The annual Newport Boat Show was held this past weekend and here is what caught my attention:

Metan of Halifax, Mass. is a company that meticulously restores old Boston Whalers, Seacrafts and other vessels. Owner Michael Borrelli said, "We restored and sold thirteen 1969 Sakonnet Boston Whalers last year alone." The 21 foot Whalers sell for $70,000, special show price was $60,000. Metan is so good at what they do their reputation is now international and have restored vessels and shipped them overseas. Borrelli said, "We have had owners buy brand new Boston Whalers and send them to us to turn into vintage looking boats." Visit Metan at www.metanmarine.com .

Twin console boats are hot. Due to consumer demand manufactures are moving in the direction of fuel economy and day boats rather than focusing on cabin models. Fran Sawicki of Silver Spring Marine in South Kingstown (a Russo Marine company) said, "Manufactures are moving towards the recreation day boat. Customers say 'If we are going somewhere with the boat we'll stay in a hotel', so the move to day boats without cabins is popular. Other things they want in a boat include a table for entertaining and of course a bathroom aboard for the ladies." Visit Russo Marine at www.russomarine.com.

True World Marine's 28' walk around cabin boat. These boats were originally made for giant bluefin tuna fishing. They have a wide walk around space to fish off the sides and bow and are available with inboard, inboard/outboard and twin outboard power options. They feature a comfortable cabin for overnight trips and an enclosed head. Visit them at www.trueworldmarine.com and/or call their broker Rob Moore at Rudders & Moorings Yacht Sales 401.338.3554.

DEM to hold saltwater surf fishing workshop

The Department of Environmental Management's (DEM) will hold an introductory workshop on saltwater surf-fishing in Narragansett. "Surf Casting: The Basics" will be held on Thursday, September 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Scarborough State Beach.

Families with children over 8 years old are encouraged to participate. Space is limited and registration is required. All materials and equipment are included with the $10 per-person registration fee. The fee for families with three or more participants is $5 per person.

For information and to register, please contact Kimberly Sullivan at 401-539-0037 or email kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

Where's the bite

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing is surprisingly good as it is often over this time of year as they leave local waters and move offshore for the fall and winter. Matt Conti of Sung Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, said "Charter boats are still hitting fluke just south of the southeast corner off Block Island. And, fishing east of Point Judith is pretty good too." Last Wednesday I fished with Parker Kelly (formerly of NBC 10) and Tom Richardson (former editor of Saltwater Sportsmen magazine) at Austin Hollow, Jamestown. The duo caught fluke to 24", they are co-hosts of the New England Boating television show that airs on New England Sports Network (NESN).

Tautog fishing is just starting to pick up. Ken Landry of Ray's Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, "This is the first weekend that customers are coming back with keepers. Most of the Bay fish are shorts, but out in front… off Beavertail, off Narragansett at Narrow River, off Brenton Reef (and other rock clusters), customers are catching keepers." I was at Seal Ledge off Newport Sunday and twenty boats were southwest of the Ledge and ten boats north of the red Seal Ledge bell, all were tautog fishing. We passed a boat just as they landed a nice keeper sized tautog. "Anglers are landing keeper tautog at the Breachway in Charlestown." said Phil Matteson of Breachway Bait & Tackle. Tautog fishing has been good in the Sakonnet, Kurt Rivard landed a nine pound tautog this weekend as part of the Aquidneck Island Striper Team's Sergeant Christopher Potts Tournament which ended this weekend." Tautog minimum size is 16", three fish/person/day with a boat limit of ten fish. Limit increases to six/person/day on October 18 but the ten fish boat limit still in effect. Charter and party boats not subject to ten fish boat limit.

Striped bass fishing slowed this week. David Sanford of East Greenwich fished in the Lumbermen Striped Bass Tournament out of Champlin Marina, Block Island, this week and said, "Fishing was slow. We managed to land two bass, in two days with the winner landing just five fish, the largest 38 pounds." Dave Henault of Ocean Sate Tackle said, "Pogies are moving into the Providence and Seekonk River and customers are catching blues and striped bass. One of my employees landed a 39" fish last weekend." Phil Matteson of Breachway Bait & Tackle said, "Bass fishing has been good with 15" to 33" bass being caught off the wall with eels a night and sliver baits like Deadly Dicks and Kastmasters during the day. The fish are larger out in front off Charlestown with boat anglers landing bass to 35 pounds." Matt Conti of Sung Harbor said, "Fishing was slow this week at Block Island with a lot of bluefish." Manny Sousa of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren said, "Customers have caught striped bass off Bullock's Point, East Providence. There have been keepers but nothing big yet."… things are improving though, my son caught a 29" and 32" fish using clam tongues." "We fished from 2:00 a.m. until about 10:00 a.m. Saturday and couldn't hook up with striped bass. We were using both eels and chucked menhaden fishing the Hope and Gould Island areas." said angler Mike Swain of Coventry.

Scup fishing. Anglers continue to catch large scup along coastal shores and in Narragansett Bay having no trouble catching keeper sized fish (10 inch minimum).

Offshore fishing slowed last week. Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina said, "Shark fishing is still good. We weighed in a 149 pound Mako Shark Sunday but things have been off with few tuna being caught at the Dump and the Canyon this week." Bret Bokelkamp of Marion, MA and Bill Dzilenski of Warwick, RI caught a seven foot white marlin west of the Acid Barge in view of Block Island. Bill said, "The hook-up was followed by an extended series of leaps and bounds by the fish. We came up empty on tuna , but were grinning ear-to ear and we still are."

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing on Narragansett Bay for over 40 years. He holds a captain's master license, a charter fishing license, and is a member of the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council. Your fishing photos in JPEG from, stories, comments and questions are welcome… there's more than one way to catch a fish. Visit Captain Dave's No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.

com; his blog at www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com or e-mail him at dmontifish@verizon.

net.