The Fish Wrap Writer Blog
Below you will find more than 350 articles covering fishing in Rhode Island and the greater New England area since 2014.
And some truth-ish stories as well. I hope you will enjoy.
2021 Fish Wrap Holiday Gift Guide
Our 2021 Fish Wrap Writer Holiday Gift Guide will help you choose some fun, handy, thoughtful and maybe even perfect gifts for any outdoorsman or womann on your shopping list. We are very fortunate to meet lots of wonderful people and many of them create great products we can share with you. Happy Holidays!
RISAA Needs Your Help, Potter Pond Gets Some
Rhode Island's CRMC subcommittee has recommended that Perry Raso's application to expand his shellfish business into a salt pond with a long history of various recreational uses, be denied. The RI Saltwater Anglers are looking for some help with their own subcommittees. RIDEM wants to help you learn to tie flies and our good friend Tom Adams help us understand the benefits of tree saddles for deer hunting .
RICAC Emerges & Treonze Wins Big
The RI Coastal Advocacy Coalition has delivered a letter to CRMC looking for regulatory change in the way it considers approving and siting shellfish businesses in public trust waters. With summer a wrap, Todd Treonze has been awarded the OSKAA Angler of the Year. Dennis Zambrotta has some sage advice for surfcasting Block Island and RISAA's Greg Vespe pulled a bomber bonito out of chilly November waters.
Vespe Takes RISAA’s Helm
Greg Vespe, experienced fisherman, talented boat handler, patient teacher and solid human, will lead the RI Saltwater Anglers Association as its new President. His skills on the water and background participating in the fisheries management process make Mr. Vespe the perfect choice to represent some 7500 members and affiliated groups.
Fishing & Exhaling In Maine
As Fall takes over before the inevitable, there remains time to fish the backwaters of Maine for largemouth or a peaceful nap under a low sun. The North Maine Woods is calling.
Frank & Joyce Daignault: Outdoorsman’s Writers & Teachers
Frank Daignault has published eight books and hundreds of articles about saltwater fishing. But all of his achievements were earned in the company of his wife Joyce. Together they raised a family while fishing and hunting for sport and food. It was an honor to speak with them and learn more of thier story.
Fall In Rhode Island Means Lizard Fish, Albies & Trout
Fall in Rhode Island means lizard fish, albies and trout on the move. Lizard fish are little but they’re all teeth and have been caught in Quonochontaug Pond and Narragansett Bay. They’re fast but a few fishermen are faster with epoxy jigs and shiny tins to land...
Thank You Steve Medeiros
When Steve Medeiros passed, many anglers never knew how how passionately he worked to protect their sport and that was fine with him. The founder and President of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association, he ws considerate, determined, steadfast and a friend so this week, we give thanks for his legacy.
Fish are Hall around us this week
Total character Brain Hall find sailfish from his kayak, Aaron Flynn is on the largemouth, Alex Ridgway can find fish anywhere, and we mean anywhere, and then Steve Medeiros, the generous and patient President of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association passed away, quite unexpectedly. It's a good week tempered with his loss but we'll offer Steve a fine send off next week. So let's find some fish....
Fall Is Trophy Time
Rhode Island’s chapter of Trout Unlimited and the South Kingstown Land Trust have organized a free Introductory Fly Fishing Clinic for Women on October 2. A few weeks later, the RI Saltwater Anglers Association is calling all surf fishing clubs to their annual...
Chef Lucia’s Fall Feast
May gardens, once diligently pruned, managed and defined, are now September gardens: thick, vine heavy affairs where tanned cucumber and zucchini leaves have overtaken peppers and lettuce. Tautog, stripers, bluefish and a late shot of fluke are in close,signalling...
Cloudy skies over cloudy water
Clouds on the horizon and a few big ones in the mirror mean fishing can be fickle but a few aces know where they feed. Ralph Craft has a few spots open for his Tog Tourney and CRMC wants to send you some mail to keep aware of how they are, we hope, protecting our shorelines.
Don’t Miss RI ‘Tog Classic
Do you like to party? Do you love fishing for tautog? Do you enjoy supporting local community charities? Do you dig food trucks, fishing, prizes, raffles, talking about fishing, live music, bragging about fishing or gesturing to show how big your blackfish was...
August Maintenance Is Anything But Routine
August fishermen sometimes need to be reminded that maintenance is critical after a long summer of use but also for our personal routines, which we can fall in or out of and then, when we least expect it, end up upside down.
River Rules While A Ruler Rules
The Beaver River in Richmond, Rhode Island has new state regulations to help protect native brook trout populations. No more hatchery raised trout will be allowed in the river system and hopefully native brookies will thrive, reminding anglers just how magical it can be to hike in deep for fish in shallow streams. Then we'll visit Randy Degrace to hear about his almost state record black sea bass.
Big River Protects Brook Trout
Rhode Island's Trout Unlimited chapter has partnered with RIDEM, EA Engineering and other environmental agencies to investigate the Big River Management Area to see if it's dark, shrouded reaches might support populations of wild, native brook trout, the state's only native charr. Biologist Corey Pelletier electrofishing small winding streams and rivers to discover and catalog life, because, in a world of questions, answers all begin with data.
Phil Capaldi’s Fish Report
South County's Phil Capaldi knows the salt well so this week, he provides a new fish report so that I can go north to find smallmouth bass and lose my cell phone signal. Phil talks fluke and stripers with some solid advice on lures to catch them both. Go Phil!
No Going Around the Block
These are good days to be on the water. We have boat loads of options, locations and friends looking to share gas bills to find stripers, bluefish and mighty tuna. You just might want to be careful where you dip your toes around Narragansett as white and thresher sharks are patrolling in close. Really close.
Improving CRMC’s Public Awareness
When government doesn't engage the very people who might be impacted by their tax funded actions, there will be opposition and just maybe, anarchy. Rhode Island's Coastal Resources Management Council has invited even more scrutiny by softballing aquaculture applications literally under people's noses, without ever letting them know of the impacts. That's pure bull and the curtain has been called.
Block Island Fishing, Fresh & Salt
Block Island is hosting a saltwater fishing tournament while islanders are quietly catching and releasing some seriously big largemouth bass. There is plenty of strong fishing in and around the island if you have patience and know how to play by the rules.