Wild Rhody offers fresh fish

Jay Conway (right) and daughter Jennifer Conway (left) with the seven pound fluke she caught on the south side of the Newport Bridge while fishing in 75 feet of water. She was using a conventional squid rig tipped with fresh squid, fluke belly and a freshwater minnow.

Ian O’Hara (left, 14 years old) and brother Carlin (right, eleven years old) both from Cranston each caught a 150 pound Mako shark while fishing off Block Island last month.

Wild Rhody offers fresh fish

Who knew? Who knew that someday even the fish you eat would have an ID number… a bar code? Well the fish you buy at a specialty market or eat at a fine dining establishment just may have an ID number if it is part of the fresh fish “Trace and Trust” initiative. This number will tell you when, where and on what boat that fish was caught. There is even a Facebook link you access with your smart phone from your restaurant dining table that tells you a little bit about the fish, how it was caught and the captain and crew that caught the fish.
Rhode Island fresh fish is now available at select restaurants and markets, often times just hours after it was caught. Chris Brown, Steve Arnold and Bob Westcott (all Rhode Island commercial fishermen) started a business called Wild Rhody that delivers fish fresh to restaurants and markets directly from their boats. The fishermen have garnered quite a bit of publicity lately with feature articles in the New York Times, the Providence Journal and a host of others. They also received Rhode Island Monthly magazine’s “Best Local Food Initiative” award for 2011. Their purpose as related on their web site is “… to ensure their customers know exactly who caught their seafood, as well as when, where, and how it got caught. The customers love and trust the seafood - and the stories about the fishermen who provide it to them.”
Wild Rhody communicates with chefs at fine dining establishments (often while they are out fishing) to find out what they have in mind to cook for dinner and then they catch and supply that fish to the restaurant. Conversely, Wild Rhody partners take the initiative and call restaurants letting them know what they are catching so chefs can plan accordingly. What’s the end result? Fishermen get more for their catch as it is sold direct, restaurants get more for their entre too (as the fish is guaranteed fresh), chefs get to cook and serve fish fresher than ever before and most important the customer gets a fresh local fish (guaranteed by its identify code) expertly prepared by their favorite restaurant. Everyone wins.
As an avid recreational fisherman, I find a lot of comfort knowing that I can now get fresh fish when dining out through Trace and Trust. Find out what restaurants and specially markets are working with Rhody Fresh by visiting their web site at www.traceandtrust.com .
RISAA meeting August 29… striped bass fishing with jigs and maritime law
Jigging for striped bass and more will be Capt. Jack Sprengel’s topic Monday, August 29, 7:00 p.m. at the monthly RISAA meeting, West Valley Inn, 4 Blossom Street, West Warwick, RI. John Fulweiler, Esq. will also speak on maritime law for recreational boaters. RISAA members free, $10 donation for non-members. Optional dinner from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at reasonably prices served by the West Valley Inn.
Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council meets with new members
The Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (RIMFC) met last week with five new members and I am honored to say that I am one of them. The Council consists of eight members, three for the commercial fishing community, three from the recreational fishing and two from the scientific community. Council members were appointed by Governor Lincoln Chaffee and confirmed by the State Senate last month. The purpose of the Council is to advise Janet Coit, director of the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), on regulation as it relates to both commercial and recreational fishing in Rhode Island.
The Council is chaired by Robert Ballou, acting director of DEM’s Marine Fisheries Division. The three council members who have served before are Richard Hittinger (RISAA vice president, who was elected vice chair at the meeting), Richard Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association, and Dr. Christopher Anderson form the University of Rhode Island. New council members are Kenneth Booth, president of the Commercial Rod and Reel Fisherman’s Association; Will Mackintosh, III, commercial fisherman; J. Christopher Powell from Roger Williams University; Jeff Gant, president of the Rhode Island Shell Fisherman’s Association; and David Monti, charter boat captain and fishing columnist.
Last week’s meeting primarily served as an orientation meeting for new members and an organizational meeting for the Council. Meeting schedules, agendas and meeting minutes are all a matter of public record and can be found on the DEM Marine Fisheries’ web site at www.dem.ri.gov .
Summer flounder limits likely to increase again next summer
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which regulates summer flounder, recommended increasing the 2012 harvest by 1.6 million pounds to 35.55 million pounds, at a meeting last week. The proposed harvest for 2012 is a 125 percent increase over the lowest year, the 2008 quota of 15.77 million pounds. The recommendation, still has to be approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service and then Rhode Island will establish its recreational and commercial regulations based on the approved quota.
Where’s the bite
Striped bass fishing remains strong at the North Rip and southwest side of Block Island. Fishing in front of Newport, along coastal shores and in Narragansett Bay for striped bass has been very slow. Richard Beretta reports a slow bite off Newport when fishing with his family Sunday, “We had one bit using eels and that was it.” However, a good amount of bait has been reported off Jamestown, Newport and in the Bay (even the upper Bay) so this is a good sign for the fall bass run. Will have to wait and see.
Fluke fishing was mixed this past week. John Owens on the RISAA blog reports catching twenty shorts and five keepers under the Newport Bridge last Saturday. Jennifer Conway of North Kingstown caught a 25 inch fluke at seven pounds (her first fluke trip) Sunday while fishing with her father Jay Conway on No Fluke Charters. Fluke fishing at the mouth of the Sakonnet River, Elbow Ledge and off Point Judith has been slow this week with mixed results… a lot of shorts. However, fluke fishing activity has picked up a bit along southern coastal shores from Watch Hill to Point Judith. Captain Rich Hittinger reported a good fluke bite with sea bass mixed in off Charlestown last week. Captain Hittinger said, “This is an improvement from what it has been there.” Reports of squid moving back into the area.
Bluefish bite off Block Island is good with fish on the surface this past Sunday at the Southwest Ledge. Blues were on the surface a Sakonnet Point Sunday as well. Not many bluefish reports in Narragansett Bay. Jim Malachowski of Cranston (with his nephew on board) said, “We had a difficult time finding bluefish Sunday in the West Passage in the Hope Island, Jamestown and Quonset Point area”. However, just as with striped bass, the reports of a lot of bait in the Bay and along coastal shores is a good sign for fall blue fishing too. Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said his customers were catching bluefish around Halfway Rock and Gould Island trolling with striped bass mixed in.

