6 Arnold Road, Coventry, RI 02816 www.RISAA.org 401-826-2121 MAY, 2010 Representing Over 6,500 Recreational Anglers Menhaden regulations strengthened in Rhode Island Approved new rules intended to insure enough menhaden remain in the bay for the environment and recreational fishermen everal new regulations have been added striped bass fishing was tremendous, and it S this year to previous restrictions on usually continued into July when warming commercial menhaden seiners. While a healthy temperatures force the fish to migrate out of the menhaden stock should support everyone's Bay to cooler waters. needs (commercials, recreationals and Menhaden also play an important part in teh environment), the new rules which are now in Narragansett Bay ecosystem. They are place, will make sure that enough remain to prevent overfishing omnivorous filter feeders, straining plankton and plant detritus in Rhode Island waters. from water as they travel in large, slow moving, and tightly packed Atlantic menhaden are important to the recreational fishery schools because these fish are a prime food source for a number of with open species including striped bass and bluefish. mouths. In past An adult years, fish can whenever filter up to a large a million amount of gallons of menhaden water A tender brings in it's purse seine filled with migrate every 180 thousands of menhaden into Narra- days. The water boils when stripers or bluefish feed gansett Menhaden are also a valuable commercial fish used locally on a school of menhaden in the bay. Bay, the as lobster bait. (to page 29) Everything you need to know about the saltwater fishing license requirements The R.I. Saltwater Anglers office receives calls and emails every "what if" questions, a special page has been created on the RISAA day asking questions about the new Rhode Island recreational web site. Most of that same information is here in this issue to saltwater fishing license and how it relates to the federal angler help RISAA members understand the regulations and how it aplies registry requirements. In order to try to answer all of those to you. Go to page 37. R.I.S.A.A. / May, 2010 We really need Spring THE WINTER HAS NOT BEEN KIND & Fishing Foundation and the "Take Me Fishing" program. We made it through another winter, but it was harsher than most The ASA puts out a monthly email newsletter that the RISAA - not because of the ice and snow, but because of the economy. I Board receives. It has much useful information on national know that many of our members are news that can effect sportfishing, economic impacts, etc. unemployed. That's hard to live The Board has decided that this newsletter should be shared with, yet most of you have kept your with all of our members, so starting in May, the ASA newsletter memberships going. Thanks. Then will be forwarded to the RISAA email group so that members the record rainfall in April and who are interested can read it. Any member who is not interested resulting floods brought damage to simply can delete it. our homes and businesses. This became an additional hardship to CONGRATULATIONS TO EBA OFFICERS many, something we surely didn't The East Bay Anglers, one of our affiliated clubs, has recently need. elected a new slate of officers. The basement of my own Elected to lead the club as President is Mike Gillis of I look rediculous in the business had water that reached Riverside, RI. basement with waders dur- nearly 4 feet high. The Coventry First Vice President is Matthew Newell, and ing the rain storm. At this Fire Department provided a high- Will Barbeau continues as Treasurer for point the water was up to power gas pump to help get the another term. my knees, and this was AF- water out. I had to dig out my old Jack Peacock (also a RISAA member) is TER the fire department surf waders to get in there, yet I the Auditor. had used a big pump for know that many of you had things Kevin Bettencourt is three hours to get the wa- much worse. Fishing Committee ter down to this level. It Mike Gillis We ALL need a break! Chairman and Oscar Stone wasn't funny at the time Hopefully, by the time you read this is the Raffle Chairman. though. in mid-May, the days will be warm, At-Large board members are Dave August the pogies have arrived and the Bay is filled with stripers. and Ben Cruz. Jack Peacock The East Bay Anglers have been in KID'S FISHING DAY existence for 38 years. Congratulations! Did you sign up for the Kid's Fishing Day yet? I remember last year that we had 65 boats participating, yet we still needed more space to get all the kids who showed up out onto the water. We're worried that the economy will keep some