New England Saltwater Fishing Show this week

‘How to catch bigger fluke’ will be one of the presentations given by Capt. Dave Monti at the New England Saltwater Fishing Show this week.  Over sixty seminars, visit www.nesaltwatershow.com .

Quahog Week starts March 25:  restaurants and markets are participating with quahog specials of all types.  Visit www.seafoodri.com for a complete listing.

New England Saltwater Fishing Show this week

The Annual New England Saltwater Fishing Show sponsored by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA), is being held this week March 22-24 at the Rhode Island Convention Center.   Friday hours are 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Steve Medeiros, RISAA president, said, “This is the largest saltwater fishing show in the Northeast. And, it’s our largest ever with a record 445 booths and 350 companies displaying their latest in fishing tackle and gear with many of them offering show specials and prices.”  Most major saltwater companies will be represented including rod and reel manufactures, fishing lure companies, fishing charter boats and guides and makers of clothing, fly fishing gear, boats, kayaks and much more. Medeiros said, “Capt. Paul Hebert of Wicked Pissah and Cap. Dave Carraro of Tuna.COM from the TV show Wicked Tuna will be speaking at the show Saturday and Sunday.”

A Kids Casting Area will be open Saturday and Sunday. Sunday is also family day with all women and children admitted free and a special scavenger hunt for children on Sunday, ask about it when you arrive at the show.

Rich Hittinger, 1^st vice president of RISAA said, “We are raising funds for the RI Saltwater Anglers Foundation by selling Rhode Island license plates that feature a striped bass and scup on them.  Stop by our booth at the show and take a look at this great plate.  When you order one you will supporting all of the fishing outreach, environmental and conservation efforts of the Foundation.”

Capt. Dave Monti and many other guest speakers

Over 60 Fishing Show seminars are being given by experts on a wide range of fishing topics from how to catch larger summer flounder to in shore fishing with light tackle from shore, kayak or boat.  Learn about fishing tactics and strategies from top fishermen and charter captains.

I will be speaking at the Show on two topics, the first is ‘How to catch bigger fluke’ offered Friday at 2:00 p.m.; Saturday at 3:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 12:30 p.m.  I will give a second seminar titled ‘Enhancing you tautog bite” on Friday at 6:00 p.m.; and Saturday at 9:30 a.m. No Fluke Charters will have a booth at the show, #205, so stop by the booth and say hello or follow me on Twitter @CaptDaveMonti. Visit www.nesaltwatershow.com/seminars.shtml  for a complete listing of seminar topics and speakers.    

Tickets are $10 for adults, children under 12 are admitted free.  Learn more about the show at nesaltwatershow.com .

Fly fishing the cinder worm hatch

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Aquatic Resource Education Program, announced its annual Cinder Worm Workshop.  This is the program’s tenth year and it will include two weekday evening classes in fly tying instruction and one weekend evening of fly fishing. The program is free to registrants.

The course syllabus includes practical rigging and fly casting instruction for the novice on the day of fishing. .  “We would like to have everyone attend both workshops,” said David Pollack, one of the organizers of the program, “but you also have the option to pick just one.”  Introduction to practical rigging and casting instruction will be covered for those that need additional assistance.  Fly fishers will then fish the coves of Grassy Point area of Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.  “We don’t guarantee the weather or the fish,” said Pollack, “but past experiences have shown that this is prime time for the worm mating season.”

The program is open to any adult or accompanied child over the age of 10, regardless of skill level--40 person maximum so register early.  Instruction and guidance will be provided by some of the area’s most proficient and knowledgeable worm fishermen.   Also this year is the opportunity for kayak fishing - limited to experienced kayakers who have their own vessel. Proper safety equipment is required plus lights for navigation.    

All fly tying materials will be provided.  Participants are encouraged to bring their own tools and equipment, but all necessary fly tying tools and equipment will be loaned to registrants upon request. Saltwater fly fishing equipment, including rods, reel, lines and leaders, will be loaned to registrants who do not have their own gear and tackle.  