Big fish set pace for fall fishing season

Chris Catucci of Warwick, RI with the five pound freshwater bass he caught in New Hampshire last week.

Steve Smith (left) and his daughter Rayell of Waterbury, CT with two of the twelve fluke (summer flounder) they caught at the Newport Bridge while fishing No Fluke Charters.

The crew of the charter boat Hot Reels lays the massive 534 pound swordfish on top of the “Coffin Box” with the bill and tail hanging out either end. They normally fit two large sized tuna in this fish box.

Captain Louis DeFusco with the 434-pound record swordfish he caught while fishing on his character boat Hot Reels. The fish, which beat the old Rhode Island record by 120 pounds, took three and a half hours to land.

Big fish set pace for fall fishing season

“The first midsized giant bluefin of the season was caught last Saturday weighing 263 pounds.” said Elisa Jackman of Snug Harbor Marina in South Kingstown. The bluefin was caught at the Mud Hole by Frank Busher of Portsmouth, RI aboard the vessel Bushwhacker. It is hoped that this is the first fish of many for the season.
Jackman continued to say, “The record breaking 434 pound broadbill swordfish caught last Thursday by Captain Louis DeFusco of West Warwick, RI fought for three and half hours.” The swordfish was caught at the Hydrographer Canyon aboard his charter boat Hot Reels which is out of Point Judith, RI. It broke the Rhode Island record by 120 pounds which was held by Web Goodwin of Warwick who caught a 314 pound swordfish in 1964.
Here is Captain Lois DeFusco’s account of the final minutes of the fight (visit www.hot-reels.com for the full account.) Captain DeFusco said, “…Christian readied the harpoon and basket and brought it over to Lou. The fish came up to the surface and made a move towards the stern, I cut the wheel hard into the direction of the fish’s spin giving Lou a wide open shot with the harpoon. He took the harpoon in one hand with the rod still in the other and nailed the fish Spartan style while I simultaneously sunk a flying gaff near its tail, it wasofficially lights out.”
NOAA using new methodology to analysis catch estimates
The Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) is evaluating new catch estimates calculated using an improved, peer-reviewed methodology developed in consultation with a team of NOAA and external experts. In a press release last week NOAA said the new estimation method - which will produce revised estimates of catch dating back to 2004 - will yield more accurate estimates by eliminating numerous sources of potential bias. NOAA related that potential bias will be eliminated in three ways. First, “By aligning the statistical formulas we use to calculate catch estimates with the way in which we have collected catch data in the field; second, by appropriately weighting data to account for sampler discretion in surveying alternate sites; and third, by dropping alternate mode data chosen at samplers' discretion, which cannot be properly weighted.”
NOAA scientists are carefully evaluating the new preliminary estimates to provide an in-depth analysis of the numbers and gain a better understanding of their implications.

ASMFC accepts Regional Tautog Plan submitted by RI and MA
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Tautog Management Board accepted a Massachusetts and Rhode Island plan that may mean we will not need to take a reduction in tautog for the 2012 season.
Most states will face a 53 percent reduction in fishing mortality rate. Rick Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party and Charter Boat Association (and an ASMFC legislative proxy) said, “The mandatory reporting conducted by the charter industry in Rhode Island last year helped to improve the accuracy of the data that was used in the plan. This data helped lead the Technical Committee to accept the MA/RI plan.”
Bluefish recipe
Brian Woodward an avid Rhode Island angle and active Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association member shared the follow bluefish recipe. Brain said, “I take the fillets and trim off the dark meat. I coat them generously with Emeril’s Bayou Blast Seasoning (no brining). I smoke them for two hours keeping watch not to dry them too much. They are awesome for breakfast with scrambled eggs, or with a glass of wine in the evening.”

