Report shows fishing among giants has been good

Last week the Inspire/Venterra Environmental Group released a new story map on the coexistence of offshore wind farms and recreational/commercial fishing in the northeastern United States. The report explores what we have learned so far about the relationship between fisheries and offshore wind farms.

The report includes independent results based on years of data collection that include visual observations on the water, federal fisheries data, and preliminary results from ongoing benthic and fisheries monitoring at the wind farms. Collectively, they illustrate the ongoing coexistence of fish and fishing activities in offshore wind farms.

Key take-aways include: commercial and recreational fishing vessels safely transit and fish within offshore wind farms; commercial fishing revenues within offshore wind farm areas remain consistent since construction and operations began; the “reef effect” is real – turbine foundations are creating habitat for a diversity of sea life – what one fisherman describes as “an aquatic zoo”; and fisheries monitoring within a pilot-scale offshore wind farm shows no major changes to fish populations.

To see the report, visit Sharing the Seas - Fishing and Offshore Wind - Inspire Environmental (https://www.inspireenvironmental.com/resource/story-maps/sharing-the-seas-fishing-and-offshore-wind/ ).

Time for anglers to weigh-in

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is holding their 88th annual meeting in Newport, R.I., Nov. 9 to 12. This will be a hybrid meeting allowing in person attendance and remote participation by commissioners and interested anglers and other stakeholders in all meetings. 

The ASMFC manages Atlantic menhaden, striped bass, summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and tautog, as well as 21 other species (a total of 27) that anglers and commercial fishers like to catch in state waters. State waters are those waters from our coastal ocean shore out to the three-mile limit (including our bays and estuaries).

If you would like to know what volunteer policy makers and scientists are thinking about for regulations, harvest limits and commercial quotas, this is a good meeting to attend. You can provide written or in person comments on issues that are important to you. Public comments at the meeting may be limited by advisory panel chairpersons, particularly if issues have already been out for public comment.

One important issue discussed will be state Atlantic menhaden quotas for bait fisheries as well as the reduction industry. The reduction industry catches and kills over 80 percent of Atlantic menhaden to make fertilizers, fish oil pills, pet food and a host of other products.

Atlantic menhaden, or pogies as they are commonly referred to, serve as a forage fish for bluefish, striped bass, tuna, whales, osprey and a host of other animals. For years, anglers have been advocating for ecosystem-based regulations that leave enough of these fish in the water to feed these predators and others.

Capt. Paul Eidman, from Menhaden Defenders, said, “We are supporting a coastwide quota for Atlantic menhaden that gives striped bass at least a 50/50 chance of rebuilding, or no greater than 114,000 mt. This includes lowering the Chesapeake Bay Cap to 25,500 mt, and we support a process to change allocations away from Virginia to other states that need quota for bait fisheries. Be aware of any ‘compromise’ that again makes a minimal (say 20%) reduction to the coastwide quota, as this will again be a reduction on paper only. Such a cut will likely be above what the Atlantic menhaden reduction industry will actually catch in 2026.” 

Eidman said, “We need to hold that states accountable that do not support real conservation.” 

The annual meeting page of the ASMFC includes important background information; simply open the link to Background Materials to access those documents. Materials were posted Oct. 28 at https://asmfc.org/events/2026-annual-meeting/. 

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass and bluefish: Jeff Sullivan of Sam’s Bait & Tackle, Middletown, said, “There are some small bass around, but overall the bite is not good.”

Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, said, “There is no Block Island striped bass bite to speak of, with some fish being caught at the breachways on outgoing tides, but overall, the bite is not good.”

Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Striped bass numbers have certainly thinned out compared to earlier in the season, but there are still some quality fish around, along with smaller schoolies. Small soft plastics, epoxy jigs, bucktails, and swimming plugs are all worth having in the bag. With the colder weather settling in, slow down your retrieve when necessary and be willing to change things up.”

East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “There may be more fish coming and there will be holdovers throughout the winter, but most Canal Rats have now stowed their gear away for the season, and that includes this correspondent, so this is my last report of the year. Special thanks to my hi-tech consultant, AKA my wife J.”

Bonito and false albacore

Stephen Orefice of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly, said, “Larger bonito were caught along the coastal shore last week.” Jeff Sullivan of Sam’s Bait & Tackle, said, “There are some large bonito being caught, however, false albacore have not been around much.”

“At this point in the season, I’d consider bonito and false albacore more of a bonus encounter than something worth spending the entire day searching for,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle.

Tautog

Tautog fishing has been outstanding. Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, said, “Tautog fishing has been very good, with anglers catching them everywhere, off the docks, jetties and offshore on boats. Quite a few trigger fish are being caught by anglers targeting tautog.”

“The tautog bite has been very good, with anglers catching fish on our reefs, with some large black sea bass mixed in. Twenty to forty feet seems to be a good range for anglers,” said Stephen Orefice of Watch Hill Outfitters.

Freshwater

Freshwater fishing for both trout and largemouth bass has been good.  Stephen Orefice of Watch Hill Outfitters said, “Ponds stocked with trout this fall are producing for customers.”

“Trout stocked ponds are producing particularly on those days that warm causing more insects to come out enhancing the bite,” said Jeff Sullivan of Sam’s Bait & Tackle. Rhode Island fall trout stocking updates are available at www.dem.ri.gov/troutwaters. In Massachusetts visit Mass Wildlife at Trout stocking report | Mass.gov .

Dave Monti holds a master captain’s 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 and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net  or visit www.noflukefishing.com