Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association Begins Large Scale Fish Tagging Program Members Encouraged to Catch and Release, Especially Striped Bass
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www.RISAA.org MAY, 2015 • Issue 197 401-826-2121 Representing Over 7,500 Recreational Anglers Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association begins large scale fish tagging program Members encouraged to catch and release, especially striped bass Unlike other animals, fish spend almost their entire lives out Littoral Society (ALS) to purchase hundreds of tagging kits of the sight of researchers trying to learn about them. When fish which will be distributed to members who want to take part in are tagged, the current data (size, the tagging program. weight, location) are recorded. Members would receive Then if that fish is caught again, instructions on the proper way to the tag identification number will tag AND safely release fish. All let marine scientists know it's information would be recorded, migration pattern and growth rate. shared with ALS and eventually Thanks to funding from the shared with the National Marine Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Fisheries Laboratory at Woods Foundation, RISAA has formed a Hole, MA. new Tag & Release Committee, See page 12 for more and arranged with the American information. After 200 Years River Herring to Return to Ten Mile River Many recreational anglers, environmentalist, and especially members of the Ten Mile River Watershed Council (TMRWC) anxiously waiting for the day. On Wednesday, April 15 the final coffer dam was removed which would allow river herring to use the new fish ladder. Keith Gonsalves, TMRWC past-President and river herring advocate, contacted RISAA with the news that the new fish passage will allow river herring to enter the Ten Mile River from the Seekonk River & Narragansett Bay for the first time in over 200 years. "As the last sheets (cofferdam) were removed herring were already entering the fish ladder and moving upstream," said Gonsalves. The Paul Bettencourt Fish Ladder is named after one of the most tireless river herring advocates in Rhode Island history. (to page 8) R.I.S.A.A. / May, 2015 TEN RULES TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE April 6 • 6:00 PM RI Marine Fisheries Council Meeting INVITED BACK OUT ON YOUR FRIEND'S BOAT It was a great day on the water. The infraction alone could keep you from ever May 9 • 5:00 PM seas were calm, the winds light, and you getting invited back again. But, it's Kayak Committee fishing at Ninigret Pond landed a nice bass. The best part of the outdoors, you think. Wrong! Bill's boat is day was that you got to fish on your new his castle. Respect it and never assume he May 11 • 6:00 PM friend's boat. When you all got back to the doesn't care if you smoke. on to RI Marine Fisheries Council Meeting dock, you said thanks, "call me anytime" and headed for home, tired but happy. Incident #5. As it usually happens, during May 13 • 5:00 PM That great fishing day was nearly a year your drift you got hung up, and lost your Kayak Committee fishing the worm ago, and you wonder why your friend never rigs. Darned! You only had two rigs and hatch Potter Pond invited you back out on his boat. Let's go now you lost them both. Can I borrow over that day and see what happened. something, you ask? No problem, Bill says. May 16 • 7:00 PM RISAA Party Boat Squid Fishing Trip #1 Just then a pod of bluefish erupt on the Incident #1. Your friend (let's call him Bill) surface, but you didn't bring any plugs to May 16 • 6:00 PM said he was planning to leave the dock at cast. Can I borrow one, you ask? But you Kayak Committee fishing in upper bay, 5:00 a.m., but you arrived at 5:20. "Sorry," tied it on too quickly and as you whip the Cranston you said, "but I was running late." For pole to get that plug out to the school, the that twenty minutes, Bill has been sitting knot breaks and you watch the plug sail May 18 • 7:00 PM at the dock, engines running, wasting time, away. Darn! You quickly tie on another, RISAA Monthly Seminar waiting for you. but as you hasten to cast, the line is RULE #1 - ARRIVE ON TIME. Better wrapped around the rod tip and "snap!" May 20 • 5:00 PM Fly Fishing Committee, fishing at Potter Pond yet, always arrive at least 15 minutes early. there goes another plug. RULE #5 - BRING YOUR OWN GEAR May 23 • 7:00 PM RISAA Party Boat Incident #2. Even though you had been and replace the plugs that you lost. Squid Fishing Trip #2 running late you managed to stop by Dunkin Donuts to pick up a coffee for Incident #6. Well, you finally landed that May 23 • 10:00 AM yourself, and as you stumbled from your bluefish, and as you bring your catch Kayak Committee fishing at Mt. Hope car to the boat, you managed to balance aboard, it flopped all over and messed up your tackle box, fishing rod, coffee and the deck. After you released the fish, did June 2 • 5:00 PM lunch. you clean up the mess? Fly Fishing Committee fishing at Goddard Park RULE #2 - OFFER TO BRING COFFEE RULE #6 - KEEP THE BOAT CLEAN. FOR EVERYONE. When confirming the Keep a wet rag handy and constantly wipe June 5-14 RISAA Spring Striped Bass time with Bill, you should have asked how down the fishing area. It will show Bill that Catch & Release Tournament he likes his coffee and ask if anyone else is you respect his boat. going. Then say, "I'll bring the coffee." June 6 • 10:00 AM Incident #7 & #8. It's time for lunch, so Kayak Committee Annual Meet & Greet Incident #3 & #4. Once you arrived at the you open the bag you brought along and fishing area, you got your tackle ready, pull out a sandwich and beer. You think June 20 • RISAA’s 18th Annual baited up, lit your cigarette and sat back to how you're glad you remembered to bring Take-A-Kid Fishing Day relax, waiting for the fish to bite. Ah...what food for yourself. a life! But, where did that bait come from? RULE #7 - OFFER TO BRING A Bill bought it! SANDWICH FOR THE CAPTAIN The Official Newsletter of the RULE #3 - BRING THE BAIT. At the same Rhode Island time you are asking Bill what kind of coffee RULE #8 - NEVER BRING BOOZE Saltwater Anglers Association he prefers, you should also say that you WITHOUT PERMISSION Published Monthly will provide the bait and ask what to bring. When you called Bill the night before and Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers This also leads to Rule #4. asked about bringing bait and a coffee for Association, Inc. RULE #4 - NEVER, NEVER, NEVER him, you should also offer to bring him a P.O. Box 1465 SMOKE ON A BOAT WITHOUT THE sandwich for lunch. He'll probably say “no Coventry, RI 02816 CAPTAIN'S PERMISSION. This one thanks,” but offer anyway. (to page 10) - 2 - R.I.S.A.A. / April, 2015 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. Forage Fish top agenda item at press time “Do you want more bait in the ocean for big fish like striped resource to abundance so recreational fishing can continue to bass, bluefish and tuna? How about more food for whales and thrive in a highly sustainable way and continue to serve as a seabirds? We need to protect our forage fish so they can fulfill primary economic engine of growth. their important role.” said Save the Sound a Connecticut based conservation group dedicated to protecting Long Island Sound Atlantic menhaden and the rivers and waterways that flow into the Sound. RISAA and anglers also geared up for the Atlantic Menhaden Management Board meeting at the beginning of May Atlantic herring of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). In an email campaign last month Save the Sound was rallying The Council regulates Atlantic menhaden, striped bass, summer support for Amendment 8 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery flounder and a variety of other species in our region. Management Plan of the New England Fishery Management A 20% reduction in Council (NEFMC) setting new fishery parameters that would harvest of Atlantic allow the species to flourish as a forage fish. The NEFMC menhaden was put in place manages Atlantic herring, cod and a host of other species in in 2012. At that time there our region. were diverse opinions and Steve Medeiros, president of the Rhode Island Saltwater proposals on the issue… Atlantic menhaden Anglers Association (RISAA), said that Amendment 8 was “A industry processors of well thought out amendment that could Atlantic menhaden (primarily Omega Protein that lands 80% of be an important step for the Council all Atlantic menhaden) were advocating for a 10% reduction toward a more ecosystem-based and on the other extreme some environmental groups were approach to managing our fisheries. The advocating for a 50% reduction. The Commission ultimately inclusion of forage fish’s role as bait for approved a 20% reduction.