The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) reviewed and maintained previously established commercial quotas and recreational harvest limits for summer flounder, scup and black sea bass for the 2015 fishing season. So in all likelihood this will translate to limits close to recreational and commercial fishing regulations in Rhode Island for these species in 2015.  However, the bluefish quota has been decreased from 2014 to account for scientific uncertainty regarding the estimated biomass.

Rhode Island will be given their share of new quotas and will develop specie management plan recommendations for Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council consideration and plan approval by Janet Coit, Director of the Department of Environmental Management.  Rhode Island fishing regulations are discussed at advisory panel meetings and public hearings which are both open to the public, considered and approved in winter months. 

Galilee fishing tournament and seafood festival this weekend

The annual Galilee Fishing Tournament and Seafood Festival will be held this Friday, September 5th through Sunday, September 7th in Narragansett, RI.  The seafood festival Saturday and Sunday features over fifty craft and art exhibits, shops, restaurants,  commercial and recreational fishing displays including a kids learn how to fish area dockside. 

The fishing tournament starts Friday night at 5:00 p.m. and ends Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  Adults will fish for bluefish, fluke and striped bass.  The junior division for children 14 and under will fish for bluefish, black sea bass, fluke, scup and striped bass.  Entry fee for adults is $15 and $5 for juniors.  

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) are managing partners of the tournament and seafood festival along with cosponsors the Town of Narragansett and the RI Department of Environmental Management. Funds raised will be donated to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, Special Olympics Rhode Island and the Town of Narragansett Parks & Recreation Financial Aid Program. Visit www.galileetourney.com for more information.

9th Annual Staff Sergeant Potts Fishing Tournament

The 9th Annual Staff Sergeant Potts Fishing Tournament will be held Friday, September 5, 12:00 p.m. to Saturday, September 13, 12:00 p.m.  The tournament includes first, second and third place prizes for striped bass and bluefish with the top five tautog awarded prizes.  The tournament also features a Grand Slam prize…weigh-in one each of three species and the highest combined total weight wins.

The tournament is hosted by the Aquidneck Island Striper Team and includes a free cookout, