Advocating for fisheries in Washington, DC

Kattie Lightbody with a 34" striped bass caught with an umbrella rig when fishing with her uncle, Greg Spier.

Capt. Dave Monti with a big Newport summer flounder (fluke).

Advocating for NOAA:  Capt. Dave Monti; George Baldwin, Past President, Connecticut Surfcasters; Gretchen Spiers, Vice President, Cape Cod Salties; and Scott Travers, Executive Director of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association.

Advocating for fisheries in Washington, DC 

Last month, I had the chance to advocate for full funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Washington, DC.

I was with Gretchen Spiers, Vice President of the Cape Cod Salties; Scott Travers, Executive Director of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association; George Baldwin, Past President of the Connecticut Surfcasters Association; and seven other charter captains and anglers.

NOAA is under attack to reduce its staff and budget by about a third. We were in Washington to share with congressional offices how these drastic cuts would impact recreational fishing and the economies of our states.

“We spoke with House and Senate staff about supporting NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation and Restoration, the National Estuary Research Reserves, and the inter-jurisdictional fisheries grants. Since Massachusetts has the largest commercial and recreational fishing economy in New England, and is the third largest producer of seafood in the country (behind Alaska and Washington State), these cuts will disproportionately impact Massachusetts,” said Grechen Spiers of the Cape Cod Salties.

Rhode Island has benefited greatly by these programs including our National Sea Grant Programs at URI Graduate School of Oceanography and Roger Willimas University, Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and many of the programs run by the Narraganset Bay Estuary Program.  Most of these programs would simply go away.

In Massachusetts NOAA funding supports the Waquoit Bay Estuary Research Reserve in Falmouth and Mashpee, grants assessing the impact of wastewater discharge from the Pilgrim Nuclear Plant into Cape Cod Bay, grants for offsetting losses due to the decline in Atlantic herring stocks, and many other local initiatives,” said Gretchen Spiers.  “NOAA dollars also fund ongoing science-based research projects at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, such as those for the National Sea Grant Program and the Ocean Acidification Program,”

With budget cuts data-based stock assessments and fisheries cannot effectively be managed. The loss of funding for the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) – direct mail and interview intercept surveys - will significantly harm the ability of NOAA to manage fisheries.

Spiers said, “A reduction in new and more accurate data collection efforts may lead to moratoriums and seasonal closures based on even more uncertain data, or possibly worse, increased deregulation.”

Our congressional delegation relies on anglers to keep them informed about what they are experiencing on the water, what the issues are and how these NOAA cuts will impact our industry. So please take the time to email them your concerns about NOAA cuts.

Top three tips to catch bigger fluke

The summer flounder (fluke) bite is on.  Anglers are hooking up with keeper fluke off Newport, in lower Narragansett Bay, Mt. Hope Baye, along our coastal shore and around Block Island. 

My three top tips

First you need to plan, plan, and plan your fluke trips.  The idea is to select six to eight places you will fish based on wind and tide being in line.  This is important as you want to drag your bait over the front of the fluke as they set up looking into the current.  I then go to the first place I hope to catch fish based on catching experience and recent fishing intelligence and then go the second, third, fourth places, etc. until we catch fish.

Second, larger fish usually come on edges of structure.  This includes inclines and declines around channel banks and ledges, the foot of jetties where it meets sand, between ledges, drifting over humps and bumps, fishing bridge abutment areas where bait gets tossed, etc.

Third, be ready to fish multiple rigs and baits.  This means being ready to use multiple-colored rigs, jig types and stingers.  And, be ready to tip them with a variety of baits including squid, gulp or the ground fish you have starting to catch and strip up i.e. sea robins, scup, bluefish, etc.  The idea is to try a number of rig and bait arrangements until you discover what the fish want on any given day.

Fluke regulations in Massachusetts include a minimum size of 17.5” from a vessel and 16.5” from shore with a five fish/person/day limit. In Rhode Island the fluke regulation is a 19” minimum size, six fish/person/day with special shore areas where anglers are allowed two 17” fish.   

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass/bluefish.  East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “Action on the Canal has slowed down. Notwithstanding the gloom experienced by most, Mike Dick, a talented Bourne lure maker, enticed a couple of slots to hit his Happy as a Clam white Mini Canal Cruiser for some top water action on an early east tide at first light, and a couple of days before, caught a 39-inch bluefish.”  “The spring run of striped bass has been very good with high numbers of fish being caught in the Providence and Taunton Rivers as well as in Narragansett and Mt. Hope Bays,” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren.  “The herring are still coming out of the Rivers and there are Atlantic menhaden too so depending on where you are anglers are using 9” Doc’s to smaller 4” lures.  We also saw some bonito at the Newport Bridge this week.” Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick, said, “This weekend we had large bass in Warwick and East Greenwich Coves with worm hatches occurring.  The bass were everywhere with an occasional bluefish mixed in.” Angler Greg Spier, said, “My niece Kattie Lightbody of Foxborough caught a 34" striped bass using an umbrella rig in the Brenton Reef area off Newport.”

