Fresh and salt bite hot, so it’s your choice

 Double Gold:  Ted Zack, Aquidneck Island Rod Builders, with two golden trout caught one after another this week. Visit www.dem.ri.gov for trout stocked waterways and golden trout program details.

 First freshwater license: Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, shares her success at freshwater fishing with four trout caught in South County. 

First keeper:  One of the 23” to 28” school bass Jon Pickering caught from his kayak earlier this week.  Photo from www.ristriper.blogspont.com .

Fresh and salt bite hot, so it’s your choice

This week anglers have been fishing both fresh and saltwater with success. Ponds stocked with trout in Rhode Island and Massachusetts (see links below) have been exploding with good size trout and spring striped bass have invaded our southern coast shore, ponds, bays and inlets.

Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said, “In addition to PowerBait and worms, customers are now using spinners and silver spoons for trout.  One of our customers caught a 3.85 pound rainbow trout.  Barber Pond and Silver Spring Lake have been yielding great trout.”

On the saltwater side anglers are getting keeper tautog but fishing has been sluggish.  Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly said, “School striper fishing has exploded along coastal beaches, up the Pawcatuck River and in coves, bays and estuaries. We have an abundance of jumbo silversides in the water with shad (herring) all the way up the Pawtucket River that is attaching stripers.” Dave Pickering, expert striper fisherman and author said, “My son, Jon, got the first keeper in the family in this new year early in the week from his kayak… he landed quite a few decent fish from 23 to 28 inches.”

Enhance you catch & release skills

The 2020 fishing regulation for striped bass is one fish/person/day in the slot limit of 28” to < 35”.  National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data shows that 90 percent of the striped bass caught by anglers are released back into the water.  This is good for conservation, however, NOAA urges anglers enhance their catch & release skills to decrease the mortality rate of released fish. 

Use the right gear and tackle

A single inline hook on lures is recommended.  If your lure has treble hooks consider change them or snapping down the barbs on each of the hooks with a needle nose plyer.  You’ll minimize the damage to a feisty fish with fewer hooks.  I also try not to muscle in these fish as their lips and mouths are small and weak.  Take it easy on them but bring them to the boat as quickly as possible to minimize fish exhaustion.

This year in Massachusetts circle hooks are required when targeting striped bass with bait and next year Rhode Island will likely have the same regulation.  Circle hooks tend to hook fish on the corner of the mouth rather than hooking them in the gut or throat like ‘J’ hooks.

Other catch & release tactics include keeping fish in the water as much as possible when removing hook; use gloves and/or wet your hand before handling the fish as dry hands remove the fish’s protective slime layer and leave it open to infection; gently remove the hook to minimize damage; return fish to water quickly and place them gently in the water in upright horizontal position.  Move it back and forth in the water holding its tail to force water across its gills.  Once fish revives, allow it to swim away.

Lighten-up

My personal favorite in the early spring is to use lightweight rods and reels as they provide anglers with the most challenging fight. I have a couple of light Penn rods and reels ready to go along with a couple of  St. Croix Mojo light and medium inshore spinning rods  paired with Shimano Stella 4000 reels.  The Shimano Stella reels are spooled with 20 pound braid and 20 pound fluorocarbon leaders just like the Penn rigs (use these for bonito and false albacore too).

When a bass smacks your lure and runs with it there’s nothing more exciting.  With an abundance of small fish around the past couple of years most experts expect that fishing for school bass will be hot once again this year.

Where to find the fish

Like most fish, finding spring striped bass is all about the bait.  Much of the bait in the spring is herring, or Atlantic menhaden.  So if you find the bait, the odds of finding the fish are dramatically improved.

An incoming tide is my preference.  Casting around jetties, sandbars, holes, ledges or small pieces of structure has been successful.  The idea is to cast into eddies, and just beyond them, that have been created by the incoming tide whirling around the structure.  Often times we cast in front of the structure, or if a sandbar in the low water on top of it, and then pull the lure away from the structure.  In this way your lure is acting much the same way a bait fish acts when it gets pushed up on the structure.   

Where’s the bite?

If fishing this week stay COVID-19 safe.  Keep six foot social distancing, no groups of more than five, and wear a mask or scarf when near others. State parks in Rhode Island are closed, so there is no parking. Call ahead to find out how your bait shop is servicing customers.

Freshwater.  Lorraine Danti of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren said “Customer Ted Zack of Aquidneck Island Rod Builders caught two golden trout this week”.  Zack said, “What a way to start the day. First golden ever then another one on the next fish! Going on the smoker now.”  Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters said the trout bite is outstanding at Barber Pond and all stocked waterways.” Visit www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-fisheries-and-wildlife for a list of stocked ponds and regulations in Massachusetts and if in Rhode Island visit www.dem.ri.gov .

Striped bass. Anglers are catching school bass where there is bait (Atlantic menhaden and herring). Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane said “The school bass bite is good at the West Wall, on coastal beaches and in bays and estuaries.”

How to buy a boat

Chris Catucci of Warwick, RI with the largemouth bass he caught on Gordon Pond using crank baits. With the warm weather, both fresh and saltwater fishing seasons have gotten off to a great start this.

Pam Tameo (right), president of the West Bay Anglers with Mike Dumsar of Westerly, RI. Mike won the big prize Saturday at the West Bay Anglers annual Fish Game dinner fundraiser.

Bob Monti of Charlestown, RI and his wife Audrey wanted a boat that their children and grandchildren could enjoy with them. But they also wanted to travel to Block Island and fish. So they settled on a 23” Scout twin console with a head and an enclosure from Ocean House Marina, Charlestown. The vessel has plenty of seating in the bow and plenty of room in the cockpit for fishing and additional seating.

