I have my UPV examination sticker… Yeah!!!

Patrick DeSorbo (left) and his son Kevin of Clifton Park, NY enjoyed a day of charter fishing for fluke(summer flounder) and black sea bass this weekend off Newport, RI.

Grand prize winner of SnugHarbor Marina’s 31^st Annual Shark Tournament was this 335 poundThresher shark caught by John Durand and his fishing mates aboard the vessel Bilda.

Doug Henson (left) andDavid Siesel of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (North Star Flotilla, Warwick)issue an Uninspected Passenger Vessel (UPV) examination sticker to the charterboat Angel Light.

I have my UPVexamination sticker… Yeah!!!

Life can be tough at times. So I make it a habit to claim even small victories. Small victories like Angel Light, my centerconsole charter boat, getting an Uninspected Passenger Vessel (UPV) examinationsticker from the U. S. Coast Guard. David Siesel and Doug Henson from the U.S. Coastguard Auxiliary, NorthStar Flotilla, Warwick, spent almost twohours reviewing my registrations, licenses and required documentation as well asphysically examining the vessel, engine, lights, charts, fire extinguishers,flares and much more (even the expiration date on the life jacket (flashlight) batterieswere examined). The examination was verycomplete.

Now that I have this optional UPV examination sticker, oddsare I am not going to be boarded by the US Coast Guard, the RI Department ofEnvironmental Management Law Enforcement Division, harbor masters, etc. for routine checks unlessI am obviously breaking the law in some way. This is a great relief for me (and other captains) as it makes for a fewanxiety provoking moments being boarded by authorities, particularly if youhave charter customers on board. Presently,I am about one of nineteen boats that have passed this examination in Rhode Islandand have the sticker (many of them belong to the Rhode Island Party &Charter Boat Association). There areover 200 vessels in RI with charter fishing licenses that could beexamined. It is a good program, one thatpromotes safety, the charter fishing industry as a whole and it is a greatconsumer benefit.

So as I say… yeah!!! I am claiming my UPV sticker as avictory.

335 pound thresher caught takesSnug Harbor Marina Shark Tournament

Talk about drama, big game excitement and the threat of a bigshark. It is the stuff the movie “Jaws”was made of. All of it came to a head this weekend at Snug Harbor Marina’s 31^stAnnual Shark Tournament. At 4:55 p.m. this Sunday (five minutes before theweigh in closed) there were still anglers fighting fish said Elisa Martin ofSung Harbor Marina. The grand prize winner, a 335 pound thresher, was caught onthe vessel Bilda by John Durand, a272 pound thresher caught by Shawn DeCastro on Hot Reels was the second place thresher. A 219 pound Mako caught by Derek Ritch wasthe first place Mako. The Saturday, July7 and Sunday, July 8 tournament had about 70 boats participants. Visit Snug Harbor’s website at www.snugharbormarina.com for photos and details. Tournament fundswill be donated to the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association and theRecreational Fishing Alliance.

DEM closes Bristol Harbor toshell fishing

The Department ofEnvironmental Management (DEM) announced that in addition to the currently prohibitedand seasonal closures in waters within Bristol Harbor and surrounding HogIsland, the remaining waters of BristolHarbor and in the vicinity of Hog Island will be closed to shellfish harvestingbeginning at noon Friday, July 6th until further notice. The closure is being enacted because ofinformation provided to the DEM by the Town of Bristol that an electricalsystem failure caused a loss of disinfectant of the effluent from the BristolWastewater Treatment Facility during the night and morning hours of July 5 and6. DEM is collecting water samples ofthe Harbor to test for fecal coliform bacteria levels. DEM will then make a determination on theduration of the closure upon review of those sample results.

Where’sthe bite

Stripedbassfishing remains good in the mid and lower Bay as well as at Block. Angler Eric Appolonia of North Kingstown saidhe and three passengers caught eight keeper bass in about two hours on theSouthwest Ledge using eels Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait and Tackle, Warwicksaid, “Bass fishing in the East Passage at Sandy Point, Prudence Island, GouldIsland, around Newport and off Jamestown has been outstanding.” Captain Kevin Bettencourt of East Providencesaid, “We are still doing outstanding- catching bass off Jamestown early in themorning using chunks of menhaden.” Captain Drew Dangelo reports catching bassin the 30 pound range fairly regularly at Block Island with an occasional fishin the 40 pound range. “Narrow River is holding bass with anglers catching themon the outgoing tide.” said Mary Dangelo of Maridee Bait & Canvas,Narragansett.

Fluke(summer flounder) fishing has been good some days and off otherdays. Spots have been hot and othershave not. Angler Mike Swain of Coventrysaid, “We struggled at Austin’s Hollow off Jamestown last week catching onekeeper and three shorts”. Anglersfishing the mouth of the Sakonnet River continue do well there. I fished off Newport in the Seal Ledge areathis weekend with Patrick and Kevin DeSorbo of Clifton Park, NY and had good results, five keeper fluke and two black sea bassin about 90 minutes. Ken Ferrara ofRay’s Bait & Tackle said, “Customers are catching fluke around the bridges,at Austin’s Hollow, overall fluke fishing is good.”

Scupfishing remains strong. “Customers are catching scup on Pier 5 in Galilee and on the East Wall.”said Mary Dangelo of Maridee Bait & Canvas. Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait said, “The scup have been thick at Rocky Pointwith 16” scup being taken there and at other places in the Bay.”