaden (primarily Omega Protein that catch 80% of all Atlantic Menhaden) were advocating for a 10% reduction and on the other extreme some environmental groups were advocating for a 50% reduction.  We came to a consensus at 20% and ultimately cast our vote in favor of this reduction percentage.”  Throughout the course of the meeting many voters were taken, some Bellavance said to facilitate discussion on the issue to ensure all points of view at the table were heard.

Many in the recreational fishing community in Rhode Island were disappointed at the 20% reduction approved by the ASMFC.  The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) was advocating for a 30% reduction and Don Smith an ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden panel member and RISAA member said, “At the Baltimore meeting, we were advocating for a 25% reduction and could not understand why the Rhode Island delegation was settling for less."

Robert Ballou of DEM took the time last week to outline in detail what happened at the ASMFC meeting and its impact on the Rhode Island Atlantic Menhaden fishery.  Here is what he had to say.

“The meeting was noteworthy for a number of reasons:    

                                         

1    1.  It  resulted in the adoption of a first-ever coastwide quota (total allowable catch, or TAC) for menhaden, reflecting the ASMFC’s commitment to end overfishing and achieve long-term protection and sustainability for this ecologically important species, and the people who depend on it.

2       2. It resulted in a new coastwide quota set at 80% of the average coastwide landings of menhaden over the three-year period 2008-2011 – i.e., 80% of 470 million pounds = 376 million pounds.

3    3. It resulted in a state-based allocation program, which allocates the new coastwide quota according to the average percentage of each state’s landings over the three-year period 2008-2011.

1. Virginia will be allocated 85.3% of the coastwide quota (317 million pounds)
2. NJ will receive 11.2% of the coastwide quota (42 million pounds)
3. The other 13 states will receive shares ranging from 0% (NH, SC, and GA) to 1.37% (MD)
4. RI will receive 0.02% (about 75,000 pounds)

4. It involved a multi-faceted management program proposal, and an unprecedented level of public involvement:
1. In September, the ASMFC approved for public comment a 143-page Draft Amendment, which addressed a range of issues, including new biological reference points, stock rebuilding and fishing mortality reduction schedules, the establishment of a TAC, the process for allocating the TAC, reporting requirements, and various other provisions
2. The Draft Amendment was subject to 13 public hearings in 10 states, including one in RI; over 500 people attended the hearings;
3. The Board received a total of 128,333 written comments on the Draft Amendment
4. Several hundred people attended last Friday’s Board meeting in Baltimore

5. At the day-long Board meeting, the Board decided upon the various issues via a series of 40 separate votes.

6. The upshots of the ASMFC’s final approval of Amendment 2 to the ASMFC’s Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Menhaden, as it relates to Rhode Island’s interests, are:

1. Menhaden migrate in and out of RI waters on a regular basis, and are an important component of the RI marine ecosystem. The adoption of new coastwide measures aimed at increasing protection of menhaden, with particular recognition of the important role they play as forage fish, is consistent with RI’s long-standing interests vis-à-vis sound conservation of marine fishery resources.
2. RI’s landings over the past ten years have generally ranged from about 5,000 pounds to about 100,000 pounds. In 2008 -- a banner year, and an anomaly – 269,000 pounds were landed. RI’s average annual landings over the past three years have been about 87,000 pounds. The vast majority of RI’s landings are taken by a handful of fish trap operators operating in RI waters in the lower Bay and along the southern coast.
3. RI has had a very progressive state-waters menhaden protection program in place for a number of years. The program, which primarily guards against localized depletion, involves a number of components, the most significant being that mobile gear (namely, purse-seine) operations in the Bay are only allowed to target menhaden when they occur in the Bay in relatively large numbers, exceeding a 2 million pound biomass threshold, or floor. This RI program is not affected by the new ASMFC action, and is slated to remain in place in 2013 and thereafter. {Note: In recent years, there has been just a single purse-seine vessel that has fished for menhaden in Narragansett Bay, with all landings taking place in Fall River, MA.}
4. RI will need to adopt new state regulations for 2013 to manage its new 75,000 pound state allocation. While this will likely involve the imposition of constraints on the fish trap operators, the constraints will likely be modest, since the State’s allocation is only slightly less than average annual landings over the past few years. Moreover, the adoption by ASMFC of a 6,000 pound menhaden bycatch allowance for non-directed fisheries, not to be counted against the state quotas, will provide considerable flexibility to the fish-trap operators, and will help to minimize discard mortality.
5. The ASMFC’s new menhaden plan includes an “episodic event set aside” totaling 1% of the new coastwide quota (i.e., about 3.76 million pounds), which is available to nine states, including RI, that have relatively low allocations (less than 2% of bait landings, averaged over the past three years). While it remains to be seen how this set-aside will be managed, it is evident that RI will be able to tap into it, to some degree, if/when large numbers of menhaden show up in RI waters.”

