Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Menhaden Management Board (MT) with a Small Amount of the Was Held in Maryland

www.RISAA.org DECEMBER, 2017 • Issue 228 401-826-2121 Representing Over 7,500 Recreational Anglers

RI Delegates Unable to Influence Menhaden Board by Capt. But they voted and supported Rhode Island's interest Richard On November 13 & 14 a meeting of the Atlantic States Marine harvest of 216,000 metric tons Hittinger Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Menhaden Management Board (MT) with a small amount of the was held in Maryland. This meeting brought together total coastwide quota going to each state that requests quota representatives from 16 states and 2 federal agencies to take (0.5% minimum). final action on Amendment 3 of the Menhaden Needless to say, this is a big disappointment, Management Plan. especially since we had full support of Governor Rich Hittinger attended as a representative Raimondo, RIDEM Director Coit, and the full RI of the RISAA. We have been working on delegation to the ASMFC (Bob Ballou, David menhaden protection for many years and most Borden, and Eric Reid). recently has been a key partner with Save the Bay, Audubon We knew when we started this effort in early 2017 that it Society, and others in a push to get the RI leadership on the would be a tough battle, but when over 150,000 public comments ASMFC Menhaden Board to pass interim Ecological Reference were made on this issue and they were nearly all in support of Points (ERPs) for menhaden through passage of Option E under Option E for ERPs we thought there was a good chance of passing Reference Points. ERPs now. There are many things to say about the current The short story is that the Menhaden Board rejected interim menhaden management and the process that took place in ERPs and passed an increase of 8% in harvest to a total coastwide Maryland, some of which I will explain. (to page 6)

R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 The RISAA Legislative Committee’s mission is to provide, in partnership with the Affiliated Clubs, a forum for improving the knowledge and understanding of fishery-related and government issues that affect recreational anglers. An informed membership encourages involvement and advocacy. The Legislative Committee will strive to advocate responsible fishery decision. The Committee is comprised of RISAA Members and delegates from the Affiliated Clubs. The Committee meets two or three times a year, depending on the number of fishery and/or legislative issues that develop. Wind Farm Expansion - Several Hundred Turbines Possible

Anglers need to be more engaged with wind farms workshop held on November 8-9 by the National Academy of Wind farm development is moving forward. Two to three Sciences, Engineering and Medicine on behalf of the BOEM at hundred wind turbines are planned to be erected in some of the UMass Dartmouth; a University of Rhode Island study, once n most fertile fishing grounds for recreational (and commercial) again funded by BOEM, on the social and economic impacts of fishing. Three firms have ocean wind farms (particularly secured leases to build wind on recreational fishing and farms in federal waters between tourism); and on November 16 Block Island and off UMass Dartmouth announced Nantucket. that Deepwater Wind Pledged One of the wind farms is $1-million as seed funding for scheduled to be built on and a new “Blue Economy around the fertile fishing Initiative” at University of grounds of Cox Ledge, about Massachusetts. 20 miles southeast of Point The ‘Blue Economy Judith, Narragansett. Initiative’ will examine how Scientists throughout the ocean industries can coexist region (and nation) are and thrive. In the grant studying the environmental, announcement Jeffrey fisheries, marine biology and the Grybowski, Deepwater Wind socioeconomic impacts of CEO said, “The growth of ocean wind farms on the offshore wind energy in the environment, fish and fishing U.S. provides researchers with communities. Much of the a tremendous opportunity to research will be coordinated examine this new industry and and funded by the Bureau of how it can coexist with other Ocean Energy Management ocean users, particularly (BOEM) along with wind farm commercial fishermen.” developers. From its inception the Block UMass Dartmouth Island Wind Farm (BIWF) with Workshop five turbines that became BOEM commissioned the operational last year, was Academy of Sciences to do the designed and built by UMass Dartmouth November Deepwater Wind in part as a 8-9 workshop noted above to pilot project to prepare for garner input on what types of hundreds of turbines to be built fisheries research might be on the east coast. Much of the needed to plan the projects. ocean wind farm study now About 150 people attended underway or being planned for including scientists, the future will use the BIWF as commercial fishermen and a model. organizations, RI and MA officials (Grover Fugate and Dave Some of the research underway includes the Southern New Beutel from the RI Coastal Resources Management Council), England Offshore Wind Energy Science Forum being held at NOAA administrators and BOEM employees. the URI Narragansett Bay Campus on December 11-12; the ‘Offshore Renewable Energy Development and Fisheries’ (continued on page 11) - 2 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Another year in the books This month marks the conclusion of • Jun 24: Kids Fishing day rained out Dec 5-7 New England Fisheries Council, my 20th year as RISAA President. It has • Jun 27-29 Youth Fishing Camp Viking Hotel, Newport, RI been a long run, but I have enjoyed every • Jul 22: Party Boat Fluke Fishing Trip minute of it. • Aug 12: Adult/Junior Fishing Trip Dec 12 • 6:30 PM RISAA Board of Each year prior to election time I would • Oct 28: Party Boat Tautog Fishing Trip Directors tell the Board that I would gladly step aside Dec 18 • 7:00 PM RISAA Monthly for someone else to take over, but they In addition to everything above, there Seminar and Annual Meeting kept saying no, I can’t leave. were also several fisheries public hearings But in September I told the Board that and individual committee events. Jan 20 • RISAA 20th Anniversay Banquet twenty years was enough and it was time No one can say being a RISAA member for me to retire as President. I wasn’t going is boring! Jan 23 • 6:30 PM RISAA Board of to run any more. They understood, but Directors no one was willing to step into the role. THANKS FOR BEING A The concern is because of all the jobs Jan 29 • 7:00 PM RISAA Monthly MEMBER! I currently do, including newsletter editor, Seminar As 2017 draws to a close, I would like chair of the Political Action Committee, to say “thank you” to every RISAA Jan 30-31 • New England Fisheries running the Fishing Show, Take-A-Kid member who has volunteered during the Council, Portsmouth, NH Fishing Day, Youth Fishing Camp, process year. Your efforts may not always get an monthly dues (including billing and immediate “thanks”, but know that what Feb 6-8 • ASMFC Winter Meeting, member cards), maintain our web site, 12 you do does not go unnoticed. Arlington, VA monthly board meetings and 12 monthly And thanks to every member who RISAA meetings, plus I serve on 16 participated in other ways such as Feb 20 • 6:30 PM RISAA Board of committees. Directors attending the Annual Banquet, or one of But we came to an agreement that I will the fishing trips, or entered a fish in the Feb 26 • 7:00 PM RISAA Monthly serve one FINAL time as president in 2018, tournaments, or attended a meeting. Seminar but it will be a transitional year, so some And if you live too far to participate in of my duties can be taught to a new person (we have members all over the Mar 9-11 • 15th Annual New England president and to other board members. country), or if your schedule doesn’t Saltwater Fishing Show After that year I may continue as the permit you to attend an event, we still thank executive director, but not as president and you for being a member. Mar 20 • 6:30 PM RISAA Board of not doing all of those same duties. Every one of you combined is what Directors It looks like you’re all stuck with me makes RISAA great! for one final year. Mar 26 • 7:00 PM RISAA Monthly Seminar and Quarterly Meeting 2017 WAS BUSY FOR RISAA! Apr 30 • 7:00 PM RISAA Monthly Yes, 2017 was a busy year for RISAA Seminar members with plenty of events and volunteer opportunities. May 21 • 7:00 PM RISAA Monthly In addition to our twelve monthly Seminar meetings/seminars, we had... • Jan 21: 19th Annual Awards Banquet June 23 • Take-A-Kid Fishing Day • Feb 3-5: Providence Boat Show booth • Feb 5: Patriots win Super Bowl! The Official Newsletter of the • Mar 4: Salt Water Sportsman Seminar To my family, friends, and all Rhode Island booth in Taunton RISAA members, I wish you Saltwater Anglers Association • Mar 10-12: New England Saltwater Published Monthly Fishing Show Merry Christmas Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers • May 20: RISAA Squid Fishing Trip Happy Hanukkah Association, Inc. • Jun 2: S.Kingstown Kids Fishing Derby P.O. Box 1465 • Jun 10: Trip to Fenway Park Happy New Year! Coventry, RI 02816 - 3 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 The purpose of the Welcome Committee is to contact new members, welcome them to the Association and answer any questions they may have about RISAA and its activities. Welcome new members Quick who joined last month! Oven-Fried Fish Paul Chmura Capt. Charles Jenison Saunderstown, RI South Attleboro, MA INGREDIENTS Michael Farias Daniel Walter • 1 cup sour cream Warwick, RI Narragansett, RI • 1 package dry onion soup mix • 1 cup dry bread crumbs • 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese • 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley • 1/4 teaspoon paprika • 4 pounds sole fillets • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS The Welcome Committee • Preheat oven to 500°F is looking for a few RISAA members • In a bowl or flat pan blend sour cream and soup mix. • In another bowl combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, to help us contact new members parsley and paprika. • Wash and dry fillets. Dip sole fillets in the sour cream Committee members take turns calling new RISAA members mixture and then cover with the bread crumb mixture. to welcome them to the club and answer any questions they • Arrange single layer style in a 13-inch by 9-inch pan and may have. drizzle oil on top. Commitee members who attend the monthly seminars will • Bake for 5 to 8 minutes on each side. Carefully turning fish greet anyone arriving for his/her first meeting and then show over without breaking. him/her around and answer questions about RISAA. Serving Suggestion: Serve with tartar sauce. Are you interested in giving it a try? If so, contact Chairman Ed Kearney and he can explain more Got a recipe to share or request for a certain recipe? about the committee. Call 401-397-4513 or by email at Contact Sandie at [email protected] [email protected]

Share the Wealth! BRING A FRIEND TO THE NEXT MEETING. RISAA members can bring a first-time guest to the next monthly seminar at no charge - 4 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Board selects award winners; Symposium plans

Board of Directors Meeting Insurance November 24, 2017 Last month a question arose when there was discussion of The Board held is regularly scheduled meeting in November. one of our committees possibly arranging a fishing trip to Florida. Here are some of the highlights of the meeting. We currently have insurance that covers all RISAA events, including Take-A-Kid Fishing Day, the fishing show, meetings, Photo Contest etc., but this was something new. Steve reported, after checking The judging of the Bi-annual Photo Contest entries was with the insurance company, that an out of state fishing trip is held prior to the start of the meeting. Sixty-nine entries had not an ordinary function of our Association and therefore is been received. Winners will be announced at the 20th Annual not covered. The appropriate chairman will be notified. Banquet on January 20. The names and photos of the winners and Honorable Mention photographs will be announced in the Adopt-A-Ramp February newsletter. The Board approved a request that we “adopt” the DEM boat ramp at Galilee, the most popular ramp in the state. Funding Tautog Trip was also approved for a monofilament line collector which will Steve Medeiros gave the final report on the Tautog Fishing be built by Pete O’Biso and both the line collector and an Trip we sponsored. It was held on October 28 aboard the Adopt-A-Ramp sign will be installed at the site by DEM staff. Frances Fleet. 49 of 50 spots were sold (several members had cancelled near the end). Annual Reports Board members discussed the trip noting that not a lot of Per RISAA rules, every committee chairman has to file a keeper fish were caught, but agreed that the unusually extra- “2017 Annual Report/2018 Budget Request” which was warm weather that we had during October kept water submitted to the Board. These requests are important as the temperatures too high. It was agreed that if we do the trip again Board works to set a balanced budget for the following year. next year it will be made later in the season. Most of the Budget Requests were approved, although a couple of them were sent back to be adjusted. Annual Awards The board spent much time on this topic, and after much Guest Rules discussion decided who would receive the annual Member of There was discussion regarding the monthly meeting the Year Award. “guest” rules. Although it has been in place for several years, They also selected non-member recipients of the annual the rule is revisited from time to time. Marine Fisheries Award and the Marine Conservation Award. Nonmembers are charged a $10 “donation” fee to attend a An additional Award of Appreciation recipient was also monthly seminar and members always attend free. selected. Members are allowed to bring a guest at no charge so that The awards will be presented at the 20th Annual Banquet the visiting person can see what RISAA seminars are like and on January 20. consider joining. But a person can be a guest only once. After that, the 2018 Southern New England Recreational Fishing person must either join or pay the $10 fee to attend. Symposium The rule was started because some members would bring the same guest multiple times, and some even every month. Richard Hittinger and David Monti are heading up this event. This is not fair to all other members who pay their dues. Rich advised the Board that it will be held on January 23 at the So, when a guest checks in at the meeting, a board member Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick. will be present at the door and write the name of the guest (and The focus of the symposium will revolve around the sponsoring member) on a list which is always updated and reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and how it can kept at the sign-in table at meetings. be modified to improve recreational fishing. Federal legislation Important parts of the rule: is pending on this issue so timing of this symposium fits perfectly. • No one can be a "guest" more than one time. Rich and Dave are working on finalizing the speakers and • This applies to non-member spouses as well. panelists from both ends of the spectrum, including recreational • A member may bring more than one guest during the year, and commercial fishermen, environment representatives and but it must be a different person each time. government officials. After discussion, but board voted to reaffirm and continue the guest process. - 5 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 MENHADEN REPORT (from page 1)

Board discussion of Reference Points (RPs) reason, but it was clear that the answers from the TC were was not honest incomplete and misleading in the direction of defeating Option One amazing thing that occurred during the Menhaden E. Board’s discussion of RPs was that states opposed to The first concern is the TC said they don’t know what the Ecological Reference Points (ERPs) used data from the Technical effect will be on fecundity of the stock (ability to produce Committee (TC) to scare other representatives into thinking offspring) with Option E because it does not track the various that ERPs were going to do more damage to the menhaden age groups and therefore does not track how many larger stocks than good. Of course this couldn’t be further from the breeding menhaden may be harvested. This was used by truth. opponents of ERPs to say Because of the very that fishing could reduce high allowable catch fecundity under Option E projected by the TC for the when the real story is that “Threshold” (maximum the TC just didn’t have possible harvest) under data on this and if Option ERPs, those against ERPs E passed there would be no said those harvest levels big change in how were too high, so you must menhaden are fished, so reject Option E. Everyone there would be no sudden failed to say that shift to taking large adults management is to the over taking younger fish. Target and that level of As mentioned above, harvest is actually 25% the second issue from the below current harvest TC used by opponents of levels. Option E was the high I believe that some states’ representatives were truly harvest rates projected by the TC for the Threshold under Option concerned about what they were hearing regarding ERPs and E. Threshold is basically the maximum that could ever be allowed how ERPs may actually be less conservative. The TC did before the fishery would have to be shut down. nothing to explain these issues so the opponents of ERPs just For some reason the models used by the TC predicted the kept hammering away. Threshold would not be reached unless harvest level were at When it was suggested that they could pass ERPs and set 744,000 MT. This is absurdly high and it seems to be some the quota at the status quo (current) level of 200,000 metric tons strange quirk of the model. It makes no sense when you look at (MT) those opposed said no, you can’t do that because that the TC numbers showing that the current fishing level (200,000 would be allowing harvest at a level higher than the Target MT) leaves 46% of the unfished biomass in the water and the level calculated by the TC (147,000 MT). Threshold requires that you leave 40% of the unfished biomass Once Option E was rejected, Robert Boyles from South in the water. How could the difference between leaving 46% Carolina offered an amendment that would allow what VA and now and leaving 40% for the Option E threshold yield a harvest others wanted, Option B – continued use of “single species increase from 200,000 MT to 744,000 MT? It makes no sense. management,” but would cap the TAC at current levels of 200,000 In answer to a leading question asking, “Isn’t it true that we MT for 2018 and 2019. are now fishing under single species management and the This was calling the bluff of the states that just want to take menhaden stocks are just fine?” The TC basically answered more fish and they fell right into Mr. Boyles’ trap and said “No, yes. They never clarified that we are not really managing under we can’t vote for a 200,000 MT TAC, that’s too low” even the single species model, but rather at a conservative level that though they had just been arguing that Option E was not is half of the allowable harvest because the Board recognizes conservative enough! Total dishonesty! that menhaden are an important forage fish and if we were fishing at full allowable levels under single species management the Technical Committee (TC) swayed the vote stocks of menhaden would be much lower. Although the TC is supposed to be the science arm of the Finally, when the Board was discussing the Target for Option Management Board and provide the Board with the scientific E of 147,000 MT the TC never clarified that the 147,000 MT is information that they need to make good decisions, in this case for achieving 75% unfished biomass in 1 year – 2018, and if 2 there was clear prejudice from the TC to reject interim ERPs. year or 3 year options were calculated they would allow a higher It is not clear if the TC somehow thought that their many TAC, possibly closer to the current harvest level of 200,000 years of work developing menhaden specific ERPs would be MT. diminished in importance if Option E passed or for some other (to page 33)

