House bill would weaken fisheries act

 

Anthony Mecurio Jr. from Coventry RI with a fine brace of fluke he buck tailed onto the deck of the Gail Frances party boat last week.

 

 

Michael Fotiades of Narragansett, RI with squid caught last week on a recent RISAA trip.  His son George is in the background.



House bill would weaken fisheries act

A U.S. House of Representatives bill (H.R. 1335) titled "Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act," that would reauthorize the Magnuson –Stevens Act is scheduled to come before the House next Monday. 

The Magnuson–Stevens Act (MSA) is the primary law governing recreational and commercial marine fisheries management in the United States. It was originally enacted as the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 and amended many times.  The two recent amendments were the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 and then the MSA of 2006.

The supporters of this version or the reauthorization bill, which was authored by Alaska Congressman Don Young (R-AK), stated in a support letter that the bill will maintain the successful aspects of fisheries management under Magnuson-Stevens, while providing much-needed flexibility and economic relief to hard-working fishing communities.

According to Save Our Seafood (a seafood industry advocacy group comprised of commercial fish processors, fish brokers and boat owners), the support letter was sent last week to the House Natural Resources Committee Chair.  In a press release this week, Save Our Seafood said, “supporters of H.R. 1335 believe the bill will strike the appropriate ‘balance’ between addressing the ecological needs of fish stocks, the conservation goals of management, and the economic needs of fishing communities that are not being met by the current Act's rigid stock rebuilding requirements.”

However, there are two sides to every story.  Conservation minded fishermen and conservation groups throughout the country (including Pew Charitable Trusts and the Environmental Defense Fund) feel that this bill if passed will reverse much of the good that the MSA currently provides our fisheries.

Last year US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI and our congressional delegation, held an fisherman’s input session at the URI Bay Campus.  At that meeting Rhode Island fishermen and Janet Coit, director of the RI Department of Environmental Management, testified in support of Magnuson-Stevens saying it has rebuilt many of our fish stocks and much of it should be left intact when it is reauthorized.

Meeting attendees complemented the MSA for establishing Allowable Catch Limits (ACLs) that facilitated the rebuilding of fish stocks.

In an issue brief (pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis) Pew Charitable Trusts said, “(The bill) would significantly undercut the nation’s progress in preventing overfishing and rebuilding depleted fish populations. This shortsighted legislation would undermine the act’s core conservation provisions, jeopardizing the gains made in rebuilding and sustainably managing U.S. fish populations. It also would fail to advance a comprehensive approach to fishery management.”

Pew continued to say, “The Magnuson-Stevens Act should be updated in a way that promotes a comprehensive, 21st-century approach to managing the nation’s fisheries. But H.R. 1335 would move the country in the wrong direction, threatening the health of U.S. oceans and fish populations.”

