Anglers weigh in on 2019 regulation options

Jamie and Xavier Wong of Cambridge, MA with an early June black sea bass.  Once again this year the season in RI is not likely to start before June 24.

Steve Medeiros, president of the RI Saltwater Anglers, ‘proposed and supports’ two 16” summer flounder (fluke), from select shore areas.

Anglers weigh in on 2019 regulation options

It’s Monday, March 11, 6:00 p.m. and there are well over 100 fishermen and fish managers at the URI Bay Campus to express their thoughts about recreational and commercial fishing regulations for 2019.  Most of the regulations that impact anglers were about to be reviewed at a Public Hearing.  Participants have an opportunity to express their thoughts about proposed fishing regulation options.

The Hearing is part of Department of Environmental Management Marine Fisheries Division procedure (and Rhode Island law). After getting public comment on regulation options they are passed along to the Marine Fisheries Council which is scheduled to meet April 1 to vote on recommendations.  The public input, Council and Marine Fisheries Division recommendations then go to Janet Coit, DEM director form her final decision on 2019 season regulations.

Commercial and recreational fishing regulations on species such as scup, summer flounder, black sea bass, striped bass and more were reviewed at the Public Hearing. John Lake, DEM Supervising Marine Biologist, did an outstanding job chairing the meeting seeking audience input and keeping what could have been a long meeting on track.  Here are some meeting highlights on striped bass, summer flounder (fluke) and black sea bass.

Striped bass. The new stock assessment and recalibration of MRIP data is showing that the striped bass stock is overfished and overfishing is occurring.  Regulations that utilize this stock assessment data are expected to come into play with the 2020 fishing season.  Recreational regulations for 2019 will be status quo (the same as last year).  One fish/person/day, a season open year round.  Minimum fish size 28”.  Additionally, any striped bass, 34 inches and larger must have the right pectoral fin removed upon harvest.

Summer flounder (fluke) is not overfished, however, overfishing is occurring relative to biological reference points.  A new higher quota, a 73% increase, has been set for the commercial fishery but no increase for the recreational fishery as they slightly overfished their harvest limit in 2018. A status quo option was supported by recreational anglers at the meeting with a minimum size of 19”, six fish/person/day with a season running from May 1 to December 31. Additionally, the RI Saltwater Anglers Association suggested a Special Shore Provision… a 16” fish, two fish/person/day from May 1 to December 31.  If approved the program would run just in special provision locations identical to the provisional scup areas.

Steve Medeiros, president of the Rhode Island Saltwater Angles Association, said, “We proposed and support the two 16” fish from shore provision as it is almost impossible for shore anglers to catch a 19” summer flounder.  It’s time we gave the shore angler a shot at this fishery.”

In regard to the commercial fishery, fisherman overwhelming supported opening the season from four to seven days a week to utilize the 73% quota increase.  The commercial fishery was closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday last year.

Black sea bass are not overfished and overfishing is not occurring. A benchmark stock assessment was done in 2016 with no new information at this time.  Status quo measures were approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the Commission regulates species that migrate along the northeast coast.  An update to the 2016 assessment is scheduled for 2019 but may not be available to use for the 2019 season. The status quo regulations the Division is recommending is a 15” minimum size with a three fish/person/day limit June 24 to August 31 and five fish /person/day from September 1 to December 31.

Doug MacPherson, recreational Bay angler, RISAA board member and legislative committee chair, said, “Not opening the black sea bass season until June 24 is very detrimental to the Bay fishermen, particularly shore fishermen.  Black sea bass start leaving the upper and middle bay (in particular) at the end of June.  We should aim to open the season earlier in June for shore and Bay anglers.”

Last year DEM recommended (and the Council approved) postponing the season starting it on June 24 to accommodate the RI Party & Charter Boat Association so their members could continue to fish throughout the fall and winter.  They are recommending the same this year.

