Striped bass, our State fish, in jeopardy

 
Newport Catch: Taylor Potter, Jake Santos, Peter and Aiden Coulombe with fluke and sea bass caught off Newport Sunday.

First keeper fluke: Aiden Coulombe (seven) of Massachusetts and his father Peter with fist keeper fluke he caught at the Newport Bridge last week.

Striped bass, our State fish, in jeopardy

I like to fish for striped bass as other anglers do.  It was designated Rhode Island’s official State fish in 2000.  It is also the official State symbol in New York, Virginia and New Hampshire. And, although striped bass are revered in Massachusetts, cod was designated there state fish in 1974.

On August 8 the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), which regulates striped bass coastwide in state waters, will be discussing striped bass and options on how to rebuild the species as they are presently overfished and overfishing is occurring.  This in part means that based on the best available science, the Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) of striped bass is too small to sustain the fishery.  If we continue to take fish, at the rate we are taking them, the science says the stock is and will continue to crash. 

If you live in Massachusetts or Rhode Island and do not want striped bass to continue to crash, and want to feel good about taking a stand to rebuild them, send an email to your Massachusetts or Rhode Island commissions that sit on the ASMFC.  Visit www.asmfc.org/about-us/commissioners for commissioner email addresses.

We need to rebuild striped bass now.  In your note to commissions simply relate we need to return striped bass fishing mortality to the target in the current management plan (known as Amendment 6) and that it needs to be done by 2020.

Ask commissioners to oppose the motion to begin a new amendment to the management plan, which could result in new goals and objectives that reduce striped bass abundance and harm the long-term health of the spawning stock.

For information about striped bass stock status visit https://saltwaterguidesassociation.com/blog/ .



Fishing when the water gets hot

It’s not even mid-summer and the water is very warm. The water in Buzzards Bay Wednesday was 73 degrees, warmer than the usual average of 68 degrees. And, Narragansett Bay was 75 degrees this week, even hotter in low water coves and sanctuaries.

When water gets hot and things are compounded by poor flushing of our north facing coves, the oxygen levels drop and fishing in some areas can be challenging.

Bait fish leave the area and the fish we like to catch (and eat) often leave for cooler, deeper water that is better oxygenated.  Fish such as black sea bass, scup, summer founder, even bluefish and striped bass may be harder to find in Bay.

So, how do you catch fish when it seems like there are no fish to be found? As a charter captain I have often had to find fish for customers, family and friends even though the water was warm.  Here are some tips I remind myself of when wanting to catch fish when the water warms up. 

Fish where the fish are

The key to fishing warm water in summer is water movement.  Fish areas that get flushed often and have structure or edges where water movement is brisk and often deep.  This includes structure such as channel pads, under or near bridges, rock clusters, jetties, outcrops, points or peninsulas on land and wrecks. 

For example the Cape Cod Canal gets flushed with each tide.  Fishing is usually pretty good there this time of year.  And, the shipping channel in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay, from the southern tip of Prudence Island to Providence, serves as a "fish highway" flushing that side of the Bay bringing bait and fish into the Bay.  Places such as Warwick Neck; Providence Point, Sandy Point and the T-Wharf on Prudence Island; Poppasquash Point, Bristol; and Sally’s Rock, Greenwich Cove; as well as Quonset Point, North Kingstown all serve as natural structure that can whip water around them along with bait fish and the fish we like to catch. 

And, the Jamestown and Newport Bridges in Rhode Island serve as manmade fish magnets, funneling water, bait and fish. So when the water is warm you have to take advantage of structure and fish where the fish are.

This holds true for freshwater fishing too.  Fish deeper water, areas that are shaded and areas that have some water movement when the water gets hot.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater.  Lorraine Danti of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren said, “Anglers are doing better in deep water ponds as the water temperature is rising in smaller ponds creating algae bloom and poor water quality.  Stafford Pond in Tiverton is producing bass for customers.” Stafford Pond is relatively deep with a maximum depth of about 22 feet. Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “Shiners are a problem.  We have only been getting half of what we order, but customers that are fishing are doing well.  Fishing in Gorton Pond, Warwick has been good, producing a seven and a six pound bass for customers last week.  Many are fishing from the dock with shiners when they can get them or floating night crawlers to hook up with bass.”

Striped bass fishing remains strong at Block Island. “We weighted in three 50 pound fish from Block Island last week.  The bite is very strong there.  However, anglers have been hooking up off Gooseberry Island too.” said Lorrain Danti of Lucky Bait & Tackle.  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “Night bass fishing has been very good at Block Island. Last Wednesday did have the best tides and we had a full boat limit by 10 p.m. We have been seeing more shorts around this year than ever before. We are catching 2-3 shorts per keeper.”  Fishing in the Brenton Reef and Seal Rock areas off Newport is producing bass for anglers, however, they are mostly school bass with some keepers mixed in.  Expert Cape Cod Canal fishermen East End Eddie Doherty of Mattapoisett said, “The bluefish have invaded the Canal this week.  Have lost a lot of soft plastic baits to them, however, this weekend an 18 and a 25 pound striped bass were caught. So the bass bite has slowed but not stopped.”