Black sea bass, summer flounder (fluke), squeteague and scup. “We caught keeper fluke at Prudence Island this week, you had to work for them but they were there,” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait.  Anglers are working to catch keeper black sea bass.  “Scup are not abundant in the upper Bay but the bite is consistent off Newport and at the Sakonnet with a good fluke bite there as well as at Block Island,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle.  “Large scup are being caught in the Bay with anglers landing squeteague and fluke at Warwick Light,” said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box. Angler Matt Haczynski reports on the RI Saltwater Anglers blog, “Sunday the bite was insane off Newport.  The fluke tossed up squid all over the boat when they came on board. We had our limit before noon each day.” 

Freshwater.  “The largemouth bite continues to be excellent with frogs working well as the ponds I am fishing have a lot of vegetation and pads already,” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait. Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, said, “Freshwater fishing is on fire with customers catching a 4.9 and a 5.1 pound largemouth using shiners. Both Little and Gorton Ponds in Warwick are hot.”

 

Bluefin tuna regulations change for the better

Capt. Dave Monti with bluefin tuna.  As of July 1, 2025 private vessels with an HMS Angling permit will be allowed to take one fish between 27” to < 73”.

Big catch: Greg Vespe of Tiverton with a striped bass he caught Saturday night fishing with
live eels off Newport in the Bay.

Good eating:  Marc Carvalho with a squeteague he caught off Warwick Light, he and Sherri Kanelos planned to bake and eat their catch whole.

Bluefin tuna regulations change for the better         

Bluefin tuna regulations changed for the better this week when NOAA announced Thursday new angling and charter/headboat Highly Migratory Species (HMS) limits.  Effect July 1, 2025 private vessels with an HMS Angling permit can retain one bluefin tuna measuring 27” to < 73” and charter/headboat permit holders are allowed two bluefin tuna measuring 27” to < 73”. 

This is good news as most bluefin caught in this area are over 47”, and the present regulation is for fish measuring 27” to < 47”.

In general, quotas close to being met necessitated more conservative regulations this year.  In January tuna fishing in North Carolina was not allowed to close due to an Administration rule making executive order.  The freeze allowed overfishing which in part has meant reduced quotas for New York and New England fishermen as the fish migrate north.

It is important to note that for the past three years, anglers have caught an abundance of bluefin tuna close to shore in Southern New England.  Many believe robust bait/forage profiles are here close to shore in great abundance due to warming water.  And the fish are here because the forage fish they eat are here. 

This climate change impact points to the need for enhanced stock assessments and climate research to keep tabs on fish stocks like tuna and other species particularly sensitive to overfishing due to stock shifts and enhanced fishing pressure.

Capt. Mike Pierdinock, avid bluefin tuna fisher, member of the New England Fishery Management Council and President of the Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association, said, “We have a unique situation this year.  Due to the closure delay in North Carolina the general category overfished their 37.7 mt quota.  By the time they closed the fishery on February 28 they had harvested 115 mt of bluefin tuna.  That’s a lot when you consider the entire fishery is 1,300 mt.  This combined with overfishing bluefin tuna in general in 2024, including the recreational fishing community for the first time since 2010, we are experiencing these reductions out of caution to prevent overfishing this year.”

Hats off to Rick Bellavance, President of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association and Chair of the New England Fishery Management Council as well as Mike Pierdinock for advocating for a larger bluefin size.

For information and updates visit the NMFS Permit Shop.

 

Catch and release best practices for striped bass

Striped bass fishing is good, so good for this time of year that we have to make sure we use catch and release best practices to help ensure the survival of the fish we release.  More striped bass die after capture and release than those legal-size fish we take home to eat.

Fishing at the Cape Cod Canal has been very good too with anglers catching fish to 41”. East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “On Wednesday “Bill on the Grill” Prodouz landed a 40-inch linesider that fell for a herring Mystic glider and then a 41-inch powerhouse with a Yo-Zuri bone hydro twitch bait.”

On my charter boat Tuesday the fish were on the bottom. Jason Mills of Cranston caught a 39” striped bass on a tube & worm on the channel pad at Poppasquash Point, Bristol when fishing with Richard Hellwig of Providence.  And, Steve Brustein of Warwick caught a 34” fish in the same place earlier in the week.  There were no signs of fish on the surface but they were there in the lower water column and on the bottom.   

The striped bass stock is overfished, with overfishing occurring, so we all need to be ready to safely catch and release these fish giving them the best chance of survival.

Striped bass regulations are one fish/person/day in a slot size of 28” to less than 31”.

Catch and release tips

Gaffs are not allowed and inline circle hooks must be used when fishing with bait for striped bass, tube and worm fishing is an exception.

