The Future of Recreational Fishing
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P.O. Box 1465, Coventry, RI 02816 www.RISAA.org 401-826-2121 MAY, 2013 The Voice of Southern New England Fishermen Many issues identified 2013 Southern New England Recreational Fishing Symposium: The Future of Recreational Fishing he first-ever fishing While an agenda had been Tsymposium solely set for the daylong meeting dedicated to recreational with issues such as economics, fishing in Southern New public access and fisheries England was held on April 2, management problems, many 2013 at the Radisson Hotel in more issues were brought Warwick, RI. The event forward by participants brought together an showing the need for impressive list of federal, government agencies and regional and state fisheries recreational anglers to work managers, economists, marine more closely together in the biologists, marine con- future to set goals and find servation experts and solutions to problems that recreational fishing leaders would assure recreational from Massachusetts and fishing for future generations. Rhode Island. (full story on page 13) Rhode Island Recreational Fishing Regulations are set The process of setting recreational fishing regulations each year is not easy because the it all depends of stock assessments and catch data handed down by federal managers during the winter. Once that happens, then the individual states have to find ways to live within those mandates in the best way for its citizens. After a lengthy process of input from Advisory Panels, the Marine Fisheries Council and a public hearing, the Director of DEM, who has final authority, will implement the changes. This year we will see an increase in summer flounder and scup, a reduction in the black sea bass, and other species will remain the same. The full, up-to-date regulations are posted on page 50. R.I.S.A.A. / May, 2013 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 issues that affect recreational anglers. An informed membership encourages involvement and advocacy. The Legislative Committee will strive to advocate responsible fishery decision. The Chairman of the Committee is George Allen and Vice Chairman is Rich Hittinger. Membership 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. An assessment of the historic decline of winter flounder in Narragansett Bay Part 1 of a 2-part article hode Island DEM’s Division of Marine Fisheries is Rembarked on a major winter flounder study to determine: Winter Flounder Stock Structure 1. The principle causes of the decline of winter flounder in Winter flounder that spawn in Narragansett Bay are a distinct the Bay sub stock of fish. They are “Rhode Island” fish, just like tautog. 2. The location of the major winter flounder spawning areas In the late fall, they move into Narragansett Bay from offshore, in the Bay spawn in predictable areas of the upper Bay in the late winter, 3. The feasibility of establishing fishing sanctuaries in the and then the adults move spawning areas, and offshore in the spring, generally 4. Whether winter flounder can be grown in an aquaculture in an easterly direction towards environment and subsequently released into the Bay. Vineyard Sound and Nantucket. Mark Gibson, Deputy Chief of Fish Tagging studies of fish on & Wildlife and a Senior Marine their spawning grounds have Biologist, is leading this study. He, conclusively shown that the vast along with staff support, has recently majority of tagged fish completed the first goal, determining the subsequently return to their principle causes of the decline of winter home spawning areas. Further, Juvenile winter flounder flounder in Narragansett Bay. This and very importantly, juvenile excellent study, some 68 pages in flounder remain in their natal spawning areas for up to two length, is a thoroughly researched and years. Mark Gibson definitive analysis of the key factors that As Mark points out, concentrated fishing or habitat loss have led to the decline of this fishery. It was presented to the can lead to the loss of critical elements of the population R.I. Marine Fisheries Council last month. structure and, “it may be a means to advance understanding of This article is a brief summation of Mark’s study, which I regulatory processes.” (In other words, establish spawning hope will enable all to better understand what has happened area sanctuaries.) with flounder in the past, and what the future looks like for a recovery. (to page 39) - 2 - R.I.S.A.A. / May, 2013 Climate Change Is it real? May 1 • 6:00 PM The Recreational Fishing Symposium catch was a topic at the tackle