NO FLUKE

New recreational fishing data on the way

Captain Dave Monti
Posted 6/4/14

Michael Bucko, owner of Bucko's Bait & Tackle, Fall River, MA is a member of the Recreational Technical Committee of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistical Program (ACCSP). This committee is …

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NO FLUKE

New recreational fishing data on the way

Posted

Michael Bucko, owner of Bucko's Bait & Tackle, Fall River, MA is a member of the Recreational Technical Committee of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistical Program (ACCSP). This committee is redefining how recreational angler catch and effort data is collected and analyzed to provide fish managers with better data so they can manage more effectively.

Bucko hopes that new recreational fishing data collection models will provide information that "fishermen can believe, scientists can trust and fishery managers can use." The Federal registry of coastal anglers was put in place to identify saltwater fishermen. Now, researchers can survey anglers providing more accurate effort data. State licenses and registries fulfill the Federal requirement to have all anglers registered.

In the past, to collect recreational fishing effort data, surveys were conducted by telephone using random digit dialing, often calling individuals that did not fish at all, and often missing those that had cell phones, leading to high survey costs and data that was not representative of the fishing effort occurring.

Last month the National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a progress report on its Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) relating a likely shift from random digital dialing to a new, mail-based effort survey in 2015. The survey will use registry or licensee data combined with US postal address data. In the April MRIP newsletter NOAA said they found that in a "side-by-side comparison, mail surveys achieve a higher response rate than telephone surveys. The study also demonstrated that the higher response rate can be achieved without compromising data timeliness. "

Bucko said, "Once states start doing the catch intercept surveys (this is a planned data collection enhancement as well) things will start to get interesting… what I mean is that an enhanced intercept catch survey combined with an enhanced mail effort will give us what we have been after for the past few years… better recreational data for fish managers."

"I am very excited, however, things have moved at turtle speed. The aim will be to survey 5% of a State's registry or license holders." said Bucko.

Michael Bucko also serves on several RI Marine Fisheries Council species advisory panels and is an active member of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association's legislative committee.

6th Annual Uncle Jimmy Fain Tournament

big success

Mike 'Boz' took the 6th Annual Jimmy Fain Charity Fishing Tournament (formerly Harbourside Lobstermanina, now Finn's Harbourside) with a 28 pound 2 once striped bass. Tournament organizer Ryan Hogan said, "The proceeds which will be about $5,000 this year will be donated to local charities. About 90 anglers registered for the three day tournament that ended June 1 with an awards ceremony after the weigh in." The top bluefish was 10 pounds 2 ounces caught by Amanda from the Harbourside staff and the second place bluefish was taken by Zack Either said Hogan.

Nine year old takes 21st Annual Striper Marina Tournament

Colby Bellevue (nine years old) took the top prize for the largest fish this weekend at the 21st Annual Striped Bass Tournament held by Striper Marina, Barrington, RI. The "Catching Fish to Help Children" tournament which ended June 1st donates all proceeds to the RI Kiddie Shelters for Abused and Abandoned Children. "Colby's striped bass weighed in at 25 pounds, 10 ounces and was 38 ½ inches. We had a total of 120 people enter and 31 fish weighed in for the three day tournament. " said Al Elson, tournament organizer and owner of Striper Marina. .

Where's the bite

"Fresh water fishing has slowed a bit." said John Wunner of John's Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown. "But we still have customers fishing for trout in stocked ponds.", said Wunner. Visit www.dem.ri.gov for a listing of stocked ponds in RI). Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren, RI said, "Worms and shiners are being sold to fresh water anglers, and many of them are families going out for the first time."

The bluefish bite has been strong, no large schools on the surface, but patricianly strong for fishermen when targeting bass. John Wunner of John's Bait said "Some anglers are catching large bluefish; a customer reported an 18 pound bluefish caught off the Dunes Club, Narragansett using a plug." The RI state record is 26 pounds. Angler Mike Swain of Coventry said Sunday, "I was catching quite a few bluefish when fishing for bass with menhaden chucks." Angler Joe Daniels of Warwick said he continues to catch three bluefish to every bass in the East passage north of Conimicut Light."

Summer flounder (fluke) fishing is spotty in upper and mid Bay but anglers fishing in the lower Bay and offshore producing fish. Roger Simpson of the Francis Fleet said, "(The) majority of anglers who fished this past week on the full day trips were able to box at least three to five nice keepers apiece. A lot of quality fish in the three to five pound range with a few days seeing that size fish as the average keeper." Reports of fishing off Block Island and along southern coastal shores are good. Capt. Rick Bellavance of Priority Too Charters, Pt. Judith, said, "Bass fishing was slow around the Block Island last week, however, we have done well with fluke around Island shores." Fluke reports were spotty from those fishing the mouth of the Sakonnet River and around Elbow Ledge this weekend.

"Squid fishing has picked up once again in Newport this week." said Dave Henault of Ocean State tackle. John Wunner of John's bait said, "Customers have seen small squid as far up as Greenwich Bay. Almost seems like the big squid came in and now we have a lot of baby squid around. Fish being taken on test trawls by URI out of Wickford are seeing quite a bit of squid in the fish they catch."

Striped bass fishing continues to explode in the Bay. "Fish in the mid 30's to 44 inch range are being taken all the way up the Seekonk River to School Street in Pawtucket. Most are being taken on live or chucked menhaden." said Dave Henault of Ocean State tackle. Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait said, "Menhaden is the bait of choice as there is plenty of it around. It has been a very good week for striped bass fishing." I continued to have luck in the East passage this week off Poppasquash Point, Bristol landing bass to 38" bass with menhaden chucks." John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle, East Providence said, "There were 32 boats in the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse are off East Providence this weekend, all fishing for bass with menhaden. It was a great week for fishing. Many anglers are getting their pogies early before there is a lot of boat traffic." Anglers are also catching bass trolling umbrella rigs, tube and worm, using clam tongues and they continue to catch them using plugs and lures from shore.

Squeteague. Patti Ferrara of Ray's Bait & Tackle, Warwick, said, "Capt. Steven Anderson of Bare Bones Charters cauth a nice squeteague off Warwick Light when fishing with menhaden chucks for striped bass."

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.

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