No Fluke

Commercial fishing recommendations made by Council; 'lean' initiative works

Captain Dave Monti
Posted 12/11/14

The Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (RIMFC) met last week to make recommendations on 2015 regulations for commercial scup, black sea bass, monkfish and summer flounder (fluke).  The …

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No Fluke

Commercial fishing recommendations made by Council; 'lean' initiative works

Posted

The Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (RIMFC) met last week to make recommendations on 2015 regulations for commercial scup, black sea bass, monkfish and summer flounder (fluke).  The Council reviewed stock status and public comments on proposed recommendations for specie management plans and voted status quo (no regulation changes) for all species reviewed.   

The Council also assessed the new workshop/public hearing approach that combined four nights of specie advisory panel meetings and a public hearing into one night.  The approach was viewed as a success, allowing for greater fishermen input and is expected to save fishermen and DEM staffers hundreds of hours of time and thousands of dollars as input and decisions are made in a more effective and cost efficient manner.  

Jason McNamee, DEM marine biologist, said, "We had greater participation form fishermen with over 30 in attendance.  In the past with multiple meetings on separate nights we often had three or four fishermen attend some specie advisory panels." 

The new approach is part of DEM's and Director Janet Coit's "lean initiative".  Overall the Council looked favorably on the process with the recommendation of continuing to provide information in advance of the meeting to allow user groups to formulate alternative recommendations before workshop/public hearings and then continue to allow public comment one week after the public hearing.  

DEM and the Council are moving forward with a similar workshop/public hearing approach on one evening for recreational fishing regulations later this winter.

Anglers mobilizing to keep Stellwagen fishing grounds open

The New England Fisheries Management Council (Council) will hold public hearings at 6:00 p.m. in New Bedford on December 16 and in Gloucester, MA on December 17.  The hearing will take public comments a proposal to close down a 55-square-mile area of Stellwagen Bank to bottom fishing for research as a Designated Habitat Research Area ("DHRA").  Stellwagen Bank is located between Cape Cod and Cape Ann in the southwest corner of the Gulf of Maine.

 In a press release last week the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) encouraged saltwater anglers and recreational fishing and boating industry leaders to attend the hearing and let their voices be heard.  Written comments are also being accepted until 5:00 p.m. (EST), January 8, 2015.  Comments should be addressed to John Bullard, Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office at 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 or emailed to: nmfs.gar.OA2.DEIS@noaa.gov (Attention/Subject Line: "OA2 DEIS Comments").  

Wildlife action plan and guide available for comment

The Department of Environmental Management's (DEM) Division of Fish and Wildlife announced the availability of the 2015 Rhode Island Wildlife Action Plan (RI WAP) on its website for public review and comment.  This includes a companion guide to the full RI WAP, Conserving Rhode Island Fish and Wildlife: Implementing Rhode Island's 2015 Wildlife Action Plan in Your Town.  The companion guide was added for the 2015 revision.  View plan at www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/swap15.htm. Comments accepted through Dec. 15 at riwildlifeactionplan@yahoo.com.

$400 donated to Project Healing Waters 

The Rhody Fly Rodders donated $400 to the veterans group Project Healing Waters at their Brockton Chapter meeting in December.  Funds were raised from last years' Annual Fly Tying Extravaganza. The connection to Project Healing Waters is through members who work with the Providence VA to teach disabled veterans how to fish with fly tackle.  The program starts with fly tying instructions giving the disabled vets an insight into what they are creating with hooks and feathers and its relationship to creatures that live and swim.  When the weather permits the vets are taken to locations provided by the RI Department of Environmental Management and taught the basics of fly casting and fly fishing. 

Innovation funds available for recreational fishing

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced the fifth round of Fisheries Innovation Fund grant opportunities. This fund is designed to foster innovation in the fishing industry to help sustain fishermen's livelihoods while rebuilding fish stocks. It supports the participation of fishermen and fishing communities in securing sustainable fisheries in the United States.  A 2015 priority area is innovation in recreational fisheries, including improving catch and effort monitoring and evaluation, and addressing needs outlined in the NOAA Fisheries Regional Fisheries Action Agenda.  For information visit the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation website at www.nfwf.org/fisheriesfund.

Rhody Fly Rodders to hold Fly Tying Extravaganza Dec. 16

The Rhody Fly Rodders will hold their Annual Fly Tying Extravaganza Tuesday, December 16th, 6:30 p.m. at the Riverside Sportsmen Association, East Providence, RI, Rt. 114 N (Wampanoag Trail).  

Peter Nilsen, president of the Rhody Fly Rodders said, "We're having sort of a tying party and inviting all, including beginners. Some of the state's best fly tyers will be tying and instructing some interesting fresh and saltwater patterns. All flies tied will be for sale that night and at future fly fishing shows."  All funds raised this year will go to Save the Bay.  Meetings are open to the public.  For information contact Pete Nilsen at 401.245-7172. 

Fishery liaison job for wind farm

A job posting for a Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF) fishery liaison was issued last week.  The Coastal Resources Management Council's (CRMC, Council)  final decision to approve the BIWF required that a third party fisheries liaison be hired by the project owner and approved by the Council before initiation of construction.  The job description reads, "The fishery liaison shall be an independent contractor paid by the assent holders but reporting to the CRMC. The fishery liaison shall facilitate direct communication between commercial and recreational fishermen and the assent holder(s)."  Candidates interested should send a cover letter and resume to Aileen Kenney, VP of Permitting & Environmental, Deepwater Wind, 56 Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI 02903 or via email to: akenney@dwwind.com.

Where's the bite

Tautog fishing remains good when anglers can get out.  Patti Ferrara of Ray's Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, "The weather has been terrible but Capt. John Sheriff and his mate Bob Matteson continue to fish for tautog when they can get out in this weather."  Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said tautog fishing was good this past week when they were able to sail. Capt. Blount reported, "A full boat limit and back to the dock quite early Monday of last week and just a few fish short of a limit on Tuesday. Very good fishing again on Friday with quite a few limit catches scattered around the Lady Frances."

Cod fishing.  Roger Simpson of the Frances Fleet said, "While the rain scared many customers away for Saturday's run, the light load of anglers enjoyed a calm drifting day on the water and a very good catch of nice fat green cod to ten pounds and a good amount of chunky sea bass. Hi hook on the cod was longtime regular Joe Nadazi from Trumbull, CT who boxed five good keepers along with an easy sea bass limit. There were others who boxed three and four nice keeper cod apiece as well. Mixed in on all the trips have been large sea flounders, good size ocean perch while mixed in on a couple of the trips were a couple fat chunky pollock in the 6-7 lb range, red hake, and even a tog or two on Monday's run."

Fresh water anglers are fishing.  John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle, Riverside, said, "I sold out of shiners and plan to get more. With the rough seas anglers have been fresh water fishing.  I had two guys fish Lincoln Woods for largemouth bass and they bought the last of my shiners."  Patti Ferrara of Ray's Bait & Tackle said, "Anglers are fresh water fishing.  We are selling shiners and hope to do a good ice fishing business as the weather gets colder."

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing on Narragansett Bay for over 40 years.  He holds a captain's master license and a charter fishing license. Contact or forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit his website at www.noflukefishing.com.

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