The Fly Tying classes will be held Tuesday, May 7 and May 14. 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the

Kettle Pond Visitor Center, Charlestown, RI.  The Fly Fishing portion of the program will take place Saturday, May 18, 4:00 p.m. until dark at Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, Charlestown, RI.

Capt. Ray Stachelek and Dave Pollack, fly fishing experts and USFWS volunteers will facilitate the program. For information or to register as a participant contact Scott Travers at sott.travers@dem.ri.gov.  To sign-up as an instructor contact Dave Pollack at dpollipo@cox.net .

4^th Annual RI Quahog Week March 25-31

The Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Collaborative, chaired by the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), will hold the 4th annual Quahog Week March 25 - March 31.  The week-long celebration highlights the importance of Rhode Island’s iconic shellfish to the State’s economy and culture.    

As part of the week-long observance, participating restaurants will feature quahog-inspired specials on their menus, and participating markets will offer deals for those who enjoy cooking their own clam dishes at home.  

Quahog Week will also feature two special events where harvesters from the RI Shellfishermen’s Association will be shucking and serving complimentary little necks and interacting with attendees about their fishery. Partners will also be providing other complimentary quahog-based samplers and beverages.  Both events are free and open to the public.  Quahog Night West Bay will be held Wednesday, March 27, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Whalers Brewing Company, 1174 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown and Quahog Night East Bay will be held Friday, March 29, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hope & Main, 691 Main Street, Warren. 

Visit www.seafoodri.com  for a full list of participating restaurants and markets and the specials they are offering.

Where’s the bite

Cod fishing. Capt. Andy Dangelo of the Seven B’s Party Boat said, “We have been finding cod and with the weather improving everything is looking up.”  Capt. Frank Blount said, “We manage to get off the dock a few times this week and found mixed results. Wednesday did see the best results with a good showing of both green and dark cod. There is still good showing of bait on the grounds and we have some amazing weather coming so things are looking up. Party boats sailing for cod fish at this time include the Frances Fleet at www.francesfleet.com , the Seven B’s (with Capt. Andy Dangelo at the helm) at www.sevenbs.com, and the Island Current at www.islandcurrent.com .

Atlantic menhaden regulations get attention

 First largemouth bass: John Migliori with his first largemouth of the season caught at Big Pond in Newport last week using a Shadeycreek lure.

Hillary Kenyon of Groton, CT attends mate school run by Capt. Charlie Donilon of Snappa Charters. 

Atlantic menhaden regulations get attention

This Monday a workshop was held at the URI Bay Campus to review the stock status and proposed regulations on Atlantic menhaden, regulations pertaining to lobster, crabs and other crustations as well as commercial gill net regulations. 

It was a proposed option to reduce the commercial threshold in the Narragansett Bay Atlantic menhaden management area that got the attention of recreational anglers. An Atlantic menhaden industry proposal for the Bay management reduced the Narraganset Bay biomass trigger form the 1.5 to 2-million pound range to 1.0 to 1.5-million pounds (a 500,000 pound reduction).  The proposal would open the Bay management area to commercial fishing when there are 500,000 pounds less of Atlantic menhaden in the Bay.  Presently, the biomass is assessed by air with trained pilots counting the number of schools and fish in the Bay on a regular basis.  The management area in the Bay opens and closes depending on the number of fish in the Bay compared to the biomass threshold.

An industry spokesperson said, “This proposal was made to keep our boats in the area as last year with the Bay open and closed it was difficult to keep them in the area to commercially fish when the Bay was open.”

Steve Medeiros, president of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association, said, “The Narraganset Bay Atlantic menhaden plan is working well. We spent a number of years trying to work something out for the commercial fishery and leave enough biomass in the water as forage fish and the recreational fishery. So why change the program now.” 

Other workshop highlights included a discussion on new proposed regulations for Johan and Atlantic rock crabs.  Johan crab regulations being suggested by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) where proposed for Rhode Island.  Fishermen expressed concern about the regulations not taking into consideration the uniqueness of the crab fishery in RI and tying it to lobster fishery regulations.  Others felt the new proposed regulations did not consider the uniqueness of the RI State fishery.  New proposals are expected to surface in time for the March 23 public hearing when all of the above regulating will be offered for public comment.

