Record bass caught off Block Island

Paul Harrison of Fall River, MA with the 8.5 fluke he caught off Point Judith while charter fishing with Captain John Sheriff last week.

Jeff Briggs (left) of Bristol and his father Gary (right) with the first striped bass keeper Jeff has ever caught. The fish was taken in the East Passage.

Record bass caught off Block Island

Peter Vican of East Greenwich, RI caught a record 77.40 lb striped bass this Sunday, June 19. Peter’s fish set a new Rhode Island state record. The fish was caught at night using eels as bait outside New Harbor, Block Island. The fish was just one pound shy of the world record. Congratulations Peter.

Take-a-kid fishing big success
The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) held their annual Take-a-kid fishing day this Saturday, June 18. About 250 children went fishing on 85 boats owned by volunteers. Steve Medeiros, president of RISAA, said, “The event is designed for youngsters who would not otherwise have a chance to get out on the water and fish.”

DEM reminds saltwater anglers that they need a license
With the Fourth of July fast approaching and the 2011 saltwater fishing season underway, the Department of Environmental Management reminds anglers and spear fishers that a 2011 saltwater fishing license is needed to fish recreationally in all marine waters. You can get a license online or at participating bait and tackle shops or sporting good stores.

Obtaining a license online is easy. Just go to www.saltwater.ri.gov. Have a driver's license or state identification card handy, as well as your date of birth, address, and phone number. For Rhode Island residents over 65 and for active military personnel stationed in the state, licenses are free, but still required. For all others, the $7 fee ($10 for non-residents) is payable using a VISA, MasterCard or Discover card. Once the information is entered, you can immediately print your license and go fishing.
No license is needed for children under 16; anglers fishing on a licensed party or charter boat; anglers who hold a Highly Migratory Species Angling permit; anglers or spear fishers who are on leave from active military duty; or anglers or spear fishers who are blind or permanently disabled.
DEM and Coast Guard conduct “Operation Dry Water” to enforce boating under the influence law
Safe boating patrols will be stepped up on June 24 to June 26 in a joint operation conducted by the Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Law Enforcement and US Coast Guard Units from Castle Hill and Point Judith. The effort is part of Operation Dry Water, a coordinated national weekend of Boating under the Influence (BUI) detection and enforcement. It is aimed at reducing the number of alcohol-related accidents and fatalities, and fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water. Marine law enforcement officers will be out in full force on Rhode Island waterways throughout the long weekend, searching for boat operators whose blood alcohol content exceeds the limit of .08 percent. Rhode Island law sets limits and penalties for boating while intoxicated that are similar to the driving while intoxicated standards, and requires the same levels of testing.

Special Senate Taskforce on Fisheries releases final report
The Special Senate Taskforce on Fisheries, chaired by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham), has released its final report detailing the challenges facing the fisheries industry in Rhode Island.
The taskforce was developed on November 18, 2010 to track the status and trends of the fishing industries of Rhode Island. It was charged with working cooperatively with management agencies, educational institutions, environmental organizations, businesses and fishermen to meet the challenges ahead and recommend viable ideas and solutions for protecting the fishing way of life.
Here are highlights of findings and actions taken by the task forces to address key issues.
Finding: Rhode Island’s lack of representation on the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Council. Action: Introduction/passage of a bill urging our state Congressional Delegation to pass representation legislation.

Finding: RI’s current regulations do not facilitate the sale of local fresh fish at farmers’ markets and other mobile market venues. Action: Passage of a bill by the Senate to establish a Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative that will address regulatory and marketing issues pertaining to local seafood.

Finding: RI aquaculture farms are not inspected twice annually by the RI Department of Health and DEM which is a violation of the federal Food and Drug Administration requirements. Action: At the Fisheries Taskforce meeting, DEM addressed these concerns and discussed potential solutions through agency regulations and policies implemented at a future date.

Finding: RI seafood products face domestic competition from imported seafood products, with more than eighty percent of the total seafood consumed in the US originating in foreign countries. Action: Introduction and passage of a Senate bill urging Congress to pass legislation that support adequate funding for effective and sustained domestic marketing of US seafood.