Pawtuxet Falls dam removal begins
Removal of the Pawtuxet Falls dam is underway. The contractor, SumCo, is preparing the staging areas. The project received preliminary approval last week from RIDEM regarding water control plans. This will be the largest dam removal project in the state's history. The $600,000 project is a collaboration between state and federal agencies and non-profit organizations like the Pawtuxet River Authority and Watershed Council.
The dam removal is intended to give fish species, such as American shad and river herring, better access to their historical spawning areas. Demolishing the dam is also expected to reduce flood risks by lowering water levels in areas immediately upstream. The initiative is supported by RISAA.
How do you tell the difference between a male and female tautog
A lot of discussion occurred this week on the RISAA blog about how to tell the difference between a male and female tautog. Steve Medeiros, president of RISAA said, “Males get darker as they get older, plus they get a more pronounced forehead and the area under the mouth to the gills becomes white. They are called "white chinners. Females don't have the pronounced forehead or the white chin. Their coloring isn't as dark, but that's not always the case since a lot of fish will have variable coloring often matching their surroundings.”
Where’s the bite
Freshwater fishing has been slow. Chris Catucci of Warwick said, “I fished Waterman's Lake in Gloucester Saturday and only caught three bass all of them in the 13 to 14 inch range on fluke type baits.”
Striped bass. Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina reports a good striped bass bite around Block Island with good sized fish being taken at the north rip and the southeast and southwest sides of the Island. During the day fish taking diamond jigs on wire and at night eels are the bait of choice. Striped bass fishing in the Bay is actually improving. Mike Swain of Coventry said he and fishing partner Darrell Hatten were fluke fishing at Conimicut Point and cauth a 33 inch striped bass while fluke fishing. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle of East Providence said, “Customers continue to catch bass using worms at Sabin Point, I’ll bet 30 to 40 fish were caught in the past three or four days.” Both Mike Swain and John Littlefield said schools of menhaden have appeared in the upper Bay this past week. This is a good sign for fall fishing.
Fluke fishing remains good off Newport, Point Judith and in the lower part of Narragansett Bay around the Newport Bridge. Steve Proctor and associate at John’s Bait & Tackle in North Kingstown said, “Customers are catching fluke in the Bay with an outstanding scup bite in the lower Bay too.” However, fluke fishing along the coastal shores from Watch Hill to Galilee is slow with “A lot of shorts begin caught.” said Al Conti of Sung Harbor Marina. Shorts being caught by shore anglers too. Chris Catucci of Warwick said, “Fluke have been tough to catch at Fort Wetherill and the ones you catch are shorts.”
Scup bite excellent at the bridges and in from shore at Colt State Park in Bristol said John Littlefield.
Tuna fishing at Cox’s Ledge and beyond is still mixed… some days good… other days not so good.

Bluefish do get some respect

Winners of the Lions Club Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) Fishing Tournament were (left to right) Janice Musco (first place), Lincoln, RI; Norman Boyce, Bristol, RI (second place); and Gerardo Cerino (third place), Providence, RI.

Peter Sousa of Warwick, RI with a fluke he caught on No Fluke Charters off Point Judith this weekend in 55 feet of water using a conventional squid rig tipped with squid, fluke belly and a freshwater minnow.

Captain Rich Hittinger out of Point Judith, RI with a black sea bass he caught this past Sunday off of Point Judith Light in Narragansett, RI.

Bluefish do get some respect
The bluefish column last week got quite a few responses. There are bluefish fans out there. Select comments appear below, bluefish recipes to follow next week (please share your favorite recipes). One request from Chris Del Sesto of Cranston was actually a question… “Where do they serve bluefish?” So if you know what restaurants in RI or MA serve bluefish, let me know and I will pass the information along.

“We read your column today -- excellent. I used to order bluefish at Legal Seafood in Warwick, but they took it off the menu. Do you know of any RI or Mass. restaurants that serve bluefish?”
Chris Del Sesto and Donna Lee, Cranston, RI.

“Dear Dave. Glad to see you’re giving bluefish their due. I am eighty three and have been fishing for them since I was a kid in Jamestown. I agree with you completely concerning both their fighting ability and their culinary desirability. My fishing buddy these days is my 14 year old grandson and he would rather catch blues than anything else he has tangled with so far in his young life including plenty of Penobscot River smallmouth. I have two excellent books on bluefish; I am sure you are familiar with John Hersey's "Blues", I also have "The Bluefish Cookbook' by Greta Jacobs and Jane Alexander which my wife picked years ago when we were on a visit to either Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. I don't know if either are still in print.
Tom Lyons, Portsmouth. RI

P.S. My favorite lures are; for surface fish, the Heddon Super Spook Jr, I remove the treble hooks and replace them with a single circle hook. Although I prefer all white I am not sure color makes a whole lot of difference. For sub-surface fish I prefer the 1/2 oz Acme Need- L-Eel. Unfortunately these are no longer made but I was able to stockpile several before they disappeared.”

Fish for striped bass during bluefish feeding frenzies

Don Smith, RI striped bass fishing expert, shared a tip for catching big striped bass during bluefish feeding frenzies on the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) blog. Don said, “Eels work anywhere providing you get them into the strike zone, and of course past the bluefish. Over the years of fishing with eels we (Don means he and Peter Vican, his fishing partner who holds the RI striped bass record at 77.4 pounds) have found that the big, lazy stripers will travel up the water column about 15' to get them anytime. They will rarely go further than that. That is why in my seminars I have always referred to keeping the eel in the strike zone… Very often in back of a school of marauding bluefish will be a school of striped bass picking up the pieces left by the blues. They are usually about 200 yards. downstream of the bluefish. So my advice is when you run into a school of bluefish move down current and see if there are stripers following them.”

4th Annual VIP Fishing Tournament for the blind and visually impaired

The Rhode Island Lions Sight Foundation’ 4th Annual VIP Fishing Tournament for the blind and visually impaired was held Sunday, June 26, 2011 aboard “The Lady Frances” party fishing boat in Galilee, RI where the participants were competing for several trophies.
The fishing tournament was followed by a buffet lunch at George’s of Galilee Restaurant in Galilee where the participants enjoyed lunch and the winners’ trophies were distributed.
First Place was taken by Janice Musco of Lincoln with a total of 76" of fish, thanks to a very unusual catch of a 30' Bluefish.

