Fishing is good, so it’s your choice

 Michael Mercer of Riverside with tautog he caught along the Providence River.  Mike said, “The jigs are out producing the hook and sinker rig ten to one.”

 Tautog bite strong:  The tautog bite remains strong in the Bay and along the coastal shore. Derek Kolodziejczak with a tautog caught this week near the Jamestown Bridge.

Fishing is good, so it’s your choice

By week’s end things warmed up and brought on the fish.  The tautog bite was great and we saw an uptick in the school striped bass bite with more keeper size fish in the slot limit of 28” to <35 being="" caught.="" p="">

And, for the very first time we heard reports of summer flounder (fluke) in the area. Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina said, “Commercial boats have started to catch some nice summer flounder (fluke) southwest of Block Island.” Thursday, Capt. Rick Bellavance of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association said, “As of this morning charter boats have found it hard to hook up with fluke south of Block Island.” The hope is that the warm weather will bring in the fluke this week and next.

Anlger Mike Mercer of Riverside said, “The tautog fishing has been tremendous for the past couple of weeks, and gets better every day. The Tog are moving up the bay to spawn, and as they do, I have been following them. Togging up in the Providence River has been red hot. Small crabs on the lightest jig seem to be the ticket. The jigs are out producing the hook and sinker rig ten to one.”

Snug Harbor Marina used tackle sale

Visit www.facebook.com/pg/snug.marina for Saturday’s video from Elisa Cahill.  The Snug Harbor Marina annual used tackle sale will take place on June 6 and 7.  They are now taking tackle for the sale.  Anglers can either get a 100 percent credit toward store purchases from the tackle they sell at the sale, or they can take the cash with Snub Harbor receiving a 20 percent commission. Keep checking the Snug Harbor website or Facebook page for sale details. Some of the items available at the sale are often listed.

Keep the haddock and leave overfished cod

In Massachusetts there is a record high haddock population and a record low population of Atlantic cod.  In fact recreational cod fishing north of Cape Cod is not allowed in MA except for one week in September.  However, south of the Cape including RI, there is a 10 fish/person/day limit in place, 21” minimum size.

So no problem when fishing North Cape Cod, just fish for haddock and back off the cod.  But it’s not that easy as both haddock and cod prefer similar habitat and are commonly caught together. The discarded cod that is caught (or bycatch) from haddock anglers is a leading source of mortality for the cod stock.  So the challenge is how do you fish haddock while leaving the cod alone.

State’s solution to haddock fishing

In response to the challenge the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) developed a bycatch avoidance tool and using cod and haddock density data from trawl surveys. You can view the guide with fishing maps and a downloadable fishing app at www.mass.gov/doc/haddock-recreational-fishing-guide.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater. “Heavy –medium sized shiners are the bait of choice for anglers targeting bass.  However, not many anglers are targeting trout.  Most are focusing on largemouth bass as well as saltwater fishing.” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle Riverside, said, “The wind this weekend was creating whitecaps even on ponds and lakes.  Some anglers have been targeting small ponds where they can get out of the wind.  Anglers are catching carp in the four to five pound ranger at Slater Park Pond in Pawtucket.”

Striped bass.  Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina said, “At one point surfcasters fishing the beach near the Ocean Mist Restaurant, South Kingstown said the water was bubbling with school striped bass.  More bass than they ever have seen in one place before.”  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle said, “Striped bass are spotty but all over the Bay with the bite in the East Passage being best.  Keeper fish have been caught all the way up to Providence and East Providence in the Rivers.” Jeff Miller of Canal Bait & Tackle, Sagamore said, “The school bass bite with 29” and 30” keepers mixed in is pretty strong in the Cape Cod Canal now.  Soft plastics are working well.” East End Eddie Doherty of Mattapoisett said this week, “I’ve only been out to the Ditch (Cape Cod Canal) a few times, but caught a 24 inch striper on a white Hurley Canal Killer at first light. I put him back after telling him that I was looking for his grandfather!”

Tautog. Keeper fish (16” or larger) are being caught all over the Bay and along the coast in the 18” and 19” range.  At press time, not many large fish have been taken.  Anlger Derek Kolodziejczak of Johnston said, “Fished some rock piles Friday north and south of Jamestown Bridge from 12 to 20 feet with green crabs and did well.  Fished later in the weekend from shore in Providence and did well too. The spring season has not a disappointment.”  Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor said “The bite is on all along the coast, customers are doing well with tautog.”  Henault from Ocean State said, “Tautog fishing is very, very good. Green crabs and jigs are working well.”  “Bold Point and the dock at the new orthopedic building off the Veterans Memorial Parkway, East Providence is producing.”