Bring the fish to the boat quickly, extended fights deplete oxygen and reduce survival.

Avoid putting fish on deck and letting it flop around, keep it in the water as much as possible.

Wet your hands or gloves before handling the fish, dry hands remove the fish’s protective slime layer and leave it open to infection.

Handle fish carefully.  Do not put fingers into gill cavities or eye sockets.

Gently remove the hook to minimize damage.

Use lures with single hook, barbless hooks (I snap them off), or circle hooks.

Return fish to water quickly. Place gently in water in upright horizontal position.  Move it back and forth in the water to force water across its gills.  Once revived it will flip its tail when ready to be released.

 

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass/bluefish.  Tom Olson of Ponaug Marina, Warwick, said, “The striped bass and bluefish bite has been good for anglers they are catching fish trolling with tube & worm, umbrellas rigs or using live bait.”  Ed Lombardo fly fishing expert and guide, said, “Fishing slowed on Narrow River, Narragansett Tuesday. I fished and moved many times to the more productive spots up, down, and across the river until 12 noon.  Fished again at 1:00 p.m., now an incoming tide, and caught two small bass and one hickory shad.” Striper fishing in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay has been good.  Last week anglers on my charter boat hooked up with bass to 40” with reports of a 52” fish being caught by RISAA member Dave Sweet’s son at Anawan Cliffs, Narragansett. Lay off the big fish if you have other options as more striped bass are killed after being release than those we take home to eat (see above article on bass catch and release practices).   Sherri Kanelos of Warwick boated her largest fish ever Sunday, a 24” bluefish off Bear Point Prudence Island.

Black sea bass, summer flounder (fluke), squeteague and scup.  Summer flounder fishing has been good in the lower Narragansett Bay with anglers catching keepers.  Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle said, “We had two commercial rod & reel customers catch monster fluke in the East Passage around the Jamestown bridge, one fish they boated was over 30 inches.”  This weekend we caught multiple scup, fluke and squeteague in the Warwick Neck area.  Marc Carvalho of Warwick caught a 20” squeteague.  Most of the fluke were under 19 inches.

                                                                                                                                       

Freshwater.  The fresh water bite for largemouth, pike and trout remains very strong.  For ponds restocked with trout visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov and in Rhode Island Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

South Fork Wind creating "reef effect"

Fishing Machine Charters, Pt. Judith, RI hooked up with cod, pollock and cunner in the Cox Ledge area wind farm this winter.

Fish abundance and a large variety of fish can be seen at pylons, on scour protection and at cable mattresses.

Blue mussels dominate monopile surfaces in shallow water; here at a water depth of less than 2 m (6.6 ft), blue mussels lived among invertebrate turf and tufts of red algae.

South Fork Wind creating “reef effect”

The South Fork Wind Benthic Monitoring Program released a visual survey earlier this month conducted at South Fork Wind (SFW), an offshore wind farm located 16.5 nautical miles southeast of Block Island, Rhode Island in the Cox Ledge area.  The survey shows that the wind farm has had minimal environmental impact on the surrounding marine ecosystem and has created a positive “reef effect.”

Similar “reef effects” have been documented by peer reviewed studies at European wind farms and during a seven-year study at the Block Island Wind Farm, which showed there was a greater amount of Atlantic cod and black sea bass in the wind farm area compared to two control areas outside the wind farm, and all other species abundance was even.

Simply put, so far at 18 months out, South Fork Wind is yielding new habitat and fish.

James Riggs, a recreational fishing representative on the Fisheries Advisory Board (FAB) of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), said, “The enhanced ecology that I clearly see will only compound with time and become more and more prolific. It gives me hope that we can see a real benefit from what is already structurally out there, and will be for a long time. There may be opportunities to enhance or improve on existing and or proposed marine infrastructure projects.”

Key findings of the study include no detectable changes to the biological communities on the seafloor surrounding the turbines; marine life is using the wind turbine foundations as habitat; and the project is already creating a reef effect, providing habitat for commercially, recreationally, and ecologically important marine species.

South Fork Wind’s comprehensive benthic (seafloor) monitoring program includes target visual studies at pre-construction, construction and post- construction time periods, which is something that fishermen advocated for.  Comprehensive monitoring, like this study, is a requirement and aims to protect valuable marine resources and habitat.

To meet this requirement, independent science teams have conducted extensive visual monitoring surveys of the wind farm pylons, scour protection at the base of pylons, and cabling and bolder relocation areas. 

Pictures speak louder than words

The good news is that SFW benthic surveys have not detected demonstrable change in the biological community or benthic functions associated with pylons, cable routes or bolder relocation.  Striking video and still images taken before, during and after construction show extensive blue mussel growth and fish at pylons and in the surrounding area.  See videos and still images at South Fork Wind Benthic Monitoring Program.