NOAA seeks sanctuary volunteers

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is seeking applicants with recreational fishing expertise to fill vacant seats on its advisory councils at Flower Garden Banks, Monitor and Stellwagen Bank national marine sanctuaries.   It is vitally important that recreational anglers participate in sanctuary advisory panels as their point of view is not often heard due to a lack of participation.  The recent New England Council vote on allowing recreational fishing in the Stellwagen Bank Sanctuary area was critical to recreational fishing and the charter fishing industry. It demonstrates the importance of angler participation on these sanctuary panels.   A sanctuary advisory council is a community-based advisory group with representatives from various user groups, government agencies, and the public at large. The role of the council is to provide advice to the sanctuary superintendent on the designation and/or operation of a national marine sanctuary. Council members include fishers, divers, teachers, boaters, business people, activists, protected area managers, scientists, and elected officials. A successful candidate for the positions noted above will advise the sanctuary superintendent on the recreational fishing perspective. Nominations are due June 30.  For information contact Russell Dunn, NOAA National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries at Russell.Dunn@noaa.gov or 727.551.5740.   Where's the bite “Cod fishing at the East Fishing grounds has been fair when anglers have been able to get there. Anglers are catching shorts with keepers mixed in.” said Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown. Striped bass. “Keeper bass are being caught with tube and worm and with chunks of Atlantic menhaden in the East Passage near Bear Point, Prudence Island.” said Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick. On RISAA‘s blog angler Bob Malouin said, “We motored over to Conimicut Light (Saturday). We didn't have any success throwing plugs and I was marking bass so around 0730 I decided to live line a pogy. In less than a minute I hooked into and ended up landing a 30 pound bass. After letting her go we ended up landing four more cookie cutter fish around 30". All fish were caught on live pogies directly south of Conimicut light.”    “We weighed in a couple of nice fish, not particularly big but in the 33” to 34” range.  Anglers are catching fish with top water lures such as SlugGo and Cohoes.  Some anglers are live lining and chucking pogies.” said Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren. “The worm hatch in Potter and Salt Ponds has been good with anglers landing bass there but things are pretty slow out in front.” Said Al Conti of Snug Harbor.  No bass report from Block Island yet. Summer flounder (fluke) fishing is picking up.  “They are catching fluke right off Warwick Light.” said Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick.  This is the third spring in a row that we will have had a decent fluke bite at Warwick Light.  This spot has not been this active in years.  Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina said, “Customers are landing fluke and it is going to get better as the water warms. We had a 9.9 pound fluke caught along the coastal shore and a 10 pound fish caught on the Southwest side of Block Island but the bite has been very soft… the fish are still lethargic due to the cold water.  As it heats up this week the fluke fishing should improve.” Angler Mike Swain of Coventry said, “We are landing fluke off Jamestown and Newport with a three to one keeper ratio.” Roger Simpson of the Francis Fleet said, “We are catching fluke both on half and full day trips. Fish were spread out better around the boat on some days verses others. Those with experience using buck tails seemed to still have an edge over those using bait rigs on most outings. Always be prepared to fish both.” John Stavrakas said, “We arrived at the NW corner of Block Island (NE of "duck head") to find a fleet of boats working. The day started with a light westerly breeze and ended with a steady 15 knots gusting to 25. We worked the incoming tide for a half dozen keepers to 24" and twenty or so shorts. We were using 4/0 circle hooks with a buck tail skirt tipped with squid and spearing. Pink seemed to out fish white and green.” Tautog season closes May 31.  However, if you can get out before then it might be worth a try as keeper tautog are being caught. Many Macedo or Lucky Bait said, “We have and 22” and 24” fish caught by customers this past week.  Don’t get me wrong, they are catching a lot of shorts by keepers are mixed in.  Their bait of choice this spring seems to be crabs rather than worms.” Squid fishing has improved. “Customers are landing big tubes not just in Newport but they have traveled up the Sakonnet and all the way up to Bristol.” said Manny Macedo or Lucky Bait.  I fished the Frances Fleet Saturday night and it was a slow pick.  Top angler caught nineteen squid.  Roger Simpson of the Frances Fleet said, “Wednesday night was the best last week with generally one half to one full bucket per angler. Friday night was right behind with quite a few anglers doing one half to three quarters of a bucket and just a handful of fishers doing 20-30 pieces. Thursday and Saturday nights were slower with hi hooks both nights doing 30-40 pieces with most having less.” Angler Kevin Robishaw said, “Headed out last night (Saturday) aboard the Frances fleet for squid on the RISAA charter. Went out in front by Nebraska Shoal and anchored. Squid were coming over rail on first drop for me in the bow. This tapered off quickly and it was a pick all night for most in the boat. I never figured out a particular color or depth. I seemed to get them off bottom 4-5 feet but never really keyed in on them. I believe most people got at least a few. I got 10 tubes and between three of us in bow we got maybe a third of bucket full.”                                                                                       #

Summer flounder fishing no fluke

Paul DeMarco of North Kingstown, Russ DeMarco and Dave Zartarian of South Kingstown with some of the twelve summer flounder they landed off Newport Saturday. All keepers shown below. 

 Liam Teixeira and his dad Bill of Bristol, RI landed this 36” striper last week while trolling with tube & worm in Narragansett Bay. 

 Steve Weinstein, Cranston, with the 33 inch, 17 pound bluefish he caught Saturday while fluke fishing.

Chris Catucci of Warwick with the 40 plus inch striped bass he caught and released while fishing from shore in Warwick last week.

 Atlantic sturgeon found at the mouth of Narrow River, Narragansett last week by the Burdick brothers.  Their mom Melissa Burdick said, “DEM took the fish for study.”

Noted local fly fishermen Ed Lombardo (in photo) and his fishing partner Richard Santos caught striped bass to 36” on Narrow River, Narragansett last week.

Summer flounder fishing no fluke

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing is great.  The best season I can remember in a long time.  This week anglers continued to report great fishing along the southern coastal shore from Pt. Judith to Watch Hill, fishing off Newport, Jamestown and Block Island has been good with the mouth of the Sakonnet River yielding fish too. 

If you have not given it a try, now is the time.  Our fluke fishery is in good shape, so good, fish managers lowered the minimum size in RI last year and this year to 18” with an eight fish/angler/day bag limit with a fluke season running from May 1 to December 31.

Fluke facts

• In May, fluke move in shore from deep Continental Shelf waters where they spend the winter.  They stay inland until October and then move back to the deep water.
• Fluke return to the same areas, bays, etc. year after year.
• The local abundance of flounder, including summer flounder or fluke, has been on the rise.  Studies show abundance moving from off Maryland and Delaware in the early 1960’s to off the coastal shores of NY, CT and RI today.  Some scientists (including Dr. Jonathan Hare, NOAA’s lab chief in Narragansett, RI) believe climate change is contributing to this movement.
• Fluke are a flat fish with two eyes on the same side of the fish.  They are bottom fish that do not look aggressive, but they will chase bait aggressively and eat the same bait that bluefish and striped bass eat.  The difference is that they feed off the bottom.
• They can be caught from a boat (usually while drifting) or from shore with little knowledge, so they are an ideal catch for beginners and children.
• Fluke are chameleons; they change color to blend with the bottom.
• Largest fluke on record is 26.6 lbs. and 36” long.  The RI State record is a 17 pound, 8 once fish caught by G. Farmer or Warwick, RI in 1962.

