Young anglers aim to hook big fish

Big bass bite: Capt. Rick Bellavance of Priority Fishing Charters, said “There were miles of striped bass from 20” to 46” at Block Island this week.” Like this 40 pounder caught by a customer last Sunday.

Summer flounder (fluke) like this seven pounder caught on Priority Fishing Charters were entered in the Fluke Til Ya Puke Tournament last Saturday.  The winning 10.20 pound fish was caught off Montauk, NY.

Young anglers aim to hook big fish

This is the week for young anglers.  They will be fishing in Narragansett Bay on Saturday, June 22 and Thursday, June 27.

Plan fishing in Greenwich Bay accordingly this Saturday as the RI Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) will hold their 21^st annual Take-a-Kid fishing day, Saturday, June 22.  Approximately forty volunteer vessels and 125 shore and boat volunteers will take 119 kids fishing in Greenwich Bay trolling for bluefish.

Fishing will be followed by a 12 noon cookout at Brewers (Safe Harbor) Cowesett Marina, which donates the use of boat slips, staging and cookout areas.  Youth participation is limited to organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs, Scouting Troops and city recreation departments. 

The aim of the program is to teach children about the ocean, environment, boating and give them an opportunity to fish.  Often children participating have never seen the saltwater, never mind ride a boat and fish.

Youth Fishing Camp, Tuesday, June 25-June 27

The RI Saltwater Anglers and the Department of Environmental Management Youth Fishing Camp is full with a waiting list, but watch for this camp next year.  The Camp will be held at Rocky Point State Park, Warwick, Tuesday, June 25 to Thursday, June 27 for children 7 to 12 years old. 

Steve Medeiros, RISAA president said, “The goal is to introduce youngsters to fishing. We find children of all backgrounds and cultures are attracted to fishing for all the right reasons and our aim is to give them a proper introduction to the sport.”

Topics to be covered over the three day camp include fish identification,  fishing laws, use of spinning and conventional gear and tackle, knot tying, basic marine biology, how and why to use different baits and lures, casting and fishing from shore as well as boating safety and fishing on a boat.

The fishing camp is sponsored by the RI Saltwater Anglers Foundation in partnership with RI DEM Aquatic Resource Education Program, US Fish & Wildlife and Brewers Marina. 

 Saltwater Fly Fishing School, Saturday, June 29

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Resource Education Program will hold a Saltwater Fly Fishing School, Saturday, June 29 at the Narrow Rive Bridge, Route 1A Boston Neck Road, Narragansett.  All students must have some fly fishing experience.

Edward Lombardo, local fly fishing expert and school instructor said, “Equipment including fly rod, gear and flies will be provided, however, participants should bring their own waders.”  The cost of the program is $15.00 per person which includes lunch. Students must be 16 years or older. Ages 16 and 17 need be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.  Register with Kimberly Sullivan at 401-539-0037 or kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ tournament big success

The 14^th Annual ‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ fishing tournament held Saturday, June 15 was a big success once again.  Organizers, Captains Brian and Peter Bacon of Big Game Sport Fishing charters, South Kingstown, say it is the largest summer flounder (fluke) tournament in the world.  The tournament has multiple entry categories and over $50,000 in prizes.

Capt. Peter Bacon said, “We had our fingers crossed with the weather Saturday and lucked out with an eight hour window of good weather during the Tournament.  About 90 percent of the fish we weighed in were in the six to seven pound range. The largest fish, we had about four fish over nine pounds, were caught off Montauk, NY.”

12,001 anglers participated in the Tournament, down slightly from last year, likely due to the predicted bad weather.  The ‘biggest fluke’ prize of $5,000 went to Bill Robinson with a 10.20 pound fluke; followed by Nino Averso, 9.74 pounds; and third place went to Eric Alleyne with a 9.38 pound fluke.”

For additional information and a complete list of winners visit www.biggamefishingri.com or the tournament Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FlukeTilYaPuke/.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass/bluefish.  The Cape Cod Canal continues to light up with striped bass. David Jeffers of Red Top Sporting Goods, Buzzards Bay, said, “The squid are in the Canal and the bass are here feeding on them.  We weighed in a 44 and a 35 pound fish this week.  Fish are being caught on the bottom with jigs.” Capt. Rich Bellavance of Priority Fishing Charters said, “Sunday the bass fishing at Block Island was outstanding with miles of fish in the 20 inch to 46 inch range. We are catching them on umbrella frames and parachute jigs.  They are feeding on small sand ells.  The southwest corner has been the best but there are fish at the north end (although smaller) and the southeast side is yielding blues and bass.”  Douglas Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly said, “The beaches are producing smaller striped bass with larger ones being caught on the reefs.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside said, “There are not a log of pogies around in the Providence River/Pawtucket area.  Anglers are catching keepers in the Conimicut Light and Rumstick Point areas trolling tube & worm.”  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Steven Estrada caught a 45” striped bass at India Point Park, using Atlantic menhaden chucks.”  The bluefish bite in the mid Bay area continues to improve.  Jim Laird on the RISAA blog said, “Fished out of East Greenwich Bay with my nephew today and trolled up a mess of bluefish. We must have caught over 40 in three hours and they all ran around 2 – 3 lbs. The choppers are much bigger this year.”

