NOAA Fisheries announced the annual opening of a Seasonal Management Area (SMA) in Cape Cod Bay to protect North Atlantic right whales which started on Jan. 1, 2025.
All vessels 65 feet or longer must travel at 10 knots or less in this area to reduce the threat of vessel collisions with these endangered whales. The Cape Cod Bay SMA is in effect through May 15, 2025. Because vessels of all sizes can strike and injure a right whale, NOAA Fisheries also encourages vessels less than 65 feet in length to slow down to 10 knots or less within active SMAs.
North Atlantic right whales are on the move along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. If seen, remember that approaching a right whale closer than 500 yards is a violation of federal and state law.
Endangered North Atlantic right whales are approaching extinction. There are approximately 360 individuals remaining, including fewer than 70 reproductively active females. Human impacts such as vessel strikes and entanglements with fixed fishing gear such as lobster pots and fish traps continue to threaten the survival of this species.
Details and graphics of all vessel strike management zones currently in effect can be found at Reducing Vessel Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales | NOAA Fisheries.
The Cape Cod Bay Seasonal Management Area Includes all waters of Cape Cod Bay with Northern Boundary of 42°04’56.5”N, 070°12’W to 42°12’N, 070°12’W then due west back to shore.

Fish data still rolling in after 61 years
Last week NOAA Fisheries announced the completion of their Fall Bottom Trawl Survey which has been conducted for 61 years.
On Nov. 12, Northeast Fisheries Science Center staff finished the 2024 Fall Bottom Trawl Survey aboard the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow. They conducted resource survey tows and temperature and salinity sampling at 371 of 377 planned stations (98 percent completion). They sampled plankton at 115 of 116 planned stations (99 percent completion).
This year’s fall survey occurred in three legs, moving from south to north. It got underway on Sept. 6.
The Henry B. Bigelow supports a variety of marine research on this multispecies bottom-trawl survey. The most important of its missions is to monitor the region’s fishery resources.
The data provides critical inputs to regional fish stock assessments. They help inform fishery management decisions on allowable catch limits and regulations for recreational and commercial fishing by the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils as well as Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
This survey monitors fishery stock abundance and distribution on the Northwest Atlantic continental shelf from Cape Lookout, North Carolina, to the Scotian Shelf. Data collected are used to track fish ages, lengths, weights, sex, maturity, and food habits.
The temperature and salinity profiles collected during the survey help link fish distribution to physical oceanographic conditions. The ichthyoplankton (larval fish and eggs) collected help with understanding spawning distributions and with estimating changes in fish abundance. The zooplankton (tiny animals and immature stages of some larger ones) collected tell researchers about the ocean food web. The data collected helps NOAA to construct models that support ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management.
For information on the trawl survey visit 2024 Fall Bottom Trawl Survey Completed in Northeast | NOAA Fisheries.

Marlborough Fly Fishing Show
Jan. 17-19
The Marlborough Fly Fishing Show will be held Friday, Jan. 17 to Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, 181 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough, MA.
The Fly Fishers International (FFI) will be offering free fly fishing instruction at the Learning Center located on the main show floor.
Learn about fly fishing and tying from the best guides in the region and nation. Over 25 seminars offered concurrently in two seminar areas. For example, Ed Lombardo, expert fly guide and instructor who taught me how to fly fish two years ago, will be conducting two seminars along with ten other featured speakers.
Lombardo will host a seminar on Fishing the Dry Fly on Some of New England’s Best Trout Streams at 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17 and then at 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18 he will speak on How to Fly Fish for Striped Bass on Some of New England’s Best Tidal Rivers.
Tickets are $18 for a one day pass, $28 for two days, and $38 for a three day pass. Children under five admitted free with a $5 fee for children 6 to 12 years old.
For information visit the show website at https://flyfishingsttps://flyfishingshow.com/marlborough-ma/how.com/marlborough-ma/.

Where’s the bite?
Striped bass continue to make an appearance in good numbers in our title rivers, salt pond estuaries and inlets that feed them. Fly fishing expert and guide Ed Lombardo and fishing partners continue to hook up with striped bass at the Narrow River, Narragansett. Mike Wade of Watch hill outfitters reports a good bass bite with fish from 24” to 35” and more off the Fire District Beach and in the Thames River.
Cod/tautog fishing. High winds and seas have prevented vessels from fishing, but boats will continue to fish for cod this month once things calm down. The tautog season closed Dec. 31 in MA and RI, and closed 11/28 in CT. So, if you are itching to get out cod is a good option, visit party/charter boat social media sites, website or call them and ask if they are sailing. Vessels generally sail between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. and return in the afternoon. Visit www.islandcurrent.com and www.francesfleet.com. Full day rates for vessels are generally $130 to $135 per adult and around $80 for those under 12 years old.
Freshwater fishing. We are in a transition period, unfortunately the ice/no ice situation has made it difficult to fish from shore and boats. Anglers that have been braving the elements and are able to fish have been landing trout and largemouth. Beach Pond that straddles Voluntown, CT and Exeter, RI had fishable ice last week with a few anglers hooking up with trout there. Just a thin layer of ice this week in some spots. And that has been the case with many waterways in the CT, RI and MA area this week. For a complete list of trout stocked ponds in Massachusetts visit Mass Wildlife at Trout stocking report | Mass.gov, both Whiting and Falls Ponds in North Attleboro were stocked this fall. And, in Rhode Island visit www.dem.ri.gov/fishing, or call 401-789-0281 or 401-539-0019 for more information on trout stocking.
Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verison.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.