Tautog, striper and largemouth bite explode

Congressmen Keating (center) opens door:  Congressmen Bill Keating (center) greets Joe Gugino of Boston and Ed Doherty of Mattapoisett (formerly Attleboro) in Washington, DC to talk about keeping fish conservation strong in our national fishing laws.

Tautog, striper and largemouth bite explode

This week tautog fishing turned on with many anglers catching their limit (16” minimum, three fish/person/day) with fish in the twenty inch range being caught regularly. Cape Cod Canal angler (and Attleboro native) East End Eddie Doherty said, “I caught a 25” striper at the West End at 5:15 a.m. on a five ounce Bill Hurley tan swim bait just as the current turned east and the tide started to rise.” Bruce Miller of Canal Bait & Tackle, Sagamore said, “All the action is on the west and south end of the Canal with hold over school bass up to 26”.  We have some scup and tautog in the area too.”

The spring striped bass fishing in Rhode Island has been good too. The East Passage Bay bite is stronger and the fish are larger than West Passage fish.  Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick said, “I caught fish in the mid-20 inch range from the shore at Rocky Point, Conimicut and the Pawtuxet area.  I almost measured one of them but planned to release it anyway.”

The bite in Greenwich Cove and Chepiwanoxet Point was good this week.  I caught the smallest school striped bass I have ever caught at the Godard Park Boat ramp Sunday morning in the rain, however, the fish were larger there, averaging 18” and larger last week and early this week. 

If you plan to fish for striped bass now is the time to start.  I have two bits of advice that have helped me over the years to catch striped bass.  First, you can’t catch fish where there are no fish.  So you have to put yourself in places where the fish are feeding.  And second, you need to be ready with a number of strategies.  Some days they are biting on soft plastic lures, other times shinny sliver lures like Kastmaster work well and as the season progresses live or chunks of Atlantic menhaden, other days trolling umbrella rigs or tube and worm works best.

To put yourself where the fish are, read fishing reports/blogs and talk to friends and bait & tackle shop owners to develop a fishing plan.  Based on the research you’ve done, select five or six places to find the fish.  Now that you have your fishing plan, be ready with a number of fishing strategies to land that striped bass. 

Fly Rodders Fishing Get-Together

The Rhody Fly Rodders will meet to fish at Colt State Park, Bristol on Saturday, May 11, any time after the high tide at 2:00 p.m. to fish the out-going tide.  For information contact Peter Nilsen, president, at pdfish@fullchannel.net.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater fishing has been good, but like the saltwater, bad weather has deterred many anglers from fishing. The trout bite in ponds and lakes that have been stocked remains strong.  The freshwater largemouth bite has been very good too this week.  Matt McNair of the Northeast Trading Company, North Attleboro said, “The trout bite at Falls Pond (North Attleboro) has been very good.  And, for largemouth the Norton Reservoir has been hot.  Our young customers seem to be out fishing the adults for largemouth.” Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick, RI said, “We are at the being of the pre-spawn bite and largemouth bass are feeding.  Last week things exploded in smaller ponds like Warwick Pond and in larger waterways like Stump Pond and Lake Tioque, Coventry the bite was very good too.” Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly, said, “The water around here is still a bit cold for largemouth, however, Carbuncle Pond and Warden’s Pond has been very good for trout fishing… particularly golden, some anglers are catching three to four an outing.”  Visit www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-fisheries-and-wildlife for a list of stocked trout ponds and regulations in Massachusetts.  And, for stocked ponds and regulations in Rhode Island visit www.dem.ri.gov .