- 6 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Top Five Lures for False Albacore by Peter Jenkins, The Saltwater Edge The common Point Jude Lures Po-Jee “party starters” for The Po-Jee casts a mile, has hardtail season is a high-quality VMC Siwash hook and is rear weighted the small young- so it rides at an angle and of-the-year baits stays in the water in front like bay anchovies, peanut bunker, and butterfish. of the fish, even when you “burn it” with a high speed retrieve. But this collection of micro Other lure designs can flip-flop along the surface and in/out of baits can be hard to identify the water. The Po-Jee stays on the dinner plate. and even harder to find an effective lure to imitate it. Hogy SI Epoxy Jigs (Ava Maria Jigs revisited) Anchovies and peanut The guys at Hogy Lures nailed the recreation of a proven, but bunker are tight schooling fish. a discontinued winner. This lure looks awesome in the water as You can see the “bait balls” on it refracts light through the epoxy finish coat. The other small your fish finder. metals lack the quality In the case of bay VMC hardware of the SI anchovies, they can appear Typican bay anchovies from Epoxy Jig. When you as dark brown/rusty patches in Newport. need to mix it up some of the water. the “unnatural” colors These baits are tough to like Electric Chicken or Pink can be the ticket. Use the larger imitate and create an annually perplexing situation without one sizes later in the fall as the herring and bunker grow an inch a solution. So we conducted an unscientific survey to determine month in late summer. And the new “heavy” versions are great the top five lures for false albacore. to get the distance you may want from the shore and for rough Following are the results. conditions when the albies can really chew. (to page 15) Rhode Island enjoys a cleaner Narragansett Bay by JOHN TORGAN Narragansett Bay and its rivers are cleaner than they’ve Another key finding of the Narragansett been in generations. This story made national news, thanks to Bay Estuary Program’s recent report is that the Environmental Protection Agency’s ill-considered decision these improvements are now at risk from to prohibit its scientists from presenting at a recent conference the manifestations of climate change: on the state of Narragansett Bay and its watershed. warming waters, coastal erosion, flooding and inundation, loss Rhode Islanders should be proud of what we have of marshes and wetlands, a changing assemblage and accomplished together. This is a rare and wholly positive Rhode distribution of fish and marine species, higher tides, more Island success story that can inspire other coastal cities and precipitation, acidification and other changes that threaten our states. hard-won progress. Investments in wastewater treatment and capacity, which What should we do and what can anyone do about climate reduced nutrient pollution by more than 50 percent and captures change and its impacts on Rhode Island? The report offers sewer overflows, cleared the way for revitalization of the some direction on that, too. The Nature Conservancy and our Providence and East Providence waterfronts. Fish, birds and partners are fighting climate change on two fronts: mitigation shellfish are back and people are enjoying the water. For the and resilience. The mitigation side includes everything to do first time in modern history, all major stakeholders agree on this with reducing emissions: support for regional agreements like progress, although all also agree there remains much more to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, partnership with do. neighboring states and energy producers, modernizing the These infrastructure investments were based on science electric grid, transitioning to renewable energy and weaning us and backed by rigorous enforcement of the Clean Water Act off our dependence on fossil fuels. and strong state environmental regulations. They were Resilience includes everything we do to inoculate our coast undertaken with a shared understanding that it is in the interest and cities against threats from storms, sea level rise, and the of all Rhode Islanders to protect our waters and the surrounding other environmental and public health effects of warming. This lands for the benefit of people and nature alike. Our economy, includes nature-based coastal erosion control strategies like our heritage, and our identity are so closely linked to the coast, living shorelines and rebuilding our marshes with fine layers of and any investment in the environment builds our economy. sediment. (to page 16) - 7 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 PREVIOUS AND CONTINUALLY SUPPORTED PROGRAMS • Blackstone River fish ladders construction • Plum Beach Lighthouse restoration • Striped Bass Myco Research • College Scholarships in Marine Sciences • Public access adoption programs • Tag & Release Program • Kickemuit River fish ladder construction • Public education programs and seminars • Tag-A-Giant Tuna Foundation • Mercury in Local Fish Research Grant • Recreational Fishing Symposium 2013 & 2015 • Ten Mile River fish ladders • Narragansett Bay Journal publication • Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation • Woonasquatucket River fish ladders • Newport fishermen’s ladder repairs • Saugatucket River fish passage, Westerly RISAA/RIDEM Adopt-A-Ramp Signs • Ninigret Park Fishing Access • Sea Grant research programs RISAA Take-A-Kid Fishing Days • Pawtuxet River fish passage • Special Shore Fishing Scup signs for RIDEM RISAA Youth Fishing Camp 2017 FOUNDATION DONORS Ben Aceto Daniel Costa COPPER (up to $49) Thomas Nerney Alan Stewart Herbert Adams Matthew Curley Donald Goodroe Daniel King Jonathan Noblet Thomas Alfred Amaral Lori Duckworth Robert Graap Lori Kinne J.George O’Keefe Tenbroeck Terry Andoscia Louis Einhorn Jonathan Hare Roe Labossiere James Parillo John Trainor Francis Basile Donald Estes Dale Hartman Nicole Lengyel Herve Pelland Michael Tripp Joseph Behl David Ferguson Richard Heffernan Donald Mandella Domenic Ricci Jane Venditto John Boardman Richard Ferris Russell Hubert Ronald Marafioti Alton Smith Daniel Watson John Brennan Timothy Fleming Russell Hubert John Mello William Sosnicki Stephanie Caruolo Richard Geldard Kurt Johnson Clarence Moore Arthur Stentiford Todd Corayer Timothy Gilchrist Peter Kielec Christopher Moroski George Allen Anthony Caruolo BRONZE ($50+) Larry Mouradjian Alec Sinel Amazon Smile Citizens Foundation Michael Gelineau Benjamin Lenda Robert Murgo Edward Skwirz Helder Batista Dr. Kirby Cunha Peter Hendricks Howard MacMillan Ronald Nalbandian William Sokolowski Norman Buecher Kent Dumont Peter Jenkins Raymond Marchak Brian Petit William Sosnicki Buzzards Bay Richard Falcone Rev. Jan Knost Stephen Medeiros John Pope Alfred Trombley Anglers Club Richard Ferris Richard Laurie Matthew Mesnick C. Randall Sherman Eric Weybrant Melvyn Blake F. Charles Haigh SILVER ($100+) Luca Razza John Silva Edward Choiniere Robert Hawthorne Mark Levasseur Dennis Owens RI Mobile Sportsfishermen Harry Templeton Stuart Cohen David Howe David Michel Mark Pachico Anthony Rocha, MD Michael Testa Buster Costello Gerald Finkle Louis Midura John Peacock Robert Sangster John Treat Donald Dorsey Douglas Jost New Balance Athletics James Phelan Francis Sawicki Patrick Watson David Green Fred Kolling, III Old Colony Amphibians Jason Polsky Steven Shohan John Webber William Zanks PLATINUM ($500+) IN MEMORY OF Gino DeFeudis Capt. Sandy Kane Tarbox Toyota Robert Anderson Paul Dauk Marcelino Mello Robert Donaldson David Pollack Bradley Waugh Charles Bradbury Gene Davis Patruck Muli Richard Hittinger Snug Harbor Marina Brian Campbell Walter Krupinski Thaddeus Stenovitch Marie Cordeiro Walter Malley John Vivari

Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution to The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Foundation The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, created to provide an educational and public service forum for recreational saltwater anglers and the general community; to foster sportsmanship; to support marine conservation and the sound management of fisheries resources. Please print: Name: ______Phone: ______Address: ______no. street city state zip Enclosed is cash or check for: $5 $10 $25 $50 $100 other______ It is OK to print my name Do NOT print my name Donation made in the name of: ______Mail to: RISA Foundation, P.O. Box 1465, Coventry, RI 02816 Any donation over $10 will be sent a receipt that proves your contribution for tax purposes - 8 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 OPINION Lessons Learned: Menhaden Loss as ASMFC by CHARLES WITEK Charles Witek, from Greenwich CT, has spent over 50 years on the water, and is a well-known author and blogger. Witek said, “I have realized that without strong fisheries laws and effective conservation measures, the future of salt water fishing, and America's living marine resources, is dim.”

Last month, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries The possibility of such a shift frightened Omega Protein, by Commission’s Atlantic Menhaden Management Board handed far the biggest player in the menhaden fishery, as it very possibly conservation interests a significant defeat, when it bowed to could have led to reduced landings and reduced income, and at the demands of Omega Protein, supported by the the very least would place a low cap on how far landings could Commonwealth of Virginia, and failed to adopt ecosystem-based increase (the menhaden industry is alreadycomplaining that reference points for Atlantic menhaden, arguably the single the 8% increase was far too low, and that they should havebeen most important forage species on the Atlantic coast. allowed to kill more). Adding insult to injury, the Management Board also As normally happens when corporate profits are threatened, increased the menhaden quota by 8%, and failed to allocate an the industry carried out an effective last-minute propaganda equitable share of the menhaden resource to the various coastal campaign focused on the possibility of lost jobs, rather than states, instead allowing Virginia, and thus Omega, to monopolize lost income. about 80% of the menhaden harvest. No one likes to force people out of work, so that sort of It was clear from the debate at the Management Board campaign tends to be very effective at defeating conservation meeting, and from later observations made by Management initiatives at ASMFC. Unless the case for reducing landings is Board members and others, that completely iron-clad, and the loss can’t be attributed to just sometimes not even then, ASMFC one cause. managers tend to avoid taking any While Omega’s ongoing Realistically, there was little to no chance actions that might impose efforts to preserve and enhance that the Management Board would have economic hardship on the fishing its income stream inspired most actually set a quota that reduced fishing community. Thus, they were of the resistance to the ecosystem- susceptible to Virginia’s/Omega’s based reference points, that effort mortality to the proposed target rate. arguments that the interim was only successful because a reference points were not number of factors directly or menhaden-specific, and imposed indirectly supported Omega’s position, and helped to undercut inappropriate constraints on the fishery; such arguments were the position of the conservation community. made more credible by an industry-funded study which History always repeats itself, and more important debates, questioned the need for forage fish management and cast doubt involving menhaden and many other species managed by on the science supporting such reference points. ASMFC, loom in the future. Thus, it is worth taking some time In the end, with the menhaden stock neither overfished nor to dissect the factors underlying this defeat, so that the lessons subject to overfishing, the Management Board felt no urgent learned can help conservation advocates achieve better results need to change its management approach. in the future. 1. Change is hard 2. The conservation community asked for too much Right now, at ASMFC and at the federal level, single-species The management option most strongly supported by the management is the norm. Managers concern themselves solely conservation community would have established an interim with whether harvest is maintained at sustainable levels fishing mortality rate target low enough to rebuild the population (“overfishing is not taking place”) and whether the stock is to 75% of the size of an unfished stock, and a fishing mortality large enough to maximize long-term, sustainable yield the stock threshold that would not have let the population slip below is not overfished”). Even though every species is a part of and 40% of the size of such virgin stock. interacts with its environment, such interactions, including Realistically, there was little to no chance that the predator/prey relationships, are not explicitly considered. Management Board would have actually set a quota that The proposed adoption of ecosystem reference points for reduced fishing mortality to the proposed target rate. The menhaden, whether the interim reference points rejected earlier economic impact would have been far too high. With menhaden this week or the menhaden-specific reference points that will neither overfished nor subject to overfishing, they would almost hopefully be adopted in 2019, marks a paradigm shift for fishery certainly have allowed the status quo to prevail, with perhaps management. By placing emphasis on menhaden’s ecosystem even a slight increase in quota, and focused on preventing role, and not merely focusing on sustainable harvest, ecosystem overfishing by maintaining a fishing mortality rate below the reference points would have shifted managers’ focus away from threshold level. maximizing harvest—and thus profits—and toward restoring Everyone sitting on the Management Board was very healthy and fully-functioning coastal food webs. cognizant of that fact. (to page 31)

- 9 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas - 2017 Update The United States and other countries from around the world including circle hooks. tackled management challenges for tunas, swordfish and sharks Finally, the agreement requires the Commission to establish at the 2017 annual meeting of International Commission for the a rebuilding plan with a high probability of avoiding overfishing Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) that concluded today and rebuilding the stock to Bmsy (biomass maximum sustainable in Marrakech, Morocco. ICCAT, of which the United States is yield) when it convenes in 2019. a member, is an inter-governmental fisheries organization With several co-sponsors, the United States proposed a responsible for the conservation of tunas and other highly suite of bycatch mitigation requirements that are proven to migratory species in the Atlantic Ocean. This year more than protect sea turtles, measures that are already in use in U.S. 700 delegates pelagic longline representing 47 fisheries. Although it members gathered to received significant discuss a number of support, consensus important measures that could not be achieved. advance the sustainable The United States and management of these several other parties valuable species. urged the development ICCAT members of stronger measures to considered new protect juvenile scientific advice yellowfin and bigeye regarding the tunas that recruit to U.S. conservation and recreational and management of shared commercial fisheries. stocks of Atlantic tunas, The management of sharks and swordfish, tropical tunas will be and the United States revisited by ICCAT as a proposed several measures that would ensure their sustainable priority in 2018. A U.S. proposal to ensure the safety of scientific management based on that advice. observers in ICCAT’s regional observer programs was designed ICCAT adopted a measure for western Atlantic bluefin tuna to support data collection programs that benefit the science with a catch limit of 2,350 mt, which results in a 17% quota but did not achieve consensus. It will continue to be considered increase for U.S. fishermen. This level of catch has a high intersessionally in 2018. probability of avoiding overfishing in the next three years and Members reached an agreement for North Atlantic swordfish provides for the sustainability and stability of the fishery. A that lowers the total allowable catch slightly, as advised by measure for eastern Atlantic/Mediterranean increases allowable scientists, to ensure that this stock remains at a healthy level, catch levels for 2018-2020, while maintaining fishery monitoring while protecting the historical U.S. quota share of this fishery. and control measures. For North Atlantic albacore, the U.S. The United States continued its efforts to strengthen ICCAT’s quota will increase by 20% in 2018. compliance review process and take meaningful actions in Advice received in October from a new stock assessment response to non-compliance. A U.S. proposal to combat illegal, conducted by ICCAT’s scientific committee concluded that the unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing through North Atlantic shortfin mako stock is overfished and establishment of a pilot scheme for the exchange of inspectors overfishing is occurring. In response, the United States among ICCAT members to cooperate in high seas boarding introduced a proposal to end overfishing in 2018 and begin and inspection activities will be considered in 2018. rebuilding the stock with a time horizon that takes into account After a seven year process, and with leadership from the the biology of this late-maturing species. The final agreement United States, the Commission is nearing the final stage of focuses on measures to reduce fishing mortality and efforts to negotiations of amendments to the 1969 ICCAT Convention further strengthen data collection, while protecting that reflect more modern principles of fisheries management, opportunities for U.S. recreational and commercial fishermen to such as the precautionary and ecosystem approaches to retain small amounts of shortfin mako sharks. The agreement fisheries management. The amendments will also clarify the also calls for additional scientific advice on biologically scope of Commission’s management authority, particularly for important areas and the effectiveness of various mitigation sharks, and improve the governance of the Commission. measures in increasing the survivability of shortfin mako sharks, - 10 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 THE WATCH (from page 2) I participated on a panel that addressed the fish species caught my attention. and the fishing communities that would be impacted by four Anna Malek Mercer, of the Commercial Fisheries Research lease areas in federal waters off Rhode Island, Massachusetts Foundation in Rhode Island said, “A study we completed and New York. The panel was comprised of five commercial recently showed that the industry feels that three years of fishermen and/or industry representatives and one recreational baseline data are needed before we start to build these wind fishing representative. farms.” Many at the conference suggested as much as seven The years of baseline data was needed, the federal fisheries leases are requirement for many species managed federally. held by Vincent Guida, a NOAA scientist who studied four species Deepwater that live in the wind farm lease area said, “Cox Ledge has gravel Wind New and rock on parts of its bottom.” This suggests we should England, explore using other methods to survey in addition to trawl LLC on Cox surveys. Ledge “Our vessels can’t fish in a windfarm array. Some of our (developers larger vessels have a trawl tow that extends as much as a half Scientists, fishermen and fish managers meet of the Block mile. Our captains are already trying to avoid areas that can with BOEM to discuss wind farms and their Island wind snag nets on wrecks, natural structure and if they have to impact on fish and fishing communities farm) and negotiate wind farm pylons and bases and submarine cable two other southeast lease areas held by Bay Sate Wind, LLC concrete caps they won’t be able to fish without losing gear. A and Offshore MW, LLC. large net can cost as much as $50,000 to replace.” said Meghan Lapp of Seafreeze Ltd, North Kingstown, RI. We all need to stay informed “We spent a lot of time locating the Block Island wind farm. The recreational fishing community should become more We started in 2008 with the Special Area Management Plan engaged with windfarm development as turbines are being built (SAMP) and the wind farm was not operational until 2016… in some of our most fertile fishing grounds. Capt. Rick The father you go offshore, the greater the wind, however, add Bellavance, president of the Rhode Island Party and Charter geology and fishery factors into the equation and the sweet Boat Association (RIPCBA), said, “Cox’s Ledge is like a mini spot for the Block Island wind farm was about three miles off George’s Bank to fishermen. Recreational anglers target ground the south/southeast side of the Island where the wind farm is fish such as cod, located. The new tautog, and black proposed sites can sea bass there utilize the same model but bluefin tuna we just have to put in (both school and predetermined giants), yellowfin criteria.” said Malcom tuna and sharks Spaulding of the are also often University of Rhode fished there.” Island. Most of the Mike Cohen who species fished by manages the National recreational Federation of anglers have not Fishermen’s been surveyed in Organizations and the the Cox Ledge Holderness Fishing area. The point Cooperative in the was made that United Kingdom trawl surveys are (where ocean wind not enough. Due farms have been to some of the developed for years now), said, “You are terrain on Cox Wind farm leases off Rhode Island and Massachusetts Ledge other in a good position survey methods here in the United should be employed, possibly rod and reel surveys, traps or States to impact wind projects with baseline data before they gillnets. are built. I heard as much as three to seven years of data. We The wind farms present challenges for some because we had no baseline data to speak of in the UK. Just one year of a just do not know how multiple wind farm towers in these areas study done on one of our many projects. We are envious of will impact the fish and fishing communities. But for now, here you. You are trying to plan the right way.” are some comments from the UMass Dartmouth workshop that (continued on page 15) - 11 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 RISAA's 20th Annual Banquet • January 20, 2018. MAIL or ORDER BY PHONE 401-826-2121 Member Name(s): ______Phone: ______