Finding: RI law requires that shellfish harvested from polluted waters be transferred to clean water for one year before selling, other New England states require as little as three weeks. Action: At a Taskforce meeting, DEM addressed concerns and discussed solutions through future regulations and policies.

Finding: Rhode Island commercial and recreational fishermen face minimal state penalties and fines for illegally possessing striped bass and for repeat offenses of such violations. Action: Passage of bill by Senate Judiciary to increase the fines and penalties for illegally possessing striped bass.

Finding: There is not a federally-funded national seafood marketing fund available for the domestic marketing of American seafood. Action: Senate resolution 2011-S 0850 also addresses this concern.

Finding: The lack of resources and materials to support consumer seafood education programs results in consumers being unaware of the availability of locally caught fresh seafood products. Action: Senate bill 2011-S 0997 also addresses this concern.

Where’s the bite
Striped bass fishing has been improving. Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina said, “The bass are getting larger. We had fish in the 40 lbs and 50 lbs range this week and then Peter Vican’s record fish”. Still a log of dog fish when the water is not moving. Fishing in the East Passage is still very good. Anglers reporting pods of menhaden from Popasquash Point, Bristol all the way up the Providence River. Fish being caught on live and chuck menhaden as well as tube and worm. Don Hampton of Holden, MA caught three nice keepers last week while using light tackle fishing in the East Passage on No Fluke charters.
Fluke fishing is improving too. Reports of large fish over 15 lbs being taken off Warwick Neck. Captain Rich Hittinger said, “The fluke are getting large.” Rich reports a good fluke bite off southern coastal shores with fish in the 8 to 9 lbs range being taken last week.
Fresh water fishing is very good. Bass bite is excellent. Chris Catucci of Warwick said, “The Junior bass fishing tournament was held on Johnson's Pond last week… 9 pounds won the event I came in 2nd with about 7 pounds. Fish were hitting senkos in either junebug or green pumpkin, shaky heads and spinnerbaits were also productive. Small fish were easy to come by but kickers were hard to find. The bluegill spawn is in full force.”

Windmills and fresh fish top task force agenda

Senator V. Susan Sosnowski’s Special Senate Task Force on Fisheries has taken on two big issues this winter on behalf of fishermen…wind power and bringing their catch to market…fresh. Both issues are on the front burner; here is how the Task Force is addressing them.

Windmills

At the first meeting of the Fisheries Task Force on December 6, 2010, a number of witnesses (fishermen) raised concerns about the potential impacts the development of offshore wind projects could have on the fishing industry and fish resources. This testimony has resulted in a resolution that is being discussed and possibly voted on this week by the Rhode Island Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee which is also chaired by Senator Sosnowski. The resolution respectfully requests the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) to comprehensively involve Fishermen in the development of offshore energy projects.

Earlier this week Senator Sosnowski said, “The resolution regards the concerns of some of the fishermen… who voiced their concerns about the proposed larger, offshore Deep Water Wind project.” The resolution reads, “That the Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation respectfully requests that BPEMRE use the Fishermen’s Advisory Board (FAB) established by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council within the Ocean Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) as an interface between BOEMRE and the fishing industry.”

Captain Rick Belavance, president of the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association, said, “A void existed between the new federal BOEMRE bureau, the State’s Ocean SAMP and fishermen. We had input into planning through the SAMP process but the Deepwater Wind project double in size over night and was located in prime fishing grounds without input from fishermen”. Chris Brown, a Rhode Island commercial fisherman and past present of the Commercial Fisheries Center of RI, said, “Fishermen were left out of the loop with no input to where this wind project was sited.” The resolution asks the Rhode Coastal Resource Management Council within the Ocean SAMP program to be a conduit that brings fishermen’s concerns to BOEMRE. The resolution can be found at http://www.rilin.state.ri.us//BillText11/SenateText11/S0137.pdf . Will report on the outcome of the resolution next week.

Fresh fish

The Special Senate Task Force on Fisheries has had two meetings on bringing locally caught fresh fish to market in Rhode Island. The first was held on February 9 and a second on March 2 to hear testimony on how to bring fish caught by Rhode Island fishermen to market here in the state. The idea is to provide Rhode Islanders with better access to fresh, wholesome and nutritious native caught Rhode Island fish and to provide fishermen with better access (and possibly more direct access) to Rhode Island markets so they can earn more for their catch with fewer middlemen involved.