Fluke, scup and black sea bass. This week we did fairly well off Newport Brenton Reef fishing for fluke and black sea bass.  The keepers were smaller fish, many just the minimum size of 19”, but the bite was good.  The largest black sea bass caught there was about 21”.  Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait said, “Areas south of the Jamestown Bridge are producing. We had a customer land a 27” fluke.  Areas around Dutch Island, Austin Hollow and off Beavertail are all producing keeper fluke and sea bass for customers.”  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “The days where we get a little bit of breeze the fish are really coming over the rails. Biggest fluke last week was just shy of 10 pounds.” Lorrain Danti said, “The scup bite has been very good off the back side of Colt State Park.  And, customers are catching fluke and nice balck sea bass off Newport.”

“The shark’s first run was spectacular.” says Tournament winner

Snug Harbor Shark Tournament 1^st Place Winners: Jim DeAngelo, Richard Napolitano (captain), Chris Napolitano (angler), Matt Charland and Ryan Napolitano with 328 pound thresher shark. 

 “The shark’s first run was spectacular.” says Tournament winner

“The thresher shark picked up our squid and ran with it.  That first run was spectacular. We fought the shark for an hour and forty-five minutes.” said Richard Napolitano recounting the battle for the fish that took first place in the 38^th Annual Snug Harbor Shark Tournament.

Napolitano was quick to point out that his sport fishing vessel, ‘Knot Reel Teeth’ successfully caught, tagged and released five other mako and blue sharks during the Tournament… as they normally do as it serves as a great data resource for fish mangers when managing sharks.

“We had just moved the boat to a new location, put out two rods and as soon as we put out the third with squid… that’s when the 328 pound mako hit. We chased it around a bit and then the shark sounded and we had to get it up.  We finally circled the fish with Chris (Napolitano) putting on the pressure by pumping and reeling, pumping and reeling, trying to disrupt the fish.  Finally the fish turned on its side and came up.”

“My son Chris did a great job on the fish, son Ryan orchestrated the whole think from the cockpit while I has at the helm.  We also had two other crew that did a great job helping to harpoon and tail tie the fish… hats off to Jim DeAngelo and Matthew Charland for their great work.” said Napolitano.

Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina said, “Jim Sansaua took second place in the Tournament with a 230 pound thresher.  Both fish were caught on Saturday, July 6. The tournament kicked off on July 6 at 5:00 a.m. and concluded at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 7 with a cookout.”  Twenty-five vessels participated in the Tournament.

“Proceeds from the tournament go the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association and the Recreational Fishing Alliance.” said Cahill.

New cod and haddock regulations

NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional office announced changes to cod and haddock recreational regulations last week.

First, the 2019 Gulf of Maine cod and haddock recreational regulations have changed.  The Gulf of Maine cod season will open September 15 to 30 with a one fish/person/day limit, minimum size is 21 inches (NOAA is not opening an April season for Gulf of Maine cod).

The haddock season is May 1 to February 28/29 and April 15 to 30 with a 15 fish/person/day limit (this limit has been liberalized, the 2018 limit was 12 fish), the minimum haddock size is 17 inches.

Georges Bank cod regulations (which govern fishing off Rhode Island) have also changed.  The minimum size in 2019 will be 21”, this is a liberalization as last year the minimum size was 22”.  The possession limit has not changed, it is 10 fish/person/day.

For more information on recreational rules on these and other species in Federal waters visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic .

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass fishing has moved out of the Narragansett Bay.  Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick said, “The bass bite in the Providence River slowed this week with not many fish being taken.” Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Any bass of size are being taken south of the bridges, out in front of Newport, along the  coastal shore and out at Block Island where the bite is occurring from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on eels.”  Bruce Miller of Canal Bait & Tackle, Sagamore, said, “The bass bite on the Canal has been OK this week but not as good as last week.  Anglers are still hooking up with 30 to 40 pound fish using jigs on the West Side of the Canal.” Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, said, “The bass at Block Island are not as large as they were but there is a pretty good bite at night on the southwest ledge with eels.  Fish are also being caught by anglers trolling wire on the southwest ledge and the north rip during the day but they are not as large.”

Black sea bass/summer flounder.  Bruce Miller of Canal Bait said, “The fluke and black sea bass bite has been very good with anglers staying inside or fishing Cleveland Ledge where the bite has been outstanding.”  Anglers continue to hook up with fluke around the Jamestown and Newport bridges with some finding fish out in front along the coastal shore. “Fluke fishing at Block Island is pretty good.” said Henault of Ocean State.  “Nice fluke have been taken around Warwick Light as the fish seem to have held there.  We also have customers catching fish in the low 20 inch range south of the Jamestown Bridge. And, customers continue to catch large black sea bass off Beavertail Point.” said Giddings of the Tackle Box. Earlier this week the dog fish were pretty bad south of Block Island said Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina.  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “The morning fishing trips have been on the slower side so we have been focusing on the sea bass. Most days anglers are all leaving with limits of big knob heads to 5 pounds.  Biggest fluke of the week was 12.5 pounds! We have seen double digit fluke at least once a week for the past month.”

Scup fishing continues to be very good just about anywhere there is structure and water movement. John from Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside, said, “Scup are being taken everywhere in the Bay. Anglers are still catching scup at the white church bridge in Barrington.” Tom Giddings said, “Many customers have said the scup have been larger than ever before. They are also catching more sea robins and dogfish than ever before from shore at Conimicut Point”  “Ethan, one of our associates at Ocean State, caught scup to 17” from Goat Island, Newport. Anglers are also catching scup under the Mt. Hope Bridge, at Colt State Park and at Rocky Point.”

