Fishing Report

I fished this week with angler Gary Vandemoortele and his daughter, Shaina Boyle, of Smithfield. Gary caught his first black sea bass keeper of the season, a plump 21-inch fish in front of Warwick Light. “Guess we're having fresh fish sandwiches for dinner tonight." he said.

The black sea bass bite is improving: See the tips listed on how to catch and cook them.

This year, the minimum size is 16.5 inches for private anglers in Rhode Island with a two fish/per person/per day limit that will increase to three fish on Aug. 27.

Charter boat regulations are different — minimum size is 16 inches with a two fish/person/day limit that will increase to six fish on Sept. 1.

Rigs often used to catch black sea bass have two hooks approximately 12 inches to 16 inches apart with a bank sinker to hold bottom. Squid is most often used as bait. Many, including me, prefer using jigs to catch them but I also like red or pink squid rigs tipped with squid as I think the sea bass believe it is a small lobster or crab, some of their favorite foods.

Any underwater structure, including rocks, wrecks, piers and jetties, will attract black sea bass.  The larger males are generally found in deeper water.

Pan seared lack sea bass with lemon butter

(From Paula Smalec, the Saltwater Anglers Association's “Cooking Your Catch” columnist.)

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter, divided

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 black sea bass fillets

Lemon pepper seasoning

Salt

Lemon juice

1-2 tablespoons capers (optional)

Rinse fillets with cold water and pat them dry with paper towels.  Season one side of each fillet with salt and lemon-pepper seasoning.

Heat 1 tablespoon of butter with the oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat until the butter just begins to foam. Place the fillets, seasoned side down, into the frying pan. Fry for approximately one minute.

Turn fillets over and continue to fry until the fillets flake easily when pressed lightly. Remove fillets to a separate plate, seasoned side up, and cover with foil to keep warm.

Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the frying pan. Using a small whisk, scrape up any bits of fish that have stuck to the bottom of the pan.  Add a few splashes of lemon juice (and capers, if using them) and whisk the mixture vigorously until blended well.  Scrape the bottom of the pan as you drizzle this mixture over the fish.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass and bluefish. “The larger bass are being caught at night off Newport, Jamestown and at Block Island," said Reid Beland of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle in North Kingstown. "There are fish in the Bay but anglers are having to work for them.” Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box in Warwick reported: “One customer caught a 24-inch bluefish at Conimicut Point this weekend but the large bass and bluefish are being caught off Newport.” Ed Lombardo, fly fishing expert and guide, said: “Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, we fished both the Narrow River and the Charlestown Breachway. For the first time this season, we have started to see very good numbers of sand eels in both locations. The incoming tide has been better than the outgoing, I believe, because the water is much colder, coming in from the ocean. Sand eel patterns are working well in colors of dark olive over white buck tail or craft fur. My hot-pink and burgundy-shrimp pattern worked very well also. Hickory shad and striped bass are taking our offerings. One bass was close to keeping size from the Breachway.” Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown reported: “The bass have been dialed in on sand eels, which are thick out front and in the ponds. Most big fish have been caught on live bait, Doc like presentations and GT Eels.”

Scup, black sea bass and summer flounder. “Customers that are catching fluke and black sea bass are putting in their time," said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence. “Fluke fishing has been decent along the beaches. A lot of recreational shorts and you have to put your time in to get some keepers. Most fish coming from 40 feet of water. Don't be afraid to try stickier bottom where the draggers can't go. Some better reports coming from areas along the backside of Block in 50 feet. Sea bass report continues to improve with bigger fish starting to move up into shallower water. A lot of dinner plate scup being caught while targeting fluke.” O’Donnell reported: "I took home one 22-inch fluke for dinner this weekend caught at Warwick Light drifting across the channel. Giddings said: “Shoe fishing from Rocky Point Pier in Warwick has been very good. Customers are catching large scup to 18 inches, fluke to 22 inches and this weekend a customer caught a 37-inch skate that she kept, cleaned and cooked for her fellow anglers on the pier. Weak fish were also caught by anglers off Warwick Light and the Warwick Country Club. Larger fluke are being caught off Newport.”

Freshwater.  “The largemouth bass bite is good with anglers using both lures and bait [shiners] with success,” Giddings said. “Customers are doing fairly well at Ryan Park in North Kingstown,” Beland reported. “Anglers are hooking up with largemouth bass and some catfish at Ryan Park.”

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: Here's how to cook that black sea bass you've caught