Fluke fishing is mixed.  Capt. Peter Bacon of BIG Game Sport Fishing Charters said, “During the ‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ tournament last Saturday anglers fishing the south side of Block Island had to battle dog fish to land fluke.” Doug Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters said Tuesday, “The fluke bite along the southern coastal shore has been outstanding with anglers hooking up with a lot of nice black sea bass which they will be able to take starting June 24 when the season opens in RI.”  “Fluke are being caught in the mid-Bay region on the shipping channel pads in the Prudence Island ‘T Wharf’ area.” said Henault of Ocean State Tackle. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle said, “Some reports of customers catching keeper fluke drifting along the side of Dutch Island in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay in 40 to 60 feet of water.”

Scup.  Dave Henault said, “Scup to 16” are being taken under the Mt. Hope Bridge and off Barrington.”  John Littlefield said, “The scup bite is just starting to improve with fish being caught at Colt State Park.”

Freshwater fishing.  Dave Henault of Ocean State said, “The trout bite is off, however, customers are catching largemouth and the carp fishing has been very good.”  Doug Wade of Watch Hill said, “The largemouth bass bite at Chapman’s Pond in Westerly had been very good.”

Anglers teach them the basics

 Kevin Ward of Bristol, CT caught this 52 pound striped bass trolling an umbrella frame on the south side of Block Island on Priority Too Charters out of Pt. Judith.

Dirck Westervelt of North Kingstown caught this summer flounder under the Newport Bridge on an incoming tide Wednesday on No Fluke Fishing Charters.

Anglers teach them the basics

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) will hold two youth fishing events this week. 

The 19^th Annual Take-a-Kid Fishing event will take place in Greenwich Bay this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. About 150 children from over a dozen youth organizations including the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Providence Recreation Department and group homes will be treated to a morning of fishing. Over 100 volunteers and 50 volunteer vessels will take children fishing followed by a cookout at Brewers Cowesett Marina, the event host marina. 

Also this week RISAA will hold its second Youth Fishing Camp at Rocky Point State Park.  The camp runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and is sponsored by RISAA, the RI Department of Environmental Management and U.S. Fish & Wildlife.  Steve Medeiros, president of RISSA said, “Fifty campers will learn fishing basics, fish biology and identification, conservation, and safety.  Participants will also learn how to fish from shore and a boat.  Shore fishing instruction will take place at Rocky Point Beach and boat fishing on volunteer vessels will occur in the waters off Warwick Neck and in Greenwich Bay. This year we added a day of summer flounder (fluke) fishing on the Seven B’s Party Boat out of Pt. Judith.”

There is no fee for participants and the camp is now full and enrollment closed. Camp is scheduled to kick off Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. with a symbolic first cast from the shore of Rocky Point Beach with a group of camp participants; Janet Coit, DEM director; Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian; and Steve Medeiros, RISAA president.

Trout Unlimited seminar

The Narragansett Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU225) will host a seminar titled “Building a community around conservation & fishing” on Wednesday, June 28^th after a brief 6:00 p.m. meeting.  The seminar will be held at the Arcadia Management Area Check Station, Rt. 165, (Ten Rod Road), at Wood River, Exeter, RI.  The meeting will be preceded by a 5:00 p.m. cook-out, the public is invited to attend.

Speaker Jeff Yates, Trout Unlimited’ s national Director of Volunteer Operations , will be the guest speaker. He is an author and guide, whose first book, Fly Fishing Fairfield County: Secrets of Suburban Streams was published in 2011.

For information contact Glenn Place at 1-401-225-7712 or TU225President@gmail.com .

Angler surveys, light tackle and fly fishing seminar

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) will hold a light tackle & fly fishing for striped bass seminar with Joe Gugino and a second topic on the benefits of angler surveys and how they help recreational anglers by Michal Bucko of the RI Depart of Environmental Management (DEM).

Gugino is an accomplished kayak fisherman who prefers fly fishing and topwater fishing for striped bass.  Mike Bucko leads Rhode Island’s team of angler surveyors.

The public is invited to attend the seminar with a $10 donation to the RISAA scholarship fund.  Optional dinner starting at 5:30 p.m., at the West Warwick Elks, 60 Clyde Street, West Warwick, RI.  Visit www.risaa.org for details.

Where’s the bite

Freshwater bite slowed this week with anglers catching large and small mouth bass as well as trout but not in the numbers they had been catching the earlier in the month.  Angler Harold Hemberger said, “Have fished both Waterman Lake and Stump Pond in Smithfield in the past two days.  I caught a half dozen bass - all in the one pound range. .nothing great but plenty of fun.  Bait was a natural color rubber worm fished by letting it drop to the bottom and then up and down on the retrieve.”  “Lincoln Woods and Echo Lake, Barrington is still yielding bass although not many large fish have been caught lately.” said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle.

Striped bass fishing has been mixed. Capt. Rick Bellavance of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association (RIPCBA) said, “Striped bass fishing at Block Island is very good. All sizes from 25 inch school bass to a few 50 plus pounders were landed by charter boats this past week.  Kevin Ward of Bristol, CT caught a 52 pound striped bass trolling an umbrella rig off Block Island’s south side on my boat (Priority Too Charters).”  Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown said, “Capt. Louis DeFusco of Hot Reels boated a fish in the high forty pound range and Monday and we weighed in a fifty pound fish from a commercial fisherman.”    John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside said, “The pogies are still thick in the Providence River but the bass have thinned out.”  Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren said, “Some anglers are switching to night fishing and they are using eels with success.  The Mt. Hope Bay seems to be producing better than the West Passage.”  “We had one of the largest surf casting tournaments take place this weekend and no bass of decent size were caught.  Only bluefish.  This shows how tough fishing from shore was this week.” said Nellie Valles of Maridee Bait & Canvass, Narragansett.

Black sea bass (BSB) bite is on.  “We had a customer catch a sea bass on an umbrella rig.  Overall fishing for them has been very good.” said Many Macedo of Lucky Bait.  Many anglers are limiting out (three fish/person/day) catching black sea bass when fluke fishing.

“Summer flounder (fluke) fishing is getting stronger. Fish are being caught at the windfarm and Nebraska Shoals and the Green Hill area are yielding some nice fish in 45 to 50 feet of water.” said Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina.  Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait said, “Fluke fishing in the Sakonnet area, under the Mt. Hope Bridge, under and around the Newport Bridge and Ft. Adams was good this past week.”  John Littlefield said, “Some customers have been able to land fluke off Warwick Neck as well as in Greenwich Bay.”  I fished the Jamestown Bridge/Dutch Island area last week and did well when wind and tide were in line and we could establish a good drift. 

The scup bite exploded this week.  “We had 17” scup being caught from the East Wall and the Hazard Avenue, Narragansett areas.” said Nellie Valles of Maridee Bait & Canvas.  John Littlefield said, “Scup was the big story this week with anglers landing them from Colt State Park shore, the Wharf Tavern, Sabin Point.”  Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait said, “We had two customers limit out on scup…. That’s a total of 60 keepers (30 fish/person/day, minimum size is 10”).”

Sea robins are prolific in our Bays and off coastal shores.  Angler John Migliore of Aquidneck Island caught a large sea robin last week.  Migliore said, “What was unusual is that a school of sea robins were feeding on the surface much like a bluefish or striped bass feeding frenzy.”  Many anglers are now cleaning and eating sea robin tails. 

Fluke experts to share tactics

 RJ and Quincy with giant bluefish to 11 pounds they caught in Greenwich Bay when fishing in Take-a-Kid Fishing sponsored by the RI Saltwater Anglers.

 Capt. Dave Monti and Jim Stevens of Warwick with a plump 31 inch bass Jim caught while fishing off Popasquash Point, Bristol after Take-a-Kid fishing.
 

 Carole Prisco of Warwick with the fluke she landed at Warwick Light last week.

The Bonito has been chosen as the featured fish in this year’s “art Drive” in the Westport and Dartmouth area August 8 and 9.

Fluke experts to share tactics

Here’s your chance to learn how to fish for summer flounder from a panel of fluke experts Monday, June 29, 7:00 p.m. at the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Associations’ (RISAA) meeting at the West Valley Inn, West Warwick, RI.