Offshore.  A report from noted offshore angler Richard Pastore. “We headed out at 5:30 a.m. from Wickford on Wednesday to Tuna Ridge and the temperature break we saw (on satellite). At Tuna Ridge temperature change went from 69 to almost 73 in a couple of miles. Flat seas, no bait and a few birds. Set in about 7 AM heading south towards NW corner of the Dump. We put out black squid and brown squid splash bars on the outside tracks about 150' back in the outriggers. Inside lines were a black and blue Islander with a Ballyhoo and green machine daisy chain with a bird leading the way. Twenty minutes out the brown spreader bar explodes and almost tears the outrigger off the boat. The fish came out of nowhere. The fish dumps about half of a spool of a 50 wide Penn reel until my son Joseph finally slows him down. 10 minutes later fish is pin wheeling next to the boat. We gaffed the fish, a fifty pound real fat bluefin tuna loaded with squid.”

Freshwater.  No major trout fishing or bite reported.  All the action is focused on largemouth bass with anglers using medium to large shiners to hook up.  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle said, “The largemouth bass are in post spawn now and customers are catching them at Stump Pond, Smithfield; the Turner Reservoir, East Providence and at Onley Pond, Lincoln Woods.”  Giddings of the Tackle Box said, “Freshwater fishing continues to be fantastic for customers.  Largemouth bass, white perch and carp at Roger Williams Park all continue to be good.  Customers are hooking up with bass at Carbuncle Pond, Coventry; Warwick Pond and Onley Pond, Lincoln.”

Striped bass on the move, fluke and black sea bass bite mixed

 Greg Vespe, Portsmouth with a striped bass he caught at sunrise in the Ft. Adams, Newport area.  Greg said he hooked the fish with a spook steeple white floating lure.

 Bill Bradley, Erica O’Connell and Ray Ludvigson all members of the RI Saltwater Anglers with some of the summer flounder they caught earlier this week in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay.

Michael Garmisa of West Philadelphia, PA with a 26” fluke and father-in law Michal Sullivan, former RI DEM director, with black sea bass.  The fish were caught off Jamestown, RI.

Striped bass on the move, fluke and black sea bass bite mixed

Greg Vespe, president of the Aquidneck Island Striper Team and RI Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) board member, said, “The bass are  beginning to drop out of Narragansett Bay for the next couple of weeks, so I recommend targeting the points and outcroppings near the mouth of Bay which was where I had success this week with striped bass.” 

Greg has caught a number of striped bass this time of year at places like the Ft. Adams, Newport area. “Bass are transitioning so it’s hard to target them as they are moving around a lot as the head out... so that’s why I like the points in the lower bay both east and west passage and the Sakonnet River. All the points to me offer the bass a staging and feeding area to stop at as they pass through.”

 “The dropping east tide brought striped from Buzzards Bay into the Cape Cod Canal.” said East End Eddie Doherty.  Doherty is a Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author. “Some nice fish were caught Monday including several 30 pounders and a 48 pound monster.  Wednesday morning I caught a 31 and a 35 inch striped bass.  I was using a five once Hurley olive/white rat tail on the dropping tide.” said Doherty.

The black sea bass season opened last week (June 24) in Rhode Island and anglers are hooking up with them.  Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick said, “Large sea bass are being caught off Beavertail and south. I mean nice fish with large humps on their heads.”

The summer flounder (fluke) bite picked up Saturday as the drift was not just good at Block Island and in the Bay earlier in the week. Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown said, “The fluke bite improved last week, Roger and Sue Lemma hooked up with their fluke limit quickly fishing off the Center Wall of the Harbor of Refuge with fish in the 20” to 25” range.” 

I fished with Erica O’Donnell, Bill Bradley and Ray Ludvigson in the West Passage and they picked up five nice keeper fluke to 24”, eight sea bass to 23” and ten scup in three and a half hours of fishing. Later this week the same area yielded a 26” fluke for West Philadelphia, PA resident Michael Garmisa.

Here are some fluke fishing tips I like to remind myself of when planning a trip.

•       Wind and tide should be in line as you want to drag (or drift) over the front of the fish, as they set-up looking into the current, this way it sees your bait, drift over the back of the fish and it may never see your bait.

•       Fish low/high bottom breaks… this means fishing channel breaks, edges of structure, etc.  My largest fluke have been caught on edges.

•       Match the hatch tipping with squid, bluefish, bass, silversides, mummies, minnows.  Often times whatever we catch (or seems to be in the water where we are fishing) I will cut up and strip for the fluke rigs.

•       Trailer teasers work, my largest fish have been caught with the trailer stinger bucktails

•       Find the fish, repeat pattern… noting both location and depth.

•       Power drift (putting boat in and out of gear to go slow) for movement at slack tide.