Fluke fishing tips

•       Wind and tide should be going in the same direction because fluke face into the current to feed, bait should drag over the front of the fish, if dragged over their back they may not see it

•       Fish edges of channels, banks, underwater valleys and humps as big fish ambush bait there

•       Squid is bait of choice, many use other attractants… blue fish, silversides, mummies, fluke bellies

•       Trailer teasers work, a second hook usually a bucktail with a 3 ft. leader tied above main bait/jig

•       Find the fish and repeat pattern… drifting over the same location or depth that is yielding fish

•       Both jigging and fishing traditional fluke rigs work

•       My favorite bait is big… a fluke cocktail… a plastic squid rig tipped with squid, a fresh water minnow held on by a fluke belly, you will catch fewer but larger fish

•       Power drift putting vessel in and out of gear for movement at slack tide or when wind and tide not ideal, as you need movement to catch fluke

Special video interviews on fluke fishing

Visit http://newenglandboating.com/videos/fall-fluke-fishing.html for a video with Capt. Dave Monti, Kelly Parker and Tom Richardson, co-hosts of New England Boating TV, they fish for fluke off Jamestown, RI and make Capt. Monti’s Fluke Cocktail.

Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=18LMdrcMZi4 for and interview with Capt. Charlie Donilon of Snappa Charters, Pt. Judith, RI on how and where to catch fluke off Block Island and coastal shores.

Atlantic sturgeon found at river mouth

The Burdick brothers started their summer with quite an adventure.  They found an Atlantic sturgeon at the mouth of Narrow River in Narragansett last week. Their mom Melissa Kells Burdick (manager of Adventureland, Narragansett) said, “It had beached itself.  There were no visible injuries or markings on its body. The boys carried it home in a towel and we froze it over the weekend in our business' ice cream freezer!   We called DEM on Monday and reported the find.  They came it took it for study.”

Atlantic sturgeon is among the oldest fish species in the world and can be found from Canada to Florida.  It was in great abundance when settlers first came to North America but has since declined due to overfishing and water pollution and is considered an endangered species. They can grow to 14 feet and weigh up to 800 pounds and travel up rivers to spawn in brackish water.  When juveniles reach 30 to 36 inches they move into near coastal waters.

Where’s the bite

“Striped bass fishing slowed a bit in the Bay but some nice fish are still being caught.” said Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick. “Anglers are still catching 25 to 35 pound fish.  Many of them working schools of Atlantic Menhaden up near the old Henderson railroad bridge in Providence.  Bass and bluefish continue to crash the pogies there. And, at Block Island, day fishing is improving.  Night fishing is still OK, but guys are staying two and three tides to catch five or six fish. If you want to call that good, I guess it is a matter of perspective.”  Capt. Rick Bellavance of Priority Too charters, Pt. Judith said, “Daytime Bass fishing is improving out at Block Island with some big fish being caught on each trip.” Liam Teixeira and his dad Bill of Bristol, RI landed a 36” striper aboard their vessel the “Keeper” last week while fishing in the middle of the afternoon on Narragansett Bay trolling with tube and worm.  Dave Keil of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly said, “The Fish are getting larger, we weighed in a 56 and a 49 pound striped bass this week, both were from Block Island.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, East Providence said, “Customers have been catching keeper size bass in the 28" to 30” range using tube & worm off Barrington and catching fish in the 15 to 25 pound range using Atlantic Menhaden (chucked, live lining and yo-yoing) in the Nayatt Point, Conimicut Light area.”

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing was very strong this week.  “Fluke fishing under both bridges improved for customers this week.” said Ken Landry.  I fished this Saturday with Rus DeMarco and Dave Zartarian of South Kingstown, Paul DeMarco, North Kingstown and Steve Weinstein of Cranston and they landed over a dozen fluke under the Newport Bridge and out in front of Brenton Reef, Newport.  “Fluke fishing is good when the drift is strong, smaller fish are biting as it slows down.” said Capt. Rick Bellavance. “Elisa Martin of Snug Harbor Marina said, “Bruce Dubois won first prize in their fluke tournament this weekend with an 8.98 fish, followed by Ron Enright who landed an 8.80 pound fluke for second place.  Forty-four anglers participated in the Tournament most fishing off Newport, at the mouth of the Sakonnet, Block Island or along southern coastal shores.”  Dave Keil of Watch Hill said, “Fluke fishing is now very good, we have customers catching their limit with fishing is particularly good off Misquamicut and Charlestown beaches.”

