DEM said approximately 80,000 hatchery-raised brook, brown and rainbow trout with an average individual weight of 1.5 pounds have been stocked by division staff in more than 100 ponds and streams for opening day. A complete list of stocked ponds and other information of interest to anglers can be found on DEM’s website, www.dem.ri.gov.Freshwater fishing licensesYou need a freshwater fishing license to fish in Rhode Island. According to DEM regulations, “A fishing license is required of any person 15 years of age or older wishing to catch or take fish in any freshwater stream or pond in the state.” Exceptions include blind persons, landowners and their family members fishing from their property. Residents over 65 can obtain a special permanent license for free. This year resident licenses are $18 and non-resident licenses are $35; a non-resident, three-day license is $16.If you’re interested in fishing for trout, you’ll need a trout conservation stamp as well; that costs $5.50.Freshwater fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased from city and town clerk offices, authorized agents such as bait and tackle shops and other retail stores that sell tackle. For a list of license vendors, visit the DEM website, where you may also purchase a license online.Anglers to host fluke seminarYours truly will talk about what fluke experts have to say on summer flounder fishing tactics, gear and ideal fishing locations at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at the Warwick FOP Lounge, 95 Tanner Ave., Warwick. The event is free and open to all, although attendance is limited to 100 people on fist-come, first-served basis. Call 401/463-7532 for more information. Bluefin tuna quota specsComments are due by Monday, April 16, on proposed 2012 quota specifications for the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. Go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov to view the proposed 2012 quota specifications. You may submit comments through April 16 at www.regulations.gov; by faxing Sarah McLaughlin at 978/281-9340; or by mailing her at: Sarah McLaughlin, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Saltwater fishing regs now officialBlack sea bass, summer flounder and scup all have liberalized regulations for the 2012 season. In the case of summer flounder and scup, this is due to good stock status and under-harvest by the recreational fishery in 2011. The black sea bass fishery, while currently constrained at a low quota level, was also under-harvested last year. All of the other important recreational species are meeting their current rebuilding targets or have a stable stock status, and therefore regulations will remain at status quo for 2012. No species is being restricted from its 2011 recreational harvest regulations.All nonexempt fishers and spear-fishers must have a R.I. recreational saltwater license (or equivalent license or registration issued by another state or federal government) in order to fish legally in marine waters. Fishing licenses are required, but free, for Rhode Island residents over 65 and for active military personnel stationed in the state. For all others, the fee is $7 for residents and $10 for non-residents. Visit www.saltwater.ri.gov for more information or to purchase and print a license online.Where’s the bite?Freshwater fishing is heating up with bass being caught at many local ponds. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in East Providence said opening day Saturday promises to be a good one with area residents gearing up to fish Willett Avenue Pond and a host of others. “Bass fishing at Echo Lake, Barrington has been good,” said Mr. Littlefield.“Customers are catching bass at Gorton Pond in Warwick and Worden Pond, Wakefield,” said Craig Castro of Erickson’s Bait & Tackle in Warwick.Striped bass fishing is starting to heat up. Last week, Matthew Boliver reported catching his first half-dozen school bass off Middletown, and Mike Shepard caught his first school bass off Newport. Mr. Littlefield at Archie’s Bait & Tackle said customer Dave Paterson caught his first bass in the 14-16-inch range using light-colored plastic shad lures. Blog reports from New Jersey related an excellent striped bass bite last week; let’s hope they’re coming our way. Reports of striped bass in Greenwich Bay have been spotty but consistent. “Anglers are catching striped bass in Greenwich Bay with soft plastics, but they are working for them,” said Mr. Castro or Erickson’s Bait & Tackle. Capt. Dave Monti has been fishing and shellfishing on Narragansett Bay for more than 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Your fishing photos in jpeg form, stories, comments and questions are welcome. Visit Capt. Dave’s No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him at dmontifish@verizon.net.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Opening day of <b>freshwater fishing</b> is Saturday
