Get you gear ready for big fish

Tommy Pelto of Tiverton, RI with one of the striped bass he caught this Saturday when fishing in the upper reaches of the Providence River.  Tom said, “There were tons of pogies in the Providence River.”

Get your gear ready

You might say, “I just use this rig for school bass, the small ones, so the line is fine.” However, you can’t pick the time when a big fish hits. So make sure your gear is in good working order at the start of the season and throughout the year.

The experts suggest checking all reels, rods and line before the season starts and do regular maintenance throughout the season. Replace line, repair line guides on rods and perform reel maintenance twice a season if necessary, particularly on those rigs that get a lot of action.

So, to make sure I do not lose a big fish, I perform the following maintenance routine before the season starts. To paraphrase Vince Lombardi the great football coach who said football games are won in the summer when training is done… big fish are caught in the winter when proper maintenance is done.

Reel maintenance

George Poveromo, host of George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing said, “As a rule of thumb, a reel should be brought to an authorized reel center at least once a year.” And, with reels that get a lot of action, perhaps twice a year.

Give your reels a good cleaning, particularly when the line is off. Grease where directed by manufacturer, often times, the reel is marked where to do this. If instructions are long gone do not hesitate to stop by your local bait or tackle shop to ask where to grease. Do not grease the drag, it is not meant to be greased, if you do, it will not work. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside, RI, said, “Anglers often forget to put oil on the line guide worm gear on bait caster reels as this is can go a long way allowing the gear to perform properly throughout its lifetime.” It costs about $10 to $15 to clean and grease your average spinning reel.

Check the RISAA website at www.risaa.org for member bait and tackle shops that repair reels, many of them appear on the member discount landing page.

Line

Each year, replace used line. This is a judgment call as to what is meant by “used”. The braid line I spooled on two rigs at the end of the season is still ok, however, I took line off at the beginning of the reel that was showing signs of wear. Experts say a to cross braid line when spooling onto conventional reels to prevent the line from digging into the spool when a big fish is on. Another tip is to re-spool lead line putting the used portion on the reel first, this way you use line that is new as most anglers rarely use more than three to four colors (90’ to 120’) of line. Replace all the monofilament line on reels at the start of the season. Monofilament line has memory so it tangles easily and creates bird nest tangles when it is old or has been sitting in the cold for a while. Also stretch the line, the first 100 feet (of monofilament line) to relax its memory and avoid tangles. When you change any type of line it is important to spool tight or the line may slip on the spool.

Rods

Examine the rods for cracks and stress marks. Closely examine the eyes for chips or cuts that could cause line to snag, rub or break. Do not place hooks on the eyes or they will eventually create cracks that will cut line as it passes through. Place all baits at the base of the reel as those hooked to an eye brace will bang on the rod and may cause microscopic cracks in the rod blank that could lead to a broken rod..

Tackle

I get tackle ready in chronological order when certain species are fished… starting with tautog, striped bass, blue fish, fluke, sea bass, etc. I then go through tautog rigs first, then the striped bass, etc. Make sure you have enough rigs to fish the species. Hooks should be clean and sharp (no rust), and strong enough for the size fish you are going after. Often hooks that come with lures are not quality hooks so I replace them with stronger hooks.

Leaders/Hooks

Use wire leaders for blue fish and monofilament or fluorocarbon for striped bass, fluke, sea bass, etc. Blues won’t bite though the wire and other species will find it harder to see the monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders. As a rule I replace all used leaders at the beginning of the season. During the season make sure leaders have no nicks or stress marks from fish pulling. If they do, replace them. I switched most of my hooks to circle hooks, I did this so I can safely catch and release undersized or unwanted fish (particularly striped bass). Circle hooks are designed to hook the fish at the corner of the mouth and not down in the belly. All hooks should be sharp and rust free.



Striped bass part III... how to preserve the species

Charley Soares with a large bass he caught using live bait will be guest speaker at a March 22, 6:30 p.m. seminar for the West Bay Anglers. The seminar called “Live baits for trophy bass” will take place at Sherman Elementary School, 120 Kelley Avenue, Warwick, RI.

For the past two weeks I reported what organizations, bureaus, captains, anglers and scientist felt was happing to striped bass. No one knows what is happening to the bass for sure. But here is an analysis of what they had to say and what we might be able to do to preserve the species.

What we do know is that striped bass have declined in Narragansett Bay and along the coastal shore in Rhode Island as related by hundreds of anglers. We also know that from the “Young of the Year” survey in the Chesapeake that small fish are on the decline but not at critical levels. We also know that environment and weather conditions can impact fish (and striped bass). Bob Wood, biologist for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has conducted research that focuses not so much on the fish but on the weather. He believes the weather pattern in the North Atlantic called the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) is responsible for the wide swings in striper populations.

We also know that fishing captains and guides, commercial fisherman and lobstermen, particularly those that fish the ocean have spotted thousands of striped bass in large schools in places they normally have not been seen before. Also, all last summer anglers and captains consistently reported a strong bass bite at and around Block Island. We also heard from lobstermen that the striped bass were plentiful and became a nuisance by eating lobsters and bait in pots.