boaters from taking part. IMPORTANT DATES There's a personal expense involved for those who bring in their Additional information on these events can be found on boats. The cost of fuel isn't cheap, but still, if you consider the the RISAA web site at www.risaa.org/events.html personal reward involved, it's worth the price. R May 10 RISAA Education & Entertainment Committees Keep in mind that since this event is primarily sponsored by the Joint Meeting for Kid's Fishing Day - 6:30 PM R.I. Saltwater Anglers Foundation, members who participate with R May 11 RISAA Fly Fishing Committee - 6:30 PM their boats can take a tax deduction for the fuel they use to take kids R May 13 RISAA Scholarship Committee - 6:30 PM out fishing. That will help you recoup some cost next spring on R May 15 RISAA Kayak Committee Fishing Event Grassy Pt, Ninigret. Fishing the worm hatch. your tax return. OK? Now sign up! R May 18 RISAA Board of Directors - 6:30 PM R May 22 RISAA Kayak Committee Spring Outing -Goddard Pk AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION NEWS R May 24 RISAA Monthly Seminar: Fluke Night (page 12) RISAA has been a full member of the American Sportfishing R May 25 RISAA Sponsored Safe Boating Course (5/25-5/27) Association (ASA) for a number of years. The ASA provides a R June 4 RISAA Kayak Committee Outing - Colt State Park unified voice in Washington for the sportfishing industry. It invests R June 8 RISAA Fly Fishing Committee - 6:30 PM in long-term ventures to insure sportfish remains strong and R June 14 RISAA trip to Fenway Park prosperous. R June 19 RISAA's 13th Annual TAKE-A-KID FISHING DAY Programs of the ASA are themed upon "Keep America Fishing" R June 24 RISAA Block Island Night Striper Trp R June 28 RISAA Monthly Seminar & Quarterly Meeing through their FishAmerica Foundation, The Recreational Boating Armand Tetreault: Cod fishing - 2 - R.I.S.A.A. / May, 2010 The purpose of the Membership Committee is to contact new The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association is a member members, welcome them to the Association and answer any organization of the International Game Fish Association questions they may have about RISAA and its activities. Welcome to the new members who Did you know?* joined last month • There are more than 3,400 vessels less than 24 meters authorized to fish for species governed by The International Commission Richard Angelini Gary Johnson for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Woonsocket, RI Warwick, RI • Bluefin tuna Russell Cameron Dinarte Marques farming capacity in Warwick, RI Pawtucket, RI the Mediterranean Sea is approx- Michael Cardinal David Morton imately 56,000 tons annually. This is Westerly, RI North Kinstown, RI approximately 150% of the total Alan Clay Melissa Ogle allowable catch Charlestown, RI Riverside, RI agreed by ICCAT at its 2007 meeting. Lorraine Danti John Pacheco Warren, RI Bristol, RI Tuna farming Thomas Danti Andrew Selchan • Salmon carcasses, as well as eggs, Warren, RI Mansfield, MA embryos, alevins, and fry, provide vital nutrients to northwest streams Alan Desbonnet Antone Silva, Jr. and lake ecosystems. Carcasses Pawcatuck, CT Portsmouth, RI have been shown to enhance salmon growth and survival by John Gadzik Emma Simas contributing significant amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous Wakefield, RI Bristol, RI compounds to streams. Additionally, aquatic and riparian David Gordon Nathan Simas plants uptake nutrients from salmon East Greenwich, RI Bristol, RI A decaying salmon carcas carcasses. provides nutrients to the Paul Gustafson Chris Spiecker aquatic and terrestrial • Fisheries have removed at least 50 Seekonk, MA Ashland, MA ecosystem. NOAA photo. million tons of tuna and other top predators from the Pacific Ocean Brandon Johnson Adam Stanley since 1950. Warwick, RI Smithfield, RI • The current total biomass of tuna larger than 175 cm (71” FL) is 17% of the biomass expected in the absence of fishing. *Published in the IGFA International Angler Captain Al Anderson Bring a friend! IGFA Representative/RI • IGFA Certified Captain RISAA members can bring a guest to Sportfishing aboard the PROWLER the monthly seminars, at no charge, Fast 42 foot Custom NC Express during 2010. [email protected] 401-783-8487 www.ProwlerChartersRI.com Member - 3 - R.I.S.A.A. / May, 2010 Dozens of RISAA members to win charter trips in 2010 Several more trips to be won at May meeting! his will be a lucky meeting for 18 RISAA members ensure that you show up as there are five trips to be given away as follows: for the trip. If you go on T the trip, we won’t use your deposit. Check the Capt.