Gisele Golembeski, Susan Lema and Diane Valerien, some of the best fluke fishers in the northeast, will share basic fluke fishing techniques, advanced tips on tackle, bait, and tactics for finding and catching fluke.

Dinner served by the West Valley Inn starting at 5:30 p.m. (not included in admission).  Non-members welcome but are requested to make a $10 donation to the RISAA Scholarship Fund, RISAA members attend free.  Visit www.risaa.org for details.

Take a Kid Fishing big success

“This is the first fish I ever caught.”, “I’ve never been on a boat before.”, “I caught four fish so far.”, “Thanks for taking us fishing.” These were some to the comments that 150 children between the ages of seven and thirteen had to say about the annual Take-a-Kid (TAK) fishing day Saturday sponsored by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA).

The aim of the program is to give children a chance to learn about Narragansett Bay and the environment, experience the thrill of catching a fish and ride on a boat in saltwater.  And, they did.  Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and four staff members volunteered their time to serve as mates aboard vessels or cook and serve hotdogs and hamburgers along with the 200 other volunteers that donated their time to make the day a success.

Steve Medeiros, RISAA president said, “The day was a big success, the weather cooperated and the bluefish did too as the bite was good will all catching fish.   We teach the children about the value of catch and release but many of them want to take the fish home and that’s OK.  So we accommodate them and offer to clean and fillet the fish and make sure we have plenty of ice and bags available so kids can take the fish home.” 

Brewer Greenwich Bay Marina in Warwick once again donated their facilities to host the event.  This was the 18^th annual TAK fishing day.

Atlantic Bonito featured in art show

The Atlantic bonito will be featured in “the Art Drive” August 8 and 9 in the towns of Dartmouth and Westport, MA.   Each year participating artists apply their creativity and style to create large, colorful depictions of popular species of fish. This year, the artists have chosen the bonito. Their four-foot long “Bodacious Bonitos” will be previewed in public spaces and in front of local shops, businesses and other sites in Dartmouth and Westport prior to the ART Drive weekend. The general public will be able to view and bid on the fish on eBay by going to www.the-artdrive.com.

The ART Drive artists will individually donate a percentage of their sales to the Lloyd Center for the Environment, a non-profit organization that provides educational programs on aquatic environments and supports scenic, public walking trails through 82 acres of estuaries and salt marshes in South Dartmouth, Mass.

For more information on the ART Drive artists, sponsors, demonstration times and a map of the “the Art Drive” route, visit: www.the-art-drive.com.

                                  

Where’s the Bite

The bluefish bite is very strong with anglers landing fish in bays and covers and along the coastal shore. Greenwich Bay was teaming with bluefish Saturday as 150 children and 65 volunteer boats successfully fished the area during the annual Take-a-Kid Fishing event.  A young man named Quincy from the Davey Lopes Recreation Center, Providence fishing on my boat during TAK landed an eleven pound bluefish.  John Migliori of Aquidneck Island said he has been landing large bluefish (8 plus pounds) from shore in the Aquidneck Island area.

Striped bass are in the Bay, but you have to work for them.” said Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick.  This week Jim Stevens of Warwick landed his first large bass on No Fluke Charters… a plump 31 inch fish off Popasquash Point, Bristol, while trolling bubble gum colored tubes and worms.  Jim was using lead line and a T-Man keel weighed with one once of lead to get down to the strike zone. Kayak anglers are doing well with bass too.  Angler Bob Oberg said “So far I’ve landed about 44 fish, some have been nice keepers. This is good for this time of year.” Bob likes to use tube and worm fishing from his kayak.  John Wunner of John’s Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said, “We weighed in a thirty-four pound striper this week.  The fish was taken mid Bay using eels. The word is that there are still plenty of school bass in the Bay with larger fish being taken as anglers work to hook up with them using menhaden, eels, tube & worm and other methods.”  Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marian, South Kingstown said, “The bass bite on Block Island improved this week on the Southwest side.  There are big fish there, likely up to 50 plus pounds but they are not plentiful at this time.”