“I was very surprised with the mussel growth on pylons that has occurred so quickly.  The video footage clearly showed the creation of life on the pylons and at the base of the pylons on the scour protection,” said Fred Mattera, executive director of the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island, which represents nine commercial fishing-related organizations in Rhode Island.

Mattera said, “These structures are creating new habitat and life. The amount and variety of fish captured on video footage is incredible.”

This past summer and winter there were numerous fishing reports from charter captains and anglers catching tuna, cod and an abundance of mahi-mahi at South Fork Wind.

“Simply put, my position is neither for or against offshore wind development, but if there is a way to improve marine habitat and strive for the goal of fish abundance I am all for it.  I will do my best to advocate for recreational fishermen's interests whenever I can,” said James Riggs of the FAB.

The South Fork Wind benthic visual surveys document the reef effect and reveal numerous commercially, recreationally and ecologically important species. Black sea bass, lobster, and flounder were documented near the structures.  Other species observed included Atlantic cod, scup, cunner, barrel fish, flounder, butterfish, jack, mahi mahi, trigger fish, Bermuda chub, winter and summer flounder, sculpin, spotted and red hake, ocean pout and the Atlantic rock/Jonah crabs.

Other studies being conducted as part of the South Fork research and monitoring plan include gillnet and fish pot surveys, a ventless trap survey, a beam trawl survey, mechanical jigging study, and acoustic telemetry studies.   Visit South Fork Wind Farm Fisheries Monitoring — CFRF and an article on the Marine Fish Conservation Network blog for details on the South Fork Wind research and monitoring plan.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass/bluefish.  “Striper fishing is spotty.  The are scattered.  Narragansett Bay’s East Passage is still a good bet,” said Nick Krajewski of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown. Ryan Collins of My Fishing Cape Cod, said, “For boat anglers there's been some awfully large striped bass caught in Cape Cod Bay and Buzzard's Bay.” East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “Last week began with the west end producing on the early west tide without breaks during daylight. Jay Saucier, vacationing from Old Town, Maine, hooked a high-end slot with a bone-colored Savage during an early dropping tide. Carlos Reis from Falmouth, enticed a 40-inch beast with his green Striper Gear Shaddy Daddy that brought the Boga down to 25 pounds! High hook went to Sandwich’s Joe “Green Gloves” Moneghan bouncing a green mac jig off the bottom to deceive two 47s and a 48-inch monster!”  Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Striped bass fishing remains productive, with a good variety of sizes being caught. Bluefish are still present, and there have been reports of some good-sized ones.”  “Last week I caught a 32” and three smaller bass at Narrow River, Narragansett on an incoming tide.  Used my burgundy color fly that caught some hickory shad as well,” said Ed Lombardo, fly fishing expert and instructor.

Tautog season closes May 31. Anglers have filed fewer reports as the spring season comes to an end.

Black sea bass, summer flounder (fluke) and scup.  Last week I caught small keeper fluke north of the Jamestown Bridge on American Ledge.  Angler Matthew Haczynski reports fishing Block Island Monday, “After a lot of slow fishing all of a sudden we loaded the cooler ending with all anglers on the boat limiting out.  The tides nearest to slack produced best.”  Nick Krajewski of Quaker Lane, said, “Anglers are catching keeper scup and black sea bass now.”                                                                                                                                     

Freshwater. Some ponds restocked with trout for Memorial Day. For information in RI visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov.

Atlantic bluefin tuna retention limits adjusted

 

Jason Mills of Cranston with the 39” striped bass he caught Tuesday off Poppasquash Point, Bristol.

Learn how to tie Hex Hatch flies and about the mayfly hatch on the Wood River, Hexagenia Limbata.

Atlantic bluefin tuna retention limits adjusted

NOAA Fisheries is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limits for recreational fishermen. The adjusted limits took effect June 3, 2025 and extend through December 31, 2025, unless modified by later action.

NOAA Fisheries may need to take other action(s) later in the year, if appropriate, to further adjust the retention limits or close the fishery.

The adjusted limits for private vessels with a HMS angling category permit is one school fish 27” to less than 47”.  For charter boats with a HMS Charter/Headboat permit fishing recreationally two school fish 27” to less than 47” are allowed.  In both cases no large school/small medium fish 47” to less than 73” are allowed and no giants over 73” are allowed at this time.

This January tuna fishing in North Carolina was not allowed to close due to an Administration rule making executive order.  The freeze allowed overfishing which has meant reduced quotas for New York and New England fishermen as the fish migrate north.

For information and updates visit the NMFS Permit Shop.

 

Catch and release best practices for striped bass

Striped bass fishing is good, so good for this time of year that we have to make sure we use catch and release best practices to help ensure the survival of the fish we release.  More striped bass die after capture and release than those legal-size fish we take home to eat.