Second Place was taken by Norman Boyce of Bristol with a total of 75" of fish all Fluke.

Third Place was taken by Gerardo Cerino of Providence with a total of 68.5" of fish all Skate.
The Rhode Island Lions Sight Foundation would like to send the top three winners of the tournament to compete in the National VIP Tournament on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in October, as they have the last three years, if the funds can be raised to allow it. If you would like to make a donation to help fund this event or would like information on the RILSF VIP Fishing Tournament please visit our websites at www.lions4sight.org and www.ncvipfishing.org .

Where’s the bite
Striped bass fishing continues to be good at Block Island at the North Rip and on the Southwest Ledge. Fish being taken on tube and worm, umbrella rigs, eels and jigs. This past Sunday activity in both places was good early in the morning but by 10:00 a.m. activity slowed dramatically. Some striped bass activity in Narragansett Bay this week. Joe Petuli reports on the RISAA blog he took, “Five bass to 36" on the east channel edge off Barrington beach last week (fish were taken during the) last hour of the incoming tide. (fish were caught using) Rubber shad frames off downriggers. Only one fish was short.” The Francis Fleet reports an excellent striped bass bite on its night trips.
Fluke (summer flounder) fishing remains strong. Captain Rich Hittinger reports a reduced fluke bite off Point Judith, however there are still fish there Rich reports. Peter Sousa of Warwick caught keeper fluke Sunday while fishing off Point Judith in 55 feet of water using a conventional squid rig tipped with squid, fluke belly and a freshwater minor while aboard No Fluke Charters. Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick, reports landing several fluke at the mouth of the Sakonnet River Sunday. The largest fish taken on his boat was ten pounds. The Seven B’s reports a good fluke bite last week with sea bass mixed in. The largest fish for the week was 8.5 pounds. Some customers reached their seven fish fluke limit.
Black sea bass bite is good. Anglers catching keepers mixed in with shorts while fluke fishing. Captain Rich Hittinger said he caught some nice keepers off Point Judith this past Sunday.
Bluefish bite off shore around Block Island has been good, often creating problems for striped bass anglers. Anglers continue to find bluefish in the West passage of the Bay between Hope Island and Greenwich Bay.

Bluefish deserve more respect, also windmills in the ocean

Jeremy (left) and Paul Stedman (right) of Worcester County, MA with the bluefish they caught after fluke fishing near the Newport Bridge earlier this month.

Bluefish deserve more respect… also windmills in the ocean

I fished in the Newport area this weekend and saw schools of bluefish working in the Bridge area. As I returned to Greenwich Bay, I came upon five separate schools of bluefish between Quonset and Prudence Island, all pushing bait to the surface in feeding frenzies. It made me think about all the fun anglers on my vessel (particularly my wife and I) have had fishing for blues on the surface.

I don’t think bluefish get a fair shake. Anglers often say, “You like to catch bluefish?” with a tone of wonderment in their voice. And as far as eating them, people have a strong opinion, usually “I hate bluefish. They taste too fishy.”
Well it is time we gave bluefish the place they deserve… after all they are a ferocious game fish and when the catch is cared for properly, out of the water to the dinner table, they are very tasty.

We owe it to ourselves and nature to eat what is provided and bluefish are nutritious, plentiful and economically beneficial to catch and eat. I feel the same way about scup that have appeared in large numbers too. We should educate ourselves, family and friends on how to prepare and eat these plentiful fish.

Bluefish are fairly easy to find, but that has not always been the case. Bluefish populations have experienced periods of abundance and scarcity. Massachusetts Marine Fisheries relates “…the number of reproductively mature fish has declined since its most recent peak in 1979, dropping the estimated number of adults coast wide… in recent years, the total harvest by recreational anglers (which is typically at least 90%) has been stable.” In 2009 the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council declared the fishery fully rebuilt and in 2010 Rhode Island increased the possession limit for bluefish to be consistent with Federal regulation from ten fish to fifteen fish/person/day with no minimum size and no closed season. These regulations are in effect for 2011 as well.

Small bluefish arrive in New England Bays and estuaries in May, larger fish arrive later in spring and leave in October as the water cools to sixty degrees. They inhabit deeper waters and move into shallow areas as the summer progresses. Bluefish are cannibalistic. Wikipedia says some “Hypothesize that because of cannibalistic behavior, bluefish tend to swim in schools of similarly sized specimens. Others hypothesize that bluefish school with like-sized individuals, because they swim at the same rate, thus expending the same energy when traveling, and thus having identical food intake requirements.” Bluefish feed in schools aggressively pursuing prey along tidal rips and in shallow areas close to shore where food can be trapped. Bluefish aggressing rip through schools of prey biting and killing many fish that do not get eaten.

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA at http://www.risaa.org/ ) has a great online resource for fish research. RISAA says, “During feeding frenzies the most productive way to catch bluefish is to cast a surface “popper” plug at the boiled up water. Cast out the plug to the edge of the boiling water and “pop” it back toward you at a moderate speed. You are trying to imitate a wounded or frantic bait fish breaking out of the school.”

Anglers use steel leaders when fishing for bluefish as their teeth can easily cut monofilament line. Anglers must be extremely careful when handling bluefish, particularly when removing hooks as they can bite and cut anglers causing severe damage (and in some cases finger loss).
Bluefish rarely exceed 20 lbs. and 40 inches in length. The larger fish caught during a given year generally run between 10-15 pounds. The Rhode Island record is 26 pounds, 39 inches caught by D. Deziel of Woonsocket, RI in August of 1981 and the North American record bluefish, caught in North Carolina, weighed 31 pounds, 12 ounces.