Striped bass fishing has been very good and getting better every day.  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Fish in the 25” range have been caught in the Providence River but there is no indication that these are migrating fish. Squid fishing has been hit or miss but overall petty good at Goat Island, Newport as well as Ft. Wetherill and Getty, Jamestown.  We have also had pogies in the East Passage around Ohio Ledge with birds feeding but no indication that bass are under them.”  “Fish have been in the 18’ to 24” range in the East Passage.” said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box.  Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters said, “A volume of school bass have been caught from the Pawcatuck/Westerly Bridge all the way down to the Bay with the best bite in the Cemetery area. Some keepers have been taken too, but don’t think they have been migrating fish.” Gil Bell, shore fishing expert said, “Maceral has been caught from the beaches and boats this week from Narraganset to Charlestown and there is Bunker now in the Pawcatuck River, Westerly.  I am casting big lures for large striped bass now trying not to catch school bass.”

Tautog fishing has been very good. Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters said, “The Connecticut season ended and in Rhode Island not many have been fishing for tautog but the bite is very good in about 20 feet of water on reefs off Watch Hill.”  John Littlefield from Archie’s Bait & Tackle said, “Customers are catching fish at the Stone Bridge, Tiverton and off the Barrington bike path bridge.  Conimicut Light has been good for customers too.”  Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box said, “I weighed in three fish for RISAA anglers this weekend in the 22” to 23” range.  The bite at Rocky Point has been good with anglers catching keepers.

Tautog season heating up… here are some tips

 

 

Tautog season heats up:  Captain Dave Monti with one of the tautog (21”) caught while fishing the General Rock, North Kingstown area this weekend.

Black sea bass bite still strong: Quinn (Squid) Antonacci of West Greenwich with the 22” black sea bass he caught on his grandfather Ken Robinson’s boat in the Brenton Tower area in 75 feet of water.

Wakefield resident lands Mako: John Stavrakas (in photo) with the 221 lbs Mako shark he landed last week with his neighbor John Ott on board.

 

Bluefish bite here:  Bill Houle, Jr. of Warwick and his father found the bluefish this weekend off the Prudence Island T Wharf.

 

Tautog season heating up… here are some tips

Anglers are catching great keeper tautog in the Bay and off coastal shores.  The fish are biting Asian and green crabs. The fall tautog season is here.  Go out and fish. Don’t forget to explore and discover your own spots.  Tautog are generally anywhere there is structure… rock clusters, jetties, docks, wrecks, humps, etc. 

 

Tautog regulations.  In Rhode Island tautog have to be sixteen inches or more. The catch limit for recreational anglers from August 1 to October 14  is three fish/person/day. The limit jumps to six fish/person/day on October 15 through December 15. However, there is a ten fish per boat limit during all periods. The boat limit does not apply to charter and party boats.

Boat placement is important.  Use electronics to find structure, estimate wind/drift direction and anchor up current from where you want to fish and drift back to the spot as the anchor is setting. Once in position, fish all sides of the boat casting a bit to cover as much area as you can. If still no bites, let some anchor line out a couple of times to change your position, if still no bites it is time to move the vessel. 

 

The bite.  Feel the bite… tap, tap and then get ready for a tug of war. Captain George Cioe said, “I believe with the first tap the tautog is positioning the bait for consumption.” So at the second tap I raise the rod up firmly feeling for the weight of the fish (no need to jerk the rod up hard). Once the fish is hooked, keep the rod up and pressure on so the fish is not able to run for cover.

 

Where to fish, what type of bottom? From shore, look for rocky coastline like Beavertail Point on Jamestown, locations off Newport, Point Judith and off jetties at South County beaches. From a boat, I have had good luck at Plum Point light, rock piles off Narragansett, the jetty at Coddington Cove in Middletown, General Rock in North Kingstown (we found a great tautog bite at General Rock the past two weekends with fish to 21 inches), Hope Island, around Brenton Reef in Newport, Whale Rock, Ohio Ledge in the East Passage, Nebraska Shoals off South Kingstown.

 

Bait and chumming. Asian and green crabs (with legs taken off and cut in half) are baits of choice. Chumming for tautog will enhance your catch dramatically. Kevin Bettencourt from the East Bay Anglers said, “Chumming is a critical part of tautog fishing. If you want to land numerous tautog you must establish an effective chum line. This can be accomplished with grass shrimp or crushed Asian or green crabs. Don't be afraid to feed them! If you don't, they won't stick around long!”

John Stavrakas of Wakefield, RI lands 221 lbs. Mako shark
John Stavrakas and his Wakefield, RI neighbor John Ott caught a 221 lbs. Mako shark  last week.    John said, “We set up a chum slick for shark on the warm side of a temperature break at the Suffolk (Wreck) and drifted across the break… We caught two nice blue sharks when Mr. Mako showed up… We didn't realize it was a Mako at first - we thought it was another blue… then he took off. I thought I was going to get spooled… We decided to chase this fish… (after a good fight) we put a flying gaff in him and the harpoon. Dragged his tail through the tuna door and tied him down.”