“Striped bass fishing has been great, right here in Narragansett Bay.  I am usually fishing out in front by this time but there has been no need.  Earlier this week fish were breaking on the surface all around Ohio Ledge (in the East Passage off Warren),” said expert angler Dave Gordon.

Fishing at the Cape Cod Canal has been very good too with anglers catching fish to 41”. East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “On Wednesday “Bill on the Grill” Prodouz landed a 40-inch linesider that fell for a herring Mystic glider and then a 41-inch powerhouse with a Yo-Zuri bone hydro twitch bait.”

On my charter boat Tuesday the fish were on the bottom. Jason Mills of Cranston caught a 39” striped bass on a tube & worm on the channel pad at Poppasquash Point, Bristol when fishing with Richard Hellwig of Providence.  And, Steve Brustein of Warwick caught a 34” fish in the same place earlier in the week.  There were no signs of fish on the surface but they were there in the lower water column and on the bottom.   

The striped bass stock is overfished, with overfishing occurring, so we all need to be ready to safely catch and release these fish giving them the best chance of survival.

Striped bass regulations are one fish/person/day in a slot size of 28” to less than 31”.

Catch and release tips

Gaffs are not allowed and inline circle hooks must be used when fishing with bait for striped bass, tube and worm fishing is an exception.

Bring the fish to the boat quickly, extended fights deplete oxygen and reduce survival.

Avoid putting fish on deck and letting it flop around, keep it in the water as much as possible.

Wet your hands or gloves before handling the fish, dry hands remove the fish’s protective slime layer and leave it open to infection.

Handle fish carefully.  Do not put fingers into gill cavities or eye sockets.

Gently remove the hook to minimize damage.

Use lures with single hook, barbless hooks (I snap them off), or circle hooks.

Return fish to water quickly. Place gently in water in upright horizontal position.  Move it back and forth in the water to force water across its gills.  Once revived it will flip its tail when ready to be released.

 

Introduction to the ‘Hex Hatch’

The RI Department of Environmental Management Division of Fish & Wildlife Aquatic Resource Education program will hold their introduction to the ‘Hex Hatch’ program Thursday, June 12, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the DFW Outdoor Office, 1B Camp E-Hun-Tee Place, Exeter, RI.

Join Ed Lombardo, expert fly guide and instructor, and volunteer experts from United Fly Tyers, Rhody Fly Rodders, and Trout Unlimited to learn about the largest mayfly hatch on the Wood River, Hexagenia Limbata.

The three-hour workshop begins with a presentation about the mayfly and its habits, when it emerges to spawn, what gear to use to mimic the hatch, and how to catch a trout during the hatch.   All fly-tying equipment and materials are provided.

Space is limited and registration is required. Cost is $10 per person. For more information and to register, email kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

 

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass/bluefish.  “Striped bass and the bluefish bite has been good in the Godard Park Greenwich Bay area with anglers catching fish using topwater lures and soft plastics,” said Vincent Cataldi of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown.  East End Eddie Doherty said fishing on the Cape Cod Canal was active with Tim “Hollywood” Petracca catching fish up to 35 inches with stick shads.” Tom Olson of Ponaug Marina, Warwick, said, “The striped bass and bluefish bite has been good for anglers they are catching fish trolling with tube & worm, umbrellas rigs or using live bait.”  “Anglers are using flutter spoons (designed to float down into the water column), umbrella rigs and using bait, maceral and Atlantic menhaden, to fish the lower column with success,” said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick.  Ed Lombardo fly fishing expert and guide, said, “Fishing slowed on Narrow River, Narragansett Tuesday. I fished and moved many times to the more productive spots up, down, and across the river until 12 noon.  Fished again at 1:00 p.m., now an incoming tide, and caught two small bass and one hickory shad.”

Black sea bass, summer flounder (fluke), squeteague and scup.  Last week I caught small keeper fluke north of the Jamestown Bridge on American Ledge.  Vincent Cataldi of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackel, said, “Anglers are loading up on big fluke around Block Island.  Fishing the coastal shore and in the Bay has been fairly slow for keeper fluke. Anglers are hooking up with scup and keeper black sea bass.  I saw an angler land a keeper black sea bass from a dock in Jamestown.” Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, Warwick, said, “Warwick Neck and Greenwich Bay are yielding a fair amount of squeteague.”

                                                                                                                                       

Freshwater. “Fishing has exploded with anglers hooking up with largemouth, pike and some monster sized trout,” said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box.  For ponds restocked with trout visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov and in Rhode Island Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.

Favorite places to catch spring striped bass

Jim Lundy caught this East Passage striped bass using a flutter spoon last week.

East End Eddie Doherty with a spring Cape Cod Canal striped bass.  Photo by Jeff Nickerson.

 

Grant Stark with the 46” striped bass he caught on Cape Cod last week.  Photo courtesy of ‘My Fishing Cape Cod’.

Favorite places to catch spring striped bass

The striped bass are here on their annual migration north.  Before relating where to catch them and how it is important to note that they are in tough shape as a species. 