shop and ASMFC Public Hearing on that we sponsored last month brought a the local paper might even publish a American Eel Draft Addendum III lot of people and ideas together, all photo. But this has changed in recent Corless Auditorium, URI Bay Campus dedicated to recreational fishing. While a years, and that southern fish is not an lot of topics were touched on, the oddity anymore. Just the opposite is true. May 14 • 6:30 PM discussion on climate change really Over the past few years, catching RISAA Board of Directors interested me. triggerfish in late-August and September Global warming and climate change has is no longer a surprise. May 15 • Time TBA been discussed on worldwide scale for During his presentation at the Kayak Committee Fishing Event years, so much so that most of us are Symposium, Mark Gibson noted that there at Potter Pond, N. Kingstown immune to the hype. But the discussion has been a shift in the fish populations in at the symposium was about how climate Rhode Island waters. He said that marine May 20 • 7:00 PM change seems to be effecting fishing in catches have switched from cooler water RISAA Monthly Seminar our own local fish (cod, winter waters. flounder) to June 7-9 • Spring Surf Fishing Over the past warmer water Club Challenge 20 years we have species (scup, watched the black sea bass). June 8 • 5th Annual RISAA decline of winter One species Trip to Fenway Park flounder in local he pointed out waters. We blamed has been the June 8 • 10:00 AM the decline on the disappearance of Kayak Committee Annual Meet & Brayton Point cunner Greet at Goddard Park boat ramp. Power Plant, (choggies). Over Nonmembers welcome mercury in the the years, we water, and more, Triggerfish caught by Lucas Salem (above) used to always June 12 • 8:00 AM and I believe it has and Kyle Paparelli (below) are now almost catch them. They Kayak Committee Fishing Event been a combination commonplace in Rhode Island waters were the bait Fishing Newport harbor for stripers of all of these. But stealers we all perhaps one of hated. But when June 15 • 16th Annual those factors Mark said that, I Take-A-Kid Fishing Day should include realized how true warming bay it was. I haven't June 18 • 6:30 PM waters as well. caught a choggie RISAA Board of Directors Marine in a few years. surveys have He also said June 22 • 10:00 AM shown that that this shift will Kayak Committee Event Narragansett Bay continue in the Colt State Park- Bass/Blues Fishing waters have slowly future. risen over the "There will June 24 • 7:00 PM years. While a 2 still be plenty of RISAA Monthly Seminar degree increase may not seem very fish in the Bay and Rhode Island waters," dramatic to humans, I think it could change he said, "just different kinds." June 29 • 8:00 AM depart the "nursery" that the Bay has provided Kayak Committee Event to newborn winter flounder. Down the road I think we may need Fishing Block Island For as long as I can remember, when another, more concentrated symposium marine waters off the Southern New devoted solely to climate change to learn July 29 • 7:00 PM England coast reach its warmest, there how we, as anglers, and fisheries RISAA Monthly Seminar was always a story of a southern species managers will adapt in the future. of fish being caught by a local angler. The - 3 - R.I.S.A.A. / May, 2013 The purpose of the Membership Committee is to contact new members, welcome them to the Association and answer any questions they may have about RISAA and its activities. ODDS and ENDS Welcome to the new members This month I'll cast out a few ideas for you to hook up on. who joined last month JIGS • Use a felt tip pen to print your jig weights on either side of Robert Antos Chris Parisi your jig heads (.50, .75, 1.0., 1.5, Coventry, RI Bad Fish Outfitters 1.75, 2.0, etc.). In low light North Falmouth, MA conditions it makes it easier to select your jigs. Edward Audet WIND • Wind direction determines which lures I'll carry with me on any given outing. Before going out, I check the Weather Wakefield, RI Len Parker Barrington, RI Channel for the hourly wind direction and wind speed. It takes just a few minutes to remove and to replace your offerings. Use Steve Dreska Niasia Patience heavy artificials into the wind and light artificials with wind Westerly, RI behind you. Narragansett, RI CAST • Make your first cast an easy, gentle cast especially Jonathan Feinstein under low light conditions. Line could be wrapped on a guide Southborourh, MA Stephen Patience and you'll snap off that new $25 plug! Narragansett, RI CASTING • I prefer to surf cast a beach alone because in the James Gray, Jr.