Sumer flounder (fluke) fishing continues to pick up with nice fish being caught in the Bay and along the coastal shore.  Capt. Rich Hittinger said, “We were catching fish fishing the west side of Block Island about a month ago but things slowed down with the last trip there yielding very few keepers, however, last week we fished off the center wall of the Harbor of Refuge and did very good with fluke.” Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet, said, “Some really big fluke continue to be found.  Top honors this went to Irene Brown of Sutton, MA who decked a fine 12.7 pound doormat on Saturday's run. The next biggest fish taken went around 11 pounds. Close to a dozen fish so far this season have been ten pounds or better.”  Anglers Carole and Charlie Prisco of Warwick and brother-in –law Joe landed a number of short fluke with keepers mixed at Warwick Light last week.  John Wunner of John’s Bait, North Kingstown said, “Fluke fishing under the bridges (Newport and Jamestown) improved greatly this week with anglers their ratio to about 50/50… 50% keepers and 50% shorts.  Keeper fish have not been huge but they have averaged about 22”.  I had a number of anglers in fishing the Fluke Til Ya Puke Tournament Saturday.  Most went to the mouth of the Sakonnet River and did very well there where the fluke fishing has been consistently good for the past three weeks.”

Offshore.  The school bluefin tuna bite has been very good.  Matt Conti of Sung Harbor Marina said, “Bluefin tuna fishing has been very good all over… fish being caught this week at the East Fishing Grounds, South of Block Island, at Cox’s Ledge and the northwest corner of the Dump.  What is surprising is that the fish were in close with a 44” fish being caught off Pt. Judith.  Most are trolling, however, the in close fish are being fished with spinning reels and lures.”

Take-a-Kid Fishing big success

 Take-a-Kid fishing big success: Taina and Zhiayre, both of Providence, RI with a blue fish they caught while fishing with Peter Sousa (left) of Warwick and Capt. Dave Monti during Saturday’s Take-a-Kid fishing day sponsored by the RI Saltwater Anglers Association. This year 215 children participated.

Huge bass from lower Bay: Greg Vespe of Tiverton, RI landed this 40 pound bass just before midnight using an eel.

Take-a-Kid Fishing big success

The annual Take-a-Kid Fishing event sponsored by the Rhode Island Saltwater Angler’s Association (RISAA) was a big success this Saturday with eighty boats and 250 volunteers working the event. Steve Medeiros, RISAA president said, “This has been another great year with 215 children participating from youth groups and organizations throughout the State. We thank our sponsors and Brewer’s Greenwich Bay Marina for hosting us again this year. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to hold the event.”  This year, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse volunteered as a mate aboard RISAA vice president Rich Hittinger’s boat.  Senator Whitehouse said, “This is a great event.  They (RISAA) do a wonderful job with it each year.  It’s a great organization.”

Atlantic Menhaden commercial bait fishery opens

The Division of Fish & Wildlife of DEM opened the commercial bait fishery for Menhaden in Narragansett Bay Menhaden Management Areas on Monday, June 17.  DEM does weekly aerial monitoring of the fishery, it closes and opens commercial Menhaden fishing based on these weekly stock assessments.

RIPCBA tournament in full swing

The Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association (RIPCBA) fishing tournament is in full swing and runs from May 1 to December 31, 2013.  The Tournament is open to all patrons fishing aboard RIPCBA vessels.  The purpose is to recognize the largest fish of each species caught during the fishing season.  Over thirteen species including black sea bass, striped bass, fluke, tautog, etc. are included in the tournament with minimum sizes noted on entry forms. Entry forms are at official Tournament weigh-in stations including Galilee Bait & Tackle, Narragansett; Ray's Bait & Tackle, Warwick; Erickson's Bait & Tackle, Warwick; Snug Harbor Marina, Wakefield; Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown; Block Island Fish Works, Block Island, Captain's Tackle, Narragansett; and Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly. Completed forms must be given by the captain to a tournament committee member…  Ken Court, Norm Bardell or Paul Johnson.

DEM to hold “Women’s Day at the Range”

The Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish & Wildlife will offer the second annual “Women’s Day at the Range” on Saturday, June 22 at the Great Swamp Shooting Range in West Kingston.  The free event is designed to introduce women to the world of shooting sports. 

DEM Director Janet Coit said, “This fun-filled and educational program promises to be a great way for participants to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends and hone their skills on the target range.” Director Coit noted that last year’s event was extremely popular, with 162 participants of all age and skill levels taking part. 

The Great Swamp Shooting Range is located at 277 Great Neck Road in West Kingston.  Participants can shoot any time between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  A rain date has been set for Sunday, June 23. For more information, call DEM’s hunter education office at 539-0019.

Where’s the bite

Striped bass fishing continued to improve this week.  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “The bass have left the Seekonk River and are in the upper Providence River with anglers catching fish on menhaden either chucked or live lining them. Fishing has been good at India Point Park, Save the Bay and in the Gaspee Point area.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, East Providence, said, “Customers are catching nice bass all over the East Bay with one customer catching seven nice fish in the 20 pound range at Poppasquash Point, Bristol this past weekend.”  Phil Matteson of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown said, “Bass are being caught at the Breachway with large fish being landed at night with eels, Slug-gos and Bomber plugs.  Fish in the 20 pound range are fairly consistent.”  Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “Striped bass fishing from Prudence Island to Conimicut Point is good with anglers using pogies chunked or whole… and tube and worm is working really well too.”

