Learn how to quahog this summer

Dan Thivierge of Warren, RI weighs in a 43.6 pound, 50” striped bass at Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren.  Dan caught the fish Friday night off Colt State Park, Bristol using live Atlantic menhaden as bait.

Pete Jones of Wellesley, MA with the 23” fluke he caught Friday, south of the Jamestown Bridge in 40 feet of water with a yellow buck tail tipped with squid.

Capt. Matt Cox of the Frances Fleet with the 32 inch, 13.8 pound summer flounder (fluke) that fell victim to a customer’s small whole squid on a Pro series mylar green bait rig last week.

Learn how to catch quahogs this summer.

Learn how to calm it up

Here is your chance to learn how to dig for clams and what type of equipment is needed. The program is sponsored by the University of Rhode Island's Sea Grant and features commercial shell fisherman Jody King, who will introduce participants to recreational clamming. Space is limited and registration is required. 

Participants learned about the type of equipment used, the size limits and restrictions of quahogs, the difference between the different types of shellfish, and the importance of managing the resource for future generations

The remaining dates and locations for the "Come Clam with Me" classes are:

Thursday, July 30, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Spink's Neck Beach in North Kingstown

Thursday, August 20, from 4 .pm. to 7 .pm. at North Kingstown Town Beach

Wednesday, September 16, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Spink's Neck Beach in North Kingstown

There is no fee for the class and registration is required.  To register or for more information contact Kimberly Sullivan at kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov or 401-539-0019.

Fin & Feather Outfitters fly-fishing seminar

Alex Petti of fin & Feather Outfitters said, “We are holding a fly casting demonstration with instructions for both beginners and advance fly fishers on Saturday, June 20 at 10:00 a.m.” Learn about the Hexigina Hatch from fly expert Bob Greco and then take a casting lesson from local fly experts Ed Lombardo and Max Petti.  Lessons are free.  Both fresh and saltwater anglers welcome… learn about fly lines, leaders, knots and much more.  Visit Fin & Feather Outfitters at 3520 Quaker Lane, North Kingstown, RI.   Call 401.316.6924 or visit www.finandfeather@outlook.com for information.

Trout Unlimited meeting on fishing the Hex

The Narragansett Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU225) will host its regular monthly membership meeting on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 6:30 PM.  This meeting will be held at the RIDEM Deer Check Station in the Arcadia Management Area in Exeter, RI.  Directions for driving to the Check Station can be derived at this Website (http://narragansett.tu.org/narragansett/chapter-meetings ) by clicking on the link to the map and inserting your starting point.

A panel of experienced fly anglers will discuss the process and successful practices for fishing the “Hex” hatch on the Wood River.  Questions will be answered and sample Hex flies will be available for inspection.  A variety of fly tying materials will be available.  Fish before or after the meeting.  Contact Ron Marafioti at (401) 463-6162 for information.

Women-Only Fly fishing Workshop

On Saturday, June 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the Narragansett Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU225), the Wood River Fly Fishing Club, the United Fly Tiers of RI, and RIDEM's Aquatic Resource Education program will sponsor their first-ever Women-Only Fly Fishing Workshop. Fly fishing instructions by experienced fly anglers from all over the state will be provided to help teach women how to tie flies and fly fish in a hands-on, safe, and non-competitive environment. This program will focus on equipment needs, fly tying, fly casting and fishing areas across Rhode Island. Lunch will be provided. Space is limited and registration is required. For more information and to register, please call 401-539-0019 or email at kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

Where’s the bite

“Striped bass fishing was good but spotty this week. Customers have caught bass at Conimicut Light, up the Seekonk River, Capt. Billy Silvia caught some nice bass at the Prudence Island T Wharf this weekend and a 43” bass was caught at Sally Rock by Don Nguyen in Greenwich Bay but we have no high concentrations of bass.” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence.  “My daughter and Capt. Steve Anderson of Bare Bones Charters did very well with bass trolling tube and worm in the Mt. Hope Bay last week.” said Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick. Angler Bob Masse said on the RISAA blog, “Caught bait (Atlantic menhaden) in Greenwich Bay and then landed two striped bass south of the T Wharf at Prudence Island on Sunday.” Don Thivierge of Warren, RI landed a 43.6 pound striped bass off Colt State Park at night last week.  The fish was weighed in a Lucky Bait in Warren.  Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait said, “The striped bass bite has been good so far this year we have a lot of fish in the 29 to 32” range and quite  a few very large fish in the 45” to 50” range. People are landing bass on live menhaden, umbrella rigs and tube and worm.  Chucking it working too, but not as well as other methods.”

Summer flounder fishing is OK.  “Mike Swain of Coventry said we took four nice keepers in the Bay this week.  Fish do not seem to be out on the reefs yet.”  I fished the Jamestown Beavertail east and west sides as well as off Newport this weekend and did not do well with fluke.  Many black sea bass to 21” caught while trying to find fluke.  Pete Jones of Wellesley, MA boated a 23” fluke while fishing off Dutch Island south of the Jamestown Bridge.  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “We had a very strong fluke bite last week with a 13.8 pound fluke caught on a Pro series Mylar green bait rig tipped with squid on Friday. The fishing has certainly been solid with hi hooks getting six to as many as a full limit catch and a fair amount of other anglers getting several nice fluke apiece to take home. For numbers of keepers by far the best day all around was last Sunday when nearly 100 nice fluke went into the bags and coolers with several limits and lots of anglers who boxed three or more nice fluke each.”

Scup fishing has improved with fish being taken in the upper parts of the Bay too.  Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait said, “We have had scup caught at Colt State Park, under the bridges and other places in the Bay too.”  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle said, “Scup as large as 19” have been caught at the Mt. Hope Bridge.”