•       Both jigs and traditional fluke rigs work

• Power drift perpendicular when wind and tide not ideal

•       Personal favorite is big bait… Capt. Monti’s fluke cocktail… squid rig tipped with squid, fluke belly and horizontal minnow, believe that big baits catch big fish, you will catch fewer fish but they will be larger.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass.  Atlantic menhaden enhanced their appearance in the Providence River this week.  Tom Giddings from the Tackle Box, Warwick said, “Anglers are now using pogies as they can be found in the river, however, anglers fishing with eels at night are landing bass in the 30” to 45” range. And, the bluefish bite in the Bay has been very good.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside said, “We have had a few customers catching 36” and 38” fish in the Providence Rover using clam tongue and pogies.  Commercial customers fishing Block Island at night are catching their limit of five fish using eels at night.  But it has often been a slow bite.” Elisa Cahill of Sung Harbor Marina, South Kingstown said, “Surf fishermen are catching smaller bass with keepers mixed in. And, some anglers fishing from the West and off the Center Walls of the Harbor of Refuge are catching bonito.  Some are pretty good size.  The day bass bite at the North Rip and the Southwest Ledge is yielding smaller fish with the night bite on eels yielding 40 to 50 pound fish.”

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing improved greatly once the wind and tide started to work together Saturday.  I found the bite in the West Passage very good when there was a good drift.  Elisa Cahill said, “A customer caught a 10.9 fish from the beach last week, and when the dog fish are not around the wind farm and the east grounds are yielding fish.”  Cahill reports cod at the East Grounds and Sharks Ledge as well.  “Customers are catching fluke off Warwick Light and Warwick County Club as well as off Quonset Point.” said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait said, “The fluke bite off Newport has not been good, however, last week the balck sea bass bite was good with anglers catching decent size fish.”  Doug Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters said Thursday, “Fluke along the coastal shore are being caught but it is spotty, there are six pound fish but the larger ones are at Block Island.  We weighed in a 12 pound 11 once fluke caught there earlier this week.”

Black sea bass/scup.  Black sea bass fishing opened June 24 and the season has gotten off to a great start with anglers catching their limit of three fish/person/day.  Most are catching them when fluke fishing with squid.  Doug Wade of Watch Hill said, “Sea bass are kicking in with some nice fish being caught along the coastal shore.”  Littlefield of Archie’s said, “Scup fishing has improved 100 fold in the Bay.  Anglers are catching their limit at Sabin Point, Colt State Park and at the white church bridge, Barrington.” 

Offshore.  Hans Lugus of the fishing vessel Twister caught a 325 pound thresher shark Friday.  Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marine said, “Shark fishing is on.  Just in time for our Shark Tournament July 6 and 7. Visit www.snugharbormarina.com for details.

Camp aims to hook youth on fishing

Joseph Stracuzzi (seven) of Hope Valley gets his life jacket inflated by Marcus Mitchell, Vice Commander Division 7 of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary at the RI Saltwater Anglers Association/DEM fishing camp.

 Take-A-Kid Fishing Day a Success:  Alexander, a Cub Scout from Providence, with a bluefish he caught Saturday with the help of Steve Brustein, a RI Saltwater Anglers Association volunteer from West Warwick.

Children at Fishing Camp participate in the symbolic ‘first cast’ with Steve Medeiros, president of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association, Mayor Joseph Solomon, DEM director Janet Coit, Warwick Parks & Recreation Director James Scott, and Rep. Joseph Solomon Jr. of Warwick.

Camp aims to hook youth on fishing

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) and the Department of Environmental Management’s (DEM) held their annual youth fishing camp this week for 55 children. Funding for the three day camp was provided by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.  The camp was held at Rocky Point State Park, Warwick for children 7 to 12 years old. 

Steve Medeiros, president of the RISAA said, “Fishing appeals to our sense of adventure, teaches us patience and how to take care of the environment.  We learned that the children love to fish so we have optimized fishing time from shore, on private vessels and one day we will travelled to Pt. Judith to fish on the Seven B’s party boat.”

Topics covered over the three-day camp include fish identification, conservation, use of spinning and conventional gear and tackle, basic marine biology, how and why to use different baits and lures, boating safety, casting form shore and fishing from private boats as well as a party/charter boat.

Janet Coit, Director of the Department of Environmental Management, said, “The youth fishing camp is one of DEM’s favorite events of the year because it combines and highlights so many important values including clean water, access to recreational opportunities for all, ecological stewardship, fellowship with terrific partners like RISAA, and of course, fun.”

The popular camp is annually held in June, visit www.risaa.org for announcements on next year’s camp.

RISAA also held their annual Take-a-Kid Fishing Day last Saturday.  Thirty-two vessels took ninety-two children form Boys & Gils Clubs, scout troops and town/city recreation departments fishing.  Young anglers trolled for bluefish and the bite was on.  The bluefish were in the two to four pound range.  Hat’s off to RISAA and the 125 volunteers who provided fishing and a cookout for all after fishing. 

Now is the time to fish for fluke

It’s time to fish for summer flounder (fluke).  The bite is likely as good as it is going to get in the mid-Bay region before the fish move out to the lower Bay and out to deeper, cooler water.  The fluke season runs from May 1 to December 31 in Rhode Island with a six fish/angler/day limit and a 19” minimum size.

Rhode Island also has a special shore area provision. Two fish 17” minimum size are allowed in special shore areas only.  The total possession limit is still six fish, but two can be 17”, the rest must be 19” or larger.  When fishing from shore the special areas are Fort Wetherill, Jamestown; Fort Adams, Newport; India Point Park, Providence; Stone Bridge, Tiverton; the West and East and Walls of the Harbor of Refuge, South Kingstown and Narragansett; Conimicut Park, Warwick; and Rocky Point, Warwick.

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.

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.

Where’s the bite?