Fluke (summer flounder) fishing is good in the Bay. Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle said fluking has been good at Warwick Neck to Conimicut Point with a few anglers working the channel pads in the East Passage with success.”  Fishing along the southern coastal shore has been excellent too with anglers catching their limit (eight fish, eighteen inches or longer).  “Fish are in 30 to 50 feet of water depending on location from Scarborough Beach to Westerly.” said Phil Matteson of Breachway Bait & Tackle. Fluke fishing around the Newport and Jamestown bridges has been a bit slower, however, with fishing so good in the Bay and along southern coastal shores not as many anglers have been targeting these areas.

Bluefish appeared more often this week with fish being caught mixed in with striped bass in the Bay and offshore. Reports of some schools of small fish in the three to four pound range have been spotted along the southern coastal shore.  Small (and some large) fish have been caught in Greenwich Bay; however, this Saturday they were in short supply during the Take-a-Kid fishing event sponsored by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association.  The eighty or so boats (and over two hundred children) that participated were landing two to three fish whereas in the past they were more plentiful.

Fluke tips and where the catch them

Fluke tips and where the catch them

Fluke (summer flounder) fishing continued to be extremely strong this week along coastal shores, out at Block Island and in Narragansett Bay.  John Wunner of John’s Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said, “Fluke fishing has exploded in Narragansett Bay with fish being caught in the upper bay… in places like Greenwich Bay… which hasn’t been the case for years. I have had a number of customers catch their limit (eight fish, over 18”).” This weekend, Brian Hehir of Burlington, VT caught two fluke, a 20 “ and a 22” fish in a matter of thirty minutes off Warwick Neck Light after striped bass fishing in the east passage. Hehir said, “I bounced the fluke rig off the bottom a bit and it would elicit a strike.”  Hehir was using a white squid fluke rig tipped with squid made by Capt. BJ Silvia.

Here is what some of the experts have to say about fluke fishing.

Capt. George Cioe, Patricia Anne, Pt. Judith. “I use squid strips with a sand…put the hook thru the squid once.  I split the trailing edge of the squid to give it some action as it moves thru the water. We often use fluke belly, especially if there is other bothersome species hitting the bait.  Fluke belly is more durable and you’ll get more bottom time with the bait.  There is an issue though.  Because it will not tear off like squid, it is possible to pull the fluke up to the surface, even though he is not hooked, only to watch the fish let go of the bait and swim away.  When you fish with belly – let the fish keep the bait a little longer before you pull him up.”

Capt. Jim White, White Ghost Charters, author and lecturer.  “I use fresh native squid to fish for fluke attached to a buck tail jig and often use a second bait… a fly I tied and attach to a 36” trailer.  The best type of bottom is irregular, that is where the bit fish are… I also like to keep the jig as vertical as possible.”

Capt. Rich Hittinger, RI Marine Fisheries Council and Vice President of the Rhode Saltwater Anglers Association.  “I find the best fluking spots are where there is a change of depth and you are on the edge of a rock pile.  I use a buck tail with a long trailer… about 36” long.”

Capt. Charlie Donilon, Snappa Charters, Point Judith.  “I like to jig for fluke and use a buck tail tipped with squid and a three foot trailer with spinner.  My favorite places to go include the North Rip at Block Island drifting into Cow Cove and the State Beach on the east side. The south side is good too…. later in the season I often fish off Narragansett.”

Favorite places to catch fluke

Look for drop- offs, structure, the banks of channels, and deep water particularly in the warm weather, in spring time they tend to be in lower depths.  Favorite places to catch fluke include:

•       channel breaks in and around Warwick Neck light

•       channel breaks on the northeast side of the Jamestown bridge

•       areas off the north west corner of Dutch Island

•       underwater valley off the southeast side of Dutch Island

•       areas off URI’s Bay Campus

•       Austin’s Hollow (an underwater valley) off the west side of Jamestown

•       Beavertail in deep water off the west side

•       Off southern Rhode Island coastal beaches… Watch Hill, Charlestown, in front of the five cottages, etc. 