Mailing Address:______ Please send _____ tickets @ $25 each Enclosed is my check for $______(payable to RISAA) Charge to my credit card: (check) AmEx Discover MasterCard Visa Amount: $______Card Number: ______Exp date (mo/yr): ______/ Name on card (print): ______Security #______ Enclosed is my check for $______(payable to RISAA) Assigned Will sit with anyone Seating Prefer to sit with:______Order Deadline: January 12, 2018 • Mail to RISAA, P.O. Box1465, Coventry, RI 02816 - 12 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 The RISAA Charities Committee exists to lend a helping hand to others in need,and is a way of giving back to our community. THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTION Southern Rhode Island Volunteers Based in the Charlestown Senior/Community Center Southern Rhode Island Volunteers (SRIV) has more than 640 volunteers directly serving 350 to 375 clients. Even more receive indirect help as a result of the volunteers' 40,000 to 50,000 hours of volunteer time each year. The value of their time, talent, and energy equals $1.8 million annually, according to the Federal Government. One of the many volunteer programs is delivering holiday meals Southern Rhode Island Volunteers was and gifts to homebound seniors in the South Kingstown and incorporated in 1981, after about a year in Narragansett area. service, according to Deb Tanner, Executive Director. The mission of SRIV “is to enhance Other responsibilities include: lives by inspiring, creating and supporting • Managing the only comprehensive and free Washington a lifelong culture of service through our County-based transportation service to medical appointments volunteer members and affiliates across for adult populations who are dealing with chronic disease, Southern Rhode Island.” temporary illness and injury. Its vision: “While creating a lifelong Deb Tanner, SRIV • Providing free visitation/companionship for elders and/or culture of volunteerism and service, Executive Director respite support to caregivers to alleviate their burden and Southern Rhode Island Volunteers will isolation. make a difference one volunteer at a time, ultimately creating a • Supporting local emergency management with crisis/ countywide corps of volunteers.” disaster preparedness. SRIV manages a Community Emergency The group Response Team (CERT) that responds to emergencies in South offers a wide Kingstown and Narragansett. variety of volunteer The program is the host site for the Washington County opportunities from Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). RSVP is a Seniors helping at a light- Corps Program of the Corporation for the National Community hearted hot-air Service. The program is available to anyone 55 years of age and balloon event at up, who wants to give their time and energy to create a positive the University of impact in their community. Rhode Island to the More information about volunteering and donating is life-sustaining available online at southernrivol.org or you can call them at Meals on Wheels 401-552-7661. program.

- 13 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 GET WELL GET WELL Member JOAN BRADBURY, while on Member DAN KING underwent neck vacation in North Carolina with friends last fusion surgery on November 3. He took month, was injured after a fall. She was this step after a year of physical theapy rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment of and shots that didn’t cure his shoulder several cuts and bruises, a chipped tooth pain and weakness, and kept him “from and stitches in her lower lip. After several enjoying his favorite activities” of fishing days of rest she was able to return home. line dancing and archery. We wish you We wish you well, Joan. well Dan, and we’ll be sure to see you on the water next spring. NEWEST JUNIOR MEMBERS GET WELL are twins Amelia Jean and Benjamin Brian Beltrami who were Member RICH GOLEMBESKI, born on November 6, 2017. underwent hand surgery last month to fix a Their proud grandfather bad case of trigger finger. Gisele said the BRIAN BELTRAMI surgery went well. Rich will have to be out quickly signed them up as of work at least 4-6 weeks during recovery. RISAA Junior Members. They Fortunately the fishing season is over. Wish are Brian’s 5th & 6th you a speedy recovery Rich. grandchildren he has signed up.

- 14 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 FALSE ALBACORE LURES (from page 7)

Albie Snax This is a long casting and long lasting plastic with unreal action, Bubble Gum stands out against a sea of bay anchovies. White has been a great striper bait as well. Also, using a casting egg can help spin fisherman deliver soft plastics and flies if need be.

Deadly Dick The “classic” lure for funny fish. The smaller 1L or .85 oz version in silver or blue tape are the most popular. Must swap the poor quality treble for VMC treble or the VMC or Owner inline hooks.

Yozuri L-Jack Jig Hard to come by the flat jig that is an excellent imitation for picky fish. Single quality treble. Orange and pink are top choices when imitating anchovies

THE WATCH (from page 11) At press time input from the UMass Dartmouth conference is still being processed, however, the bottom line is that BOEM will now have fishing industry and academia input on what should be included in a research plan before, during and after construction. Now it is time to develop the plan and for the fishing community to reengage on wind farm development. Steve Medeiros, RISAA President; Rich Hittinger, 1st Vice President and I (Dave Monti, RISAA 2nd Vice President) are now highly enhanced with ocean wind farm initiatives. However more help is needed with upcoming research and public hearings so if ocean wind farms are something you might be interested in please let one of us know. P.O. Box 763 Londonderry, NH 03053 Electronic catch recording takes center stage Tel: 603-434-4689 There was a lot of positive energy in the room last month at Fax: 603-432-3902 the Commercial Fisheries Center on the University of Rhode E-mail: Island East Campus. Capt. Rick Bellavance, president of the [email protected] Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association (RIPCBA), welcomed about a twenty charter fishing captains, Department Manufacturer of Fine of Environmental Management and NOAA staff members to Terminal Tackle for the Check out our web site at the electronic recoding workshop. Saltwater Fisherman www.seawolfetackle.com Charter captains and government officials were there to Snelled Hooks, Top and learn how to record catch and effort electronically on computers Bottom Rigs, Lures, Tubes, Owned and operated by using the SAFIS eTRIPS software developed by Harbor Light Leadheads, Umbrella Rigs Richard and Judy Wolfe Software. (to page 39) and more.... - 15 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 ARREST AND CITATIONS FOR OCTOBER, 2017 Charged Criminally in Rhode Island District or Superior Court Listed Alphabetically: Name, age, residence, charges

• Jose I. Barrera, 54, of East Boston, MA: arrested for • Santos O. Juarez, 40, of Chelsea, MA: Possession of Possession of Undersized Scup Undersized Black Sea Bass, Possession of Black Sea Bass out • Luciano A. Cardosa, 54, of Pawtucket: Possession of of Season, Possession of Undersized Scup, and Exceeding the Undersized Black Sea Bass, Possession of Black Sea Bass out Daily Limit of Scup of Season, Possession of Undersized Tautog, and Possession • Orlando Oliveira Lopes, 48, of Brockton, MA: Possession of of Undersized Scup Undersized Tautog and Exceeding the Daily Limit of Tautog • John Fredy Cadavid-Munoz, 57, of Chelsea, MA: arrested for • William F. Mello Jr., 59, of Tiverton: Sale/Possession Possession of Undersized Scup Noncompliance Shellfish – 1st Offense • Jum Y. Cheon, 62, of Ridgewood, NJ: Possession of Undersized • Antonio G. Monteiro, 59, of Dorchester, MA: Possession of Tautog Undersized Tautog and Exceeding Daily Limit of Tautog • Joao Pedro Depina-Lopes, 31, of Boston, MA: arrested a • Jose Antonio Rosa-Monteiro, 37, of Lynn, MA: Possession second time for Possession of Undersized Tautog and of Undersized Tautog, Possession of Undersized Scup, and Exceeding Daily Limit of Tautog Failure to Move/Stop on Oral Command

CITATIONS: Charged with civil violations in Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal Violation Citations Issued Violation Citations Issued SALTWATER FISHING VIOLATIONS 6 Boating Violations 3 Freshwater Fishing Violations 3 CRMC Beach Violations 2 State Property Violations 8 Motor Vehicle 5 (alcohol, disorderly, parking, dumping, etc.

CLEANER NARRAGANSETT BAY (from page 7) It includes conserving coastal lands to give marshes and Finally, the State of Narragansett Bay report says we must wetlands space to migrate as sea level rises. And it includes continue the science. Long-term scientific monitoring is rain gardens, urban forestry, and efforts to de-pave cities and essential to understanding whether our investments and allow polluted runoff to be filtered through vegetated green interventions are working. space before entering tidal waters. With rigorous and transparent science and thoughtful Rhode Island is well-positioned to lead in both these areas collaboration, we have brought rivers and tidal waters in Rhode and we are already doing it. The state is a key partner in a Island to a better place. Inspired by this hope and guided by coalition of 12 states that have agreed to reduce emissions. the same good science, we can be leaders in combating and Rhode Island can proudly claim authorship of the nation’s first adapting to a changing climate as well. federally approved ocean plan and now the first offshore wind farm. Working with federal agencies and our neighboring states, we are piloting nature-based resilience practices along the John Torgan is the Rhode Island state director of the Nature southern coast with a view toward increasing the scale and Conservancy and a member of the Narragansett Bay Estuary informing policy and practice throughout New England. Program Management Board.

- 16 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 2017 Special Tournaments Results

As you read this message, the 2017 Yearlong Tournament is still going on, but with only a few days left. We will post the Yearlong final results in the January issue, but this is a good opportunity to post ALL of the Special Tournament results to see. Perhaps next year you can strive to get YOUR name on the Special Tournament leaderboard.

FLUKE SPECIAL TOURNAMENT • June 16 - 25 BLACK SEA BASS TOURNAMENT • Sept 8-17 Boat Division Boat Division ADULT JUNIOR ADULT JUNIOR 1st...Diane Valerien: 8.35 lbs 1st...no entries 1st...Barry Gootkind: 4.20 1st...no entries 2nd..Paul Phillips: 5.90 lbs 2nd... 2nd..William Hubert: 2.52 2nd... 3rd...Peter Vican: 4.24 lbs 3rd... 3rd...Robert Matteson: 2.42 3rd... Shore Division Shore Division ADULT JUNIOR ADULT JUNIOR 1st...Michael Tilelli: 3.82 lbs 1st...no entries 1st...no entries 1st...no entries 2nd.. 2nd... 2nd.. 2nd... 3rd... 3rd... 3rd... 3rd...

2017 Team Fluke Challenge Final Standings TEAM STANDINGS TOTAL WEIGHT ENTRIES PRIZE PER ANGLER (Top 10) (pounds) (4 fish per team) (RISAA Bucks) 1...Corey Templeton - Harry Templeton 18.44 4.70, 4.62, 4.60, 4.52 $150 *2...Richard Hittinger - Robert Murray 17.10 4.98, 4.16, 4.06, 3.90 $125 3...Robert Coupe - Luca Razza 16.75 4.70, 4.41, 3.93, 3.71 $100 4...Robert Fournier - Robert Matteson 14.40 4.72, 3.50, 3.30, 2.88 $75 5...Eric Duda - Evan Duda 8.66 3.04, 2.96, 2.66, 0.00 $50 6...Russell Hubert - William Hubert 6.60 2.40, 2.40, 1.80, 0.00 $25 7...Declan O'Donnell - Thomas O'Donnell 3.33 3.33, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00 $20 8...James Okon - Paul Phillips 2.65 2.65, 0.00, 0.00, 0.0 $15 9...No entry 0.00 na $10 10...No entry 0.00 na $10 *Hittinger/Murray received bonus $25 for Largest Fluke (4.98 lbs)

BLUEFISH SPECIAL TOURNAMENT • Sept 29-Oct 9 TAUTOG SPECIAL TOURNAMENT • Oct 13-29 Boat Division Boat Division ADULT JUNIOR ADULT JUNIOR 1st...William Hubert: 3.60 1st...no entry 1st...Philip Duckett: 9.80 1st...no entry 2nd..no entry 2nd...no entry 2nd..Russell Hubert: 8.34 2nd...no entry 3rd...no entry 3rd...no entry 3rd...Richard Reich: 6.74 3rd...no entry Shore Division Shore Division ADULT JUNIOR ADULT JUNIOR 1st..Charles Underhill: 9.80 1st...no entry 1st...Normand Morrissette: 5.57 1st...no entry 2nd..no entry 2nd...no entry 2nd..Harry Potter: 3.98 2nd...no entry 3rd...no entry 3rd...no entry 3rd...Michael Tilelli: 3.12 3rd...no entry - 17 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 The Yearlong Tournament is a continuing tournament that runs from January to December each year. All RISAA members are eligible to participate, and there are no fees. Official Weight Slips are available at each monthly meeting and at all sanctioned bait shops. Only authorized weigh-in stations with certified digital scales may be used. A complete list of rules is printed on the back of every weight slip. There are two categories: ADULT and JUNIOR member. There are also two divisions within each category: BOAT and SHORE. Standings as of of 11/27/17 BLACK SEA BASS BLUEFISH BONITO

BOAT DIVISION SHORE DIVISION BOAT DIVISION SHORE DIVISION BOAT DIVISION SHORE DIVISION ADULT (minimum 1 lb) ADULT (minimum 1 lb) ADULT (minimum 8 lbs) ADULT (minimum 8 lbs) ADULT (minimum 3 lbs) ADULT (minimum 3 lbs) 1. William Hubert: 5.20 1. none yet 1. Robert Matteson: 20.46 1. Robert Paul: 13.00 1. none yet 1. none yet 2. Greg Vespe: 4.56 2. none yet 2. Robert Andrade: 18.10 2. Brian Ernest: 12.55 2. none yet 2. none yet 3. Charles Reilly: 4.35 3. none yet 3. Peter Vican: 15.40 3. Richard Reich: 11.98 3. none yet 3. none yet

JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) 1. Nathaniel Pakuris: 4.15 1. none yet 1. Corey Templeton: 14.98 1. none yet 1. none yet 1. none yet 2. Aiden Beltrami: 3.75 2. none yet 2. Jack Treat: 11.00 2. none yet 2. none yet 2. none yet 3. Corey Templeton: 3.28 3. none yet 3. Jacob Shea: 10.70 3. none yet 3. none yet 3. none yet

COD FALSE ALBACORE FLUKE

BOAT DIVISION BOAT DIVISION SHORE DIVISION BOAT DIVISION SHORE DIVISION ADULT (minimum 8 lbs) ADULT (minimum 5 lbs) ADULT (minimum 5 lbs) ADULT (minimum 2.5 lbs) ADULT (minimum 2 lb) 1. Brian Beltrami: 14.10 1. William Matteson: 8.72 1. Richard Reich: 10.18 1. Kathleen Lewis: 10.15 1. Michael Telilli: 2.88 2. Eric Duda: 11.04 2. Matthew Haczynski: 8.07 2. Michael Tilelli: 9.42 2. Paul Brousseau: 10.00 2. Priscilla Bogdan: 2.54 3. none yet 3. Frederick Pogmore: 7.80 3. Richard Geldard: 7.70 3. Peter Lewis: 9.80 3. none yet

JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) 1. Nathaniel Pakuris: 15.00 1. Tanner Boylan: 8.70 1. Corey Templeton: 6.70 1. George Fotiades: 4.84 1. Vincent Castaldi: 3.20 2. Corey Templeton: 5.60 2. none yet 2. none yet 2. Corey Templeton: 3.96 2. none yet 3. none yet 3. none yet 3. none yet 3. Kyle Templeton: 2.90 3. none yet

HADDOCK MAHI MAHI POLLOCK SCUP

BOAT DIVISION BOAT DIVISION BOAT DIVISION BOAT DIVISION SHORE DIVISION ADULT (minimum 3 lbs) ADULT (minimum 6 lbs) ADULT (minimum 5 lbs) ADULT (minimum 1 lb) ADULT (minimum 1 lb) 1. David Garzoli: 3.90 1. none yet 1. none yet 1. Barry Gootkind: 2.80 1. Harry Potter: 2.07 2. none yet 2. none yet 2. none yet 2. Russell Hubert: 2.32 2. Richard Reich: 1.62 3. none yet 3. none yet 3. none yet 3. Greg Vespe: 2.16 3. Michael Tilelli: 1.50

JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) 1. none yet 1. Corey Templeton: 15.72 1. none yet 1. Nathaniel Pakuris: 2.00 1. Vincent Castaldi: 1.90 2. none yet 2. none yet 2. none yet 2. Nicholas Duda: 1.98 2. none yet 3. none yet 3. none yet 3. none yet 3. Sophia Garzoli: 1.60 3. none yet

STRIPED BASS TAUTOG TUNA Albacore, Bluefin (no giants), Yellowfin Federal minimums apply • 1st, 2nd, 3rd each species BOAT DIVISION SHORE DIVISION BOAT DIVISION SHORE DIVISION BOAT DIVISION ONLY ADULT (minimum 15 lbs) ADULT (minimum 15 lbs) ADULT (minimum 3 lbs) ADULT (minimum 3 lbs) ADULT (federal min.) 1. David Michael: 47.30 1. Edward Sousa: 30.42 1. Luca Razza: 13.07 1. Harry Potter: 5.53 1. Frederick Ruhlemann: 104.00 (bluefin) 2. Greg Vespe: 45.28 2. Robert Hockla: 27.40 2. Michael Sheridan: 11.30 2. Richard Reich: 5.32 2. none yet 3. Matthew Haczynski: 44.56 3. Richard Reich: 26.02 3. Peter Lewis: 10.35 3. none yet 3. none yet

JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (no minimum) JUNIOR (federal min.) 1. Jacob Shea: 37.00 1. none yet 1. Nathaniel Pakuris: 5.23 1. none yet 1. Corey Templetion: 23.48 (bluefin) 2. Jack Treat: 17.40 2. none yet 2. Sophia Garzoli: 2.94 2. none yet 2. none yet 3. Corey Templeton: 16.26 3. none yet 3. none yet 3. none yet 3. none yet - 18 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 The RISAA Angler Hall Of Fame lists the largest tournament entry of each approved species. Any angler who enters a catch that surpases an Angler Hall Of Fame record shall, upon verification of the catch, become the new record holder for that species. In addition, the angler shall receive 5 points toward Angler of the Year. BOAT DIVISION SHORE DIVISION SPECIES WEIGHT ANGLER YEAR SPECIESWEIGHT ANGLER YEAR Black Sea Bass 7.20 Raymond Morrocco 2012 Black Sea Bass 3.85 Joseph Pearson 2009 Bluefish 20.46 Robert Matteson 2017 Bluefish 16.90 Gilbert Bell 2016 Bonito 12.20 Michael Neto 2004 Bonito 9.99 Jack Sprengel, Jr. 2007 Cod 49.10 Robert Morel 2001 False Albacore 12.22 Jack Sprengel, Jr. 2007 False Albacore 16.20 Charles Bradbury 2004 Fluke 5.44 Jonathan Pickering 2003 Fluke 15.65 Kyle Blount 2006 Scup 2.60 Charles Underhill 2012 Haddock 7.85 Nicholas Blount 2004 Shad 1.75 Jonathan Pickering 2008 Mahi Mahi 37.80 Jack Sprengel, Jr. 2010 Squeteague 16.54 Robert Moeller 2007 Pollock 27.70 Harry Templeton 2001 Striped Bass 51.66 Richard Reich 2013 Scup 3.74 Jack Sprengel, Jr. 2014 Tautog 11.20 Richard Gallipeau 2009 Shad 3.80 Kyle Paparelli 2009 Winter Flounder 4.40 Dick Geldard 2009 Squeteague 10.50 Robert Roy 2006 Striped Bass 77.40 Peter Vican 2011 Tautog 18.90 Joseph Bleczinski 2015 Tuna -Albacore 55.00 Harley Benton 1999 Tuna -Bluefin 193.88 Jack Sprengel, Jr. 2009 Tuna -Yellowfin 112.00 Randy Pereschino 2001 Winter Flounder 4.40 Michael Lanni 1998

• indicates RISAA member * note at bottom those marked

Location Maximum AW Marina, (New London, CT)...... 60 lbs •Block Island Fishworks (New Harbor)...... 200 lbs •Breachway Bait & Tackle (Charlestown,RI).. 50 lbs •Frances Fleet/Captains Catch (Galilee)..... 100 lbs •Lucky Bait & Tackle* (Warren)...... 200 lbs Maridee Bait & Tackle...... 50 lbs •Misquamicut Bait & Tackle (Westerly)...... 100 lbs •Pete’s Bait & Tackle (Woonsocket)...... 160 lbs •Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle (N.Kingstown) 60 lbs Riverside Marine (Tiverton)...... 75 lbs Sam’s Bait & Tckle (Middletown)...... 400 lbs •Snug Harbor Marina (Wakefield)...... 250 lbs •Tackle Box, Inc. (Warwick)...... 200 lbs

* hanging scale not certified, but flat scale is good - 19 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 UPCOMING SEMINAR Monday, December 18 at 7:00 PM Tuna Helper - Recipe for Success Fishing for FALSE ALBACORE, the ultimate adreneline rush! featuring Capt. Ray Stachelek Castafly Charters The false albacore season has experienced the best fishery in Rhode Island waters in recent memory this past fall. As other fish stocks dwindle, hard tail angling has actually improved over the years. September and October are exciting times after the dog days of summer and these "footballs" can test your ability, equipment, and certainly one's patience. Have you ever had your reel drag cooked by a screaming albie? Nothing compares to this mind-boggling experience of man vs tuna on light tackle! See why so many fishermen call this 'the ultimate adrenaline rush." Captain Ray's seminar will help you learn how to greatly improve your odds. Through a combination of shared knowledge, photos, overhead drone footage and underwater action, compiled over many fishing seasons, will provide a wealth of information that very well could be the most comprehensive on the subject. No one is more obsessive and compulsive about "the details" than Capt. Ray.

Captain Ray Stachelek has guided clients in Rhode Island and Southern New England waters for the past twenty years. Ray specializes in light tackle angling and fly fishing. He grew up along the banks of Bullocks Cove, Riverside where he observed and interacted with the environment around him. He has been a fly tyer for over 50 years and many of his saltwater fly patterns are listed in fishing catalogs and shops around the nation. Cast A Fly Charters is endorsed by many of the major trade names in the fly fishing industry.

EVERY MEMBER WHO ATTENDS IS ELIGIBLE TO WIN THE NIGHT'S FREE DOOR PRIZE: BRING A FRIEND! A $200 Gift Certificate RISAA members can bring a guest ONE TIME To Any Member Tackle Shop to the meeting at no charge so they can see (see page 22) what RISAA seminars are like

FOOD WILL BE SERVED* BETWEEN 5:30 - 6:30 Seminar is held at the West Warwick Elks TONIGHT'S MENU 60 Clyde Street, West Warwick, RI • Tossed salad w/roll: $3.50 Directions on page 23 • Roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, vegetable, cranberry sauce: $8.50 Non-Members Welcome • Cheeseburger w/chips: $6.95 NON-MEMBER ADMISSION: $10 donation * Food is NOT included in admission and to RISAA's Scholarship Fund (RISAA members attend free) is provided by the Elks. Pay separately at the bar. - 20 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 UPCOMING SEMINAR Monday, January 29 at 7:00 PM

Fishing The Rock Piles & Reefs of South County, RI featuring

Capt. Paul Johnson, Sr.

Captain Johnson operates the Charter Boat Carol J out of Galilee, Rhode Island. He has been fishing Rhode Island waters from shore and boat for over 60 years.

In this seminar Paul will provide a brief history of fishing the waters from Point Judith to Watch Hill. He will identify the many South Shore rock piles, shoals, reefs and dropoffs that hold fish. He will discuss times, tides, techniques, conditions to look for, conditions to avoid, GPS numbers, and a season by season look at what the South Shore has to offer.

Captain Paul plans to provide some handouts and, time permitting, a questions and answer period at the end.

FOOD WILL BE SERVED* BETWEEN 5:30 - 6:30 Seminar is held at the West Warwick Elks TONIGHT'S MENU 60 Clyde Street, West Warwick, RI • Tossed salad w/roll: $3.50 Directions on page 23 • Chicken parmesan with penne: $8.50 • Penne only: $3.50 Non-Members Welcome • BBQ pulled pork sandwich w/chips: $7.00 NON-MEMBER ADMISSION: $10 donation *Food NOT included in admission and is provided by the Elks. to RISAA's Scholarship Fund (RISAA members attend free) Pay separately at buffet line. - 21 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Directions to

West Warwick Elks Exit 12B 60 Clyde St., West Warwick, RI 401-821-9807 FROM PROVIDENCE AND POINTS NORTH: (map 1) I-95 South to exit 12B (RI-113W/East Ave). Pass R.I. Mall to light at Rt 2. (map 3) Straight across onto East Ave, then slight right to River St. to next light. Straight across onto Wakefield St. FROM I-95 (map 4) Go 1.8 miles, then turn left onto Grandview Dr. NORTH TO Grandview Dr (.13 mi) becomes Clyde St. Elks is (.07 mi) EAST AVE 1 on right.

FROM WESTERLY AND POINTS SOUTH: (map 2) I-95 North to exit 11 (left lane) onto I-295 North, then take Exit 1 from 295N onto East Ave (RI-113W). (map 3) Straight across onto East Ave, then slight right to River St. to next light. Straight across onto Wakefield St. (map 4) Go 1.8 miles, then turn left onto Grandview Dr. Grandview Dr (.13 mi) becomes Clyde St. Elks is (.07 mi) on right. FROM NARRAGANSETT AND SOUTH COUNTY: FROM I-95 Route 1 North to Route 4 North. Merge onto I-95 North. SOUTH TO (map 2) I-95 North to exit 11 (left lane) onto I-295 North, I-295 and to then take Exit 1 from 295N onto East Ave (RI-113W). 2 EAST AVE (map 3) Straight across onto East Ave, then slight right to River St. to next light. Straight across onto Wakefield St. FROM EAST AVE (map 4) Go 1.8 miles, then turn left onto Grandview Dr. Grandview Dr (.13 mi) becomes Clyde St. Elks is (.07 mi) TO WAKEFIELD ST on right.

Google satellite view

4 WAKEFIELD ST TO ELKS, 60 CLYDE ST

- 22 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 *Chose from any of these member tackle shops: Block Island Fishworks Pete’s Bait & Tackle Snug Harbor Marina Lucky Bait & Tackle Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle The Tackle Box Misquamicut Bait & Tackle Saltwater Edge Watch Hill Outfitters

• Must be an adult/regular member in good standing • Must be present to win • RISAA Board members not eligible Rules: • Certificates must be redeemed within 90 days or is forfeited • Limited to one win per calendar year • May not be exchanged for cash • Entire amount must be redeemed at tackle shop November Meeting Door Prize Winners Winner of the REGULAR MEMBER door prize was Winner of the JUNIOR MEMBER door prize was JACK BOSCH A.J. FAUSTINO who selected his $200 certificate to Quaker Lane B&T who won a tackle box

It’s just another benefit of membership in the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association!

- 23 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Mole Crab Colloquial Nickname: Beach flea, sand crab Scientific name: Emerita talpoida

Field Markings: Pale, grayish-tan or sand-colored. often leaving them Size: 3 inches long, 1 inch wide. The female is larger than the exposed. When male. this happens, the Habitat: Open sandy beaches, in the surf zone. crab digs furiously Seasonal Appearance: Year-round into the sand to seek cover, DISTINGUISHING FEATURES escaping the next AND BEHAVIORS wave. The crabs The mole crab is an egg-shaped crustacean with a smooth, adapt to the tidal convex carapace. An atypical crab shape, this crab’s abdomen cycle, migrating up Mole crab (Emerica Talpoida) top and is broad in the front and tapers to its tail, which has a pair of and down with the bottom views forked, leaflike appendages. A long, spearlike tailpiece folds high and low tides, under the body, and a pair of dark eyes sits atop long, thin always burrowing eyestalks. where the waves Unlike most crabs and lobsters, the mole crab is somewhat break. They are defenseless, having no appendages to bait, sting or threaten free swimming in predators. Instead, its appendages are better adapted for digging. the winter when Its Latin name talpoida means “molelike,” an appropriate name both sexes move to describe its excellent digging abilities. into deeper waters. The mole crab has two highly functional pairs of antennae, both covered with fine, featherlike hairs. One pair is used for RELATIONSHIP TO PEOPLE breathing, the other for feeding. Mole crabs are favored bait for striped bass fishing. They Mole crabs bury themselves in the sand, anchoring their are easy to capture where the waves break along the shoreline bodies in place with their tail plates and extending their antennae. by digging a few inches into the sand in the spot where the crab The breathing antennae form a small funnel that takes oxygenated was last seen burying itself. water and filters sand grains away from its gills. The feeding antennae unfold into the water, trapping phytoplankton in their HOW TO GET YOUR OWN COPY fine hairs. When its hairs are full of food, the mole crab ingests RISAA members can purchase their own copy of The the phytoplankton by wiping the antennae across its mouth. Uncommon Guide To Common Life on Narragansett Bay for $15 from the RISAA Merchandise Committee. Stop by Mole crabs inhabit the shoreline where breaking waves crash, the committee table at any monthly RISAA meeting.

- 24 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Or mail in the application on page 47. Include a note if a surprise

- 25 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Come to our 20th Anniversary Banquet!

RISAA’s 20th Anniversary Banquet is coming up in caramel cookie dough ice cream. Coffee and tea is included. NEXT MONTH on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Quonset What happens at the Banquet? There are always a few ‘O’ Club in North Kingstown, RI. surprises such as when the Going back to the start of RISAA, our first couple of banquets “Member of the Year” is was held at the ‘O’ Club. It’s a very nice facility that always announced, and awards are given serves excellent food. to special guests for work in The tickets are still $25 per person. We have held it at this Fisheries Management, Marine price since 2012, even though the cost has actually gone up Conservation, etc. every year and actually costs more. But the club makes up the Also, the Tournaments difference on the tickets so it stays affordable for our members. Committee will hand out the 2017 We will start at 6:00 PM when cheese & crackers and assorted Awards. vegetables hors d'oeuvres will be available with drinks "on you This year, the 2017 Photo J. Edwin Cook our 2016 own.” Contest winners will be Member of the Year The banquet will begin at 7:00 PM and the dinner we have announced. planned is an “Italian Dinner" that will include chicken escarole Tickets will be sold at the December 18 seminar/ soup, individual style penne pasta with house tomato sauce, meeting. See page 25 for more information. boneless stuffed chicken breast, garlic roasted redskin potatoes, Hope to see you all there! sauteed green beans, crusty Italian bread, and desert will be

Kidde Fire Extinguisher Recall Do you have one on your boat? Why aren’t millennials buying boats? More than 40 million Kidde fire extinguishers equipped with plastic handles, some on the market for more than 40 years, Both boaters and those who rely on boating to make a have been recalled. According to the Consumer Product Safety living lament that there doesn’t seem to be as many younger Commission (CPSC), “The fire extinguishers can become clogged boaters these days. The statistics back that up. According to or require excessive force to discharge and can fail to activate the recently published BoatUS Magazine feature “Why Aren’t during a fire emergency. In addition, the nozzle can detach with Millennials Buying Boats?” (October 2017), approximately 41 enough force to pose an impact percent fewer 20- to 39-year-olds owned boats in 2015 than in hazard.” The BoatUS 2005. And while millennials may boat about as much as their Foundation is urging rec- parents did, the data confirms they are far less likely to own a reational boat owners to check boat. their boats for the recalled Why? Author and millennial Fiona McGlynn, who is a extinguishers and get a free professional management consultant, may have some answers. metal-handled replacement by Lower incomes, student debt, lack of technical knowledge going to the CPSC recall or mechanical experience, and a culture shift that eschews website. conventional ownership in favor of renting take their toll on The recall affects both millennial (born between 1982 and 2000) boat ownership. “Young plastic-handle and push-button Pindicator Kidde fire people are not giving up on boating, just going about it in a extinguishers, including 134, ABC- or BC-rated models different way: chartering, borrowing, and riding along,” says manufactured between January 1, 1973, and August 15, 2017. McGlynn, a live-aboard who recently finished her first South The extinguishers are red, white or silver and were sold in the Pacific crossing along with her husband, Robin. US and Canada through a wide range of retailers from While owning a boat can be pricey, McGlynn reports, “I’ve Montgomery Ward to Amazon. The CPSC recall website shows met a number of young boaters finding creative ways to get how to easily identify the affected extinguishers. out on the water without breaking the bank, such as millennials Kidde may also be contacted toll-free at 855-271-0773 or get who are participating in cooperatives, who share a boat among additional information online at kidde.com by selecting “Product friends, or who live aboard a boat instead of renting pricey Safety Recall.” apartments in major American waterfront cities. (to page 39) - 26 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 SNAPPA CHARTERS • Capt. Al Charles Donilon story by MICHAEL SHERIDAN