With the freshwater fishing season opening Saturday, April 14, the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) reminds anglers that even on a warm day, water temperatures can hover in the low- to mid-50s. According to a 2007 U.S. Coast Guard report, a boating accident is five times more likely to be fatal if the water is colder than 60 degrees. In addition, a 2010 report stated that eight out of 10 boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length. Coupling cold water with small, unstable vessels like canoes and kayaks places anglers in a very dangerous situation. DEM said approximately 80,000 hatchery-raised brook, brown and rainbow trout with an average individual weight of 1.5 pounds have been stocked by division staff in more than 100 ponds and streams for opening day. A complete list of stocked ponds and other information of interest to anglers can be found on DEM’s website, www.dem.ri.gov.Freshwater fishing licensesYou need a freshwater fishing license to fish in Rhode Island. According to DEM regulations, “A fishing license is required of any person 15 years of age or older wishing to catch or take fish in any freshwater stream or pond in the state.” Exceptions include blind persons, landowners and their family members fishing from their property. Residents over 65 can obtain a special permanent license for free. This year resident licenses are $18 and non-resident licenses are $35; a non-resident, three-day license is $16.If you’re interested in fishing for trout, you’ll need a trout conservation stamp as well; that costs $5.50.Freshwater fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased from city and town clerk offices, authorized agents such as bait and tackle shops and other retail stores that sell tackle. For a list of license vendors, visit the DEM website, where you may also purchase a license online.Anglers to host fluke seminarYours truly will talk about what fluke experts have to say on summer flounder fishing tactics, gear and ideal fishing locations at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at the Warwick FOP Lounge, 95 Tanner Ave., Warwick. The event is free and open to all, although attendance is limited to 100 people on fist-come, first-served basis. Call 401/463-7532 for more information. Bluefin tuna quota specsComments are due by Monday, April 16, on proposed 2012 quota specifications for the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. Go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov to view the proposed 2012 quota specifications. You may submit comments through April 16 at www.regulations.gov; by faxing Sarah McLaughlin at 978/281-9340; or by mailing her at: Sarah McLaughlin, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Saltwater fishing regs now officialBlack sea bass, summer flounder and scup all have liberalized regulations for the 2012 season. In the case of summer flounder and scup, this is due to good stock status and under-harvest by the recreational fishery in 2011. The black sea bass fishery, while currently constrained at a low quota level, was also under-harvested last year. All of the other important recreational species are meeting their current rebuilding targets or have a stable stock status, and therefore regulations will remain at status quo for 2012. No species is being restricted from its 2011 recreational harvest regulations.All nonexempt fishers and spear-fishers must have a R.I. recreational saltwater license (or equivalent license or registration issued by another state or federal government) in order to fish legally in marine waters. Fishing licenses are required, but free, for Rhode Island residents over 65 and for active military personnel stationed in the state. For all others, the fee is $7 for residents and $10 for non-residents. Visit www.saltwater.ri.gov for more information or to purchase and print a license online.Where’s the bite?Freshwater fishing is heating up with bass being caught at many local ponds. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in East Providence said opening day Saturday promises to be a good one with area residents gearing up to fish Willett Avenue Pond and a host of others. “Bass fishing at Echo Lake, Barrington has been good,” said Mr. Littlefield.“Customers are catching bass at Gorton Pond in Warwick and Worden Pond, Wakefield,” said Craig Castro of Erickson’s Bait & Tackle in Warwick.Striped bass fishing is starting to heat up. Last week, Matthew Boliver reported catching his first half-dozen school bass off Middletown, and Mike Shepard caught his first school bass off Newport. Mr. Littlefield at Archie’s Bait & Tackle said customer Dave Paterson caught his first bass in the 14-16-inch range using light-colored plastic shad lures. Blog reports from New Jersey related an excellent striped bass bite last week; let’s hope they’re coming our way. Reports of striped bass in Greenwich Bay have been spotty but consistent. “Anglers are catching striped bass in Greenwich Bay with soft plastics, but they are working for them,” said Mr. Castro or Erickson’s Bait & Tackle. Capt. Dave Monti has been fishing and shellfishing on Narragansett Bay for more than 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Your fishing photos in jpeg form, stories, comments and questions are welcome. Visit Capt. Dave’s No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him at dmontifish@verizon.net.