So what is one to think, are striped bass in decline or not? I do believe they are on the decline, along the RI coast and in Narragansett Bay. It may be due to the overly wet weather, cloudy water, warm water and/or the AMO effect related above which effects food supply and bait. Coastal waters, bays and rivers are affected by these factors differently than the open ocean. The decline may be a natural cycle too of a fall, a rise and leveling off of a species.

I spoke with Captain John Brierley who is a commercial striped bass fisherman on Buzzards Bay. John believes we may never know the cause of recent striper decline however he does have a few thoughts about what we can do. John said, “I doubt we will learn in the near future the real cause of the decline. So with the upcoming season we all need to do what we can. Maybe it is as simple as asking the guy who wants a full bag limit ‘when and who is going to eat (those fish)’… Or maybe it is using circle hooks and being more knowledgeable in the release (or) maybe you don't put as much fertilizer on your lawn this year.

Dr. Chris Anderson, chairman of the State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Marine fisheries Striped Bass Advisory Panel believes said, “Many young undersized school striped bass die each year due to poor catch and release tactics”. Dr. Anderson related that thousand of fish are caught in the upper Bay, in rivers and coves in Rhode Island that if released properly would live.

So do your part to preserve striped bass, take only the fish you will eat, taking two fish each outing may not be the thing to do. Additionally, use circle hooks to protect the fish from deadly gut hooks and consider the below catch and release tactics. NOAA also recently published a catch and release pamphlet which can be found at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ .

One way to save bass is to use circle hooks. Here’s how they work…after the hook (and bait) are swallowed by the fish and it starts to run, the hook is pulled out of the stomach and slides toward the point of resistance on the fish’s jaw or lip and embeds itself in the corner of the fish’s mouth.

Circle hooks successfully hook bass in the mouth 95% of the time. The trick is not to jerk the rod to set the hook. Let the fish run and it will pull the hook out of its stomach and hook itself on the lip. Once this happens the fish is hooked so all you have to do is start fighting the fish and reeling it in. Ask your local bait & tackle shop for circle hooks and/or purchase rigs that have circle hooks.

To release undersized or large egg bearing striped bass (and other species) unharmed and/or to practice “catch and release” consider these techniques (most of them are courtesy of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Fish and Wildlife).

1. Use circle hooks, they successfully hook bass in the mouth (not the gut) 95% of the time without hurting the fish.

2. Land fish quickly to minimize stress.

3. Avoid putting fish on deck and letting it flop around, keep it in the water as much as possible when removing hook.

4. Wet your hand before handling the fish, dry hands remove the fish’s protective slime layer and leave it open to infection

5. Handle fish carefully. Do not use excessive force when grasping the fish. Do not put fingers into gill cavities or eye sockets.

6. Gently remove the hook to minimize damage.

7. Use lures with single hook, barbless hooks (I snap them off), or circle hooks (as noted above)

8. Return fish to water quickly. Place fish gently in water in upright horizontal position. Move it back and forth in the water to force water across its gills. Once the fish revives, allow it to swim away.

Tautog Advisory Panel Recommends New Regulations for 2011

The DEM Marine Fisheries Tautog Advisory Panel met last week and approved their final recommendations to the DEM Director for the 2011 season. Fish must be 16” (same as last year). Three fish/day/person are allowed for the split season from April 15 to May 31 and then from August 1 to October 15; from October 16 to December, 15 the recommendation is six fish/person/day. There is a private boat limit of twelve fish/vessel during all periods.

DEM stocks ponds

The Department of Environmental Management is stocking rainbow trout in ponds for the winter ice-fishing season. This week they will finish stocking a total of 3,000-4,000 rainbow trout in six ponds.

Ponds to include Barber Pond in South Kingstown, Silver Spring Lake in North Kingstown, Olney Pond in Lincoln, Stafford Pond in Tiverton, Round Top Ponds in Burrillville, and Carbuncle Pond in Coventry are being stocked with rainbow trout. The hatchery-raised trout weigh between one and two pounds each. The US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Nashua, New Hampshire federal hatchery provided DEM with 150 surplus domestic Atlantic salmon broodstock which will be stocked in Olney Pond, Carbuncle Pond, and Barber Pond.

What's happening to striped bass, part II

Don Villani of East Greenwich, RI caught this striped bass north off Conimicut Point, Warwick on No Fluke Charters last spring. Fish like this were in lower numbers this year signally a striper decline for many in Narragansett Bay and along coastal RI shores.

Striped bass are a valued species, both for sport fishing and food. Striped bass are as highly managed today as they were in the past. They were the subject of our first conservation laws… in 1639 Massachusetts forbade the use of the fish for fertilizer, in the 1660’s they were the focus of our first environmental impact statement and passage of the Natural Environmental Policy Act.

According to a Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) study, recreational fishing has a $160,000,000 annual economic impact on Rhode Island. There are more recreational striped bass fishing trips in Rhode Island than any other species (my personal observation). So striped bass play an important role in Rhode Island’s recreational fishery and economy.

