I remember when the family would take a ride to Galilee to see the giant bluefin tuna come into port to the tuna tournament weigh station. These monsters would hang at the weigh station dwarfing the anglers that caught them. These are great memories for me and are held by many Rhode Islanders. Well… this weekend… you can create such memories and capture some excitement as anglers participating in the Fishing for Hope Tournament bring their catch of striped base, summer flounder (fluke) and bluefish to the weigh station in Galilee. There are not enough giant bluefin in our waters today to hold a tuna tournament, but this second annual fishing tournament provides great suspense at the weigh station and leader board as many fish (compared to the tuna tournament) are weighed in at the station. The junior division will fish for scup and black sea bass in addition to striped bass, summer flounder and bluefish.

The last day to register to participate in the Galilee Fishing Tournament is Thursday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m. The Tournament takes place September 6, 5:00 p.m. to September 8, 2:00 p.m. Register online at www.galileetourney.com or pick up registration forms at most tackle shops (list on web site).

The Seafood Festival is taking place Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8 in conjunction with the fishing tournament. Steve Medeiros, president of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association (event managing partner) said, "Last year's festival and tournament was a great success and this years is going to be even better." Over 60 exhibitors and food venders have registered for the event. Admission is free to all with family activities including educational exhibits, free fishing on the dock for children, face painting, RIDEM's Sea Creatures Touch Tank, fishing boat tours, arts and crafts and entertainment. Visit the tournament website at www.galileetourney.com for festival schedule and details.

The three day Galilee Fishing for Hope Tournament and Seafood Festival is organized by the Town of Narragansett, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association and many other partners. Funds raised from the tournament and food festival will be donated to the Point Judith Fishermen's Memorial Scholarship Fund, Narragansett Parks and Recreation Financial Aid Program, and the RI Saltwater Anglers Foundation. Many anglers chose to donate their catch to the RI Center Assisting those in Need.

Pabst Blue Ribbon

Tournament winners

to be recognized Sept. 21

The 2013 Pabst Blue Ribbon Northeast Striped Bass and Fluke will recognize tournament winners Saturday, September 21 from noon to 5:00 p.m. at The Ocean Mist restaurant, Matunuck, RI. Over nine entries in the bass tournament were over 35 inches with a very success fluke fishing entries as well. The ceremony and afternoon celebration is a great opportune for opportunity for local fishermen and fishing fans to come support the hard work of these successes female and male anglers. Proceeds from the tournament are going to the Arthritis Foundation.

Where's the bite

Fresh water fishing has been good. Angler Harold Hemberger said, "...took six largemouth (last week) at Stump Pond (Smithfield, RI) using a black jointed jitterbug. Also got a small pike - 22 inches on a triple blade spinner bait. The action started at 4:30 a.m. and was over by 5:15 a.m. Craig Castro of Erickson's Bait & Tackle, Warwick, said, "Anglers continue to catch wide mouth bass at local lakes and ponds."(Gorton Pond, Warwick Lake, etc.).

Striped bass fishing has slowed on Block Island with bluefish extremely thick at the north rip and southwest sides. Fishing in the lower part of the Narragansett Bay is improving. Manny Sousa of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren said, "Some customers have caught keepers off Bullocks Point but there seems to be more action south of the bridges. We are hoping thing open up as the water cools and we have bass thought-out the Bay like we did this spring." Elisa Martin of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown said, "We have not weighed in many striped bass at this past week. With all the blue fish bass fishing was off." Shore angler Harold Hemberger said, "Last Thursday, I hit a nice little bunch of school bass on Narragansett Beach. All in the 25 inch rang....nothing big, but plenty of fun. Took five on a needle fish plug."

Off-shore fishing has been heating up. "The charter vessel 'Big Game' with Captains Shamus Mara and Brian Bacon landed four yellow fin tuna Saturday and Dr. Rick Turner caught a blue fin and yellow fin tuna at Tuna Ridge (at the 30 fathom mark about out 35 to 40 miles off Block Island). And this week, the 'Thirty-Three II', a 19 foot vessel, landed a 215 pound Mako shark ." said Elisa Martin of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingston. Roger Simpson of the Frances Fleet party boats said, "First tuna trip of the season was quite successful this past week with the emphasis on quality as they boated several big eye tuna all in the 160 to 200 lb range along with yellowfin and a nice bunch of albacore to 60 lbs, a handful of Mahi, two swords (one of 150 lbs!), and last but certainly not least a 70 lb Wahoo!"

Black sea bass fishing has been good with a lot of short fish mixed in. Angler fishing for fluke on the Frances Fleet caught fewer black sea bass this week. Roger Simpson of the Frances Fleet said, "… not as many sea bass as we had been seeing but still some hefty ones from time to time with the best for the week just over the 4 lb mark."

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing continues to be good for this time of year. Craig Castro of Erickson's Bait & Tackle, Warwick, said, "Two customers caught keeper fluke Friday off Warrick Light, however, they went back Saturday and caught not land a keeper." Mixed reports coming in about fishing for fluke around the bridges and Elisa Martin of Snug Harbor said, "Fluke fishing off southern coastal shores has slowed but it is till good at Block Island in 70 to 80 feet of water." Roger Simpson of the Frances Fleet said, "The 7 am full day boat continued to see generally good fishing. Tuesday and Wednesday were the best outings of the week. On Tuesday about half the boat was limited out on fluke… and the big fish… a fine slab of just under 8 lbs that fell victim to a whole squid."

Tautog fishing continues to be slow, however, increasing numbers of smaller fish are being caught with some keepers being caught too.