Quahog Week is next week

As part of a continued effort to support growth of the local food economy, Governor Gina Raimondo and First Gentleman Andy Moffit, along with state and food-industry leaders, will kick off Rhode Island’s first Quahog “Restaurant” Week on Monday, March 21, 2016 during a special launch event at Save the Bay.

For more information about Quahog Week and for a list of participating restaurants and events, visit www.seafoodri.com  or like the Quahog Week page on Facebook. Join the conversation in social media by tagging the Facebook page or @RhodeIslandDEM on Twitter; share recipes, quahogging stories, and/or favorite restaurants and quahog dishes.

Mate school

Capt. Charlie Donilon of Snappa Charters, Pt. Judith will be kicking off his second make school  on April 2^nd and 9^th with six hour long in classroom sessions at Centerville Commons, 875 Centerville Road, Warwick, Bld. 2, Suite 5.  The school will culminate with an on the water practicum aboard the charter fishing vessel the Snappa the week of May 7^th.  The cost of the school is $195. Interested students should contact Capt. Donilon at 401.487.9044 or snappacharters@cox.net.

“We hope to place as many as ten students this year with summer jobs aboard party and charter boats.  And a new twist, we will be offering a scholarship for the program through a local technical high school.  It will likely take the form of an easy contest.” said Donilon. Contact Capt. Donilon for details on the scholarship program.

Mate School teaches students who want to be mates on charter and party boats how to prepare the vessel to fish, how to take care of and prepare fishing gear, how to teach customers how to fish, how to treat customers and much more.  The program as it is designed now includes two six hour in-classroom sessions and a five hours on a trip aboard Capt. Donilon’ s charter fishing vessel the “Snappa”.  Additional on the job training would occur aboard the Snappa or on another charter boat when you are hired. Mate School aims is to introduce students to what it is like to be a mate and what is expected of them as a mate on a charter or party fishing boat.

Where’s the bite

Fresh water fishing exploded this week with anglers catching largemouth bass, while perch and pickerel in fresh water ponds and lakes.   John Migliori caught his firs freshwater bass in Big Pond in Newport last week using a Shadeycreek lure.  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence said, “Fishing picked up nicely this week in area ponds. Customers are catching white perch in the Turner Reservoir, Riverside using crappie jigs and worms.  The largemouth and pickerel bite is good in northern Rhode Island Ponds.  Narrow River is yielding white perch as well as hold over striped bass north of Middle Bridge.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside said, “Freshwater fishing is hot. I sold out of shiners and worms this weekend. Customers are catching largemouth and pickerel at Stump Pond using shiners and earth worms.” Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly, said, “We missed out on an ice fishing season due to warm weather but customers are starting freshwater bass in Chapman’s Pond.  But most are getting their gear ready for the start of trout season.”

Striped bass fishing for hold-over fish is outstanding in Connecticut rivers.  Dave Henault said, “Fish to 32” are being caught with anglers using weighted jig heads.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s said, “Customers are catching hold-over striped bass to 20 pounds in the Connecticut rivers. However, the bite in the Providence River for hold-over striped bass has not been good this year.”

Bait and seals have been in Narraganset Bay and in our coves in unusually large numbers the past couple of weeks.  Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “The peanut bunker (juvenile Atlantic menhaden) never left Apponaug Cover this winter.”  The bait along with herring is now populating the cove with seals feeding on the bait.  John Littlefield said, “Quahogers in the Conimicut Point area said seals are crashing schools of herring creating a lot of jumping and splashing action on the surface.”

Cod fishing has picked up with improving weather.  Frank Blount of the Francis Fleet said, “We saw much better numbers of nice green market cod and a lot of short cod as well. The fish seemed to be spread out over a fair size area as well. One trip we had some nice ling and a Pollock mixed in as well as few early spring sea bass which were released unharmed immediately. On a few days hi hooks had upwards to 5-8 keepers apiece and the majority of fishers left with enough cod for dinner.”