Watch next week’s No Fluke column for tips on how to care for and cook your bluefish catch from water to dinner table.

Windmills in the ocean

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D. joined Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and other national and state leaders last Friday to recognize the pioneering Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Plan (visit Ocean SAMP at http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/oceansamp/ ). This new, innovative ocean management plan is the first of its kind in the nation. It improves state review processes and policies to facilitate the development of offshore projects that could lead to the creation of hundreds of wind energy jobs and balance energy development with transportation, fishing, recreation and environmental stewardship along the state’s coast and adjacent federal waters.

I asked Captain Rich Hittinger, vice president of RISAA, how RISAA felt about the possibility of wind farms in RI. Rich said, “We are not opposed to the platforms as long as they avoid prime fishing spots and they are constructed in a manner that enhance bottom structure and fish habitat and so long as they are not made off limits by some form of "safety zone". Rich said at Friday’s event he chatted with Ed LeBlanc of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the person responsible for wind platform issues in the Northeast, and LeBlanc said there is no interest on the part of the USCG to have any form of safety zones.

Captain Rick Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association, said, “NOAA’s approval of the SAMP is good, it can be used as a tool to apply consistency in Federal waters.” However, Captain Bellavance cautioned, “The decision as to where to site windmills in Federal waters is out of State control, actually out of the hands of NOAA and the Department of Commerce, but rather it is now in the hands of the Department of the Interior”. He hoped wind farm developers would be required to conduct “Extensive environmental impact studies rather than the less extensive environmental assessments.” He said this is now not guaranteed. Concern is not just over 100 or 200 wind turbines but the thousands of wind turbines planned for the northeast.

Commercial fishermen have related that it would be impossible to turn a vessel dragging nets in a wind farm. This may eliminate prime fishing grounds. For example the proposed Deepwater Wind farm places turbines around the rim of Cox’s Ledge where water depth is lower and ideal for turbine placement. However, this location has been a prime fishing ground for commercial (and recreational) fishermen for years. Lobstermen, who set their pots along natural structure, would no longer be able set pots in a string in this area. Additionally, the artificial structure created by wind turbine foundations may attract the lobsters, and leave few for lobstermen to fish for in open fishable water.

East Bay Anglers to hold clam boil

The East Bay Anglers will sponsor a clam boil Sunday, August 14, 2:00 p.m. at the Riverside Sportsman’s Club. 50/50 raffle, door prize and a prize raffle. Must reserve tickets in advance by calling Mike Gillies, 401.228.6310.

Where’s the bite

Striped bass bite remains good off Block Island North Rip and southeast side. Angler Jamie Schiffer said striped bass were on the surface at the North Rip this weekend, “It was crazy. I couldn't believe how long it lasted. Stripers were anywhere from 28 to 45 inches”. Bass are also being caught off coastal shores in Newport and Narragansett. “Customers have said striped bass were swimming among bathers a Scarborough Beach”, said Buzz, an associate at Maridee Bait, Tackle & Canvas on Point Judith Road, Narragansett.

Fluke (summer flounder) fishing remains strong in the lower Bay and around Narragansett, Jamestown and Newport. Alfred Bettencourt of East Providence and friend Brian caught fourteen keeper fluke in just ten drifts while fishing off Newport said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside. Littlefield said, “Keeper fluke also being caught by customers at Conimicut and Warwick Lights with shorts mixed in.”

Blue crabs have made their presence know in the East and West Bay passages. Still not as strong as last year, but anglers and crabbers hope they will become plentiful soon.
Bluefish schools heavy in the West Passage north of Jamestown to Greenwich Bay. Fish also surfacing under the Newport Bridge mixed in with school striped bass.

Fish need oxyen too

Chris Deacutis, PhD and chief scientist for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program with a Seabird oxygen-temperature-salinity sampler. Chris has been working on the issue of excess nutrients (nitrogen) and low oxygen in the upper half of Narragansett Bay for ten years.

Bob Anderson of East Providence and his son-in-law Ben Vosper of Tucson, AZ with the keeper fluke they caught while fishing under the Newport Bridge.

Jeremy (left) and Paul Stedman (right) of Worcester County with the bluefish they caught after fluke fishing near the Newport Bridge last week.

