Striped bass decline still in question

Captain Jim White (left) presented on “Striped bass decline” at last week’s Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association monthly meeting. Steve Medeiros, president of the Association, pictured with Captain White.

Striped bass decline still in question

Last week Captain Jim White, a noted author and charter captain (www.whiteghostcharters.com), said, “Researches have said as much as 75% of the striped bass (in the Chesapeake Bay) are infected by mycobacteriosis and they are dying from the disease. “ Captain White presented this and other information about striper decline at the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association monthly seminar meeting held last week at the West Valley Inn, West Warwick, RI.
Captain White continued to say that the striped bass stock has been on the decline since 2003 and related that scientist believe it will continue to do so for the next four or five years. Mycobacteriosis was cited as one of the causes of decline. He said, “Additional reasons for decline include poaching, a drastic reduction in food supply (fewer Atlantic Menhaden to eat due to overfishing of this species) and possibly over fishing by commercial and recreation anglers.” White said, “Because of these and other reasons the species is on the decline so what I am saying is that fish managers and regulators need to take action to prevent the species from crashing.”
Captain White said that at their December meeting the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), which regulates fishing regionally, decided not to reduce striped bass commercial and recreational quotas. “This was a mistake.”, said Captain White. “They had Addendum III on the table but declined to do anything.” Addendum III suggested a reduction in the commercial and recreational striped bass harvest for 2012.
Positive striped bass news
At their meeting ASMFC members deciding not to change striped bass harvest amounts pointed to results from a 2011 survey conducted by researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) that suggested the production of a strong class of young-of-year striped bass in the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay. The 2011 year class represents the group of fish hatched this spring. The news was positive and seemed to have influenced fish managers at the meeting. This class of striped bass is expected to grow to fishable size in three to four years, the bass migrate north in the spring to as far as Maine and then migrate back to the Chesapeake Bay area in the fall. The 2011 study recorded more than 27 fish per seine haul, significantly higher than the historic average of 7.5 fish per seine haul. This is a significant increase from recent years, during which catches of young fish were average. Follow link for study release: http://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/striped_bass_survey_results.php.
Malnutrition accelerates mycobacteriosis
In a past 2009 No Fluke column on mycobacteriosis (visit www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com, search mycobacteriosis), it was reported that striped bass were starving as they wintered in the Chesapeake Bay because of a reduced supply of Atlantic menhaden (their primary food) due to commercial over fishing. Lack of food has been substantiated by tag-recapture data studies from spring spawning grounds in Maryland and Virginia. Fish captured in autumn are the same size as fish that are starved in a lab for two months. Malnutrition makes the population vulnerable to mycobacteriosis. The disease causes loss of scales, skin ulcers, severe weight loss and lesions in striped bass. Officials estimate that sixty to seventy-five percent of the striped bass in Chesapeake Bay are infected. This study was conducted in 2008; preliminary reports on a new study indicate that the effect of mycobacteriosis on striped bass may not be this bad. Watch for the release of this study in the future
Where’s the bite
Mackerel, squid and porpoise off Newport. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Customers caught large numbers of both mackerel and squid at the Goat Island causeway bridge in Newport this week. The mackerel were so thick that porpoises were crashing them in and around Newport.”
Cod fishing was slow this week, however anglers going out for cod continue to catch large numbers of black sea bass and large scup. The Seven B’s (www.sevenbs.com) and Francis Fleet boats (www.francisfleet.com ) are fishing for cod and black sea bass. Larry Norin fished the Francis Fleet Saturday and reports the following on the RISAA blog, “ (Me and) 25 others were out on the Frances Fleet. The weather was awesome, 50+ degrees and calm seas with a light wind out of the SW. Oh and an hour or so of pouring rain from noon to 1:00 p.m. was awesome partially because my rod was constantly bent over. We had a two hour ride out south and mostly east of Block Island. We drifted almost all day except for the last hour. The drift speed was very slow, under .5 knots and we were fishing in about 100 feet of water. Most people used clams all day and a few jigged with not much luck. None stop action all day the only disappointment was that the cod never showed up (two keepers on the whole boat). I caught and released about six cod that were 18-20 inches. I caught my limit of black sea bass (four fish in the 20 inch range) and limited out on porgies some were 17 inches and 2+ lbs. I also caught some ocean perch, red hake, and two huge Christmas eels. I didn't see any pollock or other species except one blue fish and a few dogfish here and there. On the ride home we stopped to watch a whale do its thing and splash a few times right next to the boat.”