Fluke (summer flounder) and sea bass bite is in full swing. Doug Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters said, “The fluke bite off Block Island was not good at the end of the last week.  Too many dog fish (sharks) and anglers are having difficulty working their way through them all.”  The coastal shore has been good for fluke. Wade said, “Customers are catching fish in the five to eight pound range from Misquamicut Beach to Watch Hill. So the fishing for fluke is good.  The Fishers Island bite continues to be strong.”  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “We spent the whole week working the Island. Many anglers left with limit catches or one or two shy. The quality of the fish was great with pool fish being 7-10 pounds every day. More sea bass have been showing up as well. The half days have been off to a slower start. The beaches have been peaks and valleys. We are catching a few keepers and piles of shorts along the beaches. Sea bass are also starting to show up on the beaches.”  Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle Warwick, said, “Anglers are catching keeper fish off Warwick Country Club and in the channel between Warwick Light near the red can.  The bite south of the Jamestown Bridge has been OK too.  And, the sea bass have been larger in the lower Bay, south of the bridges.”

Scup fishing has improved a lot this week, particularly in the mid Bay region.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle Riverside said, “The white church bridge in Barrington is producing a lot of scup.  They are in the upper portion of the water column so anglers getting their bait to float in that area a doing well. One customer caught 30 keeper scup at the white bridge.”  Doug Wade of Watch Hill said, “The porgies (scup) are very big.  Southern coastal shore anglers are experiencing a great scup bite.”

Striped bass/bluefish bite has been mixed.  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “Monster striped bass have been showing up in waves as well. Many fish between 30-50 pounds (at Block Island) have been reported by some of the day boats.”  “There are bluefish of all sizes all around the Bay” said Ferrara of Ray’s Bait.  Last Saturday 40 boats trolling for bluefish in Greenwich Bay as part of the Take-A-Kid Fishing Day hooked up with bluefish.  The striped bass bite in the upper Bay, the Providence River area, has not been good at all this year.  Anglers say there is a shortage of pogies (Atlantic menhaden) which the bass historically follow up the Rivers in Providence.  Littlefield from Archie’s Bait & Tackle said, “My avid bass fishermen and commercial fishermen are traveling to Block Island to hook up with striped bass.  We are catching a ton of school bass but keepers are far and few between.”  Wade of Watch Hill said, “Anglers are catching bass along the southern coastal shore but they are small fish.  Large bass in the 30 pound range are being caught off the reefs at Watch Hill.”

Freshwater fishing for largemouth bass has been good.  Littlefield said, “The trout bite is nonexistent as the water is warm now but anglers are catching sunfish and largemouth in area ponds.”  The largemouth bass bite in South County continues to be good said Wade of Watch Hill.

Young anglers aim to hook big fish

Big bass bite: Capt. Rick Bellavance of Priority Fishing Charters, said “There were miles of striped bass from 20” to 46” at Block Island this week.” Like this 40 pounder caught by a customer last Sunday.

Summer flounder (fluke) like this seven pounder caught on Priority Fishing Charters were entered in the Fluke Til Ya Puke Tournament last Saturday.  The winning 10.20 pound fish was caught off Montauk, NY.

Young anglers aim to hook big fish

This is the week for young anglers.  They will be fishing in Narragansett Bay on Saturday, June 22 and Thursday, June 27.

Plan fishing in Greenwich Bay accordingly this Saturday as the RI Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) will hold their 21^st annual Take-a-Kid fishing day, Saturday, June 22.  Approximately forty volunteer vessels and 125 shore and boat volunteers will take 119 kids fishing in Greenwich Bay trolling for bluefish.

Fishing will be followed by a 12 noon cookout at Brewers (Safe Harbor) Cowesett Marina, which donates the use of boat slips, staging and cookout areas.  Youth participation is limited to organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs, Scouting Troops and city recreation departments. 

The aim of the program is to teach children about the ocean, environment, boating and give them an opportunity to fish.  Often children participating have never seen the saltwater, never mind ride a boat and fish.

Youth Fishing Camp, Tuesday, June 25-June 27

The RI Saltwater Anglers and the Department of Environmental Management Youth Fishing Camp is full with a waiting list, but watch for this camp next year.  The Camp will be held at Rocky Point State Park, Warwick, Tuesday, June 25 to Thursday, June 27 for children 7 to 12 years old. 

Steve Medeiros, RISAA president said, “The goal is to introduce youngsters to fishing. We find children of all backgrounds and cultures are attracted to fishing for all the right reasons and our aim is to give them a proper introduction to the sport.”

Topics to be covered over the three day camp include fish identification,  fishing laws, use of spinning and conventional gear and tackle, knot tying, basic marine biology, how and why to use different baits and lures, casting and fishing from shore as well as boating safety and fishing on a boat.

The fishing camp is sponsored by the RI Saltwater Anglers Foundation in partnership with RI DEM Aquatic Resource Education Program, US Fish & Wildlife and Brewers Marina. 

 Saltwater Fly Fishing School, Saturday, June 29

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Resource Education Program will hold a Saltwater Fly Fishing School, Saturday, June 29 at the Narrow Rive Bridge, Route 1A Boston Neck Road, Narragansett.  All students must have some fly fishing experience.