Early morning October 23 arrived and greeted me with thick, Looking for more mature fish and our targeted quarry (tautog) patchy fog limiting my visibility on the drive to Galilee that could the captain moved up maybe one hundred yards. Again hordes only be measured in feet. I recall thinking the charter boat Snappa of juvenile black sea bass came at us, with a few tog dispersed in would certainly have what our catch. I could use at the time, radar. We were fishing in Safely arriving I found 3-4 about 90 feet of water, a ghostly figures queuing up little cragy but not so to our docked charter. terribly so that we were Capt. Charlie Donilon losing much gear, an greeted us all with a very anticipated exercise. After friendly and enthusiastic all, we were fishing “tog welcome. Being the territory” and loss was to professionals that they are be expected. the Captain and mate The guys fished with all detailed us necessary sorts of gear: longer rods, features of the boat, shorter rods, some including life preservers in spinning reels, but mostly the event... fortunately The RISAA crew displays a part of the catch: (L-R) Howie Labitt, Ted Nataly, conventional, braided line never needed. Mike Sheridan, Bruce Loechle, Bob Barrett and Danny DaSilveira and some mono. With all winners of the As one would expect all trip aboard our 6:30 the guys had what they had scheduled departure left right on time. faith in for terminal gear. Sinkers ran from 3 to 8 ounces. Hooks The lucky six RISAA members, Robert Barrett, Daniel and terminal gear varied from person to person: single hook, hi- DaSilveira, Howard Labitt, Bruce Loechle, Ted Nataly and myself lo's and personal interpretations of the Snafu rig. (Mike Sheridan), introduced ourselves to each other and Which brings up a point. While all seemed to be pulling some exchanged early morning conversation, a few stories, renewed tautog over the rail, all wished the pace would step up! And size acquaintances and generally kibitzed. was an issue. (to page 32) Luck and good weather was on our side as the fog quickly lifted and a beautiful sunrise broke out. It didn’t take long for Captain Charlie to pull up to our first fishing spot. And even less time for a hook- up. We were smack dab over a pile of hungry fish! Though this wasn’t a black sea bass expedition per se, they thought they were the star of the show and very accommodating. The only The trip out featured problem was that many were a wee a beautiful sunrise undersized. But the numbers! At times out fishing poles must have resembled yo-yo’s. - 27 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 NORTHEAST BOAT & KAYAK CHARTERS • Capt. Jerry Sparks • story by JEFFREY RICHARD

A wise man once proclaimed “good things come to those that tossing MirrOlure C-Eyes poppers and suspended twich baits. I wait. This proverb certainly held true for John DeVeny and me pretty much stuck with the popper for the first two hours, while (Jeff Richard) on the Northeast Boat and Kayak Charter tripwith John transitioned to Captain Jerry Sparks. Originally planned as a kayak trip for the twitch bait. In June, the weather refused to cooperate, and the target of inshore my opinion, there is striper fishing at one of the South County estuaries became an nothing like a October albie, striper, and blues fishing adventure from Jerry’s 17 striper blasting a foot center console. Captain Jerry did not disappoint. popper on the I have been fortunate to win a trip the last five years through surface of the water, RISAA. Not owning a boat, I always look forward to these outings although John was as a “special” opportunity. So when the trip ended up being marginally out- postponed five times, it seemed as though the fishing gods had fishing me with the other plans for me. However, it is because of Jerry’s thoroughness twitch bait. And the to ensure we had a great outing that we remained patient, waiting blues were fierce for the right and put up some weather window great battles on the to coincide with light tackle. the fishing After a while we forecast to give moved to several John DeVeny with one of the many us the best other spots as we schoolies caught during the trip opportunity to followed the bait. “catch” and not There were the just fish. occasional blitzes and dive-bombing attacks by the gulls, keeping On the brisk us moving around. We probably caught 15 or so fish in this time morning of with many other misses. October 23, (to page ) Captain Jerry, John and I met up Jeff Richard with big bluefish in Richmond and drove in Jerry’s truck to Groton, where we launch his boat onto the Thames River. This spot wasn’t finalized until the night before, as Jerry was doing his diligence to ensure he put us on fish. Both John and I were hoping for a shot at albies, but Jerry wanted to first make sure we had success catching some blues and schoolie stripers he was confident were in the area. Shortly after 7:30 AM we were looking for birds and bait upstream of Route 95. Sure enough, we found birds working a cove and had lines in. It wasn’t long until both John and I were tight with blues and stripers! We were using 7-foot medium action spinning setups and

- 28 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 FISHNET CHARTERS • Capt. Mel True story by BRIAN BELTRAMI On Sunday, meeting. November 12, 2017, Captain Mel got to members Bill Hubert, work cutting up crabs Doug Sturgis and and distributing them. myself (Brian Beltrami) Within minutes we met Captain Mel True at started catching fish. the boat ramp in First we caught a few Somerset, MA at black sea bass, then 7:00AM for a tautog small tautogs and then charter that we won at some larger tog. the September meeting. Captain Mel Also joining us this explained that this is day was the Captain’s how it usually goes. son Nate who is 9 years The sea bass are on the old and in training to be crabs first; then the a first mate and future small tautog move in, charter captain. and then after a while This trip had been the larger tog will show initially scheduled for (L-R) Members Doug Sturgis, Bill Hubert, mate Nate True and Brian Beltrami up. October 29, but due to a For the next four large storm that came through the area that weekend it was re- hours we caught fish, and it was just about nonstop action! There scheduled. This may have benefited us as the water temperature were times that as soon as the crab hit the bottom the fish were on cooled over those two weeks. The air temperature was around 30 it. If you had too much slack in the line when it hit bottom you degrees and we were all dressed in layers with Grunden-style missed the bite and the bait was gone. pants, warm jackets, winter hats and We were using a simple one-hook rig, a dropper loop with the boots. hook and a 4oz sinker just below it. Captain Mel said it would be We all caught keeper size tautog and it wasn’t long before we short ride to the fishing grounds and had our boat limit. (to page 36) after a safety briefing we departed the ramp. Once we cleared the Somerset River his 25’ Dusky, powered by a 2017 300 HP Yamaha, had us on the fishing grounds within minutes. The boat is equipped with Lowrance electronics and Captain Doug Sturgis was Mel scouted the area for structure dressed for cold weather and then dropped the anchor. The seas were a bit rougher than predicted, but they settled down later on. Captain Mel set us up with his custom rods equipped with Fin-Nor Marquesa reels. Bill had brought his own favorite rod, also equipped with the same reel, that he had won at the October

- 29 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 FLIPPIN’ OUT CHARTERS • Capt. B. J. Silvia story by PHIL DUCKETT

It finally happened. The squid fishing charter raffled off in the made worse with a layer of fog, we arrived at the bridge and had spring with Captain B.J. Silvia of Flippin’ Out Charters is in the it to ourselves. books. It took a few minutes as BJ Manny Santos and I (Phil Duckett) won the trip at the March accessed the drift, and Greg set the meeting which was originally scheduled for the night of May 10. anchor. But once the anchor was set But the trip was postponed because the squid bite was not Manny’s jig didn’t make it to the happening in early May. Then I went on extended travel, and bottom; he gently pulled in the first upon my return, Manny took off to Europe and by the time he squid before I was even in the water, a returned, we had missed the spring run, such as it was. Captain nice 10-12 incher. Minutes later I was BJ offered up a sea bass and fluke trip instead, but we opted to on the board and thoughts of an epic hold out for a night of squidding during the fall run. night with full buckets swirled through The night of Thursday the 12th of October was forecast to be my head. warm and windless. Manny and I met at the rotary in Newport Manny had setup with a 3-jig and then met up with Captain BJ and Greg Vespe. Greg had been spread with 3 ounce bank sinker and I squidding a few times already and the hope was that his scouting had two mini’s (pink and blue) with 2 would pay off. ounce weight. Manny did a better job We launched Captain BJ’s 18-foot center console at the Coaster holding bottom and I switched out with Harbor marina which gave us easy access to the squidding different colors, but the initial flurry and grounds under the Newport Bridge and Harbor; the center console pace slackened while the current and provided plenty of room the spread out. wind strengthened. The forecast turned out to be only half accurate. While it was We moved a couple times trying to Squid double-header a warm night (for October) in the 60s, the wind was 10-15 kts from find hungry aggressive squid at the south with a strong new moon ebbing tide creating a moderate different places under the bridge, but the initial excitement and wind against tide chop. quick bites failed to materialize under the bridge. After a few The wind against the tide and strong currents aren’t normally moves with only about a dozen squid to show between us, Captain a problem for BJ as his charter fleet is fitted with Minn-Kota trolling BJ said to pull ‘em up and we headed out to find a better spot, motors featuring Spot-Lock eliminating the need to anchor. But hopefully with a little less current. (to page 39) an electrical problem (later revealed to be that BJ forgot he lent the jumper cable linking two 12V batteries to provide 24V for the Minn-Kota to friend Charlie Soares) rendered it inoperable and the anchor was put into service. Good thing Greg was aboard! The game plan was to start out fishing the shadow line under the Newport bridge. After a short ride from the marina in Phil Duckett with his first squid with “new moon dark”, Greg Vespe looking on. - 30 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 LESSONS LEARNED (from page 9)

But while the proposed target fishing mortality rate would have called for a quota that was, from a political standpoint, unrealistically small, some at the meeting argued that the threshold fishing mortality rate would have permitted the harvest to increase substantially before overfishing occurred. The combination of an unrealistically low menhaden quota, if the stock was managed at the target rate, and the threat of an undesirably high menhaden harvest, if the stock was fished near the threshold rate, was enough to convince some Management Board members that the conservationists’ preferred option wasn’t a viable alternative. An option that set a more realistic interim target mortality rate, and prevented quota from increasing much above the status quo, might have fared better, if it had been available. 3. The Management Board is not engaged in a democratic process Much was made, both before and after the Management Board meeting, of the fact that about 158,000 people commented on the interim ecological reference points, and that about 99% of those comments favored putting such reference points in place. Public comment is certainly relevant to ASMFC decisions, and people should be urged to comment on any issue that they care about. However, it’s not the Management Board’s job to count votes. They are tasked with reviewing the biological and, yes, the social and economic information available, and making their decision on that basis. Hundreds of fishermen, who are active participants in the fishery and take the time to come out to hearings, submit their own comments and perhaps even show up at the management board meeting will sway some commissioners’ decisions, because they speak with some personal knowledge of all three of those factors. Thousands of preprinted e-mails, sent by folks who have no obvious connection to or knowledge of the menhaden fishery and who failed to make the effort to come out to a hearing and speak for themselves, are a different story. While not worthless, as a practical matter, they count for a lot less. When faced with choices that are each supported by some valid data, a management board’s actions are often decided by interpersonal and interstate relationships that extend far beyond the issue in question. Virginia will always walk in lockstep with Omega Protein, which has long been an economic and political presence in the state. The current administration in Washington, which controls both the National Marine Fisheries Service’s and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s votes, will always favor short-term profit over healthy natural resources. Few states are prone to take actions which will cause significant economic dislocation in another jurisdiction, because everyone knows that, one day, the wheel will turn again and they may be the state pleading for a little understanding. It is clear that the great majority of people wanted to see interim ecological reference points adopted. However, when commissioners were faced with conflicting data regarding that issue, and realized that both federal agencies would oppose ecosystem reference points, overwhelming public comment in favor of that outcome was not enough to prevail. (to page 34) - 31 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 SNAPPA CHARTERS (from page 27) Many theorized the warm weather had slowed the big Fall chew we were accustomed to every year. However, one of our members, Bob, seemed to have little problem in that department as he zeroed in on good fish and lots of them. I asked him to “fess up” and clue us in on what he was doing so right. He claimed innocence and couldn’t explain his prolific production (maybe with his fingers crossed behind his back?). Anyhow Bob pulled up tautog like a man possessed. Meanwhile on the other side of the boat, Danny was also distinguishing himself with a pretty fair catch and looking good. Captain Charlie did his job and put us on fish Now it was time for the rest of us to do ours. NORTHEAST BOATING (from page 28) Though the bite slowed, Captain Charlie didn’t! He brought We then decided to try our luck with albies out front, and us to fresh grounds and we resumed pulling fish from the sea. we motored back past Route 95 to the mouth of the Thames. Just as before not all caught were of legal size, so back to the The water wind was blowing harder and there was some chop sea they went, but we were busy. on the water. We did manage to spot a passing group of albies This brings me to another point. This “lock and load” activity breaking on some bait, but soon determined that the target fish was only made possible through the efforts the shipmate, weren’t availing themselves to us. Lauren. The best way to Jerry made the call to head back upstream to hit several describe her was pleasant, more spots near the landing. We were rewarded with some nice knowledgeable, schoolie action and another eight or so fish landed. accommodating and efficient. As noon approached we needed to call it quits. Between She was in constant motion, the two of us, we had landed over two dozen bass and blues. preparing bait, netting and Several of those blues were approaching gator size, and all unhooking fish and baiting were super fun to catch on the light gear. We both agreed that hooks. We all agreed she the enjoyment-quotient was met and passed. helped make the trip and Our experience on this charter was outstanding. Jerry put expressed our appreciation. us on fish right from the start, and kept us catching throughout An unanticipated bonus the trip. He was able to clean up our messes in fast order, was that we expected Captain whether it be a debilitating wind-knot (guilty … twice … lost a Charlie to have us back to the good 70 yards of braid), changing lures or fixing leaders. dock by noon - after all, this Jerry also provided expert advice for fishing with light trip was a freebie. But not this Mate Lauren and Captain spinning tackle. And most important, he kept us on the fish. enthusiastic Captain . We Charlie ready to set the Clearly he had solid knowledge of the area and what the current ended up docking around anchor conditions were. And Jerry was engaging throughout the trip. 3:30! His plan was to send us We never lacked for quality conversation. all home with fish. Mission accomplished! If you are looking for some inshore light tackle action, call Our final tally was 21 keeper tautog with some nice black Captain Jerry Sparks of Northeast Fishing and kayak Charters. sea bass sprinkled in for variety. Whether you are looking for a kayak trip or some in-shore Bruce had the big fish of the day with a chubby tautog boating; whether you are a novice or an experienced fishing- weighing about 7-8 pounds. person, Jerry will deliver an excellent fishing outing. The Snappa was a comfortable and immaculately-maintained boat. Inside the Captain’s quarters everything looked brand new. The deck itself sparkled. The first sign of a little fish blood, Lauren was all over it with a mop displaying such pride and work ethic! This was just another example of how the Snappa operates. Members can’t go wrong booking a charter with Captain Donilon. The Snappa stays on the water late into the year offering tautog and cod trips. Thanks Captain Charlie and Lauren for a great time!

- 32 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 NARRAGANSETT BAY (from page 32)

The RI Delegation demonstrated Although the base leadership in favor of conservation numbers calculated David Borden, Governor Raimondo’s proxy and Eric Reid, from the new Senator Sosnowski’s proxy both demonstrated leadership in State an attempt to get the Board to pass Option E and to hold the Allocation harvest levels at 200,000 MT in support of all RI fishers. table show Bob Ballou was busy chairing the meeting, but caucused the VA share with the other two RI representatives when necessary. We need of coastwide quota going from 170,640 MT to 169,910 to give Governor Raimondo, Senator Sosnowski, Director Coit, MT, the reality is that many states like GA, SC and PA will likely Bob Ballou, Eric Reid, and David Borden all a big THANK not take their quota, so the unused quota will go mostly to VA YOU! and they will actually have a higher quota in 2018 than they had in 2017. Besides, at 169,910 This Board ignored MT VA has a quota of 373,802,000 Public Comment pounds of menhaden, most of which will go into low value fish This issue generated more meal. Wow that would feed a lot public comment than any of striped bass! previous issue in the history of the ASMFC with more than 150,000 public comments. In This is a huge opportunity fact, ASMFC stated that a total lost of 158,106 public comments were Through this action, received and 157,417 (99.6%) Amendment 3, there was a real were in favor of Option E chance for passage of interim reference points. ERPs. This was the time to start The Board totally ignored the ERP process which the the public and rejected Option Management Board says they E for Option B, a continuation want so much and which they of Single Species Reference have tasked the Biological Points. It seems that no matter Ecological Reference Points what the public says the Board Working Group (BERP) to will vote with commercial formulate. interests to allow more With interim ERPs we would commercial harvest. We need to actually be giving some credit to find some way to make this the forage value of a species for Board accountable! the first time and what better fish to start with than “the most The Board’s actions give important fish in the sea”. The next time this issue will a foreign company more be up for a vote is likely to be than 70% of menhaden Amendment 3 allocation percentages based on a 0.5% fixed minimum during the 2009-2011 timeframe. when the menhaden specific ERPs The actions taken during are ready from the BERP. The this meeting in Baltimore continue the practice of giving Virginia BERP says they are “optimistic that they will have their plan the lion’s share of the menhaden quota for the entire Atlantic ready for Peer Review in 2019.” coast and most of this goes to one company – Omega Protein. This may go smoothly, in which case they may be able to Omega is soon to be owned by a foreign corporation, so this put together a management plan in 2020 and put together board is giving the lion’s share of the biggest fishery in the another Amendment process for Total Allowable Catch (TAC) USA to a foreign corporation. setting for fishing year 2021. But if the process has any glitches We need these fish in the water to feed striped bass, osprey, it could be delayed to 2022 or later. whales, cod, and many other predators. We have recreational Our effort was successful in Rhode Island, but only the fishers, including a healthy Charter fishing sector, that rely on New England states joined us. For this type of effort to carry these fish coming north to Rhode Island waters. the day requires action in all states that have a seat and a vote If the reduction boats harvest more fish off Maryland and on the Board. Virginia waters will not be coming to feed our predators and Unfortunately, this is beyond the reach of RISAA alone, support our businesses here in RI. but we will here to help if other groups will push the issue in The Virginia delegates were complaining at the end of the their states. meeting that they will be forced to take a cut in quota. The We need to keep fighting for the fish. We are their only truth is that they will very likely get an increase in quota. voice! - 33 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 17’ Triumph CC, 2004, w/70 HP Suzuki 4- 10’ 6” AB Inflatable, 2003, fiberglass bottom, Orvis 4 piece rods with case, used, 8, 9, 10, 11 stroke. Runs beautiful, clean, great fishing boat. with Honda 15 HP short shaft OB, and Karavan weight Includes E-Z Load trailer. $7,000. Call Tim at galvanized trailer. Boat & outboard have storage rods. All 401-294-4592 covers. Bought and put away for future use, but models ------never used or put in water. Must see, senior $200- 19’ Mako Center Console, 1970, w/115 HP owned. Replacement value $7806, will sell for $400, Suzuki, $4,900 FIRM. Call Terry at 401-598-7850 Helios and dual ------Helios 2. batteries. Call Rene at 401-359-3625 Incl. long ------trailer, Vintage Bamboo Fly Rod, Heddon Penn GTi Lowrance HDS-8 Generation 2 chart recorder Featherweight Thoroughbred #14-8. Near perfect 330 reel & w/structure scan (both side & down scan), like condition, all original, never refinished, no cracks, 6.5’ pole new, w/LSS structure scan no warping. Rod with two original tips, must w/100 yds wire line, two 80” dive tanks, 100’ module, 2 transducers (455/800 see to dive hose. $4,300. Call Bob at 401-578-2223 kHz structure scan and 50/200 app------kHz skimmer), power cable, reciate. 23’ Grady White Gulfstream hardtop, w/225 spare cover, stored at home Asking HP Yamaha 4-stroke, remote windlass, new when not in use. $800. Call $300. Call Norm for more photos 401-340-6255 Garmin electronics w/10” screen, new VHS, FW Steve at 508-542-1477 or ------washdown, SW washdown, head, sink, ice box, [email protected] 10’ outriggers, duel batteries, live bait well, ------$37,500. Call Chuck at 401-527-8344 ------

