Anglers simply want to be outdoors

 Capt. Rene Letourneau of On The Rocks Charters with a West Bay tautog he caught Tuesday while fishing with Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle.

 Capt. Joe Pagano, taxidermist and charter captain from Stuff-It Charters, with a 60 pound striped bass mount.

Chris Konkol from North Kingstown RI with the brace of nice cod to ten pounds he caught last on the Gail Frances party boat.

Anglers simply want to be outdoors

In a recent angler survey by Southwick Associates of Fernandina Beach, when anglers were asked to note the reasons they like to fish, 88 percent of survey respondents cited "I like to spend time outdoors." It was the most selected response.

The desire to be outdoors was followed by "I like to spend time on or near the water." which was noted by 84 percent. The challenge experienced when fishing, selected by 80 percent of respondents even paled to simple "fun," which was selected by 83 percent.

As I mentioned last week in this fishing column, my personal feelings about fishing were reflected by most other anglers. Fishing is seen as a social activity with 71% citing spending time with friends and family as a key motivator. Only 50% cited eating their catch as a primary reason to fish.

"Many people love to spend their free time on the water with friends and family," says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the angler survey (as well as hunting and shooting surveys). "Fishing offers a lot of recreational benefits, but one of the biggest is the chance to simply get outside and enjoy nature. Angling is the preferred way to achieve the overall outdoor experience."

Visit www.anglersurvey.com for survey details.

Capt. Joe Pagano’s website at www.stuffitcharters.com .

Where’s the bite

Tautog fishing continues to improve with fish being taken in Narragansett Bay and along the coastal shore.  Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane Outfitters, North Kingstown said, “Customers are catching tautog at just about any rock pile.  And at places such as Whale Rock, Pt. Judith Light and Plum Point Lighthouse they are catching fish.”  I fished the Newport area about ½ mile southeast of the Seal Ledge can Sunday for an hour after returning from Block Island with no luck.  However, customers fishing closer to shore seem to have better luck producing fish.  “Dirty water this weekend made tautog fishing challenging but customers still caught fish so this is a very good sign” said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown. John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle, Riverside, said, “Customers fishing the Providence River at the Heart Club just north of the Hurricane Barrier said they caught many short fish there but the Wharf Tavern in Warren produced two keepers for them.  Others are reporting a good tautog bite in the Jamestown Bridge area.”  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet, said, “Tautog fishing continues to be very strong. Fishing was outstanding last week with limits common place. We broke the ten pound barrier with a fine tog of nearly 11 pounds and had two other fish in the 10 pound range. Varying numbers of sea bass mixed in but a few trips early in the week saw some fishers have a limit of those to go along with their tog and a few keeper cod.” “Tautog are still in low water as the temperature in the Westerly area is still in the 60’s.  Once the water cools the fish will be moving to deeper water.  We weighed in a couple of eight and nine pound fish caught inside of Fishers Island that were in fairly low water.  The tautog bite is going to do nothing but improve so I am looking forward to fishing.” This Tuesday Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle called me from the water when fishing with Capt. Rene Letourneau of On the Rocks Charters.  Dave said, “We have caught about forty fish and four keepers, the bite is very, very soft and subtle.” They were fishing in 40 feet of water on a rock pile off Jamestown.

Black sea bass, cod and scup bite is still strong. “Anglers are catching their black sea bass limit in waters along the southern coastal shore where they normally catch summer flounder. However, they have moved to deeper water” said Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters.  I fished with angler Steve Brustein Sunday and we had little trouble catching our limit at the southwest ledge on Block Island with scup in the 15” range.  Four party boats from New York where fishing the southwest ledge hard for black sea bass and scup. Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane said “The black sea bass and scup bite is good but it is starting to slow.”  “Cod fishing was good this week both on the southeast and southwest corner of Cox’s Ledge.  The good news is that anglers can keep sea bass they catch in Federal waters so it makes traveling that distance worthwhile.” said Matt Conti of Sung Harbor Marina. “This weekend customers fished the Newport area for seabass and all three limited out with 28 fish to four pounds.” said John Littlefield of Riverside.