Fish need oxygen too

“I need to breath. Quick... find me some oxygen” said the Greenwich Bay summer flounder to the striped bass. “Hurry… follow me to the deep hole off Warwick Neck where there’s plenty of oxygen to breathe” said the bass. Fish may not communicate like this but they certainly position themselves in places where there is food and oxygen.
Chris Deacutis, PhD and chief scientist for the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP) at the URI Bay Campus has been working on the issue of excess nutrients (nitrogen) and the low oxygen issue in the upper half of Narragansett Bay for over ten years. Chris said, “Years ago the Providence River, the Seekonk River and the Bay were in bad shape. (History relates) the rivers were filled with dead animals, industrial waste and other pollutants. It smelled so bad people would faint from the smell.”
Today things are better but Bay advocates are still combating nutrients in the Bay that create algae blooms (which actually create oxygen). But as algae decays it uses oxygen and reduces the oxygen level in the water, often times well below the levels that fish need. This low oxygen level has occurred in Greenwich Bay in the summer as well as in other parts of the Bay.
With a prevailing southwest summer wind in Narragansett Bay, Greenwich Bay (particularly East Greenwich Cove), does not get flushed and low oxygen levels are more prominent there according to the NBEP which measures oxygen levels in the Bay. In fact, “The famous menhaden fish kill of August 2003 was clearly caused by a sever hypoxia (actually anoxic – no oxygen) events that centered on western Greenwich Bay”, said Chris Deacutis.
The NBEP eliminated the East Passage, the Mt. Hope Bay and the lower Bay from measurement because oxygen levels in these areas are good. The channel in the east passage acts as a conduit for flushing and mixing. Oxygen levels in deep water off Warwick Neck mix well too due to the water passing from the east to the west passage and back. Water at Quonset Point and south have good oxygen levels too.
The NBEP blog states that “Marine animals breathe oxygen too and when oxygen levels drop below 3mg/L there is not enough oxygen to go around. Creatures that live on the bottom of the bay such as oysters, littlenecks, and marine worms are at a greater risk during hypoxic events because they cannot move to a different area. Schooling fish such as menhaden are also affected by hypoxia because they are often chased into coves by predators such as striped bass and the school will use up the oxygen faster than it can be produced by photosynthesis or mixed into the water at the surface from the air.”
Dr. Deacutis said, “Early on, sewerage treatment plants did a good job of taking solids out of the waste but nutrients have just started to be addressed in the Bay by treatment plants in the past five years." Plants that have been treating for nutrients include Warwick, Cranston, East Greenwich and the Narraganesett Bay Commission. The Field’s Point plant plans to start treating nutrients in 2013 said Deacutis.
What does this mean for fish and anglers in the Bay
So I asked Dr. Deacutis what low oxygen levels and poor mixing means for recreational and commercial fishing in the Bay. Fisherman should advocate for and support programs that aim to clean water and lower nutrient levels. Anglers should also support efforts to plant sea grass as the grass acts as a haven for small marine creatures and bait that large fish feed on.
Oxygen levels in upper, mid and low water levels seem to explain a few things about fishing in the Bay. Fishing at Warwick Neck has been always been good; this could be due to the water moving, tossing around bait as well as the oxygen levels mixing well throughout the water column including the bottom of the water column where large fluke have been taken in recent years. Fishing in the East passage is also good… due to bait fish and menhaden runs up the East Passage to the Providence River in the spring, but one has to wonder if the flushing and mixing that provides better oxygen supply and mixing in the water column is also contributing to better fishing.
Greenwich Bay fishing is good in the spring with great school striped bass fishing and blue fishing throughout the summer months. Fishing here slows down in the summer but bluefish tend to feed at the top of the water column and are not as affected as much by low oxygen levels. For more information visit the NBEP website at www.nbep.org and an associated blog at http://nbep.wordpress.com/ . Brown University hosts the dissolved oxygen (DO) website (called Insomniacs) which has oxygen level maps of various Bay areas. For this website visit http://www.geo.brown.edu/georesearch/insomniacs/index.html .

RISAA members receive “Making a difference” award
Two local sport fishing advocates, Stephen Medeiros, president and executive director of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) and RISAA member Capt. Alan Anderson were among the five winners of Sport Fishing Magazine's "Making A Difference Awards." The winners were announced on Wednesday. The awards are given to "individuals who have made a positive difference in saltwater recreational fishing."

NOAA announces new aquaculture program
NOAA announced the Aquaculture Technology Transfer Initiative last week which will foster public-private partnerships on regional projects that showcase innovative sustainable practices, jump start private sector investments, and create employment opportunities in coastal communities.
NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco said, “Aquaculture is a critical component to meeting increasing global demand for seafood… this initiative provides an opportunity….”

Where’s the bite
Bluefin tuna fishing is good. Jay Fissette of Coventry said, “We were on our way home, just south of the Fairway buoy when one of our lines went off and we boated our first bluefin of the season.” Many captains say bluefin have been more plentiful in the past five years. Last week, NPR reported scientists now believe bluefin are spawning somewhere other than the Gulf of Mexico. The fish move quickly, a fish tagged on the east coast of the US traveled to Europe in just 53 days.
Last week NOAA announced the United States joined more than 50 countries in a recommendation to regional fishery management organizations (Ramos) to better track vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (YOU) fishing for tuna and other highly migratory species.
Striped bass fishing is good off Block Island and coastal southern shores. Bay fishing has slowed dramatically. Last week Governor Chaffee signed a striped bass bill calling for stiffer penalties on those taking striped bass illegally. RISAA successful advocated for the bill.
Fluke fishing is very good with anglers catching keeper fluke around Newport and Jamestown south of the bridges. Bob Anderson and his son-in-law Ben Vosper caught keeper fluke just south of the Newport Bridge alongside Rose Island last Thursday aboard No Fluke Charters. Anglers filing fishing reports on the RISAA blog report a good fluke bite with shorts mixed in. Francis Fleet vessels and the Seven B’s party boats report a good fluke bite last week. Fish in the seven to eight pound range were caught Saturday on the Seven B’s with the largest fish weighing nine pounds.
Bluefish are plentiful off coastal waters and in lower Narragansett Bay. Jeremy Anderson and his dad Bob caught bluefish just over eight pounds near the Newport Bridge after fluke fishing. Good sized blue fish were caught Friday by Darrell Hattern of North Kingstown and Mike Swain of Coventry while fishing with live menhaden at Bear Point, Prudence Island. Mike Swain said, “We would snag a menhaden and before we could work it to the boat the bluefish would bite it in half.”

