If you’ve ever thought about fly fishing, but didn’t know where to start, here’s your chance.
More: Fishing Report: Giant tuna lining up close to shore
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Aquatic Education Program will hold its annual “Introduction to Saltwater Fly Fishing” from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Sprague Bridge on Narrow River in Narragansett.
The DEM and fly-fishing instructors, including expert fly-fishing guide and longtime program coordinator Ed Lombardo, will review the equipment needed to get started, provide casting instruction and then all will fish the Narrow River.
More: Fishing tip: Here’s where RI DEM is stocking trout before Columbus Day weekend
“Fly fishing equipment will be supplied,” Lombardo said, “including rods, reels, fly line and flies. However, all participants need to bring their own waders.”
The cost of $15 is for lunch. For additional information and to register, contact Kimberly Sullivan in the DEM’s Aquatic Resource Education program at kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov .
Massachusetts considers new tautog regulations for 2023
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is taking public comment and holding a virtual public hearing on a series of proposed regulations affecting commercial and recreational fisheries, including recreational tautog. The full text of the regulations may be found on the agency’s website along with additional relevant background information.
In addition to regulations for recreational tautog, those for Atlantic menhaden, shortfin mako and groundfish will be addressed.
A slot limit and trophy fish provision for recreational tautog are being proposed. The regulation would adopt a 21-inch maximum size limit for the recreational tautog fishery — making a 16-inch to 21-inch slot limit — with an allowance for an angler to retain one trophy fish exceeding the 21-inch limit per calendar day. The aim is to preserve more large female fish with great spawning potential.
The proposal matches a rule enacted in Rhode Island for 2022 and would ensure Massachusetts and Rhode Island consistently manage their recreational fisheries across jurisdictions, as recommended in the interstate plan.
The DMF will host the virtual public hearing at 6 p.m. Nov. 1 to take comment on draft regulations. Register for the hearing at: https://bit.ly/3SIdZJv.
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass, bluefish and false albacore. “The striped bass bite in Narragansett Bay has been strong,” said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box in Warwick. “Before storms, anglers were hooking up with slot-size fish (28 inches to less than 35 inches) all over the Bay.” Expert fly-fishing guide and instructor Ed Lombardo said: “The hickory shad and striped bass have been plentiful now for the past few weeks, both in Narrow River and at Charlestown Breachway. Small bucktail streamer flies in colors of yellow, or black, over white with flash topping has been working very well for shad. The striped bass like flies in traditional white and olive, or white and chartreuse with some flash in the body. I have been getting some very nice bass in the 24-inch to 39-inch class with my Hot Pink Ed’s Fly now that the hickory shad are following into these tidal rivers.” Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown reported: “The breachway fished well this past week, even through the worst of the storm. When it was too rough out at the end, people were catching on jigs back in the channel. Mostly striped bass with the occasional shad and bluefish mixed in. There have also been some snapper blues in the breachway and salt pond.” “East End” Eddie Doherty, expert Cape Cod Canal angler and author, said: “Peanut bunker, silversides, adult menhaden, mackerel and other baitfish remain in the Canal providing a top-notch meal plan for hungry predators. Vinny Rosata of Wareham, Mass., caught several nice fish on the early east tide, including a 41-inch striped bass with an Al Gags 5-ounce, white, soft-plastic jig.”
Fluke, black sea bass and scup. Bob Bove of Warwick and his grandson, Steve, caught scup to 15 inches when they were tautog fishing in the General Rock area this weekend. “The scup kept biting, one after another when using squid for bait,” Steve said. “Customers have been catching their limit of scup in just a couple of hours of fishing,” Giddings said. The fluke bite is nearly nonexistent, with anglers finding it difficult to catch large black sea bass also in the Bay and along the coast.
Tautog fishing picked up at the end of last week with the bite on in all the usual places still in fairly low water. We fished at the General Rock area Friday in 17 feet of water with a charter and we caught three keepers with a 1-3 ratio, three keepers to every nine tautog caught. The tautog bite came on strong at the end of last week with customers catching nice keeper-size fish at India Point Park, Conimicut Light, off Tiverton and in North Kingstown. The keeper to short ratio was pretty good, too. There are new regulations for tautog fishing this year initiated by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association with the aim of preserving large females with great spawning potential. Anglers are allowed just one trophy fish, 21 inches or larger, the minimum size is still 16 inches and a 10-fish boat limit applies for private recreational vessels. The spring season ran from April 1 to May 31, allowing for three fish/person/day; the season reopened Aug. 1 to Oct. 14 with a three fish/person/day limit and the limit then jumps to five fish from Oct. 15 to Dec. 31.
Freshwater fishing is improving. “The largemouth bass bite has been outstanding in area ponds and lakes,” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle in Warren. “Once I had them dialed in at my favorite pond, I went back to the same place two or three times last week and the bite was still on.” Giddings reported: “The largemouth and perch bite has been very good. We went catfishing last week and they were hammering our bait. Areas producing for customers include Warwick Lake and Gorton’s Pond in Warwick.”
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 noflukefishing.com.
Credit: Source link