Bluefish and striped bass. “A customer took a charter to catch bluefish in Narragansett Bay and they caught six nice bluefish and one keeper striped bass in the Ohio Ledge/Colt State Park area.” said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle. “Customers are still catching striped bass and bluefish from the beaches in Narragansett and from the breachways in South County.” said Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane Outfitters.  “Last week things slowed a bit because we had so much bait in the water.   But I expect they will pick up again this week.  The week before last was outstanding with many striped bass and bluefish blitzes.” said Mike Wake of Watch Hill Outfitters. Conti of Snug Harbor Mariana said, “The bass bite is pretty good along the southern shore where they are catching school size bass and fish to twenty pounds.  And, they are still catching fish at the North Rip at Block Island.  We haven’t heard much about the bite on the southwest corner.”

False albacore.  Mike Wade of Watch Hill said, “Customers are still catching false albacore inside of Fishers Island.”

Offshore.  Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina said, “We have a good weather forecast for early in the week.  I have some customers that plan to fish the Hudson Canyons for yellowfin tuna and swordfish.  Customers this week that fished the Mud hole did not produce.”

Freshwater fishing remains very strong.  “I had a customer that caught a great variety of fish at Echo Pond, Barrington including largemouth bass, trout and pickerel so fishing is pretty good.  I am still selling quite a few shiners.” said Littlefield of Archie’s Bait.  “Trout fishing at the lakes, ponds and rivers that were stocked by DEM has been very good.” said Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane.  Visit www.dem.ri.gov for a listing of stocked pounds.

RI Fish for the Future… first cooperative of its type in the nation

Fluke fishing:  Lorna Russell of Providence with the fluke she caught off the Beavertail area of Jamestown.  Her son Liam (right) and friend Mathew look on.

Researcher even when off duty:  Jon Hare (center), Narragansett Laboratory Director and Oceanography Branch Chief for NOAA Fisheries Service, fished with Capt. Dave Monti on Angel Light, a RI Fish for the Future cooperative member this Saturday.  Jon lives in East Greenwich and by chance his wife booked the charter on the cooperative vessel for him, his son John (far right) and friend Elliot Emperor of Orleans, France.

RI Fish for the Future… first cooperative of its type in the nation

There is a new fishing cooperative in Rhode Island… the first of its type in the nation, it is called Rhode Island Fish for the Future and I am one of its founding members.  It is a charter captains’ summer founder (fluke) cooperative consisting of nine vessels.  The captains are voluntarily testing an innovative fishing approach to improve accountability and conservation of the summer flounder (fluke) population while increasing business flexibility and stability for the Rhode Island charter boat industry.

The cooperative is also testing innovative new software they developed that records catch in real time.  Each of the captains in the program has a computer tablet on board loaded with the software.  The software (called Fish Net) allows captains to record species type and fish length (the software converts length to approximate weight).  All of this is recorded in real time in the location that they catch/record the fish through a GPS capability.  It is hoped that software like this will provide a rich data source for fish mangers in the future as charter boats and recreational fishers are presently not required to report their catch the way that commercial fishermen do. 

The cooperative received a grant to develop the software and is operating under proposed guidelines as they fish off a Research Set Aside (RSA) fish allocation they purchased at a federal auction.

The mission of the pilot project includes reducing discards (and mortality rate… or the number of fish that die after release) and increased flexibility and predictability so charter captains can better serve customers.  Captains have been able to improve customer experience by allowing them to take more fish and smaller sizes than normally allowed.  This sounds great… more fish for customers, smaller sizes allowed, however, there is a catch.

Captains participating in the program agree to live within a rigid set of rules.  Rules such as counting all fish caught toward their quota or allowable catch for the season… even the ones too small to keep.  Their cumulative total of allowable catch is smaller than they would be able to take under normal recreational fishing regulations, however, the program gives them the flexibility to catch the fish and use them with customers when it is best from a business perspective.

For example they can fish for striped bass or tautog when they are in season and available and save the fluke fishing for when other species are not available.  Captain Joe Pagano of Stuff-It Charters (a program participant) said “The pilot program will allow my customers to keep more fish and plan their vacations ahead of time which will ultimately provide more stability for my business.”