DEM said approximately 80,000 hatchery-raised brook, brown and rainbow trout with an average individual weight of 1.5 pounds have been stocked by division staff in more than 100 ponds and streams for opening day. A complete list of stocked ponds and other information of interest to anglers can be found on DEM’s website, www.dem.ri.gov.Freshwater fishing licensesYou need a freshwater fishing license to fish in Rhode Island. According to DEM regulations, “A fishing license is required of any person 15 years of age or older wishing to catch or take fish in any freshwater stream or pond in the state.” Exceptions include blind persons, landowners and their family members fishing from their property. Residents over 65 can obtain a special permanent license for free. This year resident licenses are $18 and non-resident licenses are $35; a non-resident, three-day license is $16.If you’re interested in fishing for trout, you’ll need a trout conservation stamp as well; that costs $5.50.Freshwater fishing licenses and trout stamps can be purchased from city and town clerk offices, authorized agents such as bait and tackle shops and other retail stores that sell tackle. For a list of license vendors, visit the DEM website, where you may also purchase a license online.Anglers to host fluke seminarYours truly will talk about what fluke experts have to say on summer flounder fishing tactics, gear and ideal fishing locations at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at the Warwick FOP Lounge, 95 Tanner Ave., Warwick. The event is free and open to all, although attendance is limited to 100 people on fist-come, first-served basis. Call 401/463-7532 for more information. Bluefin tuna quota specsComments are due by Monday, April 16, on proposed 2012 quota specifications for the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery. Go to www.nmfs.noaa.gov to view the proposed 2012 quota specifications. You may submit comments through April 16 at www.regulations.gov; by faxing Sarah McLaughlin at 978/281-9340; or by mailing her at: Sarah McLaughlin, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NMFS, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. Saltwater fishing regs now officialBlack sea bass, summer flounder and scup all have liberalized regulations for the 2012 season. In the case of summer flounder and scup, this is due to good stock status and under-harvest by the recreational fishery in 2011. The black sea bass fishery, while currently constrained at a low quota level, was also under-harvested last year. All of the other important recreational species are meeting their current rebuilding targets or have a stable stock status, and therefore regulations will remain at status quo for 2012. No species is being restricted from its 2011 recreational harvest regulations.All nonexempt fishers and spear-fishers must have a R.I. recreational saltwater license (or equivalent license or registration issued by another state or federal government) in order to fish legally in marine waters. Fishing licenses are required, but free, for Rhode Island residents over 65 and for active military personnel stationed in the state. For all others, the fee is $7 for residents and $10 for non-residents. Visit www.saltwater.ri.gov for more information or to purchase and print a license online.Where’s the bite?Freshwater fishing is heating up with bass being caught at many local ponds. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in East Providence said opening day Saturday promises to be a good one with area residents gearing up to fish Willett Avenue Pond and a host of others. “Bass fishing at Echo Lake, Barrington has been good,” said Mr. Littlefield.“Customers are catching bass at Gorton Pond in Warwick and Worden Pond, Wakefield,” said Craig Castro of Erickson’s Bait & Tackle in Warwick.Striped bass fishing is starting to heat up. Last week, Matthew Boliver reported catching his first half-dozen school bass off Middletown, and Mike Shepard caught his first school bass off Newport. Mr. Littlefield at Archie’s Bait & Tackle said customer Dave Paterson caught his first bass in the 14-16-inch range using light-colored plastic shad lures. Blog reports from New Jersey related an excellent striped bass bite last week; let’s hope they’re coming our way. Reports of striped bass in Greenwich Bay have been spotty but consistent. “Anglers are catching striped bass in Greenwich Bay with soft plastics, but they are working for them,” said Mr. Castro or Erickson’s Bait & Tackle. Capt. Dave Monti has been fishing and shellfishing on Narragansett Bay for more than 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Your fishing photos in jpeg form, stories, comments and questions are welcome. Visit Capt. Dave’s No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him at dmontifish@verizon.net.