No Fluke

New cod and haddock regulations

Posted

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

‘Knot Reel Teeth’ takes Snug Harbor Tournament with 328 pound thresher

The sport fishing vessel ‘Knot Reel Teeth’ from South Kingston, captained by Rich Napolitano, landed a 328 pound thresher shark on Saturday, July 6 to take the Snug Harbor Shark Tournament. Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina said, “Chris Napolitano was the angler on the fish. He was assisted by Capt. Richard and Ryan Napolitano.”

Jim Sansaua took second place in the Tournament with a 230 pound thresher also caught on Saturday, July 6. The tournament kicked off on July 6 at 5 a.m. and concluded at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 7.

Proceeds from the tournament go the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association and the Recreational Fishing Alliance.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass fishing has moved out of the 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 midnight to 4 a.m. on eels. The Cape Cod Canal remains very hot too, with soft plastic lures like Al Gag’s Whip-It Eel working well with anglers fishing them anywhere in the water column where the fish are.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside, said, “A few striped bass have been caught on tube & worm around Conimicut and Warwick Neck Lights, however, no reports of fish taken north of these areas.” 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 (fluke) fishing remains spotty in the bay. 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.” Earlier this week the dog fish were pretty bad south of Block Island said Cahill of Snug Harbor. Littlefield of Archie’s said, “Large BSB are being caught off Newport, however, no black sea bass are being caught in the upper bay. And, the fluke fishing has slowed off Block Island.” 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. Once the clock strikes noon someone seems to ring the dinner bell and the fluke start coming over the rails. May limit out on catches this week. 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 in the bay, and just about anywhere outside the bay where there is structure and water movement. Littlefield from Archie’s said, “Scup are being taken everywhere in the bay. Anglers are still catching scup at the white church bridge in Barrington.” 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. One customer caught two weak fish from shore there this weekend.” “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.”

Bonito continued to make an appearance this week. “No reports of massive schools but fish are being caught from the West Wall of the Harbor of Refuge and east,” said Henault.

Freshwater fishing. 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. Henault 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 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 Olney Pond, Lincoln.”

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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