Capt. Rick Bellavance of Priority Too Charters, one of the organizers of Rhode Island Fish for the Future said, “The catch cooperative program is the best option I've seen to date, one that with the appropriate implementation, will let our industry continue to thrive for years to come.”

For information about Rhode Island Fish for the Future visit www.rifishforthefutue.org. 

Where’s the bite

Striped bass fishing has been fair this past week at Block Island and in the Bay.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait Tackle, East Providence said, “Sunday small bass in the 22” to 24” range were caught at Sabin Point.”  Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marine, South Kingstown said, “The Bass bite at Block Island has been with eels at night and customer are catching them during the day trolling umbrella rigs.”  Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “Some nice bass were caught at the Newport Bridge this week with Atlantic Menhaden which have been plentiful in that area and around Gould Island.  Some customers have been doing well with bass in the Breton Reef, Newport area.”

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing has been spotty with warm water in Narragansett Bay and rough water off shore.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait said, “I had a customer catch a small keeper sized fluke off Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick and then he landed a nice squeteague.”  I fished in the Beavertail, Jamestown area with Jon Hare and his son John and friend Elliott this Saturday and landed about a dozen fish including six nice keeper fluke but they were hard to come by.  “Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait said, “Fluke are from Warwick Neck to the bridges and beyond but they were very spotty and hard to catch this week.  Some days anglers were hitting them and some days they were not.”  Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marine said, “Fluke fishing was slow this week for customers both at Block Island and along southern coastal shores.”

Black sea bass fishing has been OK with anglers catching them while fluke fishing.  Some nice sized black sea bass were taken off the wall at the Harbor of Refuge and off Narragansett Beach.

Scup fishing continues to be strong all over Narragansett Bay, off coastal shores and in the Newport and Jamestown bridge areas.  Angler Mike Swain of Coventry said, “I saw a number of boats at Warwick Light landing scup while fluke fishing this Sunday.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle said, “Scup fishing continues to be very strong with large scup common.  Anglers continue to experience a good scup bite at Colt Sate Park, Bristol.”

Offshore fishing had been pretty good this week at the Dump with blue fin tuna, mahi-mahi, and  yellow fin  being taken by a number of customers said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor.

How experts fish for spring striped bass

Striped bass experts speak about spring fishing in the Bay at RISAA’s monthly meeting. From left Capt. Jim White, Capt. Joe Pagano and expert shore angler Steve McKenna.

How experts fish for spring striped bass
It was a great night. Three of the top striped bass anglers in the State spoke about fishing in the upper Bay in the spring. Steve McKenna of Cranston, RI, author, lecturer and noted shore angler; Capt. Jim White of White Ghost Charters; and Captain Joe Pagano of Stuff-It Charters all gave an enlightening panel discussion facilitated by Steve Medeiros, president of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) at their March 26 monthly meeting.
Everything striped bass was discussed… baits, locations, preferred time of day to fish and gear. This panel discussion format, the first for RISAA, was a big hit as the experts shared techniques and tips with the record 235 anglers in attendance at the West Valley Inn, West Warwick.
Here are highlights of what they had to say:
When they fish
· All fished in the upper West Passage in the Bay from Conimicut Point to the Hurricane barrier in Providence in the month of May (some start May 1 others by mid May, there was a lot of discussion about what will happen this year with the warm water, maybe if will start earlier? Maybe end earlier?). They usually fish into June (the first or second week), leaving when the bait (Atlantic Menhaden) leave the area.
· Night fishing is Capt. Pagano’ preference, early morning for Capt. White and Steve McKenna. All fishing different times of day and night depending on the time of year and location.
Location and bait
· Captain Pagano’s (who fishes from a boat) preference is to use Atlantic menhaden chunks in the Bay at night, live menhaden in the day, fresh bait (not frozen) is a must, he finds the fish in the coves, channels and around structure, anchors up and he moves the boat in about 20 minutes if he gets no bites.
· Steve McKenna fishes many of the same areas from shore (wherever he can gain access as he is a shore angler). Places like the mouth of Pawtuxet Cove, from shore near Save the Bay, Conimicut Point and along this Western Bay shore (he lives in Cranston and access is good for him there). He exclusively uses artificial bates… surface plugs and swimming plugs (many of them wood) and soft plastic baits of all types. Toward the end of May and June, Steve often fishs the herring runs coming out of the rivers into the Bay.
· Captain Jim White prefers using live menhaden, with light tackle and never anchors up. He is also on the move looking for fish. His second preference is to use a variety of soft plastic baits; he is a firm believer in mixing it up… find out what the striped bass are attached to on any given day and sticking with it if it works. If he is not fishing with a charter customer he is scouting favorite spots in the Bay looking for fish.


