Don't you love it when a plan comes together? It did last Thursday night at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography as commercial fishermen met at a Department of Environmental Management (DEM) workshop and public hearing to discuss summer flounder (fluke), scup, black sea bass and monk fish regulations for 2015.

In the past fishermen and Department of Environmental Management (DEM) staff would meet on separate nights for each species and then have a public hearing. Last Thursday it all got done in one night. The new format, initiated by DEM Director Janet Coit's Lean Initiative for the department, enhanced participation (about 35 fishermen were present) and the information to base input on was fresh.

Fishermen listened to historical fishing activity, fishing stock assessments & status and recommendations for each of the species and then were able to comment, make suggestions and recommendations on how to handle regulations. The workshops were followed by a public hearing which is required by law where comments on the proposed solutions were taken.

Robert Ballou, assistant to director Janet Coit, chaired the public hearing meeting and said, "We are happy at how the meeting went. Participation was good and we finished on time." Jeff Grant, RI Marine Fisheries Council member and chairman of the Shellfish Advisory Panel said, "It went well and moved along, but if we had a contentious issue it might have slowed things down."

Although the meeting went well, there was healthy debate. Most of it focusing on summer flounder. Quotas for the year were slightly enhanced due to NOAA putting a hold on its Research Set Aside program. Quota from the program was shifted or added to State quotas. So even though quotas were higher than last year for summer flounder, there was disagreement on proposed regulations.

Gillnet fishermen who set nets in a stationary place wanted aggregate quotas and not daily quotas. Patrick Duckworth, a gillnet fisherman said, "We go to the net one day and there is nothing in it… the next day we might be lucky and catch a lot of fish… if a daily quota rather than an aggregate quota is in place we end up throwing back fish… so I am not in favor of daily quotas."

Jerry Carvalho of the Rhode Island Fishermen's Alliance, who advocated for daily quotas with no aggregate in summer and fall said, "We are fishing for all residents of the State of Rhode Island, everyone has a right to the fish. Daily quotas will give inshore fishermen the same right to the fish that offshore boats have."

Donald Fox, owner of offshore trawlers, said, "We do not what the rules to change, the exemption certificate and aggregate program in place allows us to harvest fish when we find them… moving to a daily quota with no aggregate will hurt offshore trawlers." The cost of fuel to operate larger boats offshore alone would make it impractical for the trawlers to fish if rules were to change as they would not be able to catch enough fish on a trip.

This is what a workshop and public hearing is supported to be about. People express their point of view. You have multiple user groups all vying for the same resource. After listening to input from fishermen, DEM staff members make a recommendation on how specie regulations should be in 2015, the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council votes on regulation recommendations, and then all the information… the public comments, DEM staff recommendations and RIMFC recommendations go to Director Coit for a final decision and regulation implementation.

I do love when a plan comes together. The combined workshops and public hearing approach worked. Congratulations to Janet Coit and her staff for improving upon a government regulation process. It will save tax payers and fishermen thousands of dollars and hours of time while enhancing the process for fishermen.

Striped bass issue

still hot

We need to hold strong on October's Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) new regulation on striped bass. The new rule is one fish at 28" (rather than two fish). The idea is to leave more of large egg- bearing females in the water so stocks can rebuild and grow to abundance providing greater access to the fishery for all.

The state of New Jersey originally opposed the one fish rule and is now trying to change it back to two fish under the environmental equivalency provision. This is not right. We have a one fish rule now and it should stay that way.

At their November meeting the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association's (RISAA) legislative committee voted to ask RISAA's board to send a letter to the ASMFC and RI representative on the commission to hold fast to the one fish at 28" rule and insist that any "environmental equivalency" be at the one 28" fish reduction level of 31% and not at the 25% level that was proposed when other options were presented to fishermen.

Where's the bite?

Cod and tautog fishing remain strong. Charter and party boats are still fishing. Visit www.rifishing.com to select one that suits your needs. This is the RI Party & Charter Boat Association website with over 60 boats listed along with links to their websites, rates and information. Roger Simpson of the Frances Fleet said, "Last Sunday was the best day of the fall season (for cod) so far…by far the most keepers per angler… Biggest fish was a solid 20 lbs and there were a few others in the teens and some more just around the ten pound mark. All nice green fish to boot!" Capt. Charlie Donilon of Snappa Charters said, "When we finally got out this weekend, the fish were there for the taking. Even with 30 mph winds, Saturday's group took 36 keeper blackfish with over 40 throwbacks. Two keeper cod were also in the mix while fishing close to Pt. Judith. On Sunday, the wind speed was a bit less than Saturday, (only 25 mph) allowing us to travel to Clayhead Block Island. The numbers were basically the same with 34 keeper blackfish and again two keeper cod. The largest blackfish on both trips was around 6 or 7 lbs." Call Capt. Donilon at 401-487-9044 for information or to make a reservation.

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

verizon.net or visit his website at www.noflukefishing.com.