Post by dex on Apr 27, 2020 9:28:12 GMT -5
FISHING REPORT
It’s allowed in R.I., but new rules are in place
By Dave Monti
Special to The Journal
Burrillville has been good for trout fishing and just about any pond stocked by DEM. Anglers should know that state parks are closed.”
For a list of stocked ponds in Rhode Island visit dem. ri.gov. Littlefield said, “The bass bite has been very good. Bad Luck Pond in Rehoboth has been yielding some nice largemouth bass in the 4- to 5-pound range. This pond has consistently produced for a customer who fishes there on a kayak on a regular basis.”
Saltwater. Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina said: “School striped bass with keepers mixed in continue to be caught in the northern portion of Salt Pond and in Potters Pond, with some school bass being caught at the West Wall and along southern coastal beaches.”
School bass are starting to make themselves known on Cape Cod. Bruce Miller of Canal Bait & Tackle in Sagamore said: “Customers are catching school bass to 26 inches on Craigville Beach in Centerville with the tautog bite starting to pick up on the West End of the Canal.”
Littlefield said: “The school bass bite has been good. And, there are keepers mixed in. Customers caught bass in the 28- to 29-inch range at the White Church Bridge in Barrington. White soft plastic lures are working well, including white shad and Al Gag’s white soft plastic lures.”
Henault reported: “The bite at the Stone Bridge both on the Tiverton and Portsmouth sides is working for anglers with tautog being caught off the Hurricane Barrier in Providence and along the East Bay bike path.”
Dave Monti is a charter captain, a member of the American Saltwater Guides Association, RISAA, RIPCBA, serves as vice chair of the RIMFC and is a marketing communications practitioner.
Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net, visit noflukefishing. com or noflukefishing. blogspot.com.
Fishing is a great outdoor activity that can be enjoyed solo on a beach or off a jetty. Fishing can be a great family activity, too, on the shore of a lake, along the coast or on a family boat. The truth is you can fish with current COVID-19 orders if you keep proper social distancing, wear a mask as needed and stay in groups of five or less.
The good news is that the fishing continues to be great, on both saltwater and freshwater.
Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence said: “Most of the freshwater activity has been focused on trout. The challenge is getting to a fishing spot with parking restrictions in place, particularly at state beaches. However, JL, who works in our store, has been landing some nice trout, and customer Allen Pham of Woonsocket caught a tautog in the 5-pound range in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay this week.”
John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in Riverside said: “Fishing is good and the nice thing is that we have an influx of a lot of new customers. Folks are sitting at home with nothing to do and are trying their hand at fishing. I sold over 30 freshwater combination rigs with a rod and reel to guys that have not fished in years.”
Rick Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association, said: “There is confusion about for-hire fishing.
Gill Bell caught this 20-inch striped bass with a large lure fishing the South County shore Monday. [COURTESY OF DAVE MONTI]
At this point, it sounds like smaller guide boats can fish. However, for a large part of the industry that take six or less, it does no good to say we are open with regulations such as no outof- state fishers, no one over 60 fishing and the 6-foot social distancing requirement imposed. Eighty-five percent of our customers are out-of-state customers, and a percentage of them are over 60 years old, so to say we are open with these restrictions does not seem right. We hope to develop a set of guidelines for the
• Rhode Island waters are not closed to fishing. Out-of-state vessels and fishers can fish Rhode Island waters but cannot land.
• Transient boating into Rhode Island marinas, docks and moorings is prohibited.
• Charter vessels cannot take nonresidents. Legal charters must obey social distancing.
• If someone owns a boat and lives out of state, they can come directly to the marina, attach and leave. They should arrange in advance with the marina.
• If you enter Rhode Island and stay even overnight, you must quarantine while here. If staying at a property owned, then a 14-day quarantine is mandatory. Anyone under quarantine must go to the state Department of Health website and register. For frequently asked questions (FAQs) on freshwater fishing, visit the DEM’s website at dem. ri.gov/fishing/.
industry in Rhode Island and get them approved, even if we have to hold off a bit more to get them approved.” There was also confusion about who can fish and the type of fishing that is and is not allowed in Rhode Island. Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly is located very close to the Connecticut border with many of his Connecticut customers often fishing Rhode Island. Wade asked for clarification on out-ofstate residents fishing in Rhode Island.
So, late last week, we made an inquiry to Janel Coit, director of the state Department of Environmental Management and Chief Dean Hoxsie of DEM Law Enforcement responded on her behalf. Here are some general guidelines Hoxsie shared:
Saltwater fishing and marinas
• Nonresidents are not permitted to enter the state for recreational purposes.
• Nonresidents are not permitted to travel to Rhode Island to work on or use their boats at marinas, boat yards, etc.
Where’s the bite?
