ACCURATE FISHING REPORTS * TRUTHFUL-ISH FISH STORIES * THE OCCASIONAL LIE
It’s a real blessing to have a job like this because everyone has a fish story, whether they caught one, knew someone who did or never could catch one but wish they could. Each year it’s pure fun to reflect on some of the characters we met. With a tip of the hat to everyone … Continue reading A year full of characters, present and past tense
Greg Vespe and Captain BJ Silvia stood in front of a packed Elks Lodge to talk tautog. As guest speakers for November’s RI Saltwater Anglers Association meeting, lots of antsy fishermen were eagerly awaiting their words of wisdom on how to find, catch and release black fish. First, the pair let the room know that … Continue reading How to catch tautog for a lifetime with Greg Vespe and Capt. Silvia
Rich Heffernan smoothed his perfect grey mustache and surveyed the crowd. They were cold, hungry fishermen in fleece hats and sweatshirts, the salty uniforms of those who spent long nights in the surf. Rich was helping host the breakfast banquet of the 26th Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association Fall Surf Casting Club Challenge at the … Continue reading Surfcasters bragging rights sure have changed
Fall provides so much so this week, we offer opportunities to catch fish and possibly take home a few bucks, celebrate the season, inspect a musket, take in a movie and look inside a deer’s mouth. That's not bad for the middle of October. Snug Harbor Marina is hosting a White Chinner Challenge through December … Continue reading How to help Trout Unlimited, see muskets & a fly fishing movie, have a beer & look inside a deer’s mouth
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
September is such a sportsman’s month. Fish are in big time, goose and deer season opens and the Fall archery season for turkey begins. Waters are warm; around 66 off the beaches and as high as 72 in southern salt ponds. Days are warm, nights are cool. Provided Mother Nature steers any impending tropical systems … Continue reading Hoping for more big bass, fresh and salt
Last week’s RI Kayak Bassin’ tourney stop at South Kingstown’s Indian Lake was a fantastic opportunity to go fishing with some of the best people on the water and realize how fishing is important to all ages. Fourteen kayak fishermen hit the water at 7:00 am ready to fish for points, bragging rights and a … Continue reading RI Kayak Bassin’s Dean Powers wins first place and the Twesten boys catch a peck of perch
The world of competitive freshwater fishing is exciting to say the least and the Ocean State is lucky to have several groups who take advantage of our many fresh water resources and in many cases, relatively low fishing pressure. Most groups have semi-regular standings and even hold banquets at season’s end but my experience has … Continue reading Competition or not, September fishing is top notch
Don’t let the dates fool ‘ya. Just because deer hunting season opens in a few weeks and the Fall turkey season happens shortly after does not by any means mean that summer is over. Fishing fresh and saltwater is red hot right now and given all the heat we’ve been suffering through, there’s plenty of … Continue reading Summer is for fishing, Fall is for hunting and fishing some more
Gabriel Thomas Littlefield was ten, strong, a little wild and blessed with an old man’s soul. He was dealt a tough card. He proved wisdom doesn’t always come with age. He was the son of a fisherman. When he became sick, a large community of fishermen came to his side. “Gabe’s Got This!” they yelled … Continue reading He was the son of a fisherman