•       Off the center wall of the Harbor of Refuge

•       Off Newport at any number of deep water brakes

•       At the mouth of Hull and Mackerel Coves off Jamestown at the drop-offs

•       Off Block Island… the North Rip, Cow Cove on the north end, along the State beach on the east side

Your help and boat are needed at Take-a-Kid fishing

Boaters are urged to volunteer their vessel for the 16^th Annual Take-A-Kid Fishing Day, Saturday, June 15 at Brewer Greenwich Bay Marina in Warwick.  The event is sponsored by the RI Saltwater Anglers Association.  Over 300 children from various youth organizations go blue fishing in Greenwich Bay from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon.  The morning of fishing is followed by a cookout. If you can volunteer and/or volunteer your boat please contact Steve Medeiros, RISAA president, at stevem@rissa.org .

DEM to hold freshwater fly-fishing workshop Saturday

The Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) Division of Fish and Wildlife will hold an introduction to freshwater fly-fishing program this Saturday, June 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The workshop, hosted by the Division's Aquatic Resource Education (ARE) program, will be held at the Addieville East Game Farm in Mapleville, RI.

Whether you are a beginner or need a refresher course, this workshop will cover all the basics on freshwater fly- fishing. Top Rhode Island fly-fishing instructors will teach casting techniques, fly-tying, tackle needs, and knot-tying. Participants will also put their skills to work on the water. The workshop is open to everyone 10 years of age and older. All materials and equipment are included with the $35 per-person registration fee. Lunch is not included, so participants should pack a lunch.

For additional information and for registration materials, contact Kimberly Sullivan at 539-0037 or via e-mail at or kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

Where’s the bite

Fluke (summer flounder) fishing has been great in the Bay and off coastal shores.  Dick Pengri reports from the RISAA blog, “Found good size fish directly north of Dutch Island in 35 to 60 feet of water. Chartreuse squids with fresh squid initially then squid strips.”  Noted local anglers Don Smith and Peter Vican reported limiting out with fluke on Saturday south of the Jamestown Bridge. Don said, ”We limited out with the smallest keeper measuring 20.5" and the largest fluke was 26.5" and weighed in at 7.56 lbs. We only had four shorts for the whole trip which was a lot different from a lot of reports I had heard last week. We used fluke balls and green plastic squid for the teaser. Green seemed to be the preferred color over white and pink.” Fishing in Greenwich Bay and in the crossover to the East Bay in front of Patience Island, Brian Hehir caught two nice keepers using squid gigs tipped with squid strips.  John Wunner of Ray’s Bait & Tackle said, “Fluke fishing has never been this good for my customers, it’s like the old days.” Francis Fleet vessels are reporting good fluke fishing along southern RI coastal shores with keepers, shorts and even several jumbos mixed in.  The fluke are spitting up squid, which certainly is an indication the squid are here.

Striped bass fishing continues to be good in the Bay and off Block Island.  Worm hatches in a number of covers and rivers lead to a great bass fishing week.  Anglers catching them both with live Atlantic Menhaden and chunks as well as tube and worm (seems to work particularly well in worm hatch areas.  Jim Levy said, “Got out yesterday with Capt. Jerry Sparks of Northeast Boat and Kayak Charters. We fished in Point Judith Pond in flat calm conditions (during a worm hatch) and the two of us caught some skinny water bass on surface plugs. Largest fish went about 15 pounds.” On the RISAA blog, Tony Lombardo said, “Fished between Prudence Island and Poppasquash Point (Friday) between 6:45 a.m. and noon. Caught three stripers 29, 32 and 36 inches... all caught on black tube and worm”.

Fluke tips from experts and where to find them

DJ Rubino of Jamestown (in photo) and his brother Brian caught several striped bass late last week off Prudence Island using menhaden chucks.
Devin White with 41.4 pound striped bass he caught north of Conimicut Point last week while fishing with his father. Devon is the grandson of noted author and striped bass expert Captain Jim White of White Ghost Charters.

Fluke tips from experts and where to find them

Fluke (or summer) flounder fishing is starting to improve along southern coastal shores off Rhode Island and in the lower part of Narragansett Bay around and south of the Jamestown and Newport Bridges.

This year and next year should be good fluke fishing years because according to Jamie McNamee of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Marine Fisheries Division 2009 was an outstanding year for new fluke. McNamee said, “The fast growers from this class (2009) of fluke will be growing to 18.5 inches this year and next.” This means we should start to see more legal sized fluke.

Fluke is a species regulated by the Atlantic Marine Fisheries Commission and Rhode Island DEM. The minimum size limit is 18.5 inches and this year there has been a liberalization of recreational regulations… anglers are allowed to take eight fish/person/day compared to seven last year. The season runs from May 1 to December 31.