Shore fishing continued to improve this week.  Julian Trozzi of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown said, “Striped bass fishing at night, right in the middle of the Breachway with eels has been very good.  Anglers are landing 30 to 40 pound fish. There is a lot of small bait in the water and blue fish and bass are crashing them all over, just watch for the birds.” Warwick angler Chris Catucci caught and released a 40 plus inch striped bass from shore in Warwick last week.  Fly fisherman Ed Lombardo reports a  good bass bite in Narrow River, Narragansett.  He and fishing partner Richard Santos landed 29” and 36” fish while fly fishing.  Ed said, “The bite was much better on the incoming tide… My hot pink high tie streamer and all white high tie streamers worked very well. Also my shrimp worked well on the shad at dark.”  Dave Keil of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly said, school bass fishing from the breachways at Weekapaug and Quonnie has been good. With fluke and scup being landed from the shore at Watch Hill.” Scup fishing continues to improve with the fish getting larger.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait said, “One customer came in with a 19” scup he cauth off the dock at Colt State Park.  And another customer and his grandson caught a total of 55 scup in Barrington.” 

Offshore.  “We caught and released eight Blue Sharks on our first offshore trip on Thursday. As an added bonus Whales, Sea Turtles, Sunfish, and Dolphin sightings can be expected on any trip offshore right now.” said Capt. Rick Bellavance. Elisa Martin of Snug Harbor Marian said, “Customer Bill Fazano landed a Mako and a Thresher shark this weekend at Tuna Ridge.  The fish must have been good size as he had to respool his reels and check gear due to the all the action.”  Shark fishing for mako and thresher sharks has been good offshore with lots of bluesharks being caught said Capt. Gene Kelly of the Montauk Sportfishing Association. Last week, first place winners of the Montauk Marine Basin shark tournament included a 353 lbs. mako, a 355 lbs. thresher and a 311 lbs. blueshark.

Freshwater. Fly fisherman Ed Lombardo fished the Wood River Sunday night for brown and rainbow trout during the Hexagenia or “Hex hatch”.  The Hex hatch refers to the emergence from the water of large, white mayflies when they mature from nymphs to flying insects. Ed said, “I raised two fish when we first got there during daylight with an orange colored body Wolff pattern size #8. White wings and tail of calf tail and one hackle feather wrapped in back and front of the wing brown in color. Spent Spinners work best once the hatch starts; we left the water at 10:10 p.m.  (My fishing partner) Toby had a great night with eight or so fish.” 

RI Fish for the Future… first cooperative of its type in the nation

Fluke fishing:  Lorna Russell of Providence with the fluke she caught off the Beavertail area of Jamestown.  Her son Liam (right) and friend Mathew look on.

Researcher even when off duty:  Jon Hare (center), Narragansett Laboratory Director and Oceanography Branch Chief for NOAA Fisheries Service, fished with Capt. Dave Monti on Angel Light, a RI Fish for the Future cooperative member this Saturday.  Jon lives in East Greenwich and by chance his wife booked the charter on the cooperative vessel for him, his son John (far right) and friend Elliot Emperor of Orleans, France.

RI Fish for the Future… first cooperative of its type in the nation

There is a new fishing cooperative in Rhode Island… the first of its type in the nation, it is called Rhode Island Fish for the Future and I am one of its founding members.  It is a charter captains’ summer founder (fluke) cooperative consisting of nine vessels.  The captains are voluntarily testing an innovative fishing approach to improve accountability and conservation of the summer flounder (fluke) population while increasing business flexibility and stability for the Rhode Island charter boat industry.

The cooperative is also testing innovative new software they developed that records catch in real time.  Each of the captains in the program has a computer tablet on board loaded with the software.  The software (called Fish Net) allows captains to record species type and fish length (the software converts length to approximate weight).  All of this is recorded in real time in the location that they catch/record the fish through a GPS capability.  It is hoped that software like this will provide a rich data source for fish mangers in the future as charter boats and recreational fishers are presently not required to report their catch the way that commercial fishermen do. 

The cooperative received a grant to develop the software and is operating under proposed guidelines as they fish off a Research Set Aside (RSA) fish allocation they purchased at a federal auction.

The mission of the pilot project includes reducing discards (and mortality rate… or the number of fish that die after release) and increased flexibility and predictability so charter captains can better serve customers.  Captains have been able to improve customer experience by allowing them to take more fish and smaller sizes than normally allowed.  This sounds great… more fish for customers, smaller sizes allowed, however, there is a catch.

Captains participating in the program agree to live within a rigid set of rules.  Rules such as counting all fish caught toward their quota or allowable catch for the season… even the ones too small to keep.  Their cumulative total of allowable catch is smaller than they would be able to take under normal recreational fishing regulations, however, the program gives them the flexibility to catch the fish and use them with customers when it is best from a business perspective.

For example they can fish for striped bass or tautog when they are in season and available and save the fluke fishing for when other species are not available.  Captain Joe Pagano of Stuff-It Charters (a program participant) said “The pilot program will allow my customers to keep more fish and plan their vacations ahead of time which will ultimately provide more stability for my business.”

Capt. Rick Bellavance of Priority Too Charters, one of the organizers of Rhode Island Fish for the Future said, “The catch cooperative program is the best option I've seen to date, one that with the appropriate implementation, will let our industry continue to thrive for years to come.”

For information about Rhode Island Fish for the Future visit www.rifishforthefutue.org. 

