Fishing for stripers? Bite hasn't been this good in years, says one local angler
This nation badly needs renewable energy to stem the tide on climate change. We see climate impacts on fish and habitat and a host of other negative impacts every day. So, our national administration put the pedal to the medal to develop renewable energy, and on our coast, offshore wind energy has taken a front seat with more than 2,000 turbines planned for the East Coast now in various stages of planning or construction.
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries group needs help to assess the impacts — both negative and positive — that offshore wind projects will have on fish, habitat and communities. So it was great to see at the end of last month the NOAA and the University of Rhode Island joining forces with a formal five-year agreement to work together to add scientific horsepower to NOAA Fisheries’ initiative to explore how offshore wind energy development will affect marine ecosystems, the ocean and fishing communities.
“Our science center and URI bring a deep bench of scientific expertise and experience in oceanography, marine life, fisheries and coastal communities,” said Jon Hare, director of NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, Mass. “I am delighted about this opportunity to leverage our capabilities to better understand the interactions between offshore wind development and marine ecosystems.”
For additional information about the partnership visit Wind Energy Partnership NOAA URI | NOAA Fisheries.
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass and bluefish. “The bass bite is very slow in the Bay but customers are catching some bluefish,” said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in Riverside. Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle in Warren reported: “Fishing for striped bass has not been this good in years. The bass had been feeding on the large amount of sand eels we have had around for the past couple of weeks; now things are moving to more of a normal summer pattern with eels working for anglers out in front [of Newport] early morning with an excellent bite with eels at night. You can catch them in the day, too, but the fish are deeper as the sun heats things up. The outgoing tide seems to be working better lately.” AJ Lombardo of Shrewsbury, Mass., and grandfather Tony Lombardo caught multiple bluefish Saturday in the mid-30-inch range trolling tube and working off Poppasquash Point in Bristol. Angler Fred DeFinis of Middletown, said: “Large bluefish in the 26- to 34-inch range are off Cormorant Reef [at the mouth of the Sakonnet River]. Fish are feeding on squid and 5- to 6-inch menhaden. Good lures are shiny things in the 1-2 ounce range, including diamond jigs, Crippled Herring [silver] and similar lures. Single hook is a must to avoid treble hook misery for both the fish and angler.” Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box in Warwick said: “Eels are working well for customers fishing for bass off Newport. I have seen photos of very large fish.” Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown said: “Striped bass and bluefish are around in good numbers with catches reported from the Breachway, back in the salt pond and off of the beaches.”
Bottom fishing for fluke (summer flounder), scup, weakfish (squeteague) and black sea bass. Giddings said: “The weakfish bite has started off Warwick Light with some fluke being caught there, and at Rocky Point ,the scup bite is outstanding.” Sullivan said: “The fluke bite has been good at the Newport Bridge, in front from Newport all the way to the Sakonnet River. Last week, we found 15- to 18-pound bluefish on top with fluke under them feeding on sand eels. So the bite has been very good." O’Donnell said, “Keeper fluke are being found in 40 feet of water off the beaches. The fluke fishing isn’t red hot but most everyone that has been putting in their time is finding a few keepers. Try sticking tight to structure when fishing local — that has been the key to finding both fluke and seabass. The primary bait all fish are feeding on seems to be sand eels. There are some black sea bass around but they aren’t thick yet. Scup fishing has been excellent.” Littlefield said: “Scup fishing has been good at Colt State Park with some fluke being caught from Warwick Light to Seminary Cove area.” Sullivan reported: “The bluefin tuna bite continues to improve with fish being caught southwest of the dump." Angler Greg Vespe said on the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association blog: “We were out there on Thursday … seven for 10 on bluefin tuna, five smalls, two mediums … and one mako shark bite off. All on the troll.” O'Donnell noted: “Good reports coming from the southeast side of Block Island. Anglers are hooking up trolling bars and jigging.”
“Freshwater fishing for largemouth bass is in spawn or post-spawn depending on the pond you are fishing in," Sullivan said. "Frogs and larger lures in the 6- to 7-inch range all seem to be working.” Giddings said: “Shiners and a variety of top-water lures are working best for customers fishing for largemouth bass.”
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 that focuses 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.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Fishing for stripers hasn't been this good in RI in many years