Fluke tips from the experts

Earlier this year I had the honor of interviewing some of the top fluke experts in the state. I asked them for fluke fishing tips we could pass along to readers. The experts included charter fishing guides and Captains Rick Bellavance, Jim White, John Rainone, Robb Roach, Charlie Donilon, Rich Hittinger, George Cioe; several excellent fluke anglers; and bait and tackle shop owners. Here’s what they had to say.

Fluke fishing tips

• Drifting with wind and tide going in the same direction is the key to catching fluke

• Fluke set up looking into the current to feed which means you have to drag the bait over the fluke from boat or shore

• Fish low/high or high/low breaks on the bottom. Fluke like most other fish like structure. The largest fish are often on channel banks, drop offs, etc. So you want to fish these breaks.

• Match the hatch tipping with squid, blue fish, bass, silversides, mummies, minnows

• Jigs and trailer teasers 36” long placed a foot above the jig work well

• Once you find the fish, repeat the same pattern… note location and depth you are catching them at and repeat this pattern as the fish are likely in the same spot

• Power drift (putting the boat in and out of gear to move slowly) at slack tide

• Troll perpendicular when wind and tide not ideal, you will at least get your bait in front of some of the fish, some of the time

• My personal favorite is a big bait… Capt. Monti’s fluke cocktail… a rubber squid rig tipped with squid, fluke belly and horizontal minnow

Favorite Places to catch fluke

Look for drop offs, structure, the banks of channels, and deep water particularly in the warm weather, in spring time they tend to be in lower depths. Favorite places to catch fluke include:

• channel breaks in and around Warwick Neck light

• channel breaks on the northeast side of the Jamestown bridge

• areas off the north west corner of Dutch Island

• underwater valley off the southeast side of Dutch Island

• areas off URI’s Bay Campus

• Austin’s Hollow (an underwater valley) off the west side of Jamestown

• Beavertail in deep water off the west side

• Off southern Rhode Island coastal beaches… Watch Hill, Charlestown, in front of the five cottages, etc.

• Off the center wall of the Harbor of Refuge

• Off Newport at any number of deep water brakes

• At the mouth of Hull and Mackerel Coves off Jamestown at the drop-offs

• Off Block Island… the North Rip, Cow Cove on the north end, along the State beach on the east side

Take-a-kid fishing

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association’s (RISAA) 15^th Annual “Take-A-Kid Fishing Day” is Saturday, June 16, 2012 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, 85 member boats and 300 volunteers participated. The purpose of the event is to give seven to thirteen year old children a chance to learn about Narragansett Bay, experience the thrill of catching a fish, and ride on a boat 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 as well as RISAA members that have boats to offer. To volunteer or for more information contact Steve Medeiros at www.stevem@risaa.org .

Where’s the bite

Fluke fishing has picked up with anglers catching keepers with a lot of shorts mixed in. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, East Providence said, “We had a customer catch five keepers off Second Beach, Newport last Wednesday.” Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown said, “Customers are catching keepers to eight pounds off Greenhill with a lot of shorts mixed in.” Angler Bob Cavanagh reports catching three keepers and seven undersized fish off Matunuck in 35 feet of water. Ed Bisson fished the Jaemstown Bridge and Beavertail, Jamestown area and said, “Caught four keepers and about ten shorts in two hours.”

Striped bass fishing remains good but sluggish for some anglers. John Wunner of John’s Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said, “Striped bass fishing is good with anglers catching them all of the Bay at Prudence Island, far up the Providence River, in Greenwich Bay, off Rose Island, Newport and outside of Allen’s Harbor in North Kingstown.“ Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina said, “There are a lot of sand eels at Block Island but the fish are still fairly small in the 28” to 30” range.” Several anglers fishing north of Conimicut Light to Providence I-195 bridge report catching large fish and others report slow action with just a few bites. Kayak angler Bob Oberg landed a 25 pound, 38” bass in seven feet of water in the upper part of the Providence River. As reported last week, ten year old Devon White, while fishing with his father, landed a 41.4 pound stipend bass. Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick where the fish was weighed in said, “The bass hit when he was retrieving a menhaden he had just snagged. The fish was caught north of Conimicut Point early last week.” Devon is the grandson of noted striped bass angler and author Captain Jim White of White Ghost Charters.

Scup. Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle said, “Customers are catching large scup both at Ohio Ledge and off the town dock in Jamestown.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle said his customers are experiencing a good scup bite off Colt State Park, Bristol and at Ohio Ledge.