Where’s the bite

Striped bass fishing has been fair this past week at Block Island and in the Bay.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait Tackle, East Providence said, “Sunday small bass in the 22” to 24” range were caught at Sabin Point.”  Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marine, South Kingstown said, “The Bass bite at Block Island has been with eels at night and customer are catching them during the day trolling umbrella rigs.”  Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “Some nice bass were caught at the Newport Bridge this week with Atlantic Menhaden which have been plentiful in that area and around Gould Island.  Some customers have been doing well with bass in the Breton Reef, Newport area.”

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing has been spotty with warm water in Narragansett Bay and rough water off shore.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait said, “I had a customer catch a small keeper sized fluke off Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick and then he landed a nice squeteague.”  I fished in the Beavertail, Jamestown area with Jon Hare and his son John and friend Elliott this Saturday and landed about a dozen fish including six nice keeper fluke but they were hard to come by.  “Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait said, “Fluke are from Warwick Neck to the bridges and beyond but they were very spotty and hard to catch this week.  Some days anglers were hitting them and some days they were not.”  Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marine said, “Fluke fishing was slow this week for customers both at Block Island and along southern coastal shores.”

Black sea bass fishing has been OK with anglers catching them while fluke fishing.  Some nice sized black sea bass were taken off the wall at the Harbor of Refuge and off Narragansett Beach.

Scup fishing continues to be strong all over Narragansett Bay, off coastal shores and in the Newport and Jamestown bridge areas.  Angler Mike Swain of Coventry said, “I saw a number of boats at Warwick Light landing scup while fluke fishing this Sunday.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle said, “Scup fishing continues to be very strong with large scup common.  Anglers continue to experience a good scup bite at Colt Sate Park, Bristol.”

Offshore fishing had been pretty good this week at the Dump with blue fin tuna, mahi-mahi, and  yellow fin  being taken by a number of customers said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor.

Fluke… easy to cook and easier to catch this year

Thresher shark: Ian O’Hara (left) of Cranston, RI hooked into this 309 pound thresher shark off Block Island last week fishing with this brother Carlin and father Dan.  The shark took about two hours to land with help from Jay and Jim Noon and was weighed in at Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, RI. 

 Fresh fried flounder makes a great sandwich (or fish entrée).  It’s fast and easy to make.  Flounder lunch plate garnished with chips, pickle and olives in Captain Dave’s kitchen.  Photo by Virginia Magnan-Monti.

Fresh summer flounder is fun to catch and it’s a great eating fish.  Peter Magnan of Cranston, RI with a fluke he caught off Jamestown, RI.

Fluke… easy to cook and easier to catch this year

Fluke (or summer flounder) is plentiful this year and it’s easier to catch keeper size fluke as the minimum size has been reduced to 18” with a bag (or catch) limit of eight fish per angler per day.  Fishing in the mid-Bay area in Warwick, East Greenwich and North Kingstown in the West Passage and  off the shores of Barrington and Bristol in the East Passage has been as good as it has been in ten years.  Fishing around the Newport and Jamestown bridges has been good too with a strong fluke bite all along the southern coastal shore from Newport to Westerly and out to Block Island. 

So if you have been lucky enough to catch this delicate, delightful, white meat fish here are two simple recipes.  But first prepare flounder fillets for cooking by rinsing in cold water to clean.  Carefully feel fish flesh one last time to remove any bones left from the filleting board.  Pat fish dry with paper towel and set aside.

Fresh Fried Flounder Sandwiches

Ingredients

·         1 to 1 ½ lbs. of fresh flounder fillets

·         Two fresh lemons or lemon juice

·         ½ cup flavored Italian bread crumbs

·         ¼ cup all purpose flour

·         Olive oil, 1/3 to ½ cup

·         One sliced large tomato

·         Three to four leaves of lettuce

·         Tartar sauce (or your favorite mayonnaise and relish to make your own*)

·         Sandwich bread

Preparation

·         Combine and mix flavored Italian bread crumbs and flour

·         Put olive oil in pan and heat prior to cooking fish

·         Lightly moisten filets with lemon juice on both sides so fish coating sticks

·         Lightly bread fillets with coating on both sides and place in frying pan

·         Cook 4 to 6 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the fillet.  Once cooked (fish is flaking, do not overcook) place on your choice of lightly toasted bread (we like light rye or wheat at the Monti house). 

·         Spread tartar sauce on second slice of bread and top with lettuces and tomato slices. Cut sandwich in half and garnish plate with olives, pickles and chips.

*Making your own tartar sauce is easy.  Start with ½ cup of your favorite mayonnaise and add green relish to taste (two to three tablespoons), mix together and then place in refrigerator to cool. 

Baked Fluke Recipe

by Robb Roach from Kettlebottom Outfitters, Jamestown, RI.