Black sea bass... a great catch for anglers

AJ Petrarca, West Warwick, RI with a monster black sea bass he caught while fishing Kettlebottom Outfitters, Jamestown, RI.

Albert Bettencourt (left) and his grandson Nathan (right), both from East Providence, with fluke 25 plus inch fluke they caught off Newport last week.

Nick Roach (left) of Warwick with a fluke (summer flounder) and his grandson Ethan Roach (right) of Jamestown, RI with a black sea bass. Both fish were caught on the same drift on Kettlebottom Outfitters charters.

Black sea bass… a great catch for anglers

Black sea bass season opened Monday, July 11 and runs through December 31. Anglers have been catching keeper size black sea bass since the spring before the season opened while fishing for tautog and summer flounder. So this should be a good year for black sea bass. Minimum size this year is 13” with a catch limit of twelve fish/angler/day. Black sea bass are a great eating fish, often found on the menus of fine dining restaurants.

Black sea bass facts
Black sea bass are primarily black (sounds odd), but they have the ability to adjust their color to blend in with the bottom with colors ranging from grey, brown, black to a deep indigo hue.

They spend most of their time around the bottom and be found near rocky areas, jetties, rips , like a lot of bottom fish, they like structure.

Black sea bass are hermaphroditic fish… they begin life as female then turn male.

Sea bass put up a good feisty fight but they do not grow to be huge fish in the Northeast.

The largest black sea bass caught was 9 pounds, 8 ounces and about 19.7” long.

Ideal water temperature for black sea bass is 59 to 64 degrees.

How and where to catch them… rigs and bait
Rigs often used to catch black sea bass have two hooks set-up 12” to 16” apart with a bank sinker to hold bottom. Squid or sea clams are often used as bait. Anglers often catch them while fishing for fluke, because you are on the bottom and likely fishing with squid. They can also be caught with jigs and many prefer this method.

The best time to fish for black sea bass is from May through summer, when they are closest to shore. Any underwater structures… rocks, wrecks, piers and jetties will attach black sea bass. The larger males are general found in deeper water.

Captain Robb Roach of Kettlebottom Outfitters charters, Jamestown, said “Fish reef edges, deeper structure, ESP wrecks are best. Squid strips and small crabs are bait of choice. They especially like tiny lobsters but the only time you can use it is if they spit up a dead one.”
Captain Roach said that Hi/Low rigs work great and that fishing for black sea bass is more about location than fancy fishing rigs. “Anchor up to target black sea bass specifically, otherwise you will often catch them on a drift when fluke fishing.” said Roach.

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries says, “The black sea bass is predominantly a bottom-feeder, although it will occasionally strike at plugs, jigs, or lures. Thus, bait fishing with strips of squid or fish is the most productive method. The most commonly caught fish weigh from ½ to 2 pounds. You can receive the greatest enjoyment when catching fish in this size range by using a medium-weight-spinning outfit with 8-pound test line. Although a sea bass has a large mouth, use a #2 bait-holder hook tied above a small sinker; this fish normally hesitates to grab bait strung on large cod hooks.”

Cooking black sea bass
Black sea bass is a delicate, sweet-tasting saltwater fish. The firm, white flesh of this species is a favorite of many. Bass are easy to fillet, especially when chilled, and yield a thick slice of meat. Some fillets are thick enough to slice lengthwise or to cut into nuggets for frying. Larger fish can be cut into steaks and cooked like striped bass.

Captain Robb Roach’s favorite ways to cook black sea bass… “Cook whole! Gut, scale and cut off fins. Stuff and roast either in the oven or in a tin foil tent on the grill- yummy.”
Additional tips on cooking from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries can be found at www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/recreationalfishing . They suggest to try broiling black sea bass fillets. When broiling, fold under the thin section from the tail area to allow more even cooking. Place the fish in a greased pan; sprinkle with fresh ground pepper and paprika, and dot with butter or olive oil. Broil 5 to 6 minutes on each side, depending upon thickness, until the fillets are golden-brown. Be careful not to cook too long, as the fillets will dry and become somewhat leathery.

Seven B’s announces tuna trips
The Seven B’s announces two tuna trips and is now taking reservations. The first trip loads at 10:00 p. on September 9 and returns September 11. The second trip loads at 10:00 p.m. on September 11 and return September 13. Cost is $450. Call 401.789.9250 for reservations.

Where’s the bite
Cod fish surprisingly caught in the Bay this past week by Captain Robb Roach of Kettlebottom. Robb said, “I caught two (cod fish) yesterday around the bay! Great sign!! Both were just better than 22"!”

Fluke fishing has been outstanding in the lower Bay and off coastal shores. Kyle Grant caught a 27” fluke under the Newport Bridge last week. This, his first fluke was caught using a standard squid rig tipped with squid and a fresh water minnow aboard No Fluke charters. Captain Rene Letourneau of On the Rocks Charters said this Friday, “… Austin Hollow gave up two 22” fish caught with pink rigs…during the north side of Jamestown Bridge during the last hour of tide caught… five more fluke, three were legal fish”. Kevin Bettencourt of East Providence said he, his Dad Albert and son Nathan caught “six large fluke taken from deep water (100 ft. plus) off Newport. All fish caught weighed between four and eight pounds with the largest fish measuring 28.5”. Gary Zera on the RISAA blog said, “Fished the incoming tide today… in the area of the Jamestown Bridge with a very light S breeze. Quite a few boats fishing the area. Managed two keeper fluke 21" and 22", 1/2 dozen shorts and one sea bass. Pink and glow squid rigs produced better than chartreuse today 7.8.11.”