Last week this column reported on striper decline. Anglers, fishing captains (particularly those fishing Narragansett Bay and coastal Rhode Island shores), said the striped bass fishery is on a terrible decline. Many say their catch is down by 30 to 40%, yet scientists, fishery managers and some captains say the fishery may be down but by no means is it crashing. Other captains say they caught more fish than ever before off Block Island and have seen large numbers in Federal waters where they cannot fish for them legally. And, offshore lobsterman say striped bass have been more abundant in traps than ever before (they are considered a nuisance because they eat valuable lobster bait in traps).

Last week and this week, I asked striped bass experts, “Are striped bass in decline?” and what do you think about the recent NPR story on striped bass. Here’s what they had to say.

New information sheds light on striper decline

Christopher Joyce did an NPR story on striper decline highlighting the work of Bob Wood, biologist for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Wood’s research focuses not so much on the fish but on the weather. He believes the weather pattern in the North Atlantic called the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) is responsible for the wide swings in striper populations.

Wood explains, “… if you warm the entire North Atlantic basin, you’re changing the weather because the air and circulation patterns above the ocean are affected.” Ed Martino, a fisheries scientist at NOAA, said, “You are talking about a difference in temperature and precipitation, and therefore river flow or salinity, ultimately all affecting the base of the food chain… It’s the way that the climate affects the microscopic plankton.” Plankton are the tiny plants and animals in water, and that’s what spring striped bass eat.

Reporter Joyce relates that when it’s in a warm phase, springtime along the East Coast tends to be wet and cool with more rain, more water and more food. In the years following that phase striper numbers tend to go up. Then the AMO flips, drier springs bring less rain, less food and after a lag, it looks like striper numbers start to decline. Records for the past 100 years of fishing show this trend.

Striped bass have not been as plentiful for the past four years. Wood said, “and it just so happens this is also the time when the AMO seems to be in a switching phase”. This switch is bad for stripers so the decline now and the one in the 1980’s could be attributed to these down cycles.

I think this study is a breakthrough for fishery managers in the way they look at what is impacting data. They should consider what role (if any) AMO or weather patterns play in the growth or decline of fish populations. Also it begs the question as to how they should evaluate and implement the learnings of such research and data in the future.

Dr. Chris Anderson is chairman of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) Marine Fisheries Advisory Panel on striped bass. Dr. Anderson said, “More shifts like this (in bass populations) can be expected with climate change. So it would be to our advantage (as managers) to work on ways to handle such changes.” This is new information in the equation. So in the future if we want to use climate change to help manage, the question will be how should the base line stock level change due to climate?”

Captain Rick Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association (RIPCBA), said, “I am certain climate change is having an effect on all the creatures that live in our oceans... I think it a little too premature to insinuate that a stock is in decline due to climate change; maybe the stock has just moved or behaves differently. Or maybe a decline is occurring. I will agree that we need more studies and time to determine what affects are truly occurring…”

Mark Gibson, of DEM’s Marine Fisheries Department, is the author or a “Striped Bass Commercial Quota Increase Issue Paper” published in November, 2010. The paper, which can be found at www.dem.ri.gov, relates that science shows, “Recent recruitment of young fish (striped bass) has declined but the stock remains well above it’s rebuilding target.” In regard to the NPR story Gibson said, “The AMO is a fashionable new idea. I looked at it and found that the correlation with young fish production is marginal and that changes in spawner biomass explain more of the dynamics than does the AMO. “

Captain Rich Hittinger, vice present of the RISAA said, “I definitely see a decline over the last few years, so I think it (striper decline) is real. The science always takes so long to finish that once the stock status is finalized and published we are looking at data that is three years old… Basically, I think the cause (of striper decline) is still unknown…”

The question of whether or not striped bass are in decline will be covered in future columns.

West Bay Anglers to hold Striped Bass Seminars

The West Bay Anglers will hold a series of striped bass seminars by Charley Sores Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 6:30 p.m. at the Sherman Elementary School, Warwick, RI. Topics to include fishing with a variety of live baits (part one of the seminar) as well as how to locate and catch stripers between boulders (part two). Reserve tickets ($10) at 401.463.7532.

Striper University

Shallow Water Striper University is March 25, 26, and 27 at the Sheraton Airport Motor Inn, Warwick, RI. This weekend long event features some of the best local professionals who make their living catching big striped bass. Registration for this event is $89. for the entire weekend. There will also be charter trips give-a-ways, raffles, prizes, and more. Contact Debbie Wood at Wood Boat & Motor, 401-739-4040 or visit www.shallowwaterstripers.com .

State Senate Task Force on Fisheries

The State Senate Task Force on Fisheries chaired by Senator Susan Sosnowski met last week to hear presentations on the marketing of Rhode Island fish. Over seven individuals from DEM, the RI Department of Economic Development as well as fish industry experts with knowledge on how to bring fresh fish to market made presentations. More on this in the future.