Ingredients

• 1 to 2 lbs. fluke fillets (or any white fish fillet)
• 1/2 to 3/4 stick of butter
• 1 or 2 sleeves of Ritz crackers
• one Lemon, sliced thin
• Large Ziploc baggie, in which to crush the crackers

Preparation

• Lightly butter the bottom of a glass baking dish and cover with the fillets, arranged in a single layer.
• Place Ritz crackers into large Ziploc, remove all air, and crush into medium-fine crumbs.
• Cover the fillets completely with the crumbs.
• Melt butter in the microwave and drizzle evenly over entire dish.
• Place thinly sliced lemons on top, for color and flavor.
• Bake in a preheated 450 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes, removing from oven when crumbs begin to brown.
• Squeeze lemon juice over dish, as desired, and serve.

Where’s the Bite

Striped bass.  “Today was the best striped bass fishing day I have ever had.” said angler Mike Swain of Coventry. He and fishing partner Darryl fished the Prudence Island/Poppasquash Point, Bristol area last Sunday fishing with chucks of Atlantic Menhaden.  “We could have caught bass all day… over twenty fish, the largest ones we kept were over 20 pounds.” said Swain.  Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait, Warren, RI said, “The bass fishing remains strong in the Bay all the way down to Newport.” Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina reports a good bass bite on the north and southwest sides of Block Island with good sized fish being caught off Newport and Point Judith along the rocky coastline. Craig Castro of Erickson’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick, said “We weighed in two bass in the 29 pound range for the Striper Cup Tournament yesterday caught between Providence Point and Poppasquash Point, Bristol.”

Fluke (or summer flounder) fishing continues to be strong with fluke being caught in 40 to 50 feet of water along the southern coastal shore from Watch Hill to Pt. Judith. “Water off Matunuck and the Nebraska Shoals has been particularly good for fluke.” said Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina.  Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait said “Fluke fishing has been good even in the East Passage of the Bay with keeper fluke being caught from land at Colt State Park, Bristol, RI.” Catching keeper sized fluke from shore hasn’t been easy for the past several years as they have not been that plentiful. Fishing around Warwick Neck has also been good as I caught three nice keepers in the 19 to 22” range there this weekend near the red bell  on the channel bank off Warwick Neck Light. Craig Castro of Erickson’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick, said, “Customers have been catching fluke at both the Newport and Jamestown bridges.”

Scup fishing has been good a Colt State Park, Bristol said Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait.  Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina said, “The scup bite is starting to improve off coastal shores as the water is warming up.”

Shark fishing is picking up to said Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina.  We weighed in a 338 Mako and a 309 pound thresher shark this week caught by the O’Hara family of Cranston, RI.

Bottom fishing fun for all

Bottom fishing fun for all:  Bottom fish like this fluke (summer flounder), caught on a party boat out of Point Judith, RI this summer, are great fun to catch for anglers of all ages.

Tautog rig reduces bottom fishing tie-ups:  This tautog was caught using a homemade rig designed by Capt. Monti.  An egg sinker on a 3 to 4 inch piece of monofilament with swivels on either end and a single hook below.  The bait hangs freely between bottom structure (rocks), reduced hardware and the egg sinker allowed to slide has cut bottom tie-ups in half.

Kevin (left) and his father Albert Bettencourt (both of East Providence) have been catching striped bass this fall in the Barrington Beach area and in the Warren River drifting eels.

Bottom fishing fun for all

Bottom fishing for fluke (summer flounder), black sea bass, scup and tautog at this time of year can be fun for the entire family.  This type of fishing is not stressful in anyway.  Learning how to set the hook can be learned in minutes and it does not take a lot of skill to catch a fish.  Bottom fishing is great for beginners, particularly children.  And the best part is that the down time between bites serves as a great opportunity for family members and friends to socialize and actually converse.  Conversation is becoming something of a novelty in within our regular day.

I once took my friend Tom and his son fishing.  Days later, Tom said, “The best part of the day was that I actually got a chance to talk with my son about his future plans.”  So quite often fishing isn’t all about the fish.  It is the time we spend together with family and friends that really counts.  That is why I love to take families fishing… daughters, sons, son and daughters-in-law, grandfathers, fathers and mothers all get to spend quality time with each other. The bonding and communication that takes place is remarkable.

You can learn how to bottom fish by consulting bait shop owners or you can go out on a charter or party boat.  Most all of the charter boats that belong to the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association (www.rifishing.com ) are more than willing to take families fishing and teach them how to fish the bottom.

Bottom fishing seminar October 29

Next week you can take advantage of a bottom fishing seminar being offered by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA).  The seminar will include panel- like presentations from three top local anglers… Larry Norin, Rick Sustello and Tom Wood.  The seminar will be held Monday, October 29, 7:00 p.m. at the West Valley Inn, 4 Blossom Street, West Warwick, RI.  Non-members are requested to make a $10 donation to the RISAA Marine Fisheries College Scholarship Fund.  The West Valley Inn offers two different dinner entre options from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for $6.95.

BOEM holds stakeholder workshops on windmills for recreational and commercial fishers

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold a workshop on windmills and their impact on fishing and will seek input for recreational and commercial fishermen on Friday November 16, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the URI Bay Campus, 215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI in the Coastal Hazard Room in the Coastal Institute Building.