LESSONS LEARNED (from page 31)

While advocates should never stop seeking public Last July, however, things changed. The current Secretary involvement, they would probably do well to spend more time of Commerce condoned New Jersey’s failure to comply with building personal relationships with the commissioners that will ASMFC’s summer flounder management plan, and overruled make it easier, in the future, to convey the reasons why their ASMFC’s noncompliance finding. The precedent established positions are the right ones and, in turn, understand the obstacles by that action put ASMFC’s authority to manage coastal fish to those commissioners voting the right way. stocks in jeopardy, as states now have reason to believe that, 4. Commerce Secretary Ross has done severe should they decide to go out of compliance, the Secretary of harm to the interstate management process Commerce will again elevate profits over the well-being of coastal Right now, Wilbur Ross has folks at ASMFC running scared. resources, and overrule ASMFC. Prior to July 2017, ASMFC had a powerful tool to keep states Virginia, and reportedly New Jersey, played that card at the in compliance with its fishery management plans. The Atlantic Management Board meeting this week, making it clear that if Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act provides that, ASMFC took an action that they didn’t like, they would ignore it should a state fail to comply with an ASMFC fishery management in the belief that they Secretary of Commerce would take their plan, ASMFC can formally find that state out of compliance and side. NMFS’ opposition to interim reference points reinforced forward that finding to the Secretary of Commerce. The Secretary the perception that the Secretary would not uphold them if must then, provided that he or she both agrees that the state is adopted by ASMFC. That sent a message to a number of out of compliance and finds that compliance is necessary for the commissioners, who decided that support for the interim conservation of the relevant species, shut down the fishery for reference points would ultimately be pointless. It also reportedly such species in the noncompliant state until that state complies. concerned some commissioners, primarily state fishery directors, For more than twenty years, that system ensured the integrity who are concerned for the long-term survival of ASMFC and and the effectiveness of ASMFC’s fishery management efforts, feared that another incident of the Commerce Secretary overruling as the Secretary of Commerce never failed to support ASMFC’s an ASMFC action will put a stake through the Commission’s findings. heart. (to page 36)

- 34 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Copepods: Cows of the Sea by Ursula Howson

If you look very closely at a glassful of water from a bay or animals, like tuna, sharks, marine mammals, and seabirds. the ocean, you would probably be surprised by the life inside. But sometimes there’s no middle level. One of the largest You might see miniature crustaceans the size of the period at and rarest animals alive, the right whale, filter-feeds on the end of this sentence or baby crabs and fish that spend only copepods. As you might imagine, right whales have to eat a lot a short span of their lives this small. These creatures are of zooplankton. It helps, then, that sometimes zooplankton are zooplankton, aquatic animals that drift with the currents. found in vast numbers called “blooms.”

Big Blooms When conditions are right, copepods and other zooplankton can bloom in such numbers that the water becomes cloudy. Off our coasts here in New England and the Mid Atlantic, this often happens in the spring. When water temperatures rise and sunlight increases, the phytoplankton increase, and then the copepods that eat them grow in number, too. These great blooms of phytoplankton feed the zooplankton, which are what make our waters able to support large commercial and recreational fisheries, as well as populations of whales, dolphins, seals, and sea birds. Ursula Howson discussing copepods and other finds from net More than Meets the Eye tows with students aboard a research cruise. In addition to the tiny animals that spend their lives floating in the water, there are many other aquatic animals, such as It’s the Little Things crabs, shrimp, sea stars, snails, clams, and fish, that spend the These tiny animals form the basis of the food web of first stages of life as plankton. At these early stages, they feed estuaries, coastal waters, and oceans. Zooplankton feed on on zooplankton. This nomadic, floating existence also allows microscopic plant-like organisms called phytoplankton, which them to colonize new habitats. These groups have adaptations get their energy from the specifically for life as plankton. For example, many have clear sun. Tiny crustacean bodies and spines to make them difficult for predators to see, zooplankton called and oil droplets that allow them to float. “copepods” are like cows of the sea, eating the Feeding the Fish phytoplankton and Here at NOAA, we are charged with stewardship of our converting the sun’s energy nation’s fisheries. Since plankton stocks support our estuarine into food for higher trophic and marine food webs, we levels in the food web. look out for the welfare of Copepods with egg sac Copepods are some of the these tiny creatures. most abundant Anything that affects animals on the plankton can ultimately planet. affect our fishery resources. Fish such as Because our coastal anchovies cruise habitats support plankton through the water and food webs, it’s very Students observing copepod with their mouths important to conserve and samples on research cruise wide open, filtering protect those habitats. copepods and As a habitat conservation biologist, I work to conserve salt other zooplankton marshes, estuaries, and other coastal habitats to maintain a from the water. healthy ecosystem – one that will support the plankton that, in Anchovies and turn, supports a healthy food web. Maintaining healthy “cows” other planktivores of the sea is one of the important ways we support our (plankton-eaters) Copepod sampling nets recreational and commercial fisheries. are prey for bigger - 35 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 FISHNET CHARTER (from page 29) LESSONS LEARNED (from page 34) The largest tautog was caught by Captain Mel - who fished with us - Faced with the likelihood of a secretarial override, which was around 8 pounds. He also commissioners accepted the inevitable and voted against the caught a nice cod fish. conservationists’ preferred option. Captain Mel gave me a lesson in The question now is what happens in 2019, or whenever using a tautog jig. I’ve tried them the menhaden-specific ecological reference points are before on my own, but without a lot developed, and are of success. Within a few minutes I considered by the had the hang of it and was catching Menhaden fish. Management Board. We continued catching and Omega Protein isn’t Bill Hubert fish on! releasing keeper togs until it was time going anywhere. There to pull the anchor. is no reason to suspect Back at the ramp that they will endorse any ecological reference points that are Captain Mel filleted the fish adopted. They will only change the arguments that they use for us. After taking a few to support the status quo. pictures we were soon on The Administration in Washington won’t be going our way home with some anywhere, either, at least not before 2021. The same shark fin nice tautog. soup-slurping opponent of just about anything that promotes Captain Mel provides a conservation will be sitting in the Oval Office, and if Wilbur great fishing experience Ross is no longer the Secretary of Commerce, it’s pretty certain with the latest equipment. that someone else at least as hostile to conservative, science- We would certainly based fishery management, and as friendly to short-term recommend him for a great exploitation, will be. time on the water fishing for Which makes the menhaden’s future pretty unclear. All Captain Mel with tautog & cod all fish species. Check out that we can do is learn from this loss, and try to prepare a bit his website for his charters, custom rods and coolers at http:// better for next time. www.captainmeltrue.com And hope that it pays off. - 36 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Striped bass tagged in RI by RISAA member turns up 13 years later Fish sets new ALS record

The American Littoral Society (ALS) announced on November 2 that a striped bass tagged by R.I. Saltwater Anglers Association member ED KEARNEY on July 27, 2004 has been recaptured off Montauk, NY on October 20, 2017..... thirteen years and three months later! This broke the ALS record for “Time Out” Ed Kearney and “Time At Large” for a tagged striped bass. The previous record held for many years at 11 years, 9 months. When Kearney tagged and released the fish in 2004 he reported it at 31 inches. The same tagged fish was recaptured in October by Capt. Ron Onorato fishing aboard his boat, Capt. Ron, out of RISAA members can also get involved in tagging fish by Montauk. He released the fish in good condition. It now contacting Bob Murray, coordinator of the RISAA Tag & measured 48 inches. No weight was taken in an effort to get the Release Program. Thanks to a grant from the RI Saltwater fish back in the water a soon as possible. Anglers Foundation, tagging kits are provided to members at Using a striped bass grown chart compiled by Maryland no cost. Tagging kits are available at most of the RISAA DNR Fisheries, Ed’s 31 inch fish was approximately 8 years old monthly seminars or by contacting Bob Murray by email at when he tagged it, making it 21 years old today! [email protected]

8 Year Old Junior Member AIDEN BELTRAMI

Aiden displays the 3.75 lb black sea bass that he caught on DAVID GARZOLI August 26 while fishing on his grandpa Brian Beltrami’s boat. with a 12 pound bluefish that he landed in early August off the The fish currently holds 2nd Place in the Junior Division of the center wall at Point Judith. RISAA Yearlong Tournament - 37 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Fish TREMBLE RISAA MEMBERS..... at the mention of their names! ARE YOU GETTING THE RISAA SPECIAL EMAILS? RISAA has a members-only EMAIL NOTIFICATION system. This is used to send information to members in between issues of the monthly news magazine. Notices usually include: • Special Events DAVID HOWE and MIKE SHERIDAN • Meeting reminders each display a false albacore they caught while fishing in late • Upcoming tournament reminders September aboard David’s boat, Zero PSI, in the bay. There were casting epoxy jigs. • Last-minute changes of meetings, dates, times • Fisheries meeting notices • News of interest to members that won’t be in the news magazine.

The emails are sent using Constant Contact, a professional e-mail service. If you are a RISAA member and not getting the RISAA notices, send an email to [email protected] to get connected. If you ARE supposed to get RISAA emails, but are not receiving them, make sure your computer isn’t blocking or marking them as spam. If so, please put “risaa.org” into your exceptions file so the mail goes through.

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- 38 - R.I.S.A.A. /December, 2017 THE WATCH (from page 15)

Capt. Bellavance said, “On March 12th, 2018 electronic Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) will become mandatory for all federally permitted for-hire vessels holding permits for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council. These include summer flounder, black sea bass, scup, bluefish, squid, mackerel, butterfish and tilefish. Presently charter captains are required to file a VTR that reports fish caught and released, fish saved for food, the size of the fish and where the vessel was fishing. The antiquated paper system forces fishermen to file a six part paper carbon from for every fishing trip (in the past they had to file a report even if they did not fish). Electronic recording replaces the filing of paper VTRs. The MILLENNIALS (from page 26) training session Several boaters interviewed for the story mentioned the Monday focused on increasing popularity of wake boats, in part because they carry one of five approved more people and they’re fun.” software systems, the McGlynn ultimately writes that, in general, millennials prefer SAFIS eTrips the sharing economy. She asks, why would you buy a ski house, software. when all you have to do is Airbnb it? She suggests it’s the same “I want you to with boats. “20- to 39-year-olds love boating for the same know that this reasons their parents did. They see it as an opportunity to software was socialize, create family memories, and adventures, and unplug pioneered by the from work. Boating has the potential for a watershed moment Rhode Island Party Capt. Rick Bellavance relates the among millennials.” and Charter Boat advantages of electronic catch For the full story, go to www.BoatUS.com/millennials. Association. Several recording as RISAA member Capt. years ago they had Joe Bleczinski looks on. the software FLIPPIN’ OUT (from page 30) developed as part of a pilot summer flounder (fluke) project. The software has been As we motored into expanded for use with all species and refined with input from Newport harbor, under captains who use the software. It is now replacing paper VTR the causeway, avoiding reports in a number of regions.” said Fran Karp, developer of the suspended lights the software and owner of Harbor Lights Software. and numerous strings of The software has been approved by NOAA in the Greater jigs dropping around us, Atlantic Region. The software allows captains to take an iPad Captain BJ reported the or tablet on their vessel and record catch, effort, released fish, telltale squid markings fish saved as food and the size of the fish in real time. The on the fishfinder were system is GPS based and can also track trips as an, reporting few and far between. BJ’s fishfinder screen the exact locations the fish are caught. As we approached The software generates electronic reports that fulfill not Fort Adams, we noticed strong lights around the docks where only NOAA reporting requirements but reports are also sent to the 3-masted tall ship SSV Oliver Hazard Perry was tied up. the State of Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Diversion to fulfill We anchored up not far from those lights and added our own to reporting requirements such as the charter boat requirement to the attraction. report catch and effort in the tautog fishery. The software can The current was less, but the bite never turned on. We also be used to fulfill reporting requirements for commercial rod would catch 2 or 3 in short order and think, it’s on, and then & reel fishermen. wait 10 minutes or so for another bite. I have used electronic reporting for four years on my boat We could hear occasional surface action. With the water and find it a great time saver. My hope is that the lessons temps still in the mid-60s I suspect bass were chasing the learned reporting charter boat recreational catch and effort can schools of squid which is why they never set up on our lights be transferred to recreational fishing in general. We need to and filled our buckets. continue to fund electronic reporting projects, particularly those Around 11:00 PM the wind and cold forced us to call it that explore using smartphone electronic reporting of quits. Manny went home with a few dozen squid which he recreational fishing in general. Better recreational catch data is reported turned into a delicious stew. New friends were made, needed so accurate harvest limits can be established that give BJ and Greg kept the stories going when the bite wasn’t, and a anglers greater access to the fish. good time was had by all.

- 39 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 One of the missions of RISAA is to represent the Only donations specifically made to the RISAA PAC can be concerns of the recreational community on regulatory and used. Under no circumstances can any membership dues legislative issues. That means that we have to deal with money - or any other contribution made to the Association - elected officials. be used for the PAC. It would be a violation of state election Fortunately, there are a number of legislators who have laws for any money from RISAA to be used for PAC purposes. worked hard on our behalf and others who support RISAA Also, all money received by the PAC must come from principles. We need to be sure those officials remain in individual donors. No contribution can be accepted from any office. organization or business interest. How it works. The RISAA PAC Committee first receives It is also important that legislators understand who we requests for contributions. If the PAC Committee determines a are. If we don’t advance our own causes, no one will do it candidate is pro-recreational fishing, pro-environment, etc. it can for us. approve a request, that recommendation is forwarded to the By law, our Association can not contribute funds to any RISAA Board of Directors which has the final vote on all PAC candidate, therefore we have established a legal, donations. Every PAC expenditure must pass this 2-step process. incorporated and registered Political Action Democracy is not a spectator sport. Committee which CAN make contributions on our behalf. To be effective, we must participate in the system. It has an independent treasurer and its own bank account.

With your help we can continue to work within the political system to safeguard the rights and traditions of recreational fishing 2017 PAC DONORS TO DATE

COPPER (up to $49) BRONZE ($50+) SILVER ($100+) GOLD ($200+) PLATINUM ($500+) - Robert Blasi Melvyn Blake Rod Raso Capt. Sandy Kane Leo Boliver Edward Choiniere Robert Stritzinger David Pollack Stephen Medeiros Kenneth Cooper Bradley Waugh Thomas Smotherman Robert Hawthorne Harry Templeton Richard Hittinger Doug Jost John Treat It's time for recreational anglers to stand up and be counted! Enclosed is my contribution to the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association

Please print: POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE. 1) Name: ______2) Phone: ______3) Address: ______no. street city state zip 4) Place of employment: ______(required by law) Address:______no. street city state zip 5) Enclosed is cash or check for: $10 $25 $50 $100 other____ (make payble to: RISAA PAC) 6) Donations can ONLY be accepted from individuals. No company or organization check can be accepted. (R.I. law) 7) From time to time we will acknowledge the names of contributors in our newsletter, but you can remain anonymous, if you prefer. It is OK to print my name Do NOT print my name Mail to: RISAA PAC, P.O. Box 1465, Coventry, RI 02816 - 40 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Do you shop online at Amazon? If you do, you can donate to the RISA Foundation at the same time! And at NO COST TO YOU!