Freshwater fishing remains very strong for trout in waterways that have been stocked. Henault said “Round Top Pond in
It’s allowed in R.I., but new rules are in place
By Dave Monti
Special to The Journal
Burrillville has been good for trout fishing and just about any pond stocked by DEM. Anglers should know that state parks are closed.”
For a list of stocked ponds in Rhode Island visit dem. ri.gov. Littlefield said, “The bass bite has been very good. Bad Luck Pond in Rehoboth has been yielding some nice largemouth bass in the 4- to 5-pound range. This pond has consistently produced for a customer who fishes there on a kayak on a regular basis.”
Saltwater. Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina said: “School striped bass with keepers mixed in continue to be caught in the northern portion of Salt Pond and in Potters Pond, with some school bass being caught at the West Wall and along southern coastal beaches.”
School bass are starting to make themselves known on Cape Cod. Bruce Miller of Canal Bait & Tackle in Sagamore said: “Customers are catching school bass to 26 inches on Craigville Beach in Centerville with the tautog bite starting to pick up on the West End of the Canal.”
Littlefield said: “The school bass bite has been good. And, there are keepers mixed in. Customers caught bass in the 28- to 29-inch range at the White Church Bridge in Barrington. White soft plastic lures are working well, including white shad and Al Gag’s white soft plastic lures.”
Henault reported: “The bite at the Stone Bridge both on the Tiverton and Portsmouth sides is working for anglers with tautog being caught off the Hurricane Barrier in Providence and along the East Bay bike path.”
Dave Monti is a charter captain, a member of the American Saltwater Guides Association, RISAA, RIPCBA, serves as vice chair of the RIMFC and is a marketing communications practitioner.
Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net, visit noflukefishing. com or noflukefishing. blogspot.com.
Fishing is a great outdoor activity that can be enjoyed solo on a beach or off a jetty. Fishing can be a great family activity, too, on the shore of a lake, along the coast or on a family boat. The truth is you can fish with current COVID-19 orders if you keep proper social distancing, wear a mask as needed and stay in groups of five or less.
The good news is that the fishing continues to be great, on both saltwater and freshwater.
Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence said: “Most of the freshwater activity has been focused on trout. The challenge is getting to a fishing spot with parking restrictions in place, particularly at state beaches. However, JL, who works in our store, has been landing some nice trout, and customer Allen Pham of Woonsocket caught a tautog in the 5-pound range in the East Passage of Narragansett Bay this week.”
John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in Riverside said: “Fishing is good and the nice thing is that we have an influx of a lot of new customers. Folks are sitting at home with nothing to do and are trying their hand at fishing. I sold over 30 freshwater combination rigs with a rod and reel to guys that have not fished in years.”
Rick Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association, said: “There is confusion about for-hire fishing.
Gill Bell caught this 20-inch striped bass with a large lure fishing the South County shore Monday. [COURTESY OF DAVE MONTI]
At this point, it sounds like smaller guide boats can fish. However, for a large part of the industry that take six or less, it does no good to say we are open with regulations such as no outof- state fishers, no one over 60 fishing and the 6-foot social distancing requirement imposed. Eighty-five percent of our customers are out-of-state customers, and a percentage of them are over 60 years old, so to say we are open with these restrictions does not seem right. We hope to develop a set of guidelines for the
• Rhode Island waters are not closed to fishing. Out-of-state vessels and fishers can fish Rhode Island waters but cannot land.
• Transient boating into Rhode Island marinas, docks and moorings is prohibited.
• Charter vessels cannot take nonresidents. Legal charters must obey social distancing.
• If someone owns a boat and lives out of state, they can come directly to the marina, attach and leave. They should arrange in advance with the marina.
• If you enter Rhode Island and stay even overnight, you must quarantine while here. If staying at a property owned, then a 14-day quarantine is mandatory. Anyone under quarantine must go to the state Department of Health website and register. For frequently asked questions (FAQs) on freshwater fishing, visit the DEM’s website at dem. ri.gov/fishing/.
industry in Rhode Island and get them approved, even if we have to hold off a bit more to get them approved.” There was also confusion about who can fish and the type of fishing that is and is not allowed in Rhode Island. Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly is located very close to the Connecticut border with many of his Connecticut customers often fishing Rhode Island. Wade asked for clarification on out-ofstate residents fishing in Rhode Island.
So, late last week, we made an inquiry to Janel Coit, director of the state Department of Environmental Management and Chief Dean Hoxsie of DEM Law Enforcement responded on her behalf. Here are some general guidelines Hoxsie shared:
Saltwater fishing and marinas
• Nonresidents are not permitted to enter the state for recreational purposes.
• Nonresidents are not permitted to travel to Rhode Island to work on or use their boats at marinas, boat yards, etc.
Where’s the bite?
Freshwater fishing remains very strong for trout in waterways that have been stocked. Henault said “Round Top Pond in