Saltwater licenses up 3.8 percent in Rhode Island 

The Department of Environmental Management’s Marine Fisheries Division released their 2024 annual commercial and recreational fishing report on May 20, 2025.  The Department is required by state law to provide annually to the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council a report for review which provides valuable context throughout the regulatory process. 

In 2024 there were 54,117 recreational saltwater licenses issued, up 3.8 percent from 2023. One of the highest license totals came in 2020 at the start of the covid pandemic when Rhode Island’s sought solace outdoors in clean fresh air more than ever including over 57,000 saltwater licenses.   

However, the remarkable number for me are the number of fishing trips anglers made last year, nearly four million. The 3,923,972 fishing trips came from shore, boat, charter/party boat sectors. Most of the 2024 fishing trips, 2,343,014, were made by shore anglers. 

When you stop to think about the money spent on each recreational fishing trip including bait, tackle, gear, fuel, boat cost and maintenance, hotels, restaurants, etc., the dollar amount is substantial for Rhode Island. NOAA’s Fisheries Economics of the United States relates that the all in number including durable goods for recreational fishing sales impacts in Rhode Island is $419 million annually. This data is from the 2018 report, the last year NOAA included durable goods in totals.   

The two top species caught (by numbers of fish) last year were scup at 6.3 million and black sea bass at 5.6 million. However, there was a major decline in Atlantic cod caught from 17,352 cod in 2023 to 7,539 caught in 2024. The cod stock has been overfished with overfishing occurring for years. Recently, new regulations separating the biomass into four separate stocks to help with rebuilding plans approved by the New England Management Fisheries Council has been delayed by the new administration. 

For a copy of the 2024 Rhode Island Annual Fisheries report visit https://dem.ecms.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/2025-05/2024_Annual_Report.pdf . 

South Fork Wind creating ‘reef effect’ 

The South Fork Wind Benthic Monitoring Program released a visual survey last month conducted at South Fork Wind (SFW), an offshore wind farm located 16.5 nautical miles southeast of Block Island, Rhode Island in the Cox Ledge area. The survey shows that the wind farm has had minimal environmental impact on the surrounding marine ecosystem and has created a positive “reef effect.” 

Similar “reef effects” have been documented by peer reviewed studies at European wind farms and during a seven-year study at the Block Island Wind Farm, which showed there was a greater amount of Atlantic cod and black sea bass in the wind farm area compared to two control areas outside the wind farm, and all other species abundance was even.  

Simply put, so far at 18 months out, South Fork Wind is yielding new habitat and fish. 

James Riggs, a recreational fishing representative on the Fisheries Advisory Board (FAB) of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), said, “The enhanced ecology that I clearly see will only compound with time and become more and more prolific. It gives me hope that we can see a real benefit from what is already structurally out there, and will be for a long time. There may be opportunities to enhance or improve on existing and or proposed marine infrastructure projects.” 

Key findings of the study include no detectable changes to the biological communities on the seafloor surrounding the turbines; marine life is using the wind turbine foundations as habitat; and the project is already creating a reef effect.. 

South Fork Wind’s comprehensive benthic (seafloor) monitoring program includes target visual studies at pre-construction, construction and post- construction time periods, which is something that fishermen advocated for.  Comprehensive monitoring, like this study, is a requirement and aims to protect valuable marine resources and habitat. 

To meet this requirement, independent science teams have conducted extensive visual monitoring surveys of the wind farm pylons, scour protection at the base of monopolies as well as at cabling and bolder relocation areas. 

Pictures speak louder than words 

The good news is that SFW benthic surveys have not detected demonstrable change in the biological community or benthic functions associated with pylons, cable routes or bolder relocation. Striking video and still images taken before, during and after construction show extensive blue mussel growth and fish at pylons and in the surrounding area. See videos and still images at South Fork Wind Benthic Monitoring Program. 

“I was very surprised with the mussel growth on pylons that has occurred so quickly. The video footage clearly showed the creation of life on the pylons and at the base of the pylons on the scour protection,” said Fred Mattera, executive director of the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island, which represents nine commercial fishing-related organizations in Rhode Island. 

Black sea bass, lobster, flounder, Atlantic cod, scup, cunner, barrel fish, flounder, butterfish, jack, mahi mahi, trigger fish, Bermuda chub, winter and summer flounder, sculpin, spotted and red hake, ocean pout and the Atlantic rock/Jonah crabs were observed at the structures. 

Where’s the bite? 

Striped bass/bluefish “Striper fishing is spotty.  They are scattered.  Narragansett Bay’s East Passage is still a good bet,” said Nick Krajewski of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown.  Angler Steve Burstein of Warwick caught a 34” striped bass Thursday night trolling tube & worm at Popasquash Point, Bristol. Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Striped bass fishing remains productive, with a good variety of sizes being caught. Bluefish are still present, and there have been reports of some good-sized ones.”  “Last week I caught a 32” and three smaller bass at Narrow River, Narragansett on an incoming tide. Used my burgundy color fly that caught some hickory shad as well,” said Ed Lombardo, fly fishing expert and instructor. 

Black sea bass, summer flounder (fluke) and scup. Last week I caught small keeper fluke north of the Jamestown Bridge on American Ledge.  Angler Matthew Haczynski reports fishing Block Island last Monday, “After a lot of slow fishing all of a sudden we loaded the cooler ending with all anglers on the boat limiting out.  The tides nearest to slack produced best.”  Nick Krajewski of Quaker Lane, said, “Anglers are catching keeper scup and black sea bass now.”  

Freshwater. Some ponds restocked with trout for Memorial Day. For information in RI visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov. 

Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net, visit www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com or www.noflukefishing.com .