Our Foundation has been approved and is a registered Amazon will remember your selection, and then every nonprofit to receive donations from AmazonSmile eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a (smile.amazon.com). 0.5% donation. You still use your Amazon account. Just log in via This is an absolutely free, easy way to make donations to smile.Amazon.com and the site will work exactly the way you the RISA Foundation that only requires you to log in and make are used to with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a purchases through the special smile.amazon.com link. It portion of your purchase price to the RISA Foundation. couldn’t be easier to donate to RISAA! Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. On your first visit to AmazonSmile you need to select a charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Just type in “Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Foundation.” smile.Amazon.com

The RISAA Newsletter can use your help Many members have said that during the long winter months, they look forward to reading the RISAA newsletter. Everyone likes to read FISHING STORIES and see FISHING PHOTOS. How about sending in one of your photos? It doesn’t need to be a trophy fish. Any “fishy” photo will do. Boat or shore. Kids or adults. They are all good (as long as in focus). How about a story? Did something funny happen while fishing? Recall a special fishing day from long ago? Send it in to [email protected]

Not a RISAA member yet, but you would like to receive this newsletter? SUBSCRIBE! Please accept my subscription to the RISAA monthly newsletter. Name:______Phone: ______

Street:______Apt #______

City:______State:______Zip:______ Enclosed is my check for $25 for one year mail subscription (payable to R.I.S.A.A.) Enclosed is an $______donation to the RI Saltwater Anglers Foundation. Charge to my credit card: 1. Card type (check) Discover MasterCard Visa 2. Amount Authorized: $______3. Exp Date: ______4. Name on card (print): ______5. Card Number:______Make check payable to: RISAA • Mail to: R.I.S.A.A., P.O. Box 1465, Coventry, RI 02816 - 41 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Have you ever needed a plumber or auto mechanic and didn’t know who to call? Ever needed to have an item on your boat or home repaired, but had no idea where to call? Rather than calling a stranger or looking in the yellow pages, call another RISAA member! EVERY MEMBER WHO RUNS A BUSINESS OR PERFORMS A SERVICE is encouraged to sign up. It is totally FREE! Want to get yourself listed? Call the RISAA office (401-826-2121) and leave your name and number. Someone will get back to you. ABRASIVES _ Pete’s Bait & Tackle...... 401-651-6178 ENGRAVING & ETCHING _ Massasoit Tool Company...... 800-648-6050 Member: Raymond Miclette (Woonsocket, RI) Ron Nalbandian...... 401-377-4688 Member: Jim Jaques (East Greenwich, RI) 341 Burnside Ave, Woonsocket, RI Westerly, RI 401-932-3890 Stock/distribute 3M coated abrasives Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle.....401-294-9642 Shop/mobile ser. - glass, wood, stone, metal ACCOUNTING _ Member: Mike Bestwick (North Kingstown, RI) ENTERTAINMENT _ Jane Davis & Associates, LLC..860-774-3277 4019 Quaker Lane, North Kingstown A Bluegrass Invitation Band....401-624-9517 Member: Jane Davis, MBA/EA (Brooklyn, CT) Saltwater Edge...... 401-842-0062 Member: Charlie Santos (Tiverton, RI) www.janedavisassociates.com Member: Peter Jenkins (Middletown, RI) www.bluegrassinvitation.com Disanto, Priest & Co...... 401-921-2035 76 Valley Rd, Middletown,RI saltwateredge.com The Sleepster...... 401-351-3518 Member: Raymond Marchak (Warwick, RI) Snug Harbor Marina...... 401-783-7766 Member: Harold J. Hemberger (Johnston, RI) www.disantopriest.com Member: Al Conti (Wakefield, RI) Stage hypnotist, parties, events, fund-raisers Medical-Dental Consultants...401-943-2200 www.snugharbormarina.com ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES _ Member: Ryan J. Holzinger, CPA, MSA, MST The Tackle Box...... 401-736-0605 Alliance Environmental Group 401-732-7600 www.meddentconsultants.com • Cranston, RI Member: Tom Giddings (Warwick,RI) Member: Richard C. Hittinger (Warwick, RI) Roger H. St. Germain, CPA.....401-334-1848 443 West Shore Rd, Warwick, RI Envir assessment, compliance, clean-up svcs Member: Roger H. St. Germain, CPA, MST Watch Hill Outfitters...... 401-596-7217 ESTATE APPRAISERS/CLEAN-OUTS _ www.stgermaincpa.com • Lincoln, RI Member: Mike Wade (Westerly, RI) Estate Services of RI...... 401-789-3646 ATTORNEYS _ 10% RISAA disc. • www.watchhilloutfitters.com Member: George Lovesky (Wakefield, RI) Henry M. Clinton, Esq...... 215-309-5567 BOAT CANVAS _ www.estateservicesofri.com All over RI. Law Office of Henry M. Clinton, LLC Jackpot Enterprises...... 401-596-4089 FINANCIAL SERVICES _ Phila. PA [email protected] Member: Cathy Muli (Westerly, RI) Ameriprise Financial...... 508-497-8931 Michael R. DeLuca, Esq...... 401-274-6644 zippers, windows, repairs Garth Fondo (Hopkinton, MA) Gidley, Sarli & Marusak, L.L.P. BOATING NEWS _ Certified Financial PlannerTM 1 Turks Head Pl, Ste 900,Providence,RI 02903 New England Boating...... 508-789-6708 Financial Engines...... 401-921-3331 Paul James Garlasco, Esq...... 860-350-4409 Member: Tom Richardson (Mattapoisett, MA) Christian Grundel, CFP (Warwick, RI) 83 Park Lane Rd, New Milford, CT 06776 www.newenglandboating.com email: [email protected] [email protected] BOAT SALES _ Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC...... 401-848-9949 James T. Marasco, Esq.....www.jmarascolaw.com Inland Marine, Inc...... 401-568-0995 James Tollefson, CFP, VP-Investment Officer 617 Smith St., Providence 401-421-7500 Member: Ross Lemieux (Chepachet, RI) [email protected] 118 Pt. Judith Rd, Narragansett 401-789-1800 Boat sales, service and repairs FIREARMS SCHOOLS _ Mitchell S. Riffkin, Esq...... 401-732-6500 Ocean House Marina...... 401-364-6040 American Firearms School 508-695-5869 631 Jefferson Blvd, Warwick, RI 02886 Member: Rob Lyons (Charlestown, RI) Member: Matthew Medeiros (N.Attleboro) Joseph J. Roszkowski, Esq...... 401-769-3447 Hydra-Sports, Steiger Craft, Maritime Skiff www.AmericanFirearmsSchool.com RISAA disc. Justice of the Peace South Shore Dry Dock Marine.508-636-9790 FISHING APPAREL _ 1625 Diamond Hill Rd, Woonsocket, RI 02895 Member: Capt. Jason Powell (Westport, MA) Linesider Marine Specialties..401-439-5386 Sammartino & Berg...... 401-274-0113 www.southshoredrydock.com Capt. Eric Gustafson (Block Island,RI) Member: Andrew Berg, Esq. (Providence, RI) Striper Marina...... 401-245-6121 Angling apparel. 10% off to RISAA members. AUTOMOTIVE _ Member: Capt. Alfred Elson (Barrington, RI FISHING CHARTERS _ Moore’s Motor Service...... 401-821-4050 www.stripermarina.com Big Game Sportfishing...... 401-243-7046 Member: Clarence Moore (Coventry, RI) CHIROPRACTOR _ Capt. Brian Bacon (Snug Harbor, RI) 487 Washington St, Coventry, RI Pruitt Chiropractic...... 401-847-8889 www.biggamefishingri.com RC Auto Repair...... 401-615-9924 Member: Dr. Craig Pruitt (Middletown, RI) Booked Off Charters...... 401-741-2580 Member: Raymond Vincent, Jr. (Coventry, RI) www.pruittchiropractic.com Capt. Tony Guarini (Wakefield, RI) General auto repair. 10% off labor to members. COMPUTERS _ bookedoffcharters.com Star Service Auto/Marine...... 401-821-9887 Computer & Network Services..401-921-4288 Capt. Bruce Sportfishing...... 860-235-6095 Member: Jay Starziano (Coventry, RI) Member: Bob LeBlanc (Warwick, RI) Capt. Bruce Millar (Groton, CT) 10% discount parts/labor to RISAA members 10% off all labor; $25 off complete custom sys. www.captainbrucesportfishing.com BAIT & TACKLE _ CONSTRUCTION _ Capt. John Boats...... 508-746-2643 Block Island Fishworks...... 401-466-5392 Bryan Couture Construction...401-792-3672 Capt. Bob Avila (Plymouth, MA) Member: Chris Willi (Block Island, RI) Member: Bryan Couture (Narragansett, RI) www.captjohn.com Fishing at Stellwagen Bank 10% off bait/tackle to RISAA members Concrete flatwork, patios, driveways, floors Capt. Sheriff’s FishingChartersRI.com Breachway Bait & Tackle...... 401-364-6407 CUSTOM RODS _ Capt. John Sheriff (Charlestown, RI) Member: David Hess (Charlestown,RI) Crafty One Customs...... 401-297-6062 www.FishingChartersRI.com - 401-450-2549 166 Charlestown Beach Rd, Charlestown Member: Ralph Craft (Portsmouth, RI) Carol J Charters...... 401-783-5572 Bucko’s Tackle Service...... 508-674-7900 custom rods/repairs www.craftyonecustoms.com Capt. Paul Johnson, Sr. (Wakefield, RI) Member: Michael Bucko (Fall River, MA) DENTISTRY _ www.caroljcharters.com Saltwater rods, reels, tackle, reel & rod repair Exquisite Smiles...... 508-761-5320 East Coast Charters...... 401-338-1752 Lucky Bait & Tackle...... 401-247-2223 Member: Dr. James Phelan (S. Attleboro, MA) Capt. Jack Sprengel Member: Lorraine Danti (Warren, RI) www.exquisite-smile.com www.eastcoastchartersri.com www.luckybait.com discount to RISAA members ENGINEERING _ Fin Reaper Charters...... 401-255-9630 Misquamicut Bait & Tackle...... 401-322-7297 RP Engineering, Inc...... 401-885-7255 Capt. Bruce Weinstein (Snug Harbor) Member: Tony Pocchia (Westerly, RI) Member: Richard Pastore (N. Kingstown, RI) B.I.stripers tuna-shark-cod finreapercharters.com Discount to RISAA members Environmental, structural, civil and marine