Rods, reels, line
· In regard to gear, all prefer the lightest tackle they can get away with… spinning reels are used most often with some bait casting conventional reels for Capt. White when using soft plastics. Capt. Pagano likes a rig a bit heavier when chunking with menhaden. He feels the hook set has to be strong and firm for the hook to pass through the menhaden chunk into the bass. All prefer monofilament line rather than braid as they believe it is more forgiving, particularly around structure. All have lost fish due to break off with braid on the bottom or around structure. Some believe in using fluorocarbon leaders and others believe monofilament leaders work just fine in the Bay as the water is usually not clear and the monofilament is not visible.
Hooks
· Captains White and Pagano prefer treble hooks, particularly with live or chunked menhaden as you have three chances to hook the fish rather than one. Steve McKenna uses treble hook as most of the lures he buys come with and have treble hood. The soft plastics he uses have one hook.

Circle hooks enhance catch and release efforts
Circle hooks have been praised nationally and locally by conservationists in that the hook usually sets in the corner of the fish’s mouth saving the fish from being hooked in the belly thus enhancing its chances of survival if released. I believe in using circle hooks when fishing with baits such as menhaden, ells, etc. and when lures and jigs can be adopted to use circle hooks. I also flatten the barbs on treble hooks to enhance catch and release.
Some anglers believe that conventional hooks and treble hooks do not hook fish in the belly if the hook is set quickly, giving the fish no time to swallow the bait. The use of conventional hooks, treble hooks, wide gap hooks and circle hooks continues to be a debate with anglers of all experience levels. Capt. White said, “It is all about catching the fish, circle hooks do not allow you to set the hook, and this is not natural when fishing and not as effective.”
Circle hooks have been used by commercial fishermen for many years. When long-line fishermen using circle hooks would return to check their hooks the fish would be still alive (hooked in the jaw or mouth and not in the stomach or gut). Circle hooks are highly efficient at catching fish with little or no angler effort as well as keeping the fish alive.
Here’s how circle hooks work…after the hook (and bait) are swallowed by the fish and it starts to run, the hook is pulled out of the stomach and slides toward the point of resistance on the fish’s jaw or lip and embeds itself in the corner of the fish’s mouth.
Circle hooks successfully hook bass in the mouth 95% of the time. The trick is not to jerk the rod to set the hook because you could pull the hook out of the fish’s mouth. Let the fish run, as it does, it will pull the hook out of its stomach and hook itself on the lip. Once this happens the fish is hooked so all you have to do is start fighting the fish and reeling it in. Ask your local bait & tackle shop for circle hooks and/or purchase rigs that have circle hooks. They are becoming more and more available for a variety of species.
DEM stocks ponds for Opening Day, Saturday, April 14
The Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) Division of Fish & Wildlife announced last week that the 2012 trout and general freshwater fishing season will begin at 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 14. More than 20,000 anglers are expected to turn out at dawn on opening day. Approximately 80,000 hatchery-raised brook, brown, and rainbow trout with an average individual weight of one and a half pounds are being stocked by Division staff in more than 100 ponds and streams for opening day.
A complete list of stocked ponds and other information of interest to anglers can be found on DEM’s website, www.dem.ri.gov.
Where’s the bite
Striped bass fishing this week slowed down as the water cooled substantially. It dropped four degrees in the Bay from previous weeks and this perhaps slowed down the migration. Few reports of migrating fish (with lice) being caught at press time.
Cod fishing continues to be mixed. Some good days and some bad days both of the Seven B’s and Francis Fleet vessels