Here is a link to the ASMFC website that summaries meeting deliberations:  http://www.asmfc.org/press_releases/meetingWkSummaries/2012/dec14_2012AtlMenhadenBoardPR_Motions.pdf .

Striped bass meeting

A meeting of the Striped Bass Advisory Panel of the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council will be held Tuesday, January 08, 6:00 p.m. at the URI, Graduate School of Oceanography, Coastal Institute Building, Large Conference Room, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island. Agenda items include a striped bass stock status, the 2012 RI fishery, a review of ASMFC Addendum III to Amendment 6 for the management plan as well as fish trap and commercial seasons and quota allocations.  At this meeting, members of the Advisory Panel can submit new proposals for the 2013 fishing season. For more information, please contact Nicole Travisono at (401) 423-1940.

Where’s the bite

Cod fishing is good.  Angler Frank Gionfrido recently fished for cod on the Lady Kay out of Snug Harbor (www.ladykcharters.com).  Gionfrido said, “In no time at all we arrived on the fishing grounds south of Block Island… We caught cod non-stop for the next three hours with an occasional Sea Bass (all released) and dog fish. Daphine was high hooked with a 21 pounder followed by Capt. Steve with a 14 pounder and my biggest was 11. All tallied we kept 29 cod (and) released four shorts…”. At press time the Francis Fleet and Seven B’s party boats have not been able to get out due to high winds and rough seas. Visit them at www.francesfleet.com  and www.sevenbs.com  for information, schedules and reports.

Fishing advisory panels meet on management plans

Angler Brian Beltrami with the 8.95 lbs. tautog he caught Saturday in Narragansett Bay using green crabs.  At the time of the weigh-in at Quaker Lane Outfitters, North Kingstown, the fish was in 1^st place in the RISAA tautog fishing tournament.  

Fishing advisory panels meet on management plans

The Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (RIMFC) held commercial fluke (summer flounder), scup/black sea bass and herring advisory panel meetings on October 2 in preparation for a Thursday, November 8, 2012 public hearing.  The purpose of the advisory panels is to provide industry (fishermen) and the general public with the opportunity to offer input and proposals to be considered at public hearing. 

Advisory panels reviewed Department of Environmental Management (DEM) presentations on stock assessment, historical fishing activity and allocations. The November 8^th public hearing on proposed management plan changes is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI.  Commercial and recreational fishermen are urged to attend and provide input on proposals.

Fluke (summer flounder) advisory panel meeting highlights

Summer flounder stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring, the fishery is considered rebuilt.

RI quota for 2013 will likely be 1.796 million pounds, a decrease of approximately 11% from 2012 quota.

Proposals reviewed 

A status quo proposal (same quotas/regulations as last year).

The Marine Fisheries Division made a proposal to shorten the summer season to May 1 through September 15, but keeping the quota percentage the same for this period at 35%.  The proposed change would allow inshore commercial fishermen the opportunity to take advantage of the stock when it was close to shore.

A change in starting possession limits were also proposed (see recommendations at www.dem.ri.gov ).

Additionally, the fluke advisory panel approved moving a RI fluke sector fishing plan forward to public hearing.  The proposal would allow the program to run for one year under the 2011 proposal plan and agreement guidelines giving DEM time to consider departmental policy on alternate fisheries management approaches. 

Meeting participants applauded the sector’s track record for reducing discards at historically low levels and the program’s financial benefit to even non program members.  Non sector fishermen received the benefit of higher market prices in part due to a consistent supply of fish to the market, spreading available fish over a longer time period when they are not ordinarily available.

Scup advisory panel meeting highlights

Biological reference points indicate that the scup stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring.

Recruitment actually exceeded the 1984-2011 average of 104 million in 2011.  So the stock is in good shape moving forward.  DEM proposed enhancing limits from 5,000 lbs/wk on May 1, 2012 to 50,000 lbs/wk on September 15, 2012.

The RI 2013 commercial quota is generally 56.19% of the coastwide summer allocation, so for 2013 this would be 4,995,284 lbs, a 16% decrease from our 2012 quota, however, scup landed in 2012 was well below quota.

Scup proposals included a status quo proposal as well as a Marine Fisheries Division proposal to increase the starting aggregate limits in an effort to keep up with the high level of quota. These limits would increase to 10,000 lbs/wk.

Black sea bass (BSB) highlights

The stock is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring.

2011 recruitment was 21 million fish, this year and recent years have been near average recruitment.

Three closings occurred in 2012 to ensure that RI did not overfish its quota.

RI’s share of the Coastwide commercial quota in 2013 will likely be 189,827 lbs which is a 1% increase in quota from 2012.