So you want to buy a boat

So you are interested in buying a boat. No matter if it’s your first or twenty-first boat purchase it pays to shop around, look at vessels at boat shows, at boat dealers and check them out online on Craigslist and other boating portals. Most importantly, before you purchase, take your desired boat for a test run on the water under the conditions you intend to use the boat. For example, I like to troll at a slow speed at or below two miles per hour. So, when I test drive a boat I want to see how it runs at two miles an hour, at recommended cruising speeds and how it handles rough seas.

Determine the use of the boat
One of the first steps to buying a boat is determining what you want to use a boat for i.e. what type of fishing, family outings, swimming, overnight or day cruising or a combination of uses. The use of the vessel will dictate the type of boat you should buy. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has a great online tool to help you determine the type of boat you might be interested in. It can be found at http://www.discoverboating.com/. This web site will ask you the intended use and relate the advantages and disadvantages of each boat type recommended.

Should you buy new or used
Another major decision in the boat selection process is whether to buy a new or used boat. Like automobiles, new boats come with warrantees. If something goes wrong (and with boats something often goes wrong) you want a warrantee behind you. New boats and warrantees are important, particularly if you do not want to spend your time repairing and restoring a boat yourself. Often times old boats need more time to prepare for the season and will have a greater frequency of repair due to their age. A higher frequency of repair means more time off the water.
However, used boats cost less and are an option for those who are uncertain about boat use. A used boat is also a good option for those who cannot afford to purchase new. Make sure you add the cost of repairs to the purchase price of used boats. A helpful way to determine repair cost and insure you are not buying a lemon is to commission a boat survey. A boat survey is similar to a home inspection. Surveys are conducted by certified surveyors who closely examine the vessels hull, structure, electrical system and engine(s). Engine tests are conducted and running time hours are verified. Surveys will not only tell you what is wrong (and right) about the boat but can give you estimates on repairs which you can use to further negotiate the sale price.

Marine survey seminar
The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association’s (RISAA) May seminar will focus on marine surveys. So if you are thinking about a used boat consider attending this Monday, May 21, 2012 seminar at the West Valley Inn, West Warwick, RI. Visit http://www.risaa.org/ for details.

Custom rod and squid fishing seminar
The RISAA seminar Monday, April 30, 7:00 p.m. will feature Robert Jenkins, owner of Local Hooker Rods and three local squid fishermen Dave Fewster, Bob LeBlanc and Chuck Dore.

Where’s the bite
Fresh water. Maridee Bait & Tackle, Narragansett, RI, reports good fishing for customers at Barber, Warden and Tucker Ponds in South Kingstown, RI with night crawlers being the most popular bait for trout anglers. Angler Justin Fisette of Coventry, RI landed a 19, 18,17 and 12 pound carp at lake Tiogue. He also netted five catfish and one bullhead, all fish were caught in a span of 45 minutes. Chris Catucci of Warwick has been hammering largemouth bass at local ponds. Chris said, “Fished Gorton pond and slayed the largemouth… I got two really nice bass and also broke one off about the same size at the boat. I was rotating between different brands of chrome and black lipless crankbaits in an attempt to "match the hatch" of the alewives that migrate into Gorton Pond .” Ponds, lakes and rivers stocked with rainbow and brown trout continue to provide a lot of fishing fun for anglers too. Visit http://www.dem.ri.gov/ for a list of over a hundred ponds that have been stocked with trout.

Striped bass. Anglers continue to land fish at the West Wall at the Harbor of Refuge. Mary Dangelo of Maridee Canvas-Bait & Tackle in Narragansett, RI said, “Customer Tom McGuire caught over 100 fish last week on the wall with several keepers to 30” mixed in. All fish including the keepers were released. A popular bait for shore anglers continues to be Cocohoe lures with ½ once jig heads.” Angler Tom Pelto reports fishing the particularly large herring runs at rivers. Tom said, “I used a pink and purple Dawia Slider plug and landed three bass by dusk. They were between 28 to 30 inches. Each fish was fat and deceptively heavy.” Bob Olberg said, “I fished the upper bay (Friday) in my kayak… (with) tube and worm to search for fish, with soft plastics in reserve if I found a honeyhole. Caught three bass, one just over 28 inches, one just under, and one around 20 inches…caught one 28 incher last week in same area, the earliest I have caught a keeper in RI. All strong, healthy fish.”

Squeteague have already made their presence known this year with two caught in Greenwich Bay said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence. This dark olive green fish was once very popular in Rhode Island waters then almost disappeared for several years. For the past few years more and more are being caught. Squeteague is a great eating fish, know as salt water trout. Legal size in RI is 16” with a limit of one fish/person/day.
Squid are in according the Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle. “Customers have found them in Jamestown, Newport and Little Compton.”, said Dave. Squid and striped bass often arrive together so if you find one, your find the other.

Cod fishing remains soft said Captain Drew Dangelo of Maridee Charters, Narragansett, RI.

Tautog fishing is good with keepers caught this week at Conimicut Light, Plum Light House, Coddington Cove, General Rock, Hope Island and other favorite places. Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle said, “They have not moved to low water yet, they are still in deep water.” I saw Ken Thursday as he was clearing three nice keepers in the 20 plus inch range. He said, “We caught them with clam worms.” This is the bait of choice for many tautog anglers this time of year. Jeff Barker of Warwick and avid angler and member of the West Bay Anglers said, “We fished in the lower bay last week and had great luck. We keep ten fish but released all the females.” Asian crabs are present in the Warwick Neck area as anglers search the beaches turning over rocks for this favorite tautog bait.