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.
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