Edward Lombardo, local fly fishing expert and school instructor said, “Equipment including fly rod, gear and flies will be provided, however, participants should bring their own waders.”  The cost of the program is $15.00 per person which includes lunch. Students must be 16 years or older. Ages 16 and 17 need be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.  Register with Kimberly Sullivan at 401-539-0037 or kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ tournament big success

The 14^th Annual ‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ fishing tournament held Saturday, June 15 was a big success once again.  Organizers, Captains Brian and Peter Bacon of Big Game Sport Fishing charters, South Kingstown, say it is the largest summer flounder (fluke) tournament in the world.  The tournament has multiple entry categories and over $50,000 in prizes.

Capt. Peter Bacon said, “We had our fingers crossed with the weather Saturday and lucked out with an eight hour window of good weather during the Tournament.  About 90 percent of the fish we weighed in were in the six to seven pound range. The largest fish, we had about four fish over nine pounds, were caught off Montauk, NY.”

12,001 anglers participated in the Tournament, down slightly from last year, likely due to the predicted bad weather.  The ‘biggest fluke’ prize of $5,000 went to Bill Robinson with a 10.20 pound fluke; followed by Nino Averso, 9.74 pounds; and third place went to Eric Alleyne with a 9.38 pound fluke.”

For additional information and a complete list of winners visit www.biggamefishingri.com or the tournament Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FlukeTilYaPuke/.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass/bluefish.  The Cape Cod Canal continues to light up with striped bass. David Jeffers of Red Top Sporting Goods, Buzzards Bay, said, “The squid are in the Canal and the bass are here feeding on them.  We weighed in a 44 and a 35 pound fish this week.  Fish are being caught on the bottom with jigs.” Capt. Rich Bellavance of Priority Fishing Charters said, “Sunday the bass fishing at Block Island was outstanding with miles of fish in the 20 inch to 46 inch range. We are catching them on umbrella frames and parachute jigs.  They are feeding on small sand ells.  The southwest corner has been the best but there are fish at the north end (although smaller) and the southeast side is yielding blues and bass.”  Douglas Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly said, “The beaches are producing smaller striped bass with larger ones being caught on the reefs.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside said, “There are not a log of pogies around in the Providence River/Pawtucket area.  Anglers are catching keepers in the Conimicut Light and Rumstick Point areas trolling tube & worm.”  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Steven Estrada caught a 45” striped bass at India Point Park, using Atlantic menhaden chucks.”  The bluefish bite in the mid Bay area continues to improve.  Jim Laird on the RISAA blog said, “Fished out of East Greenwich Bay with my nephew today and trolled up a mess of bluefish. We must have caught over 40 in three hours and they all ran around 2 – 3 lbs. The choppers are much bigger this year.”

Fluke fishing is mixed.  Capt. Peter Bacon of BIG Game Sport Fishing Charters said, “During the ‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ tournament last Saturday anglers fishing the south side of Block Island had to battle dog fish to land fluke.” Doug Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters said Tuesday, “The fluke bite along the southern coastal shore has been outstanding with anglers hooking up with a lot of nice black sea bass which they will be able to take starting June 24 when the season opens in RI.”  “Fluke are being caught in the mid-Bay region on the shipping channel pads in the Prudence Island ‘T Wharf’ area.” said Henault of Ocean State Tackle. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle said, “Some reports of customers catching keeper fluke drifting along the side of Dutch Island in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay in 40 to 60 feet of water.”

Scup.  Dave Henault said, “Scup to 16” are being taken under the Mt. Hope Bridge and off Barrington.”  John Littlefield said, “The scup bite is just starting to improve with fish being caught at Colt State Park.”

Freshwater fishing.  Dave Henault of Ocean State said, “The trout bite is off, however, customers are catching largemouth and the carp fishing has been very good.”  Doug Wade of Watch Hill said, “The largemouth bass bite at Chapman’s Pond in Westerly had been very good.”

URI puts ocean wind on front burner

URI’s ocean wind role:  Jessica Willi, executive director of Block Island Tourism Council and Meg Kerr, senior director of policy, Audubon Society of RI, listen to fellow panelists at URI’s ocean wind workshop.

Bluefish bite arrives:  Chris Boutin, Marine and Army Guard combat veteran, service dog Freya, and Capt. Monti fished Project Healing Waters as a team.  Chris’s fly hooked up with multiple bluefish.

URI puts ocean wind on front burner

The University of Rhode Island (URI) reached out to ocean wind stakeholders last week at their ‘Preparing for Offshore Renewable Energy’ workshop held at the Coastal Institute, URI Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett. 

Jennifer McCann, workshop facilitator and director of US Coastal Programs for the Coastal Institute/Sea Grant said, “This is not a prioritizing exercise, but rather an effort to identify information needs, technology questions and workforce gaps created by offshore renewable energy growth.”

The goal of the workshop was to identify how URI can fulfill needs contributing to the appropriate growth of offshore renewable energy.

URI offers a broad range of multidisciplinary expertise to understand the impacts of renewable energy siting, construction and implementation.  David Bidwell, assistant professor of URIs Department of Marine Affairs said, “To date URI has received about $20-million in grants in regard to ocean wind farm industry research.”  The idea would be to engage a variety of URI departments moving forward.

Highlights of the workshop included:

Fred  Mattera, president, RI Commercial Fisheries Center, said, “I see safety as a big concern, our experience with the sinking of the Mistress off the Block Island Wind Farm was that Coast Guard helicopters had to call off the air search due to high winds fearing that they would come too close to wind turbines.  We also see safety as an issue within planned wind farm transit zones.  The planned two mile wind transit zone is simply not wide enough. We are advocating for a four mile wide zone.”