StriperFest 2012 in Falmouth, MA this weekend

On Saturday, September 29^th at 1:00 p.m., anglers will gather to celebrate another successful striped bass season at On The Water Magazine and TV’s StriperFest.  The event will be held at Falmouth Marina Park and include live music by the Deepwater Blues Band, Budweiser beer, tasty Black Dog fare and games and attractions for the whole family.  The event celebrates the end of the 2012 Striper Cup, a five-month long fishing tournament that attracted thousands of anglers from New Jersey to Maine to compete for over $150,000 prizes.  Bonus Day, Friday, September 28^th, noon to 5:00 p.m. with ongoing seminars and demonstrations.  Visit www.OnTheWater.com .

 

DEM offers saltwater surf-casting and fly-fishing workshops, programs… even a safari

DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education program is offering introduction workshops to saltwater surf-fishing and fly-fishing, a fly-fishing trip via train around Aquidneck Island, and fly-tying workshops.  Contact Kimberly Sullivan at 401.539.7333 or kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov for information.

“Surf Fishing: The Basics, an introductory course was held Wednesday, September 26.

“Introduction to Saltwater Fly-Fishing” Saturday, September 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Kettle Pond Visitors Center, Charlestown.  Learn about fly-tying, casting techniques, and knot-tying. $35 per-person.

“Fly-Fishing Express,” a fly-fishing safari around Aquidneck Island on the Old Colony Train Saturday, October 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop at remote public access fishing areas.  Learn about the best flies to use and fly- fishing tactics. For advanced beginner, intermediate and advanced fly-fishing anglers. Bring chest waders, other equipment provided, $35 per-person.

“Fall Fly-Tying 2012” sessions held on six Mondays beginning October 22 to December 17 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the North Kingstown Community Center. Learn beginner and intermediate fly-tying techniques for fresh and saltwater fishing. $5 for each class or $25 for all six sessions.

Where’s the bit

Tautog fishing improving. Angler Ken Robinson said, “We double anchored on the (Brenton) Tower hump … all tolled we caught about six tautog, three BSB and a half dozen scup… Oh and of course the striped bass.” Ken’s fishing partner Paul landed a 42 lbs striped bass that hit a crab while tautog fishing.  Max DiStoto caught a 6 lbs. tautog in the Nebraska Shoals area said Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, East Providence said, “Customers are catching small tautog at Conimicut Light, no large ones yet.” 

Striped bass.  Bob Masse limited out on striped bass at Block Island while fishing with friends Saturday.  Angler Mike Swain of Coventry said, “We fished the Bay for stripers Friday night and did not have any luck.”  Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marine, South Kingstown said, “The bass bite slowed this weekend at the Southwest Ledge off Block Island…  the fish are there, the divers are getting them… there is just so much food around that you have to be fishing when they’re feeding.”  Albert and Kevin Bettencourt of East Providence are catching midsized bass at night during tide changes drifting eels.”, said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait. 

Offshore.  Barry Bordner of South Kingstown landed a 300 lbs. bluefin tuna this weekend at the BD Buoy south/southeast of Nantucket said Al Conti of Snug Harbor.  Reports of one giant hook-up at the Mud Hole this weekend.

Green bonito and false albacore fishing is excellent all along the RI coast from Westerly to Newport.  “Albies (False Albacore) and Green Bonito are all over the place… (anglers) all along the coast are having a blast with them.” said Al Conti of Snug Harbor.

Bluefish. “The past couple of days the schools (of bluefish) have been circling the waters just southwest of the "T" wharf (Prudence Island). No frenzies yet but they have been consistently hitting bright plugs and ignoring natural colors.” said angler Bill Houle, Jr. of Warwick.

Atlantic menhaden.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle said, “There are a million pogies in the Providence River… both small and large ones… a customer said you could have walked across them this weekend, but no fish chasing them.” 

Scup.  Scup bite strong a the East Fishing grounds, Brenton Tower area and in the Bay.  Max DiStoto caught a 3½ lbs. scup this weekend at Nebraska Shoals.