Fishermen (both commercial and recreational representatives) at the advisory panel meeting testified to the abundance of black sea bass (inshore and offshore) at a variety of sizes.

DEM recommended no changes to the black sea bass commercial fishery in 2013, however, (due in part from fishermen input on an abundance of stock) fish managers related the stock can likely accommodate more harvest and they will continue to improve estimates in the stock assessment and continue to improve the stock assessment itself so that harvest levels can be increased in the future.

The second BSB proposal was from the RI Commercial Rod & Reel Association (RICRRA) pertaining to spring and summer sub-period adjustments to insure the season remain open to offer a consistent supply of product to dealers.  The proposal called for a deceased starting possession limits to 25 pounds per day, May through October.  A third proposal called for a decreased starting possession limit, increased minimum size, and changed sub periods.  The fourth proposal increased starting possession limits to 100 pounds per day, May through October.  A fifth proposal set aggregate limits in spring and summer periods.

Atlantic herring ad hoc panel meeting highlights

DEM Atlantic herring fishery regulation proposals include a river herring by catch allowance of 5% (which would allow in state and out-of state boats to land their catch in RI, 0% by-catch allowance was the case in 2012.  Zero tolerance discouraged commercial fishermen from landing their catch in RI).  The second major recommendation by DEM provides for a closure of state waters to herring boats if it is deemed that an area will likely have 5% or more of river herring. These proposed amendments come with a lot of qualifying details, the plan (Part VII – Section 7.19; pages 65-66) can be found online at www.dem.ri.gov. 

After the November 8^th public hearing the proposed regulatory changes to species management plans along with input from the public will be presented to the RIMFC for consideration.  The council then votes on the proposed recommendations/changes and forwards its recommendations to DEM director Janet Coit for consideration. 

Where’s the bite

Striped bass fishing is very good for anglers all along the southern coastal shores of Rhode Island.  Steve McKenna noted RI shore angler and associate at Quaker Lane Outfitters, North Kingstown, said, “Shore fishing has been the best in years.  Since the end of August I have caught bass to 40 lbs in the surf using plugs at Narragansett.  There is so much bait around… peanut bunker, needle fish, silversides and more mullet than I have ever seen before.”  Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick,  said, “Customers are catching some nice bass out in from of Brenton Reef and Beavertail using eels as well as tube & worm.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait and Tackle, East Providence,  said, “Customers Albert and Kevin Bettencourt of East Providence are doing well with bass at night drifting eels in the Bay.”

Tautog fishing is good but anglers have to work their way through a lot of shorts and an awful lot of small black sea bass to earn keeper tautog.  John Wunner of John’s Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said anglers are catching ten short tautog to everyone keeper. Angler Brian Beltrami said he weighted in an 8.95 lbs. tautog at Quaker Lane Outfitters Saturday that he caught in Narragansett Bay using green crabs (when weighed in the fish was in 1^st place in the RISAA tautog fishing tournament).  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait said, “Anglers are catching tautog all over the Bay but there are a lot of shorts mixed in.”  Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle said the tautog are at Hope Island, General Rock and this week some anglers are catching them off the Rocky Point dock in Warwick.

Bluefish are roaming the Bay and coastal shores.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait said, “One customer had ten fish in the six to twelve pound range lined up on shore at Sabine Point”.  Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait and Steve McKenna shore angler said the blues are mixed in with the bass along southern coastal shores.

Warm winter water holding bait and fish

Tommy Pelto of Tiverton, RI with one of the menhaden he snagged in the Providence River last week.  Warm water has encouraged bait fish to stay in Rhode Island waters in larger numbers than normal this year.

Dolphins in Narragansett Bay like these seen off Jamestown, RI in the fall two years ago were rare.  This year many dolphin sightings were reported.  Warm water has caused bait fish, tuna, striped bass and dolphins to be around in large numbers this year.

Warm winter water holding bait and fish

“I sat there on Beavertail Point, Jamestown with a pair of binoculars looking toward Narragansett Beach. What I saw was astounding, fish after fish, bluefin tuna jumping, one here, and then two over there.” said Captain Jim White. The odd thing is that it was the end of January, 2012.

With many documented reports of tuna, menhaden, and striped bass in Narragansett Bay this winter it made me wonder why. The answer seemed obvious... the weather and the water temperature has been warmer than normal. In fact the Bay temperature has been heating up for nearly forty years, but this is a lot warmer than usual.

How warm you ask? Well it used to be very cold. In 1740 Rhode Island Governor William Green of Warwick said in a note “… the Narragansett Bay was soon frozen over, and the people passed and repassed from Providence to Newport on the ice, and from Newport to Bristol”(Upkike, 1907).

