No Fluke

Fishing tournament for visually impaired

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The RI Lions Sight Foundation (RILSF) will be hosting their 12th Annual Fishing Tournament for Visually Impaired Persons (VIPs) on Sunday, June 23 aboard the Frances Fleet party boat in Galilee. The Tournament is a half-day fishing trip with participants competing for one of several trophies and an opportunity to represent Rhode Island at the “North Carolina Lions National VIP Tournament” in October. Also included during the Nationals trip is a New England Lions Tourney which currently includes teams from RI, CT and MA.

The event is free to the VIPs and their guides and includes a continental breakfast, fishing, followed by a lunch and presentation of prizes and awards at Dan’s Carriage Inn, North Kingstown. The VIP Tournament is available to any legally blind Rhode Island resident (minimum age is 17).

To cover the costs of the tournament, the RILSF depends on support from RI District 42 Lions Clubs and individual contributions. For those who may be interested in contributing to the event, a donation of any size is appreciated. A $150 donation will sponsor a VIP & guide in the Tournament.

There are over 2,500 visually impaired persons in Rhode Island so organizers are urging readers to pass along information about this opportunity. Information and applications on the RI VIP Tourney are available at www.lions4sight.org/fish.htm or call Ken Barthelemy at 401/447-4228.

Ecosystem-based management plans released

NOAA Fisheries released nine implementation plans that identify priority actions and milestones for Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management nationally and regionally for the next five years. Each plan identifies milestones that will help the agency meet sustainable fisheries goals under multiple mandates by more holistically considering social, economic and biological trade-offs across fisheries. See plans at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ecosystems/ecosystem-based-fishery-management-implementation-plans.

Atlantic menhaden regulations confusing

Due to concerns regarding potential baitfish shortages this summer, interest in Massachusetts’ commercial menhaden fishery has been amplified. The management of this fishery has evolved over time and depending on the location fished, the gear used and the quantity of fish to be retained fishermen may need up to five different regulated fishery permit endorsements to retain and land menhaden commercially.
 
In response, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), has published a new policy document that provides guidelines to commercial menhaden fishery permitting rules. This policy does not alter the existing menhaden permitting or management structure, but instead succinctly describes the various permit classes and the tiers of fishing opportunities permit holders are authorized to engage in based on the permit endorsements held.
 
For more information regarding the management of menhaden in Massachusetts visit www.mass.gov/marinefisheries or call DMF at 617/626-1520.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass. Lorraine Danti of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren said, “One of our customers fishing Narragansett Bay was having a blast catching school striped bass fishing and all of a sudden his line started to pay out quickly and it was a big fish, actually a 42” fish mixed in with the school bass. He was using a soft plastic lure. Other customers are doing well with school bass too, with an occasional keeper mixed in.” Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Capt. B.J. Silvia of Flippin Out Charters is landing some nice fish in the 30 inch range in the East Passage on the channel pad. His customers are successfully jigging with Al Gag’s soft plastics. From shore anglers are landing bass using claim worms sea worms, clams and soft plastics.”

Tautog fishing has been very good. Danti said, “The tautog bite is very good from boats and shore. Customers are catching their limit at the Stone Bridge and Bristol Narrows.” I fished the General Rock, North Kingstown area Saturday with angler Steve Brustein of West Warwick in water 12 to 22 feet deep and caught short tautog only. “Fishing for tautog from boat and shore has been good. Customers are catching fish 25” primarily south of the bridges. Narragansett has been very good for customers,” said Henault.

Freshwater fishing continues to be very strong. Mark Adler of Tiverton said, “We have been hitting the trout pretty good. This weekend I fished Wallum Lake (Douglas, MA and Burrillville) and landed rainbow trout using garlic PowerBait. The trout were quality fish and there were a lot of them.”

“The trout bite is still good but the largemouth bass bite at Lincoln Woods Olney Pond, the Tiverton Reservoir and the Woonasquatucket River, North Providence has been very good. Anglers are using shiners. The bite in the North Cove of the Olney Pond is particularly good because of all the structure and bait there,” said Henault.

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing has been improving offshore. Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “It was a good week for fluke fishing and it is getting better with the warming weather. Every trip we are catching more and more fish covered in sea lice. This is a very good sign with more fish moving in to the area. The water is still in the upper 40s and fishing should only continue to improve as it warms.”

Squid fishing was good this week. Capt. Blount said, “Anglers who fish all night have been going home with a solid five gallon bucket full. The size of the squid is amazing as well. Wednesday night did have the best quality with tubes the size of your arm.” Henault said, “Ethane Phouthakoun of Providence and his father caught a half-bucket of squid Sunday night and then limited out on scup Monday morning.”

Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. He is a RISAA board member, a member of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association, the American Saltwater Guides Association and the RI Marine Fisheries Council. Follow Capt. Dave on twitter @CaptDaveMonti. He’ll be tweeting about ‘Where’s the bite’, fishing regulations, national fishing policy, and issues that impact the fish. Forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.

Dave Monti

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