 

Grover Fugate, executive director, RI Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC), said, “All data and science needs to be shared, who better than the University to provide an independent, non-bias voice, on the impacts of ocean wind farm development.”

Andrew Gill, principle scientist, Center for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (in the United Kingdom) said, “The inclusive philosophy of your Ocean SAMP program worked well.  I would suggest building the spirit of this program into the development of ocean wind.  For example in Belgium (the gold standard for ocean wind development), all stakeholders have a voice at the table and collectively stakeholders come up with the best solutions to challenges.”

Gill continued, “Additionally, in Belgium, they address research continuity and cumulative impacts by having one central source to decide how research funds are spent, key learnings from the past year are used to set the research agenda for the following year.” In this way research learnings are able to be applied to future wind farms immediately.

Key recommendations made at the closing session on how URI should contribute to appropriate growth of offshore wind included: URI as a consensus builder/facilitator, like the SAMP program prior to the development of the Block Island Wind Farm; serve as a research, communication and education resource like a ‘Center for Offshore Wind’ that engages all stakeholders, the ‘Center’ would aim to educated, communicate and serve as a funnel for all research.

Additional recommendations included the coordination of all research by one entity which would allow research money to be pooled for greater impact and apply both good and bad cumulative impacts of multiple wind farms immediately; explore benefits of tower foundations and anti-scour pads to develop habitat for recreational fishing;  develop research protocols for all wind farms; the need to educated the public about renewable energy to help build an understanding and a ‘pipeline’ of qualified work force.

Bluefish arrive for Project Healing Waters

Last Saturday was a good day for fly fishing wounded Veterans participating in the Project Healing Waters event out of Allen Harbor, North Kingstown.  Ten boats took twelve fly fishing anglers out for a morning of fishing on Narragansett Bay from 6:00 a.m. to 12 noon.  The trip was followed by a cookout on shore at Allen Harbor Marina.

The vessels found a good bluefish bite in Greenwich Bay, Warwick in front of the Buttonwoods area. 

For a little more than a decade Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, part of the Stars & Stripers initiative, has focused on healing those who serve. 

Fibromyalgia Striped Bass Tournament

The 2019 Fishing for Fibromyalgia Striped Bass Tournament will be held July 19, 6:00 p.m. to Sunday, July 21, 12:00 p.m. at Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown.  The waterway boundaries for the tournament extend from the Westport River, MA to Watch Hill Lighthouse, including Block Island.

The $10 donation/entry fee goes directly to researching the safe and effective treatment of fibromyalgia/chronic pain by the Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Rheumatology.

Tournament organizer Richard Geldard said, “We have four tournament division… shore, boat, kayak and a 12 and under division.” First place trophy for the heaviest fish in each Division with tie decided by length and/or girth.  Second and third place fish will receive gift subscriptions and/or a special edition almanac form On The Water Magazine.

For information visit www.fishingforfibro.com  or contact Richard Geldard at geldard.richard@gmail.com and 774.930.7098. 

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass fishing was hot at the Cape Cod Canal and mixed everywhere else this week.  Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick said, “Some larger fish in the 30 pound range have been caught in Mt. Hope Bay.”  Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren said, “The large fish were in Mt. Hope Bay in the Somerset and Bristol Street Bridge areas.  Last week we had an east passage bite.”  Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle said, “We have some anglers still catching school bass in the coves in Rhode Island.”

Fluke fishing.  Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait said, “Anglers are catching keeper size fish in front of Warwick Country Club.”  Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box said, “Some nice fish are being caught at the 12’/32’ depth break in front of the Warwick Neck golf course.”  Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “Fluke fishing had its peaks and valleys last week. The bite that we had earlier at the Island seemed to have thinned out. Hope it picks up this week.”  

Scup fishing has improved throughout the Bay,  “Customers are catching scup to 14” at Colt State Park, the Narrows and under the Mt. Hope Bridge.”, said Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait.  Tom Giddings said, “Scup are moving into the Bay as well as sea bass.  Customers are catching some nice black sea bass but are having to throw them back as the season does not start until June 24.”

Freshwater fishing for largemouth bass is hot.  Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box said, “The largemouth bite has been outstanding at Tioque Lake, Coventry, Stump Pond and at Warwick Pond.  Some pickerel are being caught too.  The bass are now post spawn, the fish are nice large fish but they don’t have those sagging bellies as they did a couple of weeks ago that were loaded with eggs.”

Striped bass under attack, anglers need to take a stand

Spring bass a hoot: Steve Brustein with a 25” spring striped bass caught on an Al Gag’s soft plastic white lure in five feet of water near the Godard Park boat ramp, Warwick.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Program, part of the Stars & Stripers initiative, will take place Saturday, June 8 at Allen Harbor, North Kingstown. Donations of all types are welcome.

Striped bass under attack… anglers need to take a stand

Striped bass are under attack.  The recent stock assessment indicates they are overfished and are subject to overfishing. Think of the striped bass in the water as bank account, we are not only earning less than we are spending (overfishing), but the account is overdrawn (overfished).

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), that regulates striped bass coastwide, recommended an Addendum that aims to reduce harvest by 17 percent to lower mortality and bolster Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB), females in the water that can spawn.

Yet some government officials are advocating to take more fish for short term economic gain, rather than rebuilding the stock growing it to abundance so there are more fish in the water for all to catch, eat and/or release.