Take a Kid Fishing (6/22/09)

As we prepared the boat to take the children fishing you could hardly see the end of the dock. The fog engulfed the boat as we motored up Greenwich Cove as if it was protecting us. Just as the 250 children and over 60 vessels that participated in the fishing event would be protected throughout the day. It was the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association’s (RISAA) 12th Annual “Take-a-Kid Fishing Day” that took place Saturday, June 20 at Brewers Greenwich Bay Marina in Warwick at the mouth of Apponaug Cove. The event was a huge success.

RISAA member vessels from around the state, travelled in severe fog to participate in the event. Captain Robb Roach of Kettlebottom Outfitters, Jamestown, on his boat “Stella”, said “It took forty- five minutes to get to Brewers Marina”. The trip form Jamestown normally takes twenty to twenty-five minutes without the fog. I asked how many children would be on his boat. Robb related, “I want to take as many as they give me, my boat is large enough to handle quite a few.” He ended up with eight children in addition to chaperones and mates to assist him. This sprit from RISAA members set the tone for the day. A day of giving, shared by the children, the captains, the mates and over 200 volunteers that worked the logistics, the docks, the water and the barbeque grills. A fine lunch was provided for all participants and volunteers after the event.
The purpose of the event is to give seven to thirteen year old children a chance to ride on a boat in saltwater and to experience the thrill of catching a fish. Many fish were caught, mostly small blue fish, however, a few children had the experience of catching their first striped bass. Several keeper bass over 28” were caught. For safety, fishing was restricted to Greenwich Bay. Vessels fished the Sally Rock area, the west side along Chepiwanoxet and the north side of Greenwich Bay along Buttonwoods.

Fishing Tournament for the Blind
The Rhode Island Lions Sight Foundation will sponsor a fishing tournament for the blind and visually impaired on Sunday, June 28 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on one of the party fishing boats of the Frances Fleet in Galilee, Rhode Island. The tournament will be followed by a buffet lunch at Casey’s Restaurant in Wakefield. The excitement of catching a fish is the same for the visually impaired. Even though they can’t see the fish they touch and feel them. For many participating in this tournament it is the first time they have fished. Contact Jay Ward at 401.699.7009 for additional information.

Where’s The Bite
Fresh Water. Fresh water fishing was good this week. Action continues to heat up. Craig Mancini from Continental Bait & Tackle said largemouth bass are biting and the trout have joined the action too. Shiners continue to be the number one choice bait for largemouth bass. Trout worms and rainbow trout power baits are keeping the trout bite on.
Striped bass fishing continues to be lively in the Bay, along the ocean coast and out on Block Island. Artie Peltier of Erickson’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick related that he has been catching small bass in Greenwich Bay throughout the week using soft plastics and at the end of the week he caught a 38” striped bass on light tackle. Craig Mancini from Continental Bait & Tackle, Cranston said the break wall off Narragansett Parkway continues to produce keeper sized bass. One customer pulled in 25 to 35 pound fish. A customer said the area near Fox point, the Washington Bridge and the river all the way up to Pawtucket has been producing monster sized cows off live and frozen menhaden.
Fluke (Summer flounder) season opened June 17th and the fishing has been great. Don Smith fished between Deep Hole and Carpenters Beach in 38 to 40 fee of water and caught his limit including a 9.7 lb fish. Fishing off Matunuck Beach has been good too in 35 to 40 feet of water. I caught one keeper out of four fish at Austin Hollow in seventy-five minutes. Once the tide changed to an outgoing tide making the current and wind move in opposition direction, the bite was off. I tried to move the boat slowly with the engine but could not get them to bite again.

Caption Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing on Narragansett Bay for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Your fishing stories, comments and questions are welcome… there’s more than one way to catch a fish so e-mail Captain Dave at ­­­dmontifish@verizon.net .

Photo A
Juan (left) and Alberto (right) of Boy Scout Troop 7, Central Falls, RI fished my boat Angel Light during the RISAA Take-a-Kid Fishing Day. Alberto caught this striped bass off Sally Rock.
Photo B
From left to right: the crew on Angel Light, Captain Dave Monti of Warwick, Alberto and Juan of Central Falls and Peter Sousa of Warwick, who served as mate .
Photo C
Blue fish is hauled in by a crew member of Fish Reaper during Take-a-Kid Fishing Day on Greenwich Bay, Saturday, June 20
Photo D
Angel Light crew fishing in a lifting fog Saturday during the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association Take-a-Kid Fishing Day.