The crew of the Brenton Reef lightship measured water temperature at the mouth of Narragansett Bay every day from July 1878 through January 1942. In the coldest winter recorded (1917-18) the water temperature from December through February was 33.2 F. The average for the whole period of their record (64 years) is much warmer at 39.1 F. (Nixon, Granger and Buckley, The Warming of Narragansett Bay, 2003).

However, even this temperature of 39.1 F is far from the warmer water temperatures recorded this Sunday, February 12, 2012… Conimicut Point, 45 F; Newport, 42 F; and Block Island, 46 F.

I mentioned Newport and Jamestown as this is where bluefin tuna have been crashing schools of herring this winter and a number of dolphins have been spotted off these shores and further into the Bay. And, I mention Conimicut Light because from the Light all the way up the Providence River schools of Atlantic Menhaden have been around all winter along with an unusually large amount of striped bass that recreational anglers have been catching.

This week I asked Jason McNamee, marine biologist, Marine Fisheries Division of the RI Department of Environmental Management his thoughts on the appearance of menhaden, striped bass, tuna and warm water this winter and here is what he had to say.

Jason McNamee said, “… Yes, this is all strange indeed. Our trawl survey has been seeing these menhaden as well, which is quite unique relative to other years. Just as a quick, off the cuff type response, the warm winter we are having has provided an adequate temperature for these species to stay, and survive, over the winter. The bluefin that were spotted (and caught in some instances) I’d say were directly related to the herring population that came in to our area waters. It is a well researched hypothesis that there is a strong correlation between bluefin tuna and strong water density gradients and I have heard people indicate that there was a rapid change in water temperature from inshore to offshore this winter, thus creating a density gradient. What happens at these density gradients is that you get a collection of things like plankton, so species like herring and menhaden will take advantage of the collection of food by schooling and feeding in these areas, and species like striped bass and tuna take advantage of the aggregation of their food source….It has been a very interesting winter to say the least.”

I have to wonder what this might mean for fishing this spring and summer. There is no doubt we can start to fish earlier in the upper portion of the Bay as we can continue to fish the bass that have decided to stay as anglers have done all winter. Also, one might think that our coastal waters, the Bay and estuaries that are holding more bait than usually for this time of year would attract new migrating striped bass more than usual too. We will just have to wait and see.

However, I am also interested in what effect this warm winter water might have on the fish in the summer. We know warm water, excessive nutrients and low oxygen levels have had devastating effects (fish kills) in the summer in the upper portions of the Bay, particularly Greenwich Bay and Cove (see Fish need oxygen too at http://noflukefishing.blogspot.com/2011/07/fish-need-oxyen-too.html ).

Again, we will just have to wait and see.

Shallow Water Striper University Cancelled

Captain Jim White has canceled Shallow Water Striper University scheduled for February 18 and 19. Captain White said, “Advanced registrations were slow so we had to cancel the two day event.”

Let your voice be heard, attend public hearing on fishing regulations

Wednesday, February 22, Public Hearing. 6:00 p.m., URI Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium. Agenda to include proposed changes to the Management Plans for most salt water species including fluke, striped bass, tautog, menhaden, scup and more.

Capt. Dave Monti and Chef Ralph Battista to speak about fluke at RISAA seminar

Two topics, fluke (summer flounder) fishing tips and fluke cooking tips will be featured at the Monday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) meeting this month. Capt. Dave Monti of No Fluke Fishing charters and noted local fishing columnist will share fluke fishing tips from expert guides, charter captains and anglers. Chef Ralph Battista, owner of Luigi’s Restaurant and Gourmet Express, Johnston, RI will share fluke cooking tips. When not cooking at his restaurant Ralph spends time with his family aboard his boat Hook’n & Cook’n. RISAA members can bring a friend at no charge; non-members are asked to make a $10 donation. Seminar starts at 7:00 p.m. at the West Valley Inn, West Warwick, RI with optional dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. Visit www.risaa.org for details.

Where’s the bite

Cod fishing on both the Seven B’s (1.800.371.fish) and Francis Fleet (1.800.662.2824) vessels has been good. Larry Norin filed this report on a cod trip he took last Thursday aboard the Island Current out of Snug Harbor. “We left the dock around 5 a.m. and headed to the East Grounds off BI. About 15-20 total people on board. One Captain, two mates, about ten regulars and a few first timers. … We dropped the first clams down while on anchor around 6:30 a.m. Bent rods all over the place with mostly dogfish and the occasional Cod. We moved and re-anchored on the structure and got away from the Dogs. We moved one other time and headed west and very close to the island. It was a slowish pick all day. I managed four dogfish (most caught way more) two conger eels and twelve cod, two were released that were 21 inches the rest were 24-28 inches.”