- 42 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 Fishnet Charters...... 508-951-9991 Teezer77 Charters...... 401-524-7239 ICE CREAM _ Capt. Mel True (Freetown, MA) Capt. Eric Thomas (Portsmouth, RI) Frosty Freez...... 401-846-1697 www.MelTrue.com www.teezer77.com Member: Mark Pachico (Middletown,RI) Fish’n Tales Adventures...... 401-619-4431 Tossing Chunks Charters.....508-345-4022 496 Main Rd, Middletown -10% RISAA disc Jeffrey O’Brien (Newport, RI) Capt. Jack Tobin (Barrington, RI) INSTRUCTION _ Party boat. FishnTalesAdventures.com www.tossinchunks.com Boatwise Marine Training..800-698-7373 Flippin Out Charters...... 401-529-2267 FISHING NEWS _ Member: Capt.Rick Kilborn (S.Hampton,NH) Capt. B.J. Silvia (Portsmouth, RI) Coastal Angler MagazineRI..203-321-7635 Recreational & Captains license classes www.flippinoutcharters.com Lisa Danforth • 25% RISAA discount JANITORIAL SERVICES _ Frances Fleet...... 401-783-4988 [email protected] Fleming’s Cleaning Service.800-605-7334 Capt. Frank Blount (Pt. Judith, RI) FISHING PRODUCTS _ Member: Tim Fleming (Auburn, MA) www.francesfleet.com/ 9er’s Lures...... 508-822-9650 Complete commercial janitorial services Here We Go Again Charters.....401-965-0445 Member: Eric Ferreira (Taunton, MA) JANITORIAL SUPPLIES _ Capt. Al Passarelli (Jerusalem, RI) www.9erslures.com Land-Tek Maintainence...... 508-252-3795 [email protected] A & S Tackle...... 508-679-8122 Member: Ken Anderson (Rehoboth, MA) Hooked On A Feeling Charters..401-788-3638 Member: Steve Abdow (Swansea, MA) supplies, paper products, cleaning equipment Capt. Joe Bleczinski (Narragansett, RI) www.astackle.com JEWELRY - SEA GLASS _ Sailing from Pt. [email protected] Androd Custom Fishing Rods.508-399-7837 A Day At The Beach...... 401-487-5302 Hook-Em Charters...... 401-595-6970 Member: Robert Andrade (Seekonk, MA) Member: Michael McHenry (Tiverton, RI) Capt. Michael Lawing (Richmond, RI) www.androd.com seaglassjewelrybyjane.com 10% RISAA disc [email protected] Bill Hurley Lures...... 413-584-2421 KAYAKS _ Irish Jig Charters...... 401-499-9182 Member: Bill Hurley (Northampton, MA) The Kayak Centre of R.I.....401-295-4400 Capt. Dave McCormick (Narragansett,RI) www.codandstriperlures.com Member: Jeff Shapiro (Wickford, RI) www.IrishJigCharters.com DC’s Custom Wood Plugs....401-465-5338 www.kayakcentre.com RISAA discounts Island Current Fleet...... 917-417-7557 Member: Dick Cournoyer (Woonsocket, RI) LAND SURVEYOR _ Capt. Chris Cullen (Sailing from Snug Harbor) Email: [email protected] Alfred W. DiOrio, RLS, Inc..401-377-8124 www.islandcurrent.com • $10 RISAA discount Fishdoc Custom Plugs...... 401-829-2967 Member: Alfred DiOrio (Ashway, RI) Lady K Charters...... 239-565-2949 Member:Richard Mandeville (Greenville, RI) [email protected] Surveyor/land use consultant Capt. Steve Babigian (Snug Harbor, RI) Built for the fish! www.customstriperlures.com Waterman Engineering Co...01-438-5775 www.ladykcharters.com Jackpot Digger Jigs...... 401-596-4089 Member: Richard Lipsitz (E. Providence) Linesider Fishing Charters..401-439-5386 Member: Cathy Muli (Westerly, RI) watermanengineering.net Capt. Eric Gustafson (Block Island, RI) www.jackpotdiggerjigs.com for stripers & more LASER ENGRAVING______www.linesiderfishing.com Lonely Angler Lures...... 207-348-5605 Kell-Strom Tool Company....800-851-6851 Maverick Charters...... 401-640-0865 Member: John Wilson (Deer Isle, ME) Member: Robert Kelly (Wethersfield, CT) Capt. Jack Riley (Snug Harbor, RI) Custom wood lures - www.lonelyangler.com General machine and laser marking www.maverickchartersltd.com Millard Wire Company...... 401-737-9330 LAWN CARE______No Fluke Charters...... 401-480-3444 Member: Dan LaCroix (Exeter) Green Wizard Landscaping.401-480-1875 Capt. David Monti (Warwick, RI) Inconel Wireline for trolling“The Real Deal” Member: Dan Patrick (Johnston, RI) www.NoFlukeFishing.com Narrow River Rods...... 401-678-0313 Landscaping, maintenance, trim, fish ponds Northeast Boat & Kayak Charters.. Member: Howard Reed(Wakefield, RI) Ocean State Lawn Service....401-732-8182 Capt. Jerry Sparks (CT/RI) 413-219-8455 Custom rods. email: [email protected] Member: Paul Karcz (Warwick, RI) www.sparksfish.net • 15% RISAA Discount Phase II Lures...... 203-226-7252 Fertilization programs. 10% RISAA discount On The Rocks Charters...... 401-359-3625 Member: Dick Fincher (Westport, CT) MACHINING______Capt. Rene Letourneau (Pawtucket, RI) Hand-carved lures that catch fish. www.phaseiilures.com Hartwell Mfg. Co...... 401-567-7720 www.ontherockscharters.com SurfHog Lure Co...... 401-864-6069 Member: Jerry Finkle (Chepachet, RI) Pamela May Charters...... 401-742-2383 Member: Bob Neilson (North Kingstown, RI) Custom machining small parts, plastics/metal Capt. Jason Howell (Narragansett, RI) www.surfhoglureco.com Volpe Tool & Die, Inc...... 401-580-1063 Light tackle/fly www.pamelamaycharters.com Terminal Tackle Co...... 631-269-6005 Member: John Volpe (Blackstone, MA) Puravida Charters...... 401-601-5499 Member: John Richy (Kings Park, NY) Custom machining of all materials Capt. Jonathan Lewie (Narragansett, RI) www.terminaltackleco.com or call for catalog MARINE ELECTRONICS _ puravidacharters.org ThomCat Fluke Rigs...... 401-828-9424 Seaport Communications.....401-783-4778 Relentless Charters...... 617-462-7885 Member: Thom Pelletier (Coventry, RI) Member: Manuel Medeiros (Narragansett, RI) Capt. David Waldrip (Green Harbor, MA) [email protected] Sales - Service - Installation www.relentlesscharters.com FURNITURE _ MARINE FABRICATION _ Restless Fishing Charters....401-728-2081 Eco-Friendly Custom Furniture...... 401-439-0564 Seaward Boatworks...... 401-739-5286 Capt. Rich Templeton Member: Steven Sabella (Westerly, RI) Member: Rick Cataldi (Warwick, RI) Email: [email protected] www.sabellastudio.com Aluminum fabrication and canvas work Seven B’s V...... 401-789-9250 GREEN ENERGY _ MARINE REPAIR _ Capt. Russ Benn (Pt. Judith, RI) Viridian Energy...... 401-602-6578 Conanicut Marine...... 401-423-7158 www.sevenbs.com Member: Daryll Issa (Portsmouth, RI) Member: Bull Munger (Jamestown, RI) Skinny Water Charters...... 401-465-8751 www.virdian.com/northeastgreenpower www.conanicutmarina.com Capt. Jim Barr (Newport, RI) GRILLING______Snug Harbor Marine Serv Ctr.401-789-7680 www.skinnywaterchartersri.com Gilchrist’s GreatGrates...... 401-932-7397 Member: Joe Mollica (Wakefield,RI) Snappa Charters...... 401-782-4040 Member: Tim Gilchrist (Charlestown, RI) Engine, marine, rod/reel repairs. Full service. Capt. Charlie Donilon (Wakefield, RI) www.greatgrate.com 15% RISAA discount MARINE SURVEYING _ www.snappacharters.com HOME IMPROVEMENT __ Down River Marine Surveyor..401-364-6400 StuffIt Charters...... 401-764-5141 Home Repair/Remodeling...401-295-4205 Member: Roe LaBossiere (Charlestown, RI) Capt. Joe Pagano (Scituate, RI) Member: Donald Smith (N. Kingstown,RI) Master Marine Surveyor www.stuffitcharters.com - RISAA discount No job too small. References provided - 43 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 MARINE TOWING SERVICES _ REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS _ Safe/Sea...... 401-295-8711 Lawrence A. Rainey...... 401-439-9083 Member:Capt. Phil LeBlanc (Wickford, RI) Certified commercial & residental SUPPORT www.safesea.com RISAA discount Sea Tow of Rhode Island...... 401-294-2360 White Appraisal Co., Inc...... 401-738-9500 THE Member: Kevin Scott (N.Kingstown) Member: S. Keith White, Jr, SRA,SRPA www.seatow.com Certified commercial/residential - Warwick,RI TowBoatUS/New Bedford...... 508-990-3997 RESTAURANTS _ COMPANIES Member:Capt. Clint Allen (Dartmouth,MA) Luigi’s Restaurant...... 401-861-3850 www.boatus.com Member: Ralph Battista (Johnston, RI) ON THESE MORTGAGE/HOME LOANS _ 357 Hartford Ave, Johnston. Fine Italian food P.D.H. Mortgage Company..401-529-4488 Slice Of Heaven...... ,...... 401-423-9866 Member: Paul Harrison (Lincoln, RI) Member: Steven Liebhauser (Jamestown,RI) PAGES Pawtucket Credit Union...... 401-541-7003 32 Narragansett Ave, Jamestown, RI Member: Brad Sudol (East Greenwich, RI ROD & REEL REPAIR _ They are all purchase/finance great rates. c:401-465-7345 Beavertail Rod And Reel...... 401-215-5062 Seacoast Mortgage...... 401-487-2322 Member: David Morton (N. Kingstown, RI) RISAA Members! Member: Paul Kennedy (Narragansett, RI) www.beavertailrodandreel.com Email: [email protected] SOLAR CONSULTANT _ ORTHODONTICS _ RGS Energy...... 401-315-2529 Ferry Orthodontics...... 401-781-2900 Member: Gil Bell (Charlestown, RI) Member: Dr. Mike Ferry (Cranston/Wakefield) Free solar estimate. [email protected] www.ferryortho.com TAXIDERMIST _ OUTBOARD MOTORS _ Larry’s Licensed Taxidermist..508-883-8190 Conanicut Marine...... 401-423-7158 Member: Larry Hayward (Blackstone, MA) Member: Gene Steger (Jamestown, RI) TREE SERVICES _ Fly fishing, bird hunts. www.6xoutfitters.com CUTTING EDGE TREE...... 401-439-7999 OUTFITTERS Member: Kevin Robishaw (W. Greenwich, RI) Al Gadoury’s 6X Outfitters...406-586-3806 Lic/insured arborist. All apects tree care/maint. Member: Allan Gadoury (Bozeman, MT) TROPHIES/PLAQUES _ Guided fly fishing trips. www.6xoutfitters.com Crown Trophy...... 401-231-0070 PAINT & SUPPLIES _ Member: John Kubaska (Smithfield, RI) ICI Paints...... 401-751-7300 www.crowntrophy.com Member: Bob Marco (Pawtucket, RI) World Trophies Co...... 401-272-5846 IMPORTANT We sell interior and exterior paint Member: Peter Evangelista (Providence, RI) PEST CONTROL _ www.worldtrophies.com PHONE Moran Pest Control...... 401-294-4592 VETERINARIANS _ Timothy Moran (North Kingstown, RI) Richmond Veterinary Clinic..401-539-2683 NUMBERS Insect/rodent control -moranpestcontrol.com Member: Robert Bolton (Wyoming, RI) Pest Patrol...... 401-463-3116 Practice for small animals RHODE ISLAND Member: Robert Todisco (Johnston, RI) VIDEO PRODUCTIONS _ DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL Full pest management. 24/7 wildlife services On The Outs Productions...... 401-300-7258 MANAGEMENT PHYSICIANS _ Member: Don Coyne (Saunderstown, RI) Boat Registrations Anthony V. Rocha, M.D...... 401-438-2780 www.fishingtheoceanstate.com 387 Waterman Ave, E. Providence, RI 02914 WASTE & RECYCLING SERVICE _ 222-6647 Family and internal medicine WasteXpress, LLC...... 401-464-6400 General Information PICTURE FRAMING _ Member: John Souto (Cranston, RI) 401-222-6800 Crestar...... 401-885-0300 res/comm containers www.wastexpressri.com Member: Jason Dittleman (E. Greenwich, RI) WINES _ ENFORCEMENT www.crestarmfg.com High Hook Oregon Wines.....413-218-0638 401-222-2284 PRINTING _ Member: Mark Seymour (Leverett, MA) After Hours Hotline Tiffany Printing Co...... 401-828-5514 www.fishhookvineyards.com Member: Christopher Couture (Coventry,RI) 401-222-3070 www.tiffanyprinting.com REAL ESTATE______Home Smart Professionals...401-578-9809 Marine Fisheries Division Member: Al Iacobbo (East Greenwich, RI) 401-423-1923 e-mail: [email protected] Keller Williams...... 401-785-1700 U. S. COAST GUARD Member: Julie LeBlanc (Cranston, RI) Castle Hill, Newport [email protected] cell: 401-837-9050 RISAA Members: Lighthouse RealEstate Group.401-935-9612 846-3675 Member: Will Litvin (Wakefield, RI) Have your business or service Enforcement [email protected] www.lighthouseri.com listed by calling 401-826-2121 435-2300 World.net Real Estate Group.401-323-2424 Hazardous Dischanges Member: Charles Petras (Cumberland, RI) [email protected] or www.TeamPetras.com 435-2300 Pt. Judith Station 789-0444 - 44 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 RECREATIONAL SALTWATER FISHING REGULATIONS Licensed required in CT/MA/RI Rhode Island Connecticut Massachusetts AMERICAN 9” minimum • 25 fish 9” minimum • 25 fish 9” minimum • 25 fish EEL no closed season no closed season no closed season 15” minimum May 25 - Aug 31 - 3 fish 15” minimum • 5 fish 15” minimum • 5 fish BLACK SEA Sep 1 - Sep 21 - 7 fish May 1 - Dec 31 May 20 - Aug 29 BASS Sep 22 - Oct 21 - closed Oct 22 - Dec 31 - 7 fish BLUEFISH no min size • 15 fish no min size • 10 fish no min size • 10 fish no closed season no closed season no closed season South & east of Cape Cod 22" minimum • 10 fish 22 " minimum • 10 fish 22" minimum • 10 fish COD no closed season no closed season no closed season *North of Cape Cod see MADMF regs 19" minimum • no limit 18" minimum • no limit South of Cape Cod 18" minimum • no limit HADDOCK no closed season no closed season no closed season

POLLOCK 19" minimum • no limit 19" minimum • no limit no min size • no limit no closed season no closed season no closed season 10" minimum • 30 fish May 1 to Dec 31 10" minimum • 30 fish SCUP 9" from shore at Conimicut May 1 to Dec 31 10" minimum • 30 fish Porgy Park, India Point Park, Stone 9" at certain shore sites May 1 to Dec 31 Bridge/Tiverton, East & West (charter rules differ) (charter rules differ) Walls/Narragansett, Ft Adams, Ft Wetherill, Rocky Point 19" minimum • 3 fish SUMMER FLOUNDER 19" minimum • 4 fish 17" minimum • 4 fish May 17 - Sept 21 Fluke May 1 - Dec 31 May 22 - Sept 23 17" at certain shore sites 28" minimum • 1 fish STRIPED no closed season 28" minimum • 1 fish 28" minimum • 1 fish BASS 34" & larger must have no closed season no closed season right pectoral fin removed 16" minimum 16" minimum April 15 to May 31 • 3 fish Open seasons: June 1 to July 31 • closed Apr 1 - Apr 30: 2 fish 16" minimum • 3 fish TAUTOG Aug 1 to Oct 14 • 3 fish July 1 - Aug 31: 2 fish no closed season Oct 15 to Dec 15 • 6 fish Oct 10 - Dec 6: 4 fish max of 10 fish per boat

WEAKFISH 16" minimum • 1 fish 16" minimum • 1 fish 16" minimum • 1 fish Squeteague no closed season no closed season no closed season 12" minimum • 2 fish North of Cape Cod March 1 to Dec 31 12" minimum • 2 fish 12" minimum • 8 fish *All of Narragansett Bay, WINTER April 1 to Dec 31 no closed season FLOUNDER Potter Pond, Point Judith Pond and the Harbor of South of Cape Cod Refuge is closed 12" minimum • 2 fish to winter flounder fishing March 1 - Dec 31 See a violation? Report it! CTDEP CONSERVATION POLICE RIDEM ENFORCEMENT DIVISION MADEP ENFORCEMENT DIVISION 860-424-3333 402-222-3070 (24 hrs) 800-632-8075 - 45 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 2017 OFFICERS and BOARD OF DIRECTORS President...... Stephen Medeiros...... [email protected]...... 401-826-2121 1st Vice President..... Capt. Richard Hittinger... [email protected]...... 401-739-1875 2nd Vice President.... Capt. David Monti...... [email protected]...... 401-480-3444 Secretary...... Travis Barao...... [email protected]...... 401-301-7944 Treasurer...... Peter O'Biso...... [email protected]...... 401-783-2364 Sergeant-At-Arms.... Richard Reich...... [email protected]...... 401-742-2020 Board Member...... Frank Cordeiro...... [email protected]...... 401-218-2702 Board Member...... Robert Murray...... [email protected]...... 401-378-5895 Board Member...... Thomas Smotherman..... [email protected]..... 401-255-2442 Board Member...... Roger Tellier...... [email protected]...... 401-398-2670 Board Member...... Diane Valerien...... [email protected]...... 401-523-9050 Board Member...... Michael Warner...... [email protected]...... 401-364-0027 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Stephen Medeiros...... [email protected]...... 401-826-2121 RISAA CONTACTS By-Laws Committee...... Robert Blasi, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-527-5157 Charities Committee...... Tom Meade, Chair...... [email protected] ...... 401-741-0362 Charter Trips Committee...... Hal Gibson, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-524-9035 Dealer Discount Program...... Gilbert Bell, Coordinator...... [email protected]...... 401-315-2529 Education Committee...... Greg Vespe, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-662-5573 Elections Committee...... Gary Perschau, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-828-3464 Entertainment Committee...... Lynn Medeiros, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-996-3308 Financial Review Committee...... Raymond Marchak, CPA...... [email protected]...... 401-826-2121 Fly Fishing Committee...... David Pollack, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-749-5379 Foundation Committee...... Michael Warner, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-364-0027 Fund-Raising Committee...... Lawrence Hill, Chair...... [email protected] ...... 774-280-0155 Kayak Committee...... David Pollack, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-749-5379 Legislative Committee...... David Monti, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-480-3444 Artificial Reefs Subcommittee..... Richard Hittinger, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-739-1875 Menhaden Subcommittee...... David Monti, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-480-3444 Public Access Subcommittee...... Peter Jenkins, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-826-2121 Merchandise Committee...... Gary Johnson, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-787-5981 Political Action Committee...... Stephen Medeiros, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-826-2121 Newsletter...... Stephen Medeiros, Editor...... [email protected]...... 401-826-2121 Saltwater Fishing Show...... Stephen Medeiros, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-826-2121 Scholarship Committee...... David Michel, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-952-8697 Surfcasters Committee...... Richard Reich, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-742-2020 Tag & Release Program...... Robert Murray, [email protected]...... 401-378-5895 Tournaments Committee...... John Volpe, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-580-1063 Welcome Committee...... Edward Kearney, Chair...... [email protected]...... 401-397-4513 Legal Counsel to Board of Directors.....Mitchell S. Riffkin, Esq RISAA Office: (401) 826-2121 • FAX: (401) 826-3546 Mail Address: P.O. Box 1465, Coventry, RI 02816 WWW.RISAA.ORG New England Saltwater Fishing Show: www.nesaltwatershow.com - 46 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association is a nonprofit Association established to provide a forum for saltwater anglers; to provide education to members concerning fishing techniques and overall enjoyment of fishing; to foster sportsmanship; to support marine conservation and the sound management of fisheries resources; and provide a unified voice to preserve and protect the rights, traditions and the future of recreational fishing.

PRINT Name: ______Age: _____ Spouse Name: ______First Middle Initial Last Address: ______City: ______State: ____ Zip:______Put me on RISAA e-mail list: Home Phone: ______Cell Phone: ______E-mail:______ yes no thanks

Occupation: ______Employed At: ______You can register them as Junior Members (free) Children (up to 17 yrs):______ no thanks yes (complete below) INFORMATION Prefer to fish from ( check all that apply): Rocks & Piers Charter Boats Party Boats Fly Fishing Surfcasting Other ______ Own Boat: Length:___ ft Maker/Type:______Boat Name:______Docked at:______How did you hear about RISAA? Friend Tackle Shop Facebook News article RISAA Newsletter Fishing Show Web site Saw Advertisement at - Internet Magazine Newspaper TV

CHECK TYPE TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP Regular Adult: $50/year (additional members, immediate family, same household: 2nd = $45, 3rd = $40) Multiple Years (save $5/year): ___$90 (2 yrs), ___ $135 (3 yrs), ___ $180 (4 yrs) Senior (Age 65+): $25/year - requires date of birth: ______/ / Life Member: $500 (one time, single payment) Student (college/trade school): $25/year (max 6 yrs) -requires copy of current student ID card Junior Member: Free (Up to 17 years. Requires parent membership or a RISAA sponsor) Junior's Name: (print)______Age:_____ Date of Birth: ______/ / Junior's Name: (print)______Age:_____ Date of Birth: ______/ / RISAA Sponsor (if parent not a member): ______Relationship: ______Payment must accompany application. Enclosed is my check for $______(payable to R.I.S.A.A.) Charge to my credit card: (check) AmEx* Discover MasterCard Visa Amount Authorized: $______Exp. date (mo/yr): ______CVV # ______(3-digit number on back of card) *AmEx is 4 nos on front Name on card (print): ______Card Number: ______

Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month at the West Warwick Elks in West Warwick, RI at 7:00 pm. (attendance not required). Membership benefits include monthly seminars • fishing tournaments • Mail to: R.I.S.A.A. monthly newsletter • discounts at tackle shops and marine dealers • social events • college scholarships • P.O. Box 1465 DVD library • adds your voice to fisheries management and conservation issues. Coventry, RI 02816 - 47 - R.I.S.A.A. / December, 2017 P.O. Box 1465 DECEMBER, 2017 Nonprofit Organization Coventry, RI 02816 U.S. Postage Paid Coventry, RI CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Permit No. 247

The Voice of Southern New England Fishermen