Striped bass continue to be overfished and subject to overfishing so great care should be taken to catch and release fish safely to reduce fish mortality. 

Using one single hook rather than multiple treble hooks on lures helps.  Keep the fight short and try to keep the fish in the water when dehooking and releasing. Inline circle hooks are the law when using bait and no use of gaffs. 

Take your time when releasing the fish once the hook is out holding it by its tail (caudal) fin moving it forward and backward so water flows over their gills to revive them.  The fish will let you know it is ready to be released when it wags its tail fin in your hand, at that point just let it go.

The striped bass limit is one fish/person/day between 28” to less than 31”.

Some favorite spots and methods

Coves, ponds, rivers and along the ocean shore. Salt Pond and Narrow River, Narragansett; Green River, North Kingstown; and the Warren River are good spots. My favorite cove is Greenwich Cove in the spring (because I lived there, and it is the first place I ever caught a striped bass).  

I have caught bass from shore and boat at the end, middle and mouth of the Cove at Chepiwanoxet Point, Warwick; to the East Greenwich Town Dock and Scallop Town Park on the east side; to the Godard Park boat ramp all the way up to the State Beach.  My favorite baits are hard and soft plastic lures (both surface and swimming).                    

The East Passage of Narragansett Bay including the space between Popasquash Point, Bristol and Bear Point Prudence Island.  I have caught many large striped bass in this area (large for the Bay is 20 to 40 pounds), particularly trolling with tube and worm or fishing the channel pads and edges with menhaden (live or chunked) and large spoons that mimic herring and Atlantic menhaden. The channel pads from Bristol to Barrington are also great places to fish as they hold bait and stripers as the shipping channel acts as a bait conduit pushing bait up and down the East Passage of the Bay. Can fish this area from shore at Barrington Beach and Colt State Park fishing pier, Bristol. 

The West Wall of the Harbor of Refuge in Jerusalem area, South Kingstown; the Charlestown Breachway and any other jetty along the coastal shore.  These areas provide shore anglers (and boat anglers) with one of the best first Rhode Island striped bass opportunities as the bass make their run past the Connecticut coastline to Rhode Island.  Lures of all types are the baits of choice. 

Providence River in the cities of Providence, East Providence, Barrington, Cranston and Warwick.  The area from shore up the Seekonk River and at India Point Park and the Hurricane Barrier in Providence to Conimicut Point has been a very fruitful fishing area in early spring.  The most popular method in recent years has been live lining or fishing with cut up chunks of Atlantic menhaden.  

The hot areas to fish include the Hurricane Barrier down to Save the Bay on Fields Point in Providence.  Anglers have caught thousands of bass in this area. When the menhaden spawning runs are strong striped bass chase them up the Providence River to the Seekonk River all the way up to downtown Pawtucket.  Bass over 50” have been caught in this area.  Anglers can catch from shore in Pawtucket, Providence, East Providence, Barrington, Warwick and Cranston. 

Cape Cod Canal is now yielding fish for shore anglers.  Surfcasters are catching a variety of fish sizes.  “The middle of last week started with North Attleborough resident Justin “Shooter” Dorsey landing an above slot 33-inch striped bass on a rising east tide toward the west end with an Al Gags white Whip-It Eel. Another school followed with fish up to 40-inches caught mid canal by “Slap Shot Scottie” Ewell of Montague while casting a light-colored SP Minnow into the east tide,” said East End Eddie Doherty, Canel fishing expert and author. “Lures that seem to be working well this spring include white Joe Baggs Swarters, 5-ounce Bill Hurley Canal Killers, Albie Super Snax and 4-ounce Al Gags jigs.”

 

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass.  Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren, said, “The stiped bass bite has been very good in Mt. Hope and Narragansett Bays.  Anglers should know that Rhode Island and Massachusetts now have two different ways of measuring striped bass.”  In Massachusetts anglers must squeeze the tail (caudal) fin to take the measure from the closed mouth of the fish.  Visit Massachusetts - Striped Bass | eRegulations for an illustration on how to measure striped bass in Massachusetts. In Rhode Island measure from the mouth to the longest point of the tail fin, there is no squeezing allowed. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Customers are having difficulty catching slot size fish in the upper Providence and Seekonk Rivers.  Larger fish over 31” are being caught, earlier this month a 53” fish was caught. Baits working include live or chucked Atlantic menhaden with worms working best in the Seekonk River as all that mud up the Seekonk River holds a lot of worms.”  Angler Kevin Travares said “We fished Mount Hope Bay, the Sakonnet launch to Bristol to Roger Williams, etc. Chased terns and gulls on breaking schools of bass. Sometimes w/out birds, could spot them breaking top water.  Needed to move with the schools. 40-50’ of water/drop offs in channel worked.  Most fish were around slot, had some under 20” (nice to see) and a couple over 30 inches.”  Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “We've seen some impressive sizes, with reports of fish up to 47 inches caught in the Charlestown Breachway this week. Both tides have been productive, and they are actively feeding on a variety of bait, including silversides, needlefish, shad, eels, and squid.”

