NO FLUKE by CAPTAIN DAVE MONTI

$1.1M awarded for wind farm studies

Posted 5/27/20

Rhode Island, Massachusetts and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced grants worth $1.1 million for four regional studies (versus site specific studies) that will collect data vital to the development of offshore wind and fishing.

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NO FLUKE by CAPTAIN DAVE MONTI

$1.1M awarded for wind farm studies

Posted

Rhode Island, Massachusetts and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced grants worth $1.1 million for four regional studies (versus site specific studies) that will collect data vital to the development of offshore wind and fishing.

INSPIRE Environmental, Newport, in conjunction with the New England Aquarium and Standard Approaches for Acoustic and Imagery Data, will use acoustic telemetry to study highly migratory species. The initiative will include the acoustic tagging and tracking of species such as tuna and sharks at popular recreational fishing spots in wind farm areas. The study aims to provide new baseline data on highly migratory species enabling ongoing assessment of any impacts (negative or positive) of offshore wind on highly migratory species and associated recreational fishing.

“Rhode Island is a proud partner in this landmark effort to conduct regional scientific studies on fisheries resources prior to the start of any offshore construction activities,” said Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit. “The selected studies will help to fill data gaps and allow for informed decision-making while paving the way for meeting Rhode Island’s renewable energy goals and advancing climate mitigation efforts.”

Three other studies were awarded all designed to measure impacts of wind farm projects in the region. They include a University of Massachusetts Dartmouth study on lobster larval and fish neuston with the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association; a University of Rhode Island study on fish status using vessel AIS data and machine learning in conjunction with RI DEM; and a New Bedford Port Authority comparative analysis study on regulation in Europe and Japan.

Atlantic bluefin tuna closure

The Angling category in the northern area for trophy bluefin tuna closed May 21, 2020 and will remain closed through December 31, 2020. Trophy bluefin tuna are those that measure 73 inches or greater. Note that the Angling category fishery for school, large school, or small medium bluefin tuna (27 to less than 73 inches) remains open in all areas except for the Gulf of Mexico. For additional information visit https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/.

McKiernan appointed Massachusetts Director of Marine Fisheries

Daniel J. McKiernan has been appointed Director of the Division of Marine Fisheries for Massachusetts. Last week McKiernan was approved by the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission, the Governor-appointed citizen’s board that advises the Director and oversees DMF’s regulations governing fishing. McKiernan had served as the Division’s Acting Director since November 2019 and succeeds former Director, Dr. David E. Pierce, who retired last fall.

As a long-standing representative to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, he has chaired numerous species management boards (including lobster at present) and was recognized for his management efforts with an award of excellence in 2018. He is also the Chair of the ongoing Massachusetts Shellfish Initiative, a multi-agency and stakeholder effort to develop a strategic plan for Massachusetts shellfish fisheries. For more information on McKiernan’s appointment viist https://www.mass.gov/news/daniel-mckiernan-named-director-of-the-division-of-marine-fisheries.

Where’s the bite?

Bluefish and striped bass fishing continue to be great in both the East and West passages of Narragansett Bay as well as along the southern coastal beaches. Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle said, “Schools of striped bass with bluefish mixed in on the surface all over the Bay. One school will have fish in the 10-inch range, another in the low 20-inch range and then there are keeper schools to 30 inches. Anglers are catching keepers.” Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick said, “Customers have caught striped bass from 20 to 30 inches in the upper Bay, Rocky Point, Greenwich Bay and this week large bluefish eight to ten pounds arrived.” “The Pawcatuck River is still holding a lot of Atlantic menhaden. And, larger fish are now being caught off Watch Hill, Westley reefs in the 32-inch range.” said John Woodman of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly.

“We have a good bluefish bite at Napatree Point too.”

Squeteague fishing surged this week. “We had a couple of kayak anglers pick up 10 squeteague off Warwick Neck. One fish was eight ponds. Anglers are picking them up when bass fishing the bottom using storm shads and bucktails bouncing them off the bottom.”

Tautog season ends May 31. It has been a great season, right until the end with anglers catching a good quantity of fish. Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box said, “We weighed in a 9.65-pound tautog this weekend for a customer entering the RI Saltwater Anglers Association tautog tournament.” Arguably this spring has been the best spring tautog season in years.

Fluke fishing along the coast is slow as it is in the Bay. John Woodman of Watch Hill Outfitters said, “Customers are catching fish along the coastal shore beaches but the fluke are all small.” Fluke minimum size is 19 inches, six fish per angler per day in Rhode Island. We also have a special Shore Area Provision in select areas … minimum size of 17 inches (2 fish only) with a total possession six fish (two may be 17 inches, the rest must be 19 inches or larger). However this only applies when fishing from shore at Fort Wetherill, Jamestown; Fort Adams, Newport; India Point Park, Providence; Stone Bridge, Tiverton; East and West Walls, Pt. Judith/Narragansett; Conimicut Park, Warwick; and Rocky Point, Warwick. Fishing this weekend for fluke in the Bay did not produce for anglers. I conducted fluke test fishing north and south of the Jamestown Bridge to Beavertail and did not find any keeper fluke. Believe this will change quickly with the warmer weather this week. Captain Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “Things are starting to look up in Rhode Island. We finally got word from the state on when we can sail, when out of state can come and capacity. We will be kicking off our season starting on June 1 for fluke. We are allowed to take 27 people by reservation only. This is very important. With the limited capacity we do not want to leave anyone at the dock. You can make reservation by phone or online.”

Freshwater fishing: Trout fishing has been very good. “We have experienced a resurgence in trout fishing in ponds located in state parks like Only Pond, Lincoln Woods which opened up this week. The trout bite is good a Barber Pond, South Kingstown and in the Wood River. The largemouth bass bite is now post spawn with anglers catching males.” said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box. John Woodman of Watch Hill Outfitters said, “The trout bite in area ponds is great. Anglers are buying night crawlers to target them.”

Dave Monti 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, the American Saltwater Guides Association and the RI Marine Fisheries Council. Forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com and his blog at www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com.

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