Striped bass fishing continue to slow down in the Bay and gets better around Block Island and off coastal shores. Some fish being caught in the very lower part of Narragansett Bay around Newport, Jamestown and off Narragansett. No Fluke charges landed several school and small keeper bass under the Newport bridge trolling through with umbrella rigs. Kayak anglers were taking fish close the piers too. John Wunner of John’s Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said, “Striped bass and fluke fishing have been great and now good sized blues are being caught of Quonset Point. It is nice to see customers come through the door with a smile and show me photos of what they caught. It has been a good year for fishing so far.”

Fishing good for July 4th week

Kyle Grant of East Providence, RI went fluke fishing for the first time Sunday and landed this 27”, nine pound fluke (summer flounder) under the Newport Bridge with a standard fluke rig tipped with a squid strip and minnow. Kyle was fishing the incoming tide with a southwest wind.

Fishing good for July 4th week

Fishing in the Bay and in near coastal waters is very good.

Striped bass. Captain Rick Bellavance of Priority Too Charters in Point Judith said, “Striped bass fishing around Block Island exploded this week. Earlier in the season the fish were in the 15 to 20 pound range, this week fish in the 30’s was quite common.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait and Tackle, East Providence said, “Last week fish in the upper East Passage were biting on live menhaden and you couldn’t interest them in chucks. My customers Kevin and Allen Bettencourt of East Providence caught a number of fish in the 20 pound range.” Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “Bass are still in the Bay but they are dispersed. You have to hunt them out. We caught a couple of nice bass off Warrick Neck and on the usual rock piles (Ohio Ledge) last week using menhaden chucks.” Erick and his son Alex Apollonian took friend Chip Broderick bass fishing off Block Island this Saturday and caught six keeper striped bass fishing the southwest side and the north rip. Eric said, “Our largest fish (caught by Chip, 14 years old) was 26 pounds. We caught them on Diamond jigs, green parachute jigs and tube and worm.”

Overall bass fishing in the Bay has slowed which happens each year at this time as the water starts to heat up. Water in many places in the Bay is in the 70 degree range.

Fluke fishing continues to heat up too. Buzz at Maridee Bait & Tackle on Point Judith Road in Narragansett said, “Customers are picking up fluke off the sea walls at the Harbor of Refugee.” John Littlefield said, customers are catching fluke at Warwick Light as well as off Newport, with good fish coming out of 40 to 50 feet of water off Rose Island, Newport”. Kyle Grant of East Providence caught a 27” fluke (his first fluke) under the Newport Bridge using a standard squid rig tipped with squid strip and a minnow while fishing No Fluke Charters. Good fluke bite being reported at the Jamestown and Newport bridges, Dutch Island, Beavertail, and Austin Hollow and in front of the URI Bay Campus in North Kingstown. Gary Zera and David Cabral fished Seal Ledge off Newport for Fluke on Sunday and caught fourteen keepers (their limit) in about four and a half hours fishing the incoming and outgoing tides. Their largest fish was 27” with four fish in the 24 to 26” range. They were using squid strips and fluke bellies on standard squid rings. This is one of the best fluke fishing reports I have heard this year.
Large bluefish have still have not made their presence known in force in the upper Bay, however fish in the 2 to 3 pound range are quite common. Some large blues surfaced Sunday south of the Jamestown Bridge with anglers having a lot of fun fishing the school with poppers said Eric Apollonian.

Striped bass poaching law
At press time, the Rhode Island State House and Senate had approved a striped bass poaching bill that makes penalties more severe for taking striped bass illegally. The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) has advocated hard for stiffer penalties to protect the species and enhance a sustainable striped bass fishery. Anglers are urged to e-mail the Governor at www.governor@governor.ri.gov to express their thoughts about the bill. Steve Medeiros, president of RISAA said, key points that should be made for signing the bill include:

Striped bass are our most sought after fish
Recreational fishing is worth over $180 million in R.I.
Illegal taking of striped bass is a big black-market business
Current law is $50 fine per fish, yet a single striper sells for $75-$150 per fish
Poachers undermine the fisheries management process
Poachers take large stripers to sell and these are the breeders and future of the fishery
Striped bass belongs to ALL citizens, and poachers steal from everyone
Everyone, commercial, charter boats and recreational anglers support this legislation
The new fines would put us in line with CT and MA

NOAA sets fishing quotas for bluefin tuna
Last week NOAA announced quotas and other measures for bluefin tuna that underscore the nation’s commitment to sustainable science-based management of this vital fish stock. The allocations divide the available 2011 U.S. bluefin tuna quota of 957 metric tons among commercial and recreational fishing sectors for the fishing season that began on June 1.
The General category, which includes commercial fishermen who use rod and reel, will receive 435 metric tons, nearly half the 2011 U.S. quota. Allocations for the other categories are as follows: Angling category (which includes recreational fishermen), 182 metric tons; purse seine fishermen, 171.8 metric tons; longline fishermen, 61 metric tons; harpoon fishermen, 36 metric tons; trap fishermen, 0.9 metric tons; and a reserve of 70.6 metric tons. The reserve is set aside for scientific research and to account for landings and dead discards.
NOAA announced on May 27 that the Atlantic bluefin tuna currently do not warrant species protection under the Endangered Species Act.
More information on bluefin visit www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2011/05/bluefin_tuna.html .