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.”