ACCURATE FISHING REPORTS * TRUTHFUL-ISH FISH STORIES * THE OCCASIONAL LIE
Since this coronavirus deal has forced the cancellation of so many much anticipated fishing shows and events, now's the time to reintroduce ourselves to local tackle shops. Many took big inventory risks anticipating big weekends and sales and we still need to gear up for a big fishing season. Before you reach for the laptop … Continue reading There’s a tackle store waiting to meet you
2010 was the first year of the Rhode Island Saltwater License Program, designed as an alternative to a federal license which became mandatory with a 2006 amendment to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Act. The amendment was written to begin more accurate capture of fisheries data like effort and landings. In a rare move, Rhode Island’s … Continue reading Saltwater license sales are strong and so are tackle store conversations
It was heartening to see 80 people on a rainy February night at URI’s Corless Auditorium offering comments on the state’s proposed 2020 fisheries regulations but equally disappointing to hear so many fishermen advocate for killing smaller striped bass and more bluefish in light of our understanding that both stocks are overfished and in peril. … Continue reading Stripers, blues & elephants: they’re in trouble and we’re still talking about “us”
Max Appleman shook my hand pretty hard. We hadn’t met previously but both recalled a Fish Wrap piece from last year in which readers were encouraged to contact him regarding a potential change in striper regulations. A similar Fish Wrap piece with his contact information was picked up by The Pew Charitable Trust and widely … Continue reading 350 miles versus 39 fishermen; a tale of two fishes
And just like that, leaves are falling. Barely September and that north wind is blowing back in windows for months hidden by shades and drying out dark garage corners where snow shovels lie forgotten. For now. That north wind has brought in bonito and bonita and pretty chub mackerel. Stripers are considering migrating, poachers are … Continue reading New winds bring albies, bonito and chub mackerel
Talk on the docks these days is the state of our striped bass fishery. Based on some recalculations of data points, the ASFMC determined that in 2017, the stock was overfished and overfishing was occurring. That assessment has triggered a regulatory review to bring the fishery back to the levels we determined to be healthy. … Continue reading New striped bass assessment needs our comments
Summer is a gift to fishermen and this year is no exception. Certainly it’s been a solidly slower striper year but there’s lots of speculations for that situation. Bass are moving south with the tourists to Brenton Reef, Beavertail and all those lovely south facing beaches where they charge locals to park, which is awful … Continue reading Stripers and tourists are moving south as waters warm
After fishing on the rocks for two keeper stripers a night, we would lean on one tailgate, take two cold cans of beer from any icy remains in a soft cooler then walk to one long, sagging, stubborn stone wall. Through a sweet harmony of crickets and cicadas, we faced a farmers field of tall … Continue reading Is there writing on the stone wall for stripers?
Seems the HOV lane is open to the Cape Cod Canal. Last winter, Peter Vican and Don Smith gave a talk to the RI Saltwater Anglers Association about how they used to catch big stripers south of Block Island. They fished a few honey holes, mostly at night and with eels on the bottom. The … Continue reading Is it time for a catch and release striper fishery?
The Ocean Conservancy invited a flotilla of fishermen from all over the country to Washington D.C. to discuss long range protection of fish stocks and the path to abundance. Our mission was to meet with our congressional representatives to ensure a strong Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Forage fishes, bluefish and striped bass remain … Continue reading We walked The Capital for fish, conservationists and for generations of abundance