This input meeting and others being held on the east coast will address future potential conflicts between fishing and wind projects within the Ocean Continental Shelf (OCS). BOEM is seeking input from commercial and recreational fishing industries, as well as fisheries management agencies and scientists, relative to proposed offshore wind energy development.

Invitations have been been sent to stakeholders, for information contact Elizabeth Castle at ecastle@ene.com .

DEM stocks ponds and rivers with rainbow trout for fall fishing

The Department of Environmental Management's (DEM) Division of Fish and Wildlife has stocked approximately 6,000 rainbow trout in several locations throughout the state this month for the fall freshwater fishing season.

DEM Fish & Wildlife staff finished stocking the hatchery-raised rainbow trout this week in Silver Spring Pond in North Kingstown, Beaver River in Richmond, Wyoming Pond in Richmond and Hopkinton, Wood River in Exeter, Hopkinton and Richmond, Upper Pawtuxet River in Coventry, Blackstone River in Cumberland and Lincoln, Round Top Ponds in Burrillville, and Stafford Pond in Tiverton.  Earlier this month, trout were stocked in Meadowbrook Pond in Richmond, Carbuncle Pond in Coventry, Spring Grove Pond in Gloucester, and Olney Pond in Lincoln Woods.

A 2012 freshwater fishing license and trout conservation stamp is required for anglers 15 years of age and older.  Visit your town/city hall, authorized agents such as bait/tackle shops and Benny's to get a license and stamp.  You can also visit DEM in Providence or purchase on line via www.ri.gov  by clicking on “Hunting, Fishing, Boating Licenses” on the left side of the homepage on the DEM website at www.dem.ri.gov .

Tautog regulation change

As of October 20 (and until December 31) the tautog bag limit has been enhanced for recreational anglers from 3 fish/day to 6 fish/day.  Minimum size is still 16 inches.  In addition, there is a 10 fish boat maximum per day.  The 10 fish per boat maximum does not apply to charter or party boats.

Where’s the bite

Tautog. Craig Castro of Erickson’s Bait & Tackle said, “Customers have been doing good at Washington’s Ledge off shore in the Newport-Jamestown areas weather permitting.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait in East Providence said that customers are catching tautog at Conimicut Light with a lot of shorts (15 to 1 ratio).” Tautog to 23” have been landed at India Point Park said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence.  Last week I caught a 23” fish at General Rock and two other keepers with a ratio of 8 shorts for every one keeper with about 10 small black sea bass.  Tautog are also being caught at Point Judith Light in 25 to 45 feet of water said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown.

Striped bass.  Matt Conti from Snug Harbor said, “It is either lock and load or no bite at all in the Southwest Ledge area of Block Island.”  John Littlefield from Archie’s Bait said “Customers are taking school bass with plugs in the upper Bay at the mouth of the Rivers.” Kevin and Albert Bettencourt caught eleven bass in the 15 to 20 lbs. ranged drifting eels in the Warren River down to the Blount Seafood area said John Littlefield.  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle said, “Striped bass and bluefish are being caught on pogies and eels in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers and the Cape Cod Canal has been offering up bass as large as 50 lbs.  Customers Francesco DiGiovanni and Cecine Curi have taken bass on…eels… plugs… top water poppers, divers and Sebile Swim baits.”

Fresh water fishing this fall has been slow.  With improved weather and recent pond and river stocking with rainbow trout by DEM things are expected to pick up.

Offshore fishing has been slow due to bad weather last week.

Proposed panel format designed to enhance fishermen input

Captain John Sheriff with the 43 pound bass he caught on the Southwest Ledge of Block Island fishing at night with eels.

Suzanne Sustello with a nice black sea bass she caught off the center wall at the Harbor of Refuge when fishing with her husband Rick last week.

Bob Brodeur with the 24” fluke that Larry Ruddy caught on his boat Popcorn2 when fishing under the Newport Bridge last Thursday.

Angler Ed Mardo with two of the doormat fluke he caught this weekend when fishing the south side of Block Island.

Proposed panel format designed to enhance input

In a move to enhance fishermen participation the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (RIMFC) is exploring full-day meetings to consider annual amendments to species-specific management plans. These annual amendments traditionally address such things as catch limits, season length, size limits, etc. for both commercial and recreational fishing. Historically, Advisory Panel meetings have been held on separate nights i.e. striped bass, fluke (summer flounder), tautog.  With the single night approach fishermen have to attend several evening or afternoon meetings to provide regulation input on the variety of species they fish.

Robert Ballou, acting chief of the Division of Fish & Wildlife of the Department of Environment Management (DEM) and chairman of the RIMFC, introduced the proposal at July’s RIMFC meeting. “Now I would like to continue the discussion regarding streamlining the Advisory Panel process.”  Consolidating the meetings was recommended by Councilman Rick Bellavance of North Kingstown (a charter boat operator and captain).  Captain Bellavance said, “Holding meetings together on one or two days or evenings will enhance participation from fishermen who cannot make multiple meetings and allow greater council participant at a variety of species meetings.” Bellavance continued to say that fishermen have too many meetings to go to.  Consequently they often have to miss meetings to fish or prepare their vessels for fishing

The draft proposal calls for a full-day (and/or night) meeting in September and a meeting in February that will likely be one and a half or two days.  The fall meeting would address commercial summer flounder, scup, black sea bass as well as herring.  The winter meeting could address commercial tautog, striped bass, menhaden, bluefish and weakfish; federally managed species such as monkfish, dogfish, skates, cod, winter flounder; lobster;  and recreational summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, tautog, striped bass and winter flounder.