It’s not always about the fish (5/18/09)

My father-in-law Horace Magnan was a music educator and band leader. He had a saying my wife likes to repeat… it’s not always about the music. Over the years my wife sang and helped manage the band. When things got hectic my father-in-law would tell her to relax… take it easy… it’s not always about the music. It just as much about the people … the friendship of guys in the band, the love for the people you play for, etc.

So, as a fisherman, I have adopted this saying… it’s not always about the fish. Just as important are the lessons we learn from fishing… discipline, creativity, self reliance, environmental awareness and conservation. And, the most important fishing lesson is obtained through the relationships developed while fishing. To this day, some of my fondest fishing memories include fishing with my son when he was six years old (he is now is 31 years old), my father, brothers, brothers-in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends and, of course, my wife.

Everyone who catches a fish is happy. I have an office filled with photographs of people (young and old) who have caught fish on my boat and every one of them has a smile on their face. It feeds our sense of self worth to fish. It makes us feel successful and gives us a sense of accomplishment. A sense of accomplishment and enhanced self image is particularly important for young people.

That is why today, I signed up as a volunteer for the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association’s (RISAA) 12th Annual “Take-A-Kid Fishing Day”, Saturday, June 20, 2009 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Brewers Greenwich Bay Marina in Warwick on Masthead Drive. Children are treated to a morning of fishing on the Bay followed by a cookout. Last year over 250 children, 59 member boats and 200 volunteers participated. The purpose of the event is to give seven to thirteen year old children a chance to learn about Narragansett Bay and the environment, experience the thrill of catching a fish, ride on a boat in saltwater and a chance to start building a lifetime of fishing memories. For many children it is the first time they have ever been on a boat.

RISAA is looking for volunteers to help with logistics and cook as well as RISAA members that have boats to offer. Steve Medeiros, president of RISAA, said, “It is always a balance between the number of children and available boats. So, children generally participate through partner organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, Scouting, neighborhood groups and recreation departments. We are looking for potential partner organizations for next year’s event so please call if your organization is interested in the Take-A-Kid Fishing event.” For more information visit http://www.risaa.org/ or call 826-2121.

Where’s the bite
Freshwater fishing is heating up as the bass are hitting all over the place, said Craig Mancini of Continental Bait & Tackle in Cranston. Three to four pound fish have been hauled in at Stump Pond in Smithfield. Mancini said in the Cranston area, “Angel’s, Blackamore and Meshanicut were all reporting good size fish.” Trout have been restocked for the holiday weekend according to Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Bristol/Coventry/Providence. He related Johnson’s Pond and Stump Pond have been offering nice bass as well as pike.

Striped bass fishing on the Bay is good. Lenny Lake reported he and his friend caught several fish (including a 35” striper) this weekend fly-fishing in about 12 feet of water close to shore north of Conimicut Point between the base of Conimicut Point and Gaspee Point. The fish were feeding about two to three feet below the surface. Peter Magnan of Cranston went striper fishing for the first time on my boat this weekend and caught two fish, a 31” and a 32” striper off Bear Point, Prudence Island. Sunday I caught several good size school bass with surface lures in Greenwich Bay off Buttonwoods. Surfcasters in South County are finding bass with top water plugs and shallow divers at Narrow River, Deep Hole and Watch Hill said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle. The menhaden are up the Pawcatuck River and keeper bass are being landed live lining and chucking with the menhaden. Fishing off Block Island is heating up too, fish caught on North Rip and between the Island and Southwest Ledge according to Ken Ferrara, Jr. of Ray’s Bait & Tackle in Warwick (fish being caught with umbrella rigs and parachute jigs). Angler Mike Shepard of Newport said fishing around Aquidneck Island has been on one day and off the next. Squid seem to be on and off too. However, some fish are starting to appear along the ocean fronts.

Blue fish and scup are in. Several reports of tube and worm anglers landing four to five pound blue fish and they are also bringing up scup reports Ken Ferrara, Jr. of Ray’s Bait & Tackle. The recreational season for scup (shore and private) starts May 24. Minimum size is 10 ½” and the possession limit is ten fish/person/day.

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing on Narragansett Bay for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license. Your fishing photos with captions, stories, comments and questions are welcome… there’s more than one way to catch a fish so e-mail Captain Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net .
Photo A caption
It’s not always about the fish… this weekend I enjoyed fishing with Peter Magnan of Cranston (my brother-in-law). Pete landed this 32” striped bass off Bear Point, Prudence Island. This was his first striped bass and a great experience.
Photo B caption
Children fish on Greenwich Bay during RISAA’s 2008 Take-A-Kid Fishing event. Often it is the first time the children have been on a boat.