A Bill to water down and/or repeal the saltwater fishing license law will meet opposition today (Thursday) as it goes before the House Environment and Natural Resource Committee.  The Bill was scheduled to go before the committee on February 26th but was dropped from the agenda due to saltwater angler opposition.

Five Rhode Island State Representatives (Filippi, Reilly, Craven, Shekarchi and Price) sponsored the original bill to repeal the "Recreational Saltwater Fishing License" that has been in effect since 2010.  Last month bill primary sponsor Rep. Blake Filippi (I-New Shoreham) said he hopes to forward a version of the original bill that would reduce the license fee charge from $7 to $3. 

Filippi believes $4 of the license fee amount is a tax as only $3 of the fee is going toward administrative costs even though the $4 is matched three to one by federal funds that go to recreational fishing projects. Representative Filippi attended the New England Saltwater Fishing Show last month and told leadership of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISSA) that, "We have the right to fish on shore and I don't believe those activities should be taxed." 

The Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association (RIPCBA) and RISAA said they are opposed to repealing the bill and they are against watering down the license law. RISAA represents over 7,500 recreational anglers and 30 affiliate fishing clubs. 

Steve Medeiros, president of RISAA said, "If this law is repealed or reduced to $3 it will be a huge set back to fishing access, fish abundance and conservation in RI."  

When the law was first passed some fishermen claimed a fishing license would impede a fisherman's right to fish.  Advocates for the law believed that the days of unrestricted fishing were over and that individuals did not have the right to fish without regulations or the right to over fish our waters to the determent of the common good (and the fish).  Medeiros said, "A Department of Environmental Management (DEM) report (at www.dem.ri.gov) highlights funds raised by the fishing license law and how they are spent.  The State would lose millions of matching Fish & Wildlife Service dollars without the additional $4 fee. No funds for programs like this would be detrimental to the fishing public and the fish."  

In a letter to members RISAA related why the law should not be repealed (or watered down).  The letter said, "Over the past two fiscal years the bill has or will turn $478,397 in license funds into nearly $2-million with Fish & Wildlife Service three to one matching funds. Funds raised are in a restricted account. What is raised by license fees is spent on fishing and access to fishing.  If these funds are eliminated, RI will lose out on Federal matching funds.”

Capt. Rick Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association said, "We are opposed to the repeal (or watering down) of the license law.  In part, NOAA has shifted the responsibility of conducting intercept interviews to the States as they realize this is the most effective way to capture the data.  If fishing license funds were not available with the three to one Fish & Wildlife fund match we would have no resources to invest in surveys and data collection."

Projects using license fund money in FY 2014 included: an upgrade to the Galilee boat ramp; funds to start an artificial reef project in Narragansett and Mt. Hope Bays; production of the Rhode Island Recreational Saltwater Fishing Guide; support to the boating/fishing access site maintenance program; support for finfish surveys for stock assessments; management of the Marine Recreational Fisheries Program; and purchase of additional MRIP intercept interviews.

Projects proposed for FY 2015 include:  boating/fishing access projects such as the Godard State Park boat ramp; fish stock assessment support; support for the artificial reef; and enhanced MRIP data collection.

Ice cut to stock ponds for Opening Day 

The Department of Environmental Management's (DEM) Division of Fish & Wildlife had to cut holes in the ice for to stock ponds for Opening Day this Saturday.

Most of the State's freshwater anglers are expected to turn out at 6:00 a.m. to fish on Opening Day, Saturday, April 11th. Hatchery- raised brook, brown, and rainbow trout are being stocked by Division staff in ponds and streams for opening day (visit www.dem.ri.gov for a complete listing).  

Last week Cathy Sparks of DEM said, "The Division of Fish & Wildlife has been stocking trout - cutting holes in ice where necessary. We expect to be ready for opening day. Some management area roads will likely be wet and muddy and we will post cautionary signage where necessary."

There is no minimum size for trout and the creel or bag limit is five fish from April 11 to November 30, and two fish from December 1 to February 29.  There is no closed season for largemouth and smallmouth bass in Rhode Island, 12" minimum size for both with a creel limit of five fish/angler/day. Northern pike minimum size is 24", no closed season with a two fish/angler/day limit.  And, chain pickerel has no closed season, minimum size is 14" with a five fish/day/angler limit.

Visit the DEM website for ponds they are stocking (www.dem.ri.gov) and those that are open for only children 14 years of age and younger.

Where to get a fresh water license and trout stamp

A 2015 fishing license is required for anglers 15 years of age and older wishing to catch fish. A Trout Conservation Stamp is also required of anyone wishing to keep or possess a trout or to fish in a catch-and-release or 'fly-fishing only' area.  Fishing licenses and the Trout Conservation Stamp ($5.50) can be obtained at any city or town clerk's office or authorized agent such as bait and tackle shops, Wal-Mart and Benny's.  A current list of license vendors is available on the DEM website.  Licenses may also be purchased on line or obtained at DEM's Boat Registration and Licensing Office located at 235 Promenade Street in Providence. 

License fees remain at $18 for Rhode Island residents and current members of the Armed Forces, $33 for a combination hunting and fishing license, $35 for non-residents, and $16 for a tourist three-consecutive-day license.  Anglers over 65 must have a license, which for them is free, but do not need a trout stamp.

Where's the bite

Freshwater.  Opening day is this Saturday, April 11, 6:00 a.m.  Capt. Ron Mouchon of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown,  said, "Not much is going on with saltwater fishing right now. But we are ready for opening day with extended hours until 9 p.m. Friday and we are open at 4:00 a.m. on Saturday."  Quaker Lane Outfitters associate Neil Hayes said "It all happens before opening day with guys spooling new line onto their reels and buying fishing licenses."  "The ice in ponds has melted so we are in good shape and ready to go.  We are opening at 4:00 a.m. opening day." said John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle, Riverside.

Saltwater.  Although most of the ice is melted in bays and covers, the water is still in the high thirties, too cold for most species. John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle said, "Customers have been catching winter flounder by accident.  They should know they are illegal to catch in the Bay." Littlefield said, "An easy way to tell the difference between winter flounder and summer flounder (fluke) is that winter flounder has a black back and a small mouth, summer flounder are lighter in color (shades of brown) and have a larger mouth with visible teeth."  Winter flounder stocks are rebuilding so the following restrictions apply "The harvesting or possession of winter flounder is PROHIBITED in Narragansett Bay north of the Colregs Line of Demarcation as well as in Potter and Point Judith Ponds."  So the east to west Colregs Line at the mouth of the Narragansett Bay is drawn from Brenton Point in Newport, through Beavertail Light to Boston Neck in Narragansett. Anything north of this line cannot be fished for winter flounder. The minimum size for winter flounder is 12" with a two fish/angler/day limit in legal waters.

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing for over 40 years.  He holds a captain's master license and a charter fishing license. He is a RISAA board member, a member of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association and a member of the RI Marine Fisheries Council. Contact or forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit his website at www.noflukefishing.com.