Fishing camp is a hoot

 Richard Reich, lead surfcasting instructor, explains some of the fundamentals of casting to youth fishing camp participants on Rocky Point Beach, Warwick, RI. 

Fishing appeals to our sense of adventure and builds a life time of memories with family and friends.

Fishing camp is a hoot

It is important to teach our youth about fishing.  Fishing appeals to our sense of adventure and teaches us patience. It is one of those activities where science and art converge. It teaches us to be good stewards of the environment and it allows us to build a lifetime of memories and friendships.

June marks the second year of a highly successful fishing camp for youth that will take place Tuesday, June 27 through Thursday, June 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Rocky Point State Park.

The three day camp, sponsored by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), will host 50 children from seven to fourteen years old.

Steve Medeiros, RISAA president said, “The goal this year is to spin off our highly successful 2016 pilot camp.  Enhancements will include more fishing time on the water.  Yes we will have instruction on basic fishing skills, how to cast, safety and the environment but we plan to focus on fishing.  After all it is a ‘fishing’ camp. On the first day participants will fish from shore, a fluke fishing trip on the Seven B’s Party boat out of Galilee, RI is planned for day two, and participants will fish on RISAA member recreational vessels on the third day in the Greenwich Bay, Warwick Neck and Rocky Point areas.”

Medeiros said, “We find children of all backgrounds and cultures are attracted to fishing and our aim is to give them a proper introduction to the sport. We have about 35 volunteer recreational fisher men, women and captains working on the camp project.”

The pilot fishing camp was such a success last year that it has now been funded by U.S Fish & Wildlife in partnership with the RI DEM and RISAA for the next five years.  The aim this year is to post another success and roll the camp concept out to an additional location in 2018

The same children attend all three days of the camp split into groups by age and fishing experience.  There is no cost for children to participate and lunch is provided, however, parents must complete and sign all participation forms, provide their child with proper attire for an outdoor fishing camp and weather conditions and must provide transportation for children each day to and from Rocky Point State Park.

Topics to be covered over the three day camp include fish identification,  fishing laws, use of spinning and conventional tackle, basic marine biology, how and why to use different baits and lures, casting and fishing from shore as well as boating safety and fishing on a boat.

The fishing camp is sponsored by the RISAA, DEM, U.S. Fish & Wildlife and the City of Warwick.  Brewers Marina in Warwick Cove is donating dock space for 20 vessels that will be used for fishing at camp.

There is limited camp space available, sign up this week by calling the RI Saltwater Anglers Association office at 401.826.2121.

DEM to host Fly Fishing School at Addieville East Farm

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will host a fly fishing school on Saturday, June 17, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Addieville East Farm.  Learn the basics of entomology, fly tying, fly casting, the right equipment to use, knot tying and then fly fishing in a freshly stocked trout pond.   

Minimum age is eleven years old.  Cost of $15.00 will cover your lunch with the fly fishing program free.  All fly fishing equipment will be supplied but feel free to take your own. 

To register contact Kimberly Sullivan, DEM at kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov or 401-539-0037; or Scott Travers, DEM at scott.travers@dem.ri.gov or 401-539-0016.

Where’s the bite

Freshwater fishing slowed his week with cooler weather.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside said, “We are selling a lot of shiners but customers do not seem to be catching bass like they were last week.  It has been cold.  However, anglers are still catching trout at stocked ponds, even at Willet Avenue Pond (Riverside).  I can’t believe the amount of trout they are pulling out of that pond since the second stocking.”

Squid fishing was good this week.  Large numbers of boats are fishing for squid off the southern coastal shores, both commercial and recreational vessels. So the fluke bite has been on squid this week in that area.  Capt. Frank Blount of the Francis Fleet said, “Squid fishing was very good on Thursday Night with hi hooks filling upwards to a half bucket apiece. Unfortunately things did not stay that way  over the holiday weekend as even though the winds were light and variable the water was still churned up from last Friday's blow.“

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing is heating up with fish being caught in the Bay, along our southern coastal shore and out on the south and southeast sides of Block Island.  Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown said, “Customers are doing well in about 70 feet of water off the southeast side of Block Island in the ocean windfarm area and along the southern coastal shore keepers are being caught with a lot of shorts mixed in, a lot of fish are coming up just short at 18.5 inches (this year the minimum size for summer flounder is 19", four fish/person/day).”  Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “The fluke bite is pretty good off Warwick Neck and they are catching some keeper black sea bass when fluke fishing.” Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “Good catches were made both on the local beaches and also around Block Island. A decent amount of limit catches were recorded. Best for size was on Saturday with an 8 lb. pool fish and other fish in the six to seven pound range. A few nice sea bass mixing in and plenty of short fluke.”

Striped bass fishing is good in the Bay with most action in the East Passage from Bristol all the way up to the Hurricane Barrier in Providence.  “There are a lot of school bass being caught with some keepers mixed in this week.  Customer Albert Bettencourt with his son and grandchildren caught over 60 small school bass using jigs and small spoons last Thursday night.” said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait.  Holly Frye of The Tackle Box said, “One customer weighted in striped bass to 13 pounds this week fishing with lures at Conimicut Point from shore.”  “The southwest ledge and north rip at Block Island are yielding small but keeper size striped bass in the 10 and 15 pound range.  Anglers are trolling umbrella rigs with multiple fish hooking up at the same time. School bass with some keepers mixed in are being caught from the beaches as well as Pt. Judith Pond, Ninigret and other ponds along the southern coastal shore.” said Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina.  Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle said, “Bass are being caught in multiple locations in the East Passage from Popasquash Point, Bristol to the Providence River Hurricane Barrier area. Anglers are using Atlantic menhaden with success, some are drifting with live pogies and overs are anchoring up and chumming with chunks.  Ohio Ledge and Napatree Point have been good..”  “We weighed in a 41 pound fish caught in the East Passage by Rocky Patriarca off Prudence Island but we also weighed in 27 and 31 pound fish caught in the Conimicut Light area this weekend.” said John Littlefield.