| Special to the Journal
Ørsted, owner of the Block Island Wind Farm and five other wind farms off the East Coast, is sponsoring a free Fishinar Series. The aim of the series is to encourage comments from anglers regarding offshore wind farm plans while relating strategies and tactics about how to catch the fish we love to eat through expert charter captains and private anglers.
The first Fishinar, “Angling for Ground Fish,” will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, via Zoom. Panelists will include Capt. Chris Willi of Block Island Fish Works, Capt. BJ Silvia of Flippin Out Charters of Portsmouth and Rich Hittinger of Warwick, who is the first vice president of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association and a ground fishing expert in the near offshore. Species discussed will include summer flounder, cod, tautog and scup.
The second Fishinar, “Angling for Pelagic Fish,” will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, via Zoom. Panelists will include charter Capt. John McMurray of New York, president of the American Saltwater Guides Association and a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; Capt. Charlie Donilon of Snappa Charters, who is a shark fishing and shark cage diving expert; and Richard Pastore, an RISAA member and near offshore fishing expert. Species discussed will include tuna, sharks and mahi.
Both Fishinars will live stream panelists from District Hall Providence in a casual town hall format. Visit https://districthallprovidence.org/calendar for event listings or the Eventbrite website page for additional information and to register for free tickets.
Ørsted’s Revolution Wind farm will be just 14 miles from Newport. Scientists have indicated that the Block Island Wind Farm, 17.5 miles from shore, has had a reef effect building habitat, creating sea life and fishing opportunities for the fish that anglers love to catch and eat. New wind farms closer to shore are likely to become fishing destinations, too.
The panelists also will discuss the importance of research and monitoring plans for each wind farm to make sure we are not damaging but are enhancing fishing opportunities and just how easy it is to provide the developer with valuable planning input.
Where’s the bite?
Tautog is the fish to target this week. I fished in West Passage on Jamestown mussel beds last week and easily did well catching limits, but this Sunday, the bite was off there. I did find fish in the General Rock ledge area, including three keepers to 21 inches with about seven shorts. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence said: “The bite was slow this weekend, but once the water settles, the bite will come back. Tautog do not like turbid water and have a tendency not to move around much, as the sand in the water irritates their gills, but once the water settles down, the bite comes back.” Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle in Warwick reported: “Anglers are catching their limit out in front of Newport and then returning. But in the Bay, all the usual places are producing for anglers, too — Plum Light, Hope Island and the General Rock ledge area.” Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown said: “The tautog bite is good for customers in 20 to 40 feet of water. Anglers are catching their limit in a couple of hours of fishing, with fish in the 18-inch to 25-inch range, with a lot of shorts mixed in. Rock piles in front of the Breachway are yielding some nice fish.” Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle in North Kingstown reported: “Customers continue to catch their limit of tautog. The Newport area, Brenton Reef and the Seal Ledge area, are producing for customers.” Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said: “We had another solid week black fishing in Rhode Island. We have been seeing limit catches or just a few fish shy on every single trip. Pool fish have been a solid 9-10 pounds on nearly every trip.”
Striped bass fishing for school bass continues, with large migrating fish being caught, too. Cape Cod Canal angler and author, “East End” Eddie Doherty said: “The start of the weekend saw snow fall on school bass, slots and stripers up to 30 pounds that were landed at all levels of the water column in the Big Ditch as the southern migration [of striped bass] continues.” Ferrara reported: “Potters Cove, Prudence Island was loaded with school striped bass this week.” O’Donnell said: “I fished the stretch of beach between Charlestown beach and the Breachway and hooked up with 20 bass, fishing for an hour with fish in the 15-inch to 28-inch range. The bite has been very good from the beaches. And, we have a lot of shad in the water; fly rodders are having a blast catching them.” Henault said: “Customers are doing well from shore all along the southern coast shore.” Expert shore angler Gil Bell reported: “On Election Day morning at 5:20 a.m., in gale-force winds with sand blowing in my face, I caught a 44-inch striped bass from the beach in South County using a 5-ounce plug. It was a great fish in tough conditions as I could barely hold on to my rod.”
Freshwater fishing has been OK when anglers have been able to get out. High winds and cold weather have discouraged them. As the weather cleared this week, however, anglers got out and fished. “The trout and bass fishing have been off,” Henault said, “but will likely pick up a bit as weather improves; however, many customers are starting to turn their attention to pike and carp fishing. Many are using lures they use for bass to target Pike.”
Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. He is an RISAA board member, a member of the R.I. Party & Charter Boat Association, the American Saltwater Guides Association and the R.I. Marine Fisheries Council. Forward fishing news and photos to Captain Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com and his blog at www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com.
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