Anglers can net big prizes at tournaments

Win a new 2009 Chevy Silverado 4 x 4… how about a 24’ Eastern center console sport fishing boat with a 135 HP Honda outboard. Or over $300,000 in cash prizes… vacations and more. If these sound like prizes awarded by a TV game show they are not… they are prizes awarded to anglers fishing some of Rhode Island and Massachusetts hottest fishing tournaments.

When visiting Martha’s Vineyard last week I could not help but notice all the excitement about the 64th Annual Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. When strolling the docks at night I noticed three local anglers netting butterfish from the dock and I couldn’t resist striking up a conversation about fishing. When I asked if they were catching bait for fishing they almost seemed insulted… yes they were catching bait for fishing, but fishing in the annual Derby. One proclaimed, “See that pickup truck over there, you can win one just like it by fishing”. Starting this week and running through October 17 over 3,000 anglers will be fishing in the annual Derby for striped bass, bluefish, bonito, and false albacore. Organizers claim it is one of the oldest continuous running fishing tournaments in America. It first started in 1946 after World War II by the ferry company to stimulate tourism in the shoulder season. The Derby has a boat, shore fly rod, junior and senior division with cash and gear prizes daily, weekly and for the entire tournament.

This Martha’s Vineyard Derby got me wondering about fall fishing tournaments… when, where and what type are being held. Here’s a list of ten I came up with after doing a little searching.

1. Martha’s Vineyard Derby; Sept. 13- Oct. 17; bluefish, striped bass, bonito, false albacore; www.mvderby.com.

2. Hyannis Anglers Club Bluewater Tournament; Sept. 17-20; 508.771.0848.

3. Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament; Sept. 18, 19 and 20th; striped bass, bluefish, fluke Atlantic bonito, false albacore; 401.466.5392.

4. RI SAA member Fall Bluefish/Striper Catch & Release Tournament; Sept. 18-20; call RISAA at 401.826.2121.

5. Jeppesen Marine Cape Cod Striper Showdown(Osterville, MA); Sept. 19; striped bass www.ostervilleanglersclub.com.

6. Hyannis Fishing Club BlueFin Tuna Tournament; Sept. 24 – 27; giant BlueFin; 508.771.0848.

7. RISAA member Black Sea Bass Tournament; Sept. 25-Oct.4; black sea bass; 401.826.2121.

8. White Chinner Challenge Tautog Tourney (Sung Harbor Marina); Oct. 17 – Nov.29; tautog; 401.783.7766 or e-mail www.fishsnugharbor@hotmail.com.

9. West Bay Anglers Striped Bass & Bluefish Tournament; Oct. 10-18th; striped bass and bluefish; call Jeff Sr. at 401.258.8524.

10. West Bay Anglers Tautog Tournament; Nov. 7 -15; tautog; call Jeff Sr. at 401.258.8524.

Rhode Island Records

If you believe you’ve caught a new Rhode Island State Record, bring it to an official weigh-in station (visit www.dem.ri.gov for listing or call 401.789.0281) to be weighed and measured using a digital scale. Select RI State saltwater records.

Sea Bass, 8 lbs., 7.25 oz., 26”

Striped bass, 76 lbs., 14 oz., 54.75”

Bluefish, 26 lbs., 39”

Bonito, 13 lbs.

Summer flounder (fluke), 17lbs., 8 oz.

Tautog, 21 lbs., 4 oz.

Where’s the bite

Striped bass fishing is still good at Block Island and seems to be improving in the Bay. Angler Mike Shepard of Newport reports taking a 12 lbs bass and a number of school bass in the surf at Newport. Mike related that all the action was in a 15 minute flurry just before sunrise. He used sluggos and jumping minnows. Robb Roach of Kettlebottom Outfitters said decent numbers of big bass being taken on the rock piles south of Newport. He is getting a 50/50 mix of bass to bluefish. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle (Bristol/Coventry/Providence) reported kayak anglers taking striped bass in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers. He added that blues and bass were also being taken on fresh brined pogies, mackerel and clam tongues. Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle (Warwick) said that the striped bass bite has slowed but is still on at Block Island.

Scup bite is good in many places. Reports of fish being taken at Ohio Ledge, at the Town dock in Bristol Harbor and at Colt State Park using sea worms and clam bellies. Craig Mancini of Continental Bait & Tackle in Cranston said that customers were filling daily scup quotas before the season closes on the 25th. The Newport and Jamestown bridges, Beavertail, Conimicut Point and Warwick light have been good.

Blue fish are showing up and being taken with top water lures in Wickford Harbor and at Sally Rock in Greenwich Bay reports Dave Henault. Also fish being taken in the East Bay and off Newport. Blue fish mixed in with bass at Block Island and off Newport.

Fluke bite seems to have slowed quite a bit. With the bad weather, few reports of fish being taken last week. Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle related a customer caught one keeper and a couple of shorts off the Jamestown Bridge. He still things there are some keeper fluke at Warwick Neck but has not fished it in the past few days.

Offshore anglers have been catching false albacore and bonito as well as yellow and blue fin tuna. Robb Roach reports some good football size false albacore on Nantucket that he and his party enjoyed fighting on 12 lb test line. David, Eric and Felix Appolonia caught their second Wahoo last week about 30 miles off shore near The Dump.

Freshwater fishing is fair. Change in temperature and recent rain slowed fishing. Bass fishing at Stump Pond had been fair and pike fishing should pick up as water temperatures fall. Dave Henault reports customers finding a good bass bite in Kent and South County using shiners and anglers are starting to catch trout as the water cools. Largemouth being caught in all local ponds with shiners, night crawlers, spinner baits, top water Rebels and Jitterbugs reports Craig Mancini of Continental Bait & Tackle.

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. Your fishing stories, comments and questions are welcome… there’s more than one way to catch a fish so e-mail Captain Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net.