On February 9 the Task Force heard testimony from a variety of State agencies, companies engaged in fishing, processing of fish and/or the marketing of fish and Farm Fresh Rhode Island. Highlights of the meeting included the following.

Mark Gibson from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management testified about the condition of our fishery in Rhode Island. Species by species he thumb nailed the current status and/or relative health of commercially harvested fish… fluke (or summer flounder), monk fish, cod, striped bass, scup and most others seem to be in good health. Scup was singled out as a species that is very “abundant” and a species we could plan to harvest aggressively if a commercial market existed. Lobster fishing in Rhode Island was the only fishery that was down to a very low historical level. The lobster industry was characterized as a fishery in trouble.

Another enlightening presentation was delivered by Noah Fulmer, executive director of Farm Fresh Rhode Island. One may ask what do farm vegetables have to do with bringing fish to market. Well a great deal, here’s why. Mr. Fulmer shared the innovative programs and delivery models his groups had developed to get fresh produce to market making them highly accessible to the public as well as restaurants and large catering concerns servicing colleges and school systems, government enities, hospitals, etc. Mr. Fulmer related how these “Farm Fresh” delivery systems could be adopted to bring fresh fish to the market in Rhode Island. These systems include an interactive on line data base that provides consumers (by zip code) information as to where they can purchase farm fresh vegetables in their area. Another example is a service offered to chefs that delivers local produce to their door weekly. You can learn more at www.farmfreshri.org

Senator Sosnowski said, “We had Kevin Adams from Alaska talk about a proposed regional marketing approach, and other enthusiastic presenters.” This week the committee will hear testimony from Perry Raso of Matunuck Oyster Farm as well as public testimony on how local seafood products are marketed and distributed as well as ways to bring fish to market in Rhode Island. How to educate consumers about the benefits of eating local seafood to increase demand will also be discussed. Highlights of this second marketing committee meeting, which took place Wednesday night will be covered next week.

Salt water fish limits and size recommended by DEM Advisory Panels

Advisory panels of the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council made their 2011 saltwater fishing regulation recommendations this Tuesday, February 15 at a public meeting. Recommendations will now be finalized by DEM and the Council for formal recommendation to the Director of DEM. Due to a healthy fluke (summer flounder) fishery the recommendation approved by the Director will likely be more liberal than last year. The proposal that garnered most support at the public hearing was proposed the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association which was seven fish/day/angler with a minim size of 18 ½” (last year’s limit was 19 ½”). An interesting twist this year was that for shore anglers only, one of the seven fish could be 16 ½ “ . Striped bass recommendation was status quo… two fish/angler/day with a minimum size of 28”. Will relate highlights of the new regulations once they are approved by the Director which is expected to occur this month.

DEM to hold public workshops freshwater fishing & park regulations

The Fish and Wildlife Division will hold public workshops in Providence and Tiverton to discuss the proposed 2012-2013 freshwater fishing seasons and the 2011-2012 hunting seasons. Proposed changes to Parks and Management Area Regulations will also be heard. Public workshops will be held on Tuesday, March 29 at DEM headquarters in the Foundry Building at 235 Promenade Street in Providence, and on Wednesday, March 30 at the Tiverton Rod and Gun Club, 1529 Fish Road in Tiverton. Both workshops will take place at 7 p.m.

A public hearing on the proposed regulations will be held on Wednesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. in the Warwick Police Department's Community Room at 99 Veteran's Memorial Drive in Warwick. Copies of the draft regulations will be available at the public workshops.

Fishing shows and seminars

March 11-13, New England Saltwater Fishing Show at the Rhode Island Convention Center sponsored by the RISAA. Visit www.risaa.org/events for details.

March 22, West Bay Anglers striped bass seminar by Charley Soars on fishing for bass with live bait, Sherman Elementary School, Warwick, RI. Reserve tickets ($10) at 401.463.7532.

March 25-27, Shallow Water Striper University, Sheraton Airport Motor Inn, Warwick, RI. Contact Debbie Wood at Wood Boat & Motor, 401-739-4040 or visit www.shallowwaterstripers.com .