Advisory panels and committees that would remain in effect, meeting throughout the year as needed, would include the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC), enforcement, floating fish trap and shellfish possibly both wild harvest regulations as well as aquaculture lease proposals.

The proposal received wide support at the meeting.  DEM and the RIMFC hope to enact the new meeting structure this year keeping advisory panel and committee membership as it presently exists.

Fluke exemption certificate

The summer flounder (fluke) exemption certificate program was also discussed at the RIMFC meetng.  The Council voted to not eliminate the certificate and then asked DEM to develop an alternative proposal that addressed key fishermen concerns if the certificate was eliminated  i.e. too much pressure on inshore fish in the summer, possible early season closures due to overfishing but yet address the inequality of the present certificate program.

 The fluke advisory panel had voted unanimously (8 to 0) to “recommend not eliminating or modifying the summer flounder exemption certificate program.”  The program allowed vessels to apply for a “RI Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate” prior to 1/1/97.  173 permits were issued with approximately 148 (56 are non-resident permits) active today.  The permits allow fishermen “to possess, land, sell” more than two hundred (200) pounds of summer flounder in any calendar day in Rhode Island as catch limits permit. 

The Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance sponsored a proposal to eliminate the permit relating that the proposal was about creating equity amongst Rhode Island fishermen. However, some at the summer flounder advisory panel meeting and the following RIMFC meeting voiced opposition to eliminating the certificate program relating the “too much inshore pressure” and “overfishing” arguments.  Those voicing opposition to eliminating the certificate included the Rhode Island Commercial Rod and Reel Association as well and the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA).

Where’s the bite

Striped bass fishing has been good at Block Island at night.  Captain John Sheriff reports landing bass to 43 pounds on the Southwest Ledge Friday night.  Captain Sheriff said, “We caught a 34, 25 and a few 20 pound class fish as well…Bass caught with live eels with no weight in 45 feet of water.” Steve McKenna, a noted local shore angler and fishing author said the shore bass bite has slowed a great deal off Narragansett and other areas he fishes.  Steve said, “I caught over one hundred fish in April but since May I have caught about seventy fish… I have been shore bass fishing for 39 years and places where I would catch five and seven fish a night are now yielding two to no fish.” Angler Dave Morton reports that Saturday night, “…we decided to hit the car docks at Quonset where we came across schools of stripers chasing squid and small bunker type bait, by the end of the night my friend’s brother landed his first Rhode Island striper at 25 inches! In total the three of us landed 30 stripers from 12 to 28 inches all stuffed with squid.” John Littlefield from Archie’s Bait & Tackle, East Providence said, “The striped bass bite has slowed a great deal in the upper Bay and River.”

Squeteague (weakfish or saltwater trout as they are often referred to) are being caught in Narragansett Bay in larger numbers.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, East Providence, said, “Two days in a row customers have reported catching squeteague.  One caught four off Warwick Light when fluke fishing and a second caught two off Barrington Beach.”  Ed Bison caught a 25” weakfish in 60’ of water when fluke fishing Saturday. The legal size for squeteague is 16” with a possession limit of one fish per angler per day with no closed season.

Fluke (or summer flounder) fishing slowed a bit this week with anglers working harder for the keeper fish. Craig Castro of Erickson Brothers Bait & Tackle, Warwick, said, “Customers fishing in the RISAA fluke tournament experienced a very slow bite catching one and two fish this weekend.”  I fished this week off Newport and caught three fluke in the 21” range in a two hour period.  Thursday, Larry Ruddy caught a nice 24” fluke under the Newport Bridge when fishing on Bob Brodeau’s boat Popcorn2.  Angler Dave Sweet fished at Austin Hollow Saturday and caught three keepers in the afternoon with a slow bite most of the day. Anglers fishing the mouth of the Sakonnet River also experience a slower fluke bite this week.  Angler Steve McGonagle said there was a “Slow pick of nice sized fluke along with big BSB and even a couple of fat tautog on the outgoing, at the mouth of the Sakonnet River in 70-75 feet of water. Point Judith head boats were there along with 30 or so other boats. Not nonstop action but you could work for a nice pick of fish.”  Angler Rick Sustello who fished at the three mile limit off Point Judith Saturday said, “We had non-stop action with fluke and BSB for over two hours before it slowed down. We had over a dozen keeper size fluke, but kept only 6 fluke… we also caught about the same number of BSB with the largest at 4...”

Scup fishing remains good all over Narragansett Bay with fish as large 18” being caught.  Hot spots include Colt State Park, Ohio Ledge, the Rocky Point area and wharfs in Warren and Barrington.