Tautog.  Anglers have filed fewer reports on tautog as not as many are fishing for them as they are now targeting scup, striped bass and other species that have arrived,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle. 

Summer flounder and scup are being caught throughout the region.  Manny Macera of Lucky Bait & Tackle said, “The scup are in with small fluke being caught too.” Angler Matthew Haczynski reported Saturday finding keeper fluke in the Block Island area with he and two others filling a cooler full of fluke.”  Angler Garey Vandemoortele, said, “We limited out on fluke in the Westport area last week when chartering on Three Sister Charters.  Clams and clam worms worked best.” 

Freshwater. For complete regulations, a list of trout stocked ponds, and a copy of the RI Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Guide visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov.

Block Island Tournament now includes mainland ocean beaches

 

Nine species: The Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament now includes nine species and a wind farm photo contest division.  

Expanded Tournament: Now fish an expanded fishing area in the Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27.

Donation: Members of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association with food and cash raised at their annual dinner that they donated to the Johnney Cake Center for Hope, Peace Dale.  

Tournament now includes ocean beaches

“We are thrilled that the Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament keeps growing,” said Capt. Chris Willi, Tournament Director and owner of Block Island Fish Works, a bait & tackle shop and charter fishing business located on Block Island, Rhode Island.  “We now are fishing for nine species with an expanded fishing area that includes areas south of the Newport and Jamestown Bridges including the Rhode Island ocean beaches to about fifteen miles south of Block Island itself.”

The tournament will start at 5:30 a.m., Saturday, July 26 and end Sunday, July 27, 12 noon.  There will be an ‘After Party’ at Capt. Nick’s Rock & Roll Bar, Block Island on Sunday, July 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a brief Tournament awards ceremony.

“This is a length only Tournament.  Participants download GotOne, the Tournament app, on their smartphone.  To make a Tournament entry they take a photo of their catch up against the Tournament supplied ruler and send the entry into the Tournament electronically. This makes it unnecessary to attend the awards ceremony to pick up prizes,” said Capt. Willi.

Species now include bonito, false albacore, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and mahi in addition to fluke, black sea bass, bluefish and striped bass.

Tournament entry fees are $150 per boat for up to six anglers and $35/shore angler.  Capt. Willi said, “Thanks to the Block Island Wind Farm and Ørsted as well as tackle shop co-sponsors, we are able to donate 100% of Tournament entry fees to the Block Island Fire Department and Rescue.”

Tournament highlights include:  cash cards/swag/and sponsor prizes totally $10,000;  boat, shore, youth, team and photo divisions; take a photo with the  Block Island Wind Farm shown and you can enter three photo categories each with $200 prize… most scenic, best fish photo and best team photo;  pick up participant bags at one of seven locations including Block Island Fish Works, Block Island; Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren;  Ocean State Tackle, Providence; The Tackle Box, Warwick; Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown; Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown; and  Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly.

Register at BI Inshore Tourney | bi-fishworks (sandypointco.com); contact Block Island Fish Works at bifishworks@gmail.com or 401.742.3992. 

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass.  Angler Fred DeFinis of Middletown, said, “I fished in the East Passage last week for three days and landed a fair number of fish. By far, the most common size is 28-29 inches which are probably of the 2018 year class, the last good spawning year.” Expert fly angler and instructor Ed Lombardo, said, “I got one fish Thursday on an incoming tide  near Middle Bridge on the Narrow River.”  “Some nice stripers, especially during the rainy nights have been caught. Bass fishing has been consistent along the beaches and in the breachways. The rain seemed to slow down the worm hatch a bit,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown.  Angler Gil Bell fishing the surf in South County, said, “Caught a fact, sea lice free 30” striped bass which I released.”

Tautog.  “Tautog should continue to move closer to shore as the water warms up. Offshore water temperatures have just reached 50 degrees, while the pond temperatures hit the mid-60s this week. As a reminder female tautog can be full of eggs this time of year and is good sport to release them and keep the males,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle.  Capt. Mike O’Grady of Fishing Machine Charters, said, “Tautog fishing is good.  We are catching full boat limits with a bunch for shorts and a good squid bite too.” Angler John Migliori said, “Caught a 7.64 tautog from shore on Aquidneck Island this week using green crabls,”

Squid and summer flounder.  The squid fishing has been very good with anglers hooking up at night.  And, the fluke are right behind them. Angler Matthew Haczynski reported Sunday finding squid and fluke off Block Island, “We managed to boat three keepers between all the shorts in 75’-100’.  A few fish were tossing squid on the way up. A good sign of better things to come.”

