Passion for fishing keeps him going

Caption Chuck Daignault, with a striped bass he caught early this year, enjoys fin fishing and shell fishing even though his legs give him trouble.  He plans his trips carefully and takes it slow as he follows his passion for fishing.

Passion for fishing keeps him going

I have a new friend and his name is Captain Chuck Daignault who lives in Rhode Island.  He was a charter captain in upstate New York where he took people salmon fishing.  He had some trouble with his legs and had to give up chartering… but not fishing. So last year, he asked if I would take him fishing, and boy, am glad I did.

We have fished together three times and each time, I learn a great deal about fishing and about how to run a charter business.  Captain Chuck entertains with stories of fishing trips, past customers and how he feels about taking people fishing.  With Captain Chuck, it was all about the people: taking care of his customers, sending them photos of their fishing trips and even checking in with them from time to time.

I like Captain Chuck’s style.  Even though his legs no longer hold him up the way they used to, he continues to pursue his passion for fishing.  He has found a way to get it done… to fish with a rod and reel, and to shellfish on Narragansett Bay.  To me, it says a lot about a man’s character, a stick-to-itiveness not often found.   He lives a full life, still focusing on the important things like good friends old and new and a passion for fishing.  Good luck Captain Chuck, may you fish forever.

Westport/Dartmouth art show to feature yellow fin tuna

On August 11 and 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the ART drive returns for its 5^th annual exhibit with 28 Dartmouth and Westport artists hosting an open studio weekend.  Here is a unique twist; this year participating artists are applying their own unique styles to create large, colorful depictions of Yellow Fin Tuna. Last year’s exhibit featured Striped Bass.  Also, in public spaces, in store fronts, shops, businesses and other sites in Dartmouth and Westport--will be 42, four-foot-long Yellow Fin Tuna. While the “Fins” will be on display Saturday, July 30 through Friday, August, August 12, 2011 they will be viewed at the artists’ studios over the Art drive weekend.  Information on the artists, locations and a map are listed at www.the-art-drive.com .

DEM accepting proposals for Federal boating infrastructure grants

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced this week that proposals are being accepted until Friday, August 31 for boating infrastructure grants for facilities and associated infrastructure that provide stop-over/tie-up opportunities for transient recreational boats.  The federal grants, which provide a 75 percent reimbursable match up to $1.5 million, are for the development or renovation of such facilities as mooring buoys, day docks, navigational aids, transient slips, safe harbors, floating docks and fixed piers, floating and fixed breakwaters, dinghy docks, restrooms and showers, retaining walls, and bulkheads. They can also be used for dockside utilities, pump-out stations, recycling and trash receptacles, electric service, dockside water supplies, dockside pay telephones, debris deflection booms, marine fueling stations, and one-time dredging not to exceed 10 percent of the total project costs, including the match.

 Any municipality or marina interested in submitting an application should contact Veronica Masson, federal aid coordinator, Division of Fish & Wildlife, at 401-789-0281. Proposals must be submitted to Veronica.Masson@dem.ri.gov by August 31.

Where’s the bite

Fluke and black sea bass. When weather permits with wind and tide in line, anglers are catching fluke and black sea bass at the mouth of the Sakonnet River, off Newport and off the center wall at the Harbor of Refuge as well as along coastal southern shores from Westerly to Narragansett. Fluke and black sea bass fishing in the upper Bay off Jamestown and Newport and under and around the bridges has been slow.  Angler Ken Robinson said, “…went to Elbow Ledge and Seal Rock off Newport and picked up a couple nice fluke. Decided to continue on to Sakonnet to see if we could get some black sea bass.  Ended up with 14 keeper fluke and four BSB for the day.”   John Duponte, Jr. said, “(Saturday) we got four keeper fluke by Elbow Ledge. We then moved to the mouth of the river (Sakonnet) and picked up some sea bass. Great day on the water.”   Angler Gary Zera said, “Fished off second beach in Middletown ... we fished for three hours and landed 10 keeper Fluke and at least 20 more undersized. Largest fish was 24.5 inches but most were at least 20 inches.”

Striped bass fishing remains good at night in the upper Bay and good at Block Island.  Both the North Rip and Southwest Ledge continue to yield bass.  Angler John Duponte said, “Took a few friends out Saturday around Elbow Ledge. Tube and wormed for awhile got two keepers.”  Angler Tom Fetherston fished the Southwest Ledge at Block Island Sunday.  Tom said, “(we) were marking fish just off the bottom but still no stripers hooked, then suddenly the bite turned on around 11:00 a.m. Landed a 16 then a 31 (pound) fish; saw other boats taking fish all around us. Most bass appeared to be on eels, trolleys seemed to be catching blues although the charter boats were landing bass too.”

Scup fishing continues to be strong all over the Bay with large fish being taken in the Jamestown area, Colt State Park, off Rocky Point and at Ohio Ledge.