A recording of Monday night’s Division of Marine Fisheries public hearing is now available on the DEM YouTube channel. The public comment period ends on March 30.  Proposed regulations can be viewed on the Sec. of State website at https://rules.sos.ri.gov/organizations.  Go to “Title 250 Department of Environmental Management”, then “Chapter 90 Marine Fisheries, then “Subchapter”.  The regulations currently noticed are indicated by the yellow “i” icon.  Comments can be submitted in writing/email to:  DEM Division of Marine Fisheries, 3 Fort Wetherill Road, Jamestown, RI 02879, Attn: Peter Duhamel/public hearing comments, peter.duhamel@dem.ri.gov.

‘Catch trout are as big as Volkswagens’

The Rhody Fly Rodders will meet Tuesday, March 19, 6:30 p.m. the Riverside Sportsmen’s Association, 1 Mohawk Drive, East Providence.

The seminar topic is trout fishing in Northwest Montana.  Expert Montana adventure angler Dan Spedding will give a presentation titled ‘Trout Fishing the Blackfoot Indian Reservation for trout as big as Volkswagens.’ 

Spedding said, “To put it mildly, the Blackfoot Reservation in northwest Montana presents its  share of challenges ... but if you’re willing, you will likely catch the largest trout of your life....if not the largest dozen, as the fish are the size of Volkswagens. One thing for certain... it’ll be an adventure.”

Peter Nilsen, Roddy Fly Rodders president said, “In addition to the presentation we will be selling flies for this year’s charity ‘Reel Recovery’.  The meeting is open to the public.”  Contact Peter Nilsen at pdfish@fullchannel.net.

Speed limit set to protect whales

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has set a ten knot speed limit in parts of Cape Cod Bay to protect endangered right whales for ship strikes.   

In a press release last week the Division said, “During the late-winter and early-spring, right whales migrate into and aggregate in Cape Cod Bay where they feed on zooplankton. As we move from the winter into the spring they begin to surface feed. This behavior leaves them particularly susceptible to ship strikes. Ship strikes are a significant source of mortality to these endangered whales.” 

The ten knot speed limit will be in effect annually during the months of March and April within those waters of Cape Cod Bay south of 42° 08’ north latitude, this includes those waters north of Cape Cod that are west of 70°10’ west longitude (see map). The term small vessel refers to all vessels less than 65’ overall length. A complementary federal speed limit applies to all vessels 65’ overall length and greater. Visit www.mass.gov/marinefisheries for charts or call 617.626.1520.

Where’s the bite?

Cod fishing.  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “With our new sailing time of 6 a.m. we decided to try some of the local wrecks Saturday. We did find some life on the wrecks with a few nice cod coming over the rails. When steaming between spots we found a good pile of green codfish under the bait. We worked on the area for a few hours but could never get right back on top.”  Party boats sailing for cod this time of year includes the Frances Fleet at www.francesfleet.com , the Seven B’s at www.sevenbs.com, and the Island Current at www.islandcurrent.com .

How do fish feel about warming water?

 Capt. Tom Pelletier, Quaker Lane Outfitters, demonstrates fishing rod and reel at the fishing show.

 Steve Medeiros, New England Saltwater Fishing Show producer said, “Show attendance broke 15,000.”

How do fish feel about warming water?

I can only imagine how the fish must feel.  The water is warming and acidification is taking its toll.  They all feel the difference, but how they react to it is key. 

Some species have the ability to move away from the effects of warming water and others don’t.  And then again, some species like the warm water and it produces greater abundance (like black sea bass), yet others do not like warm water and leave the area if they can (cod), those that cannot leave the area become less abundant and could eventually disappear from the area (sea scallops and quahogs). 

A study released by the National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last month titled the “Northeast Climate Vulnerability Assessment” now sheds some light on how 82 species in northeast waters (many fished by recreational and commercial fishermen) are impacted by climate change.

Fortunately for us Dr. Jonathan Hare, one of the world’s most respected scientists studying climate change and its impact on fish, lives right here in Rhode Island.  Dr. Hare, fisheries oceanographer at NOAA Fisheries’ Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), is director of NOAA’s Narragansett Lab and is the lead author of the study.

“Our method identifies specific attributes that influence marine fish and invertebrate resilience to the effects of a warming ocean and characterizes risks posed to individual species. The study will help us better account for the effects of warming waters on our fishery species in stock assessments and when developing fishery management measures.” said Dr. Hare.

The study method for assessing vulnerability categorizes species that are “generalists” as less vulnerable to climate change than are those that are “specialists.” For example, Atlantic cod and yellowtail flounder are more generalists, since they can use a variety of prey and habitat, and are ranked as only moderately vulnerable to climate change. The Atlantic sea scallop is more of a specialist, with limited mobility and high sensitivity to the ocean acidification that will be more pronounced as water temperatures warm. Sea scallops have a high vulnerability ranking.

The study also goes a long way to further explain what is happening in our area with warm water fish being more abundance and cold water fish less abundant in our area.

The study’s summary of results helps put the species rankings into contest.  The specie summaries, that discuss what is known about the effects of climate change on the species, will be covered in future articles, particularly those species commonly fished by recreational and commercial fishermen in our area.

The study appears in its entirety on PLOS One, an online scholarly science journal at http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0146756.

Saltwater Fishing Show Big Success

The New England Saltwater Fishing Show held this weekend at the Rhode Island Convention Center was a huge success.  Steve Medeiros, show producer and president of the sponsoring RI Saltwater Anglers Association said, “Attendance was the best it has been in thirteen years. Preliminary numbers indicate that Friday, Saturday and Sunday all were attendance breaking days.  Initial estimates have put attendance at over 15,000 people and the best part for our exhibitors… a lot of product… fishing rods, reels and tackle were sold.”

Capt. Tom Pelletier of Quaker Lane Outfitters, North Kingstown said, “It was so crowed this weekend that many times you could not see across the aisle.”  Greg Vespe of Flippin Out Charters and fluke fishing rigs said, “People were buying fluke rigs in large numbers and asking a lot of questions on fishing tactics which is great.  It was wonderful to see so many people coming to the show this year.”

One of the shows headliners was Capt. Dave Carraro who gave a presentation with his mate on a behind the scenes look at the National Geographic Network program Wicked Tuna.   Capt. Dave Carraro said, “We attend a lot of shows all over the country and this is by far the best show we attend.  It was wall to wall people this weekend.  In fact I had to leave the booth just to get a little “me” time because it was so crowed.”

Hats off to Steve Medeiros and the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association for a successful and very special fishing show.

How to land spring striped bass

“Fishing for Spring Striped Bass” was the topic at Monday night’s panel discussion at the West Valley Inn, West Warwick. Striped bass experts Capt. Randy Bagwell of River Rebel Charters, Capt. Eric Thomas of Teezer 77 Guide Service and local striper surfcasting expert Dennis Zambrotta conducted the panel discussion on how to land striped bass form shore and boat at the Rhode Island Saltwater Angler Association meeting.

Four seminar take-a-ways:

First, you have to make it happen.  Be prepared to do a number of different things to catch spring striped bass as every day is different.  What works one day may not work the next day.  Be prepared to live line menhaden, fish with chucked menhaden, soft plastics, troll with umbrella rigs, etc. What appeals to the fish today may be far from what they want tomorrow.

Second, most spring bass are in skinny water… two to five feet close to shore when casting lures and up to 25 feet when fishing with live bait, fresh chunked bait or when trolling.

Third, fish early morning or at night.  Night brings darkness and poor visibility so bass feed aggressively as they believe they are safe from predators.  Dawn provides still water so you can actually see the bait and fish movement on the surface.

And fourth, fish where there is a lot of water movement.  Ledges as well as channel edges or channel pads where fish may be staging to ambush bait.  Fish choke points where the land narrows and water rushes through pushing and tossing bait around. Like the channel pads of the shipping channel from Sandy Point Prudence Island to downtown Providence.

Where’s the bite

Not much fishing has occurred as bad weather continued to keep boats in port.  When they got out the fishing was only fair.  Party boats sailing for cod fish at this time include the Frances Fleet at www.francesfleet.com , the Seven B’s at www.sevenbs.com, and the Island Current at www.islandcurrent.com.