Giant bluefin tuna bite is already on.  Offshore fishing angler Richard Pastore said, “Last Thursday a 600 pound giant was caught on a Ballyhoo rig between Cuttyhunk and Block Island.”

Freshwater. For complete regulations, a list of trout stocked ponds, and a copy of the RI Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Guide visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov.

Say no to boat tax

Tautog bite on:  Angler Greg Vespe of Tiverton, said, “Tautog fishing opened up this weekend in the mid and lower Narragansett Bay.  Caught our limit before our coffee was cold.”

Trout bite still good: “Greg Spicer caught multiple golden, rainbow and brown trout in Northern Rhode Island waterways last week,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence.

Boating sales and property tax proposed

On Tuesday night, May 5, 2025, the boating and fishing community spoke out against Rhode Island House Bill H-6256 at a House Finance Committee meeting.  The Bill proposes to remove the sales, property and use tax exemption on motorboats.

Bill sponsor Rep. John Lombardi of Providence said, “We have $5-million dollar boats being bought by people from out of state and they pay no sales tax on these yachts.”

However, this is not a luxury tax Rep. Lombardi is proposing,  but rather a tax on all 32,000 boats registered in Rhode Island each year, and according to the National Marine Manufactures Association about three out of four of them are owned by individuals with household incomes of less than $100,000.  So the new sales tax and property tax being proposed by Rep. Lombardi would tax thousands of working families in Rhode Island.

In a letter to the House Finance committee Rick Bellavance, president of the RI Charter & Party Boat Association, a membership of 51 small businesses in Rhode Island, said, “This bill would impact small businesses in the industry by introducing additional costs, with they might need to either absorb or pass on to clients.  The industry supports our tourism-based economy and the effects of H-6256 should be carefully considered as the bill would not support tourism and the charter fishing industry in Rhode Island.”

Scott Travers, executive director of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, with 7,500 affiliated members and 35 affiliated organizations, said, “Recreational fishing has a $419-million dollar economic impact on Rhode Island’s economy annually.  Many of our members own boats or fish with friends that have boats so this bill would harm recreational fishing as well as marine trades in Rhode Island.” See a Scott Travers interview at RI lawmakers consider imposing new tax on boats | WPRI.com.

Highlights of the testimony I gave at the hearing are as follows:

”Over the past 20 years about 75 percent of my charter customers came from out of state, which is tourism.  I am constantly refereeing customers to hotels, restaurants and bait & tackle shops.  Tourism, boating and fishing are a major driver to Rhode Island’s economy.

We have been known as a boating and fishing friendly state in part due to no taxes on boats.  To enact sales and property taxes on boats will change this perception.  We will no longer be the boating and fishing friendly state.

This change in perception, will have a profound  negative impact on the number of boaters, fishers and tourists that come to RI.  The income generated from these taxes will be minimal to the positive impact Rhode Island has enjoyed by being perceived as a boating and fishing friendly state.

So I ask anglers, boaters, members of the House, Senate and Administration please do not support a boat sales and property tax.  Let the State of Rhode Island remain a boating and fishing friendly state that will continue to help drive our economy.”

According to the Rhode Island Maine Trades Association, the state’s marine trades sector collectively accounts for over 13,300 jobs and $2.65 billion in gross sales.

More to come as we follow this bill though the legislative process.  For now the bill has been put on hold for further study like all bills heard Tuesday night.

 

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass fishing for holdover striped bass (fish that did not migrate south) continues to be very good with anglers catching keeper striped bass 28” to < 31”.  “Recent sunny days have warmed the water and we're seeing a good mix of sizes, from smaller school bass up to impressive fish over 30 inches. We've also noticed a few worm hatches last week where fish have been present. It looks like these hatches will soon be expanding from the more secluded coves to the open edges of the ponds,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown.  Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “Still not much action in Apponaug Cove area, but some anglers are picking up fish at Conimicut Point, Warwick with isolated reports of fish in Greenwich Bay.”  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Fish to 34” are being caught in the Providence River and West Passage with school bass being caught in Greenwich Bay.  Natural baits such as clam, squid and oms are working as well as flutter spoons as there are not many Atlantic menhaden available.”

Tautog.  “We've been getting some positive reports on tautog, with customers having success both from the shore and by boat. There have also been a few reports of cod in deeper waters.” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle.  Dustin Stevens of Rhode Island Kayak Adventures, said, “I like to use half of a green crab with legs off in the spring as the fish seem to like softer baits.”  Angler Greg Vespe of Tiverton, said, “Tog fishing exploded over the weekend with a nice mix of males and females in the mid and upper bay now that the water is 52.8 so they are chewing.  We had our limits before our coffee was cold and then just played around trying new spots.”

Freshwater trout fishing is still a good bet with trout stocking recently occurring in RI and MA waterways.  For complete regulations, a list of stocked ponds, and a copy of the RI Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Guide visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov.