Learn how to make the most of fishing from your kayak
Dustin Stevens of Rhode Island Kayak Fishing Adventures will be the quest speaker at a Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association seminar on at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, in the West Warwick Elk's Lodge at 60 Clyde St.
Dustin will cover everything from safety and equipment to techniques for catching fish on light tackle. He will share tips for both topwater fishing — blues, stripers and albies, as well as for the common bottom species, fluke, black sea bass and tautog. Many of his tips are relevant to both boat and shore anglers.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. Active members are always free; nonmembers are asked to make a $10 donation. Contact executive director Scott Travers at (401) 826-2121 or travers@risaa.org.
Understanding the North Atlantic right whale population
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries has released a comprehensive population viability analysis for North Atlantic right whales, and the 2023 population estimate. For an article with details, visit Reducing Entanglements and Vessel Strikes Makes Extinction Less Likely for North Atlantic Right Whales | NOAA Fisheries.
The analysis allows users to project how the total population’s extinction trajectory could change under various “what-if” scenarios. Results show that both vessel strikes and entanglement of these whales need to be considerably reduced for the species to continue to exist.
The annual population estimate shows that approximately 360 animals were alive at the beginning of 2022. This is fewer than the numbers alive at the beginning of 2021, but the sharp downward trajectory of this species observed between 2015 and 2019 may be slowing.
Kidney needed for tackle shop owner
Longtime recreational fishing tackle shop owner Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence has polycystic kidney disease and is in need of a kidney donation Possible donors do not have to be a match but he does need one donated to offset the kidney he might get in return. For information, contact at Living Donor Transplant | Massachusetts General Hospital (massgeneral.org)
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass, bluefish, bonito and false albacore. “Big striped bass are being caught all over the Bay and up into the Providence River," Henault reported. "Anglers are chunking Atlantic menhaden and using white soft plastic lures with success. Bonito and false albacore are still around, too, as the water is still 60 degrees in the Bay.” Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box in Warwick said: “Stripers were exploding from Patience Island to Conimicut Point. One customer caught three keepers in the slot [28 inches to less than 31 inches] in just a few minutes. Anglers are catching fish from shore and boats. This week the bite was on in Greenwich Bay with fish being taken on swimming lures of all types, both casting to fish on the surface and trolling them." Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown said: “Striped bass fishing has been very good from the local beaches and Breachway with lots of surface action during the day — plugs, eels and jigs producing well at night. Schools of smaller bass were around this week with a few 40 inchers being pulled out along the south shore. Schools of false albacore continue to pop up, too.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in East Providence said: “This is the best striped bass season in some years with customers catching slot and school bass at Sabin Point as well as from the Barrington Bridge where a customer caught a 35-inch bass.”
Tautog. “The key to a good bite this week was fishing when the tide was moving," O'Donnell said. "Customers that struggled to get their limit with a lot of shorts were not able to sit on top of a group of chewing tog. Most of the action seems to be coming from areas in 20 to 40 feet of water and there have been some cod and black sea bass mixed in.” Littlefield said: “Tautog fishing is on fire. Customers are catching fish to 8 pounds from the Barrington Bridge with the outgoing tide working best with jigs. Some anglers are catching a lot of shorts to land their five keepers.” Giddings reported: “Rocky Point, Ohio Ledge and out in front of Newport and Jamestown are all producing some big double-digit fish. Coddington Cove in Middletown, the bulkheads along the Providence waterfront and out in front of Newport are all producing big tautog for anglers. Henault reported that Chris “Higgie” Higgins, who mates for Capt. Mike Littlefield of ArchAngel Charters, caught a 13.6-pound tautog off Newport this week.
Scup, black sea bass and cod fish have been caught by anglers targeting tautog. “One customer targeting scup managed to catch his limit, 30 keepers from his boat, which is remarkable as these fish are still around and it is almost November,” Giddings said.
Squid fishing is starting to heat up. Expert squid fisher, Greg Vespe of Tiverton, said: “We had a good squid bite last week; it is just starting to build but should really pick up over the next four weeks.” Vespe landed what looked to be six or seven dozen squid on his cleaning table.
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: Kayak anglers use techniques that are also good for shore fishing