Additionally, some special interest groups want to move an Amendment (different than the Addendum mentioned above) forward that would move the goal post. So rather than fishing within the scientifically arrived at target to insure a sustainable fisher, they aim to lower the bar on ‘ecological reference points’… the amount of spawning stock biomass that is required to be left in the water.

In a May 21, 2019 press release Rep. Lee Zeldin (R) from New York District 1 (which includes the Montauk, NY area) said, “New York fishermen faced a major blow due to ASMFC’s decision to cut the Atlantic Striped Bass fishery by up to 17% next year and maintain the current ban on striped bass fishing in the Block Island Sound Transit Zone. Rather than rooting these decisions in local stock assessments,… the ASMFC used flawed data that measures the Atlantic Striped Bass stock based on the entire eastern seaboard,”

First, the recommendation to reduce the striped bass catch limit was based on a stock assessment that was peer-reviewed by respected fisheries scientists, not a U.S. Representative that wants to take more fish to satisfy constituent fishermen in his District.  Striped bass migrate and they tend to spawn in the same places so it is important to have a coastwide assessment and not just use local ‘alternate data’.

In regard to fishing in the Block Island EEZ, Representative Zeldin said he would like to use “Alternative data that shows the Striped Bass stock is in a better place outside the 3-mile limit”.  We should all be concerned about ‘Alternative data’ developed locally as it often comes to a conclusion that is in line with the local political situation.  In this case taking more fish, for short term economic gains of special interest groups in the Congressman’s District. 

Don’t get me wrong, an abundance of data is a good thing (local and national).  However, when Congressman Zeldin uses the term ‘alternate data’ it raises a red flag as it sounds like the term ‘alternative facts’ we often hear today.

Taking more fish for short term economic gain rather than long term stock rebuilding of striped bass is wrong. Sacrificing environmental concerns for economic gain is characteristic of Rep. Zeldin.  Whether you like to bird watch, be outside in open spaces, or fish… beware of Rep. Zeldin’s environmental record.  His lifetime score (voting record) on environmental legislation has earned him a score of 10 percent (out of 100) which is the lowest score of any NY Congressman from the League of Conservation Voters (http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/lee-zeldin).  By comparison twelve of the fifteen congressmen from New York have lifetime scores of 89 percent or better.

The fish in the ocean belong to all the people of the United States of American and not a select few.  We need to grow fish to abundance for all the people.

The ASMFC’s next meeting in August will consider Addendum options that will go out for public comment.  The goal is to have an approved Addendum in place for 2020 regulations.  Anglers need to comment on the Addendum when it is put out for public comment after the August meeting and oppose an Amendment that would move the goal post on Spawning Stock Biomass.

For a four part article series on the history of striped bass, regulations and recommendations visit www.saltwaterguidesassociation.org  for Rep. Zeldin’s May 21 press release and a more detailed rebuttal to his claims visit www.oneanglersvoyage.blogspot.com . 

Project Healing Waters Supports Veterans

On Saturday, June 8 disabled veterans, local volunteers, businesses, and civic organizations will gather at the Allen Harbor Marina in North Kingstown for the second annual Narragansett Bay ‘Stars & Stripers’ fishing event. 

Over a dozen disabled veterans and their families from Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing programs in New England will be hosted for the day on the Bay by professional guides and local experts to fish for striped bass and bluefish.  Thanks to local businesses and civic organizations a special shore lunch will be provided for all at this invitation-only event.

Donations of all types are welcome to make the day more memorable for veterans and their families.  To make a donation contact Keith Tanner, event coordinator, at keithtanner@sbcglobal.net or 203.521.2457.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater.  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside said, “I sold a ton of shiners this week to anglers targeting largemouth and everyone was catching a quantity of fish.  Echo Lake in Bristol County was particularly good for anglers.”  Capt. Tom Pelletier of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said, “DEM restocked some of the area ponds so the trout bite is very, very good.”

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing picked up a bit this week as the water warmed along the coastal shore, in the Bay and offshore.  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “The fluke fishing is really starting to pick up. Saturday was picture perfect conditions and fluking was red hot. We had the best day of the year so far with over 60 keepers. We had five fish around eight pounds. Water temperatures have really risen with the warm week.”  Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick said, “The fluke bite in the middle to upper Bay has really not started yet.”  Don Smith, expert angler and longtime RI Saltwater Anglers member, said, “We have been doing good with fluke on the south side of Block Island in about 70 feet of water.  Last week and this week we caught fish to 8.5 and 10 pounds.  There is a lot of bait around… sand ells and mackerel but no bass feeding under them.  We did start to catch dog fish when we moved to the East Grounds.”

Striped bass and bluefish fishing continues to get stronger with school striped bass and larger fish.  Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box said, “We weighted in a 30 pound bass this weekend caught on an umbrella rig in the Bay.”  John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside said, “The striped bass bite was good this week with a 42” fish caught in the upper Providence River and several keepers caught from shore at Colt State Park mixed in with school bass.  Anglers are catching as many school bass as they want in the Lavin’s Marina area in Barrington.”  Capt. Pelletier of Quaker Lane said, “Keeper striped bass being caught mixed in with school bass.  And it was nice to hear this weekend the bluefish arrived in force in the mid and upper-Narragansett Bay areas in Greenwich Bay as well as in the east passage north of Prudence Island.”

Tautog fishing season ends May 31 and reopens again August 1.