Rep. Magaziner, Natural Resources Committee Members Discuss Trump-Musk Attacks on NOAA

Rep. Seth Magaziner leads discussions at the Natural Resources Committee’s NOAA issues forum held last week.  Rep. Maxine Dexter of Oregon looks on.

Charles Chupko with a golden rainbow trout that earned him a golden trout pin from Rhode Island DEM last year. 

Rep. Magaziner, Natural Resources Committee Members Discuss Trump-Musk Attacks on NOAA

Last week I was pleasantly surprised to see U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner from Rhode Island hosting an issues form with other U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Members titled “Attacks on NOAA threaten American Communities and Economies.”  During this forum, the Members examined the dangerous consequences of the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign to dismantle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Members and panelists warned that Trump and Musk’s attacks are calculated moves to silence scientists, privatize public services, and reward tax breaks to billionaires at the expense of the American people.  Hats off to Rep. Jared Huffman, ranking committee member, for holding the NOAA forum and for Rep. Seth Magaziner for doing a great job hosting.  Visit Rep. Magaziner, Natural Resources Committee Members Discuss Trump-Musk Attacks on NOAA with Expert Panelists at Issues Forum | U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman.

Trout being stocked are bigger than ever

Rhode Island and Massachusetts have stocked waterways with a variety of trout for the spring trout season.  These initiatives provide excellent fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and skill levels. 

The trout are larger than usual.  Connor Swartz of Red Top Sporting Goods, Buzzards Bay, said, “The trout bite has been outstanding in stocked ponds, and the fish have been big.  We weighted in an eight pond brown trout that was caught at Peter’s Pond, Plymouth this week.

Opening Day of trout season in Rhode Island was this last Saturday, April 12.  The cold, windy and snowy morning deterred a few anglers but those that braved the cold caught trout.

Gary Vandemoortele of Smithfield, who fished Spring Grove Pond, Chepachet, on opening day, said, “The trout were good size this year.  We arrived a bit later in the morning and the anglers fishing next to us had already caught five nice trout.  Shortly after I caught a nice 14” rainbow trout.”

Kenneth ‘Casey’ Fernstrom, Senior Biologist and manager of the four trout hatcheries the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) have in Rhode Island said, “We are stocking with larger fish this year, most are between 14” and 18”, however, the 20 plus inch fish are more abundant, particularly the golden trout we stocked this year.”

Anglers who catch a golden rainbow trout on Opening Day and through May 6 will be eligible to receive a golden trout pin. Simply take a picture and email it to dem.fishri@dem.ri.gov for verification. Submissions must be received no later than Monday, May 5, 2025.

Last and this week, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) continued its annual spring trout stocking program, bringing hundreds of thousands of healthy, hatchery-raised trout to state waterways.  MassWildlife raises brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout. The fish are raised at hatcheries in Sandwich, Palmer, Belchertown, Sunderland, and Montague. Over 260 Massachusetts cities and towns are scheduled to receive trout this spring. Anglers are encouraged to visit MassWildlife’s website at mass.gov/trout to find daily stocking updates and locations. 

“The trout stocking program is a key part of MassWildlife’s mission to enhance recreational fishing and connect people to nature,” said Todd Richards, MassWildlife Assistant Director of Fisheries. 

This year’s fish are bigger and better than ever in Massachusetts.  While the quantity of stocked trout (measured in total pounds) has remained about the same for the last decade, MassWildlife has been steadily producing larger trout by adjusting hatchery growing techniques. Just ten years ago, less than 60% of stocked trout were over 12 inches—now, more than 80% measure over a foot. 

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.