The New England Saltwater Fishing Show is this week at the Rhode Island Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, from 12 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 27, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit over 225 exhibitors, the largest show of its type in New England including tackle, rods, reels, lures, electronics, charter guides, boats, motors, accessories, clothing and much more.

Highlights of the show are noted below, and with the warmer water this winter, fishing is expected to get off to a much faster start in April and May this year.

“Wicked Tuna” at the Fishing Show. Capt. Dave Carraro with mate Sandro Maniaci of the F/V TUNA.COM (top captain/boat on the television show Wicked Tuna) will be at the show. Capt. Dave and his mate, Maniaci, will take the show stage on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and talk about what goes on behind the scenes when filming the “Wicked Tuna” show.

Sunday is family day. All women and children under 12 will be admitted free on Sunday, Feb. 28. A scavenger hunt for children will be held Sunday, as well. As a child enters the show with a parent they are given a Scavenger Hunt search sheet that can net them a variety of prizes.

Over 60 seminars. Seminar topics include inshore and offshore fishing, specie specific seminars on tautog, fluke, striped bass, tuna, bonito as well as tactics for jigging, chucking, chumming, skishing (extreme surfcasting) and more. Seminars and workshops will take place at four different areas inside the RI Convention Center, including a main stage as well as a seminar, workshop and casting lane area.

Ticket discount. Tickets for the show are $10 at the door. A special $1 discount coupon is available online. Visit www.nesaltwatershow.com for additional information and a complete list of seminars, workshops and speakers.

Fly fishing expert

Lombardo to speak at United Fly Tyers of RI

The United Fly Tyers of Rhode Island will host Ed Lombardo, fly fishing expert, as a guest speaker Wednesday, March 2, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 475 Sandy Lane, Warwick. Ed will talk about his fishing trips to Yellowstone National Park, The Spring Creeks of Paradise Valley, Idaho’s Henry’s Fork of The Snake River, The Madison River and the best trout river out west, The Bighorn River. He will also show images of both Rhode Island fresh and saltwater fisheries with field photography he has captured over the years. Email Ed at Edward.Lombardo@dlt.ri.gov with questions.

 Controversial regulation options take center stage

Recreational anglers and commercial fishermen met last week with the Department of Environmental Management’s Marine Fisheries Division at a public hearing to express their thoughts on regulation options for the 2016 fishing season.

A 23-percent black sea bass (BSB) reduction mandated by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the start date of the commercial striped bass season were two meeting highlights that created spirited discussion.

Seven different recreational black sea bass options were discussed but the one option that won the favor of both private anglers and party and charter boat captains was an option suggested by ASMFC Rhode Island representatives after initial conversations with fish mangers in Connecticut and New York. The option, that would be the same for Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York state receiving good support, was a 14” minimum size BSB, with three fish/person/day between July 22 to Aug. 31 and five fish/person/day between Sept. 1 to Dec. 31.

Recreational anglers liked the idea as it spread out the number of fish throughout the season, charter and party boats liked the enhanced catch limit compared to other options on the table (although last year’s fall/winter limit was seven fish). Also, having a consistent regulation between the three states would even the playing field for party and charger boats in the tri-state area. The hope is that Connecticut and New York will agree to the tri-state agreement.

Another meeting highlight was the start date of the commercial striped bass season. Bay commercial fishermen wanted an earlier start to the season as striped bass first migrate into the Bay in May (following Atlantic menhaden that spawn in Rivers in the upper part of the Bay).

Bay fishermen wanted a May 15 season start date to capitalize on early spring stripers. However, those commercial fishermen, who fish in the lower part of the Bay off coastal shores and around Block Island, wanted a later season start of June 8. Striped bass are more prevalent in these waters starting in mid-June and July.

Michael McGivney, president of the RI Shellfisherman’s Associations, said, “Many shellfishermen are commercial striped bass fishermen in the Bay. A later season start creates hardship for them as the fish quickly leave the upper Bay early in the season. As a member of the Rhode Island Seafood Marketing Committee, fish dealers and fish retailers have said they would like to even out the supply of fish (striped bass) over a longer period of time to create market consistency.”

There are many more lower Bay and ocean striped bass commercial fishermen than upper Bay commercial fishermen (certainly at the meeting), so fish managers had and will have a difficult time determining which way to go with the issue. Commercial striped bass fishermen fish against a fixed quote. When it is reached, fishing shuts down. It would be great to reach a compromise date, but quite frankly as many attending the meeting Tuesday said, “This argument has been going on for years.”

All fishing regulation options with comments from the public hearing will go before the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (RIMFC) on March 7 for its review and recommendation. The RIMFC recommendations are then presented to and reviewed by Janet Coit, DEM director, for decisions on final 2016 fishing season regulations.

Where’s the bite

Not much fishing occurred last week, but as weather warmed this week, boats were getting out some of the time. Party boats sailing for cod fish at this time include the Frances Fleet at www.francesfleet.com, the Seven B’s (with Capt. Andy Dangelo at the helm) at www.sevenbs.com, and the Island Current at www.islandcurrent.com.

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Visit Captain Dave’s No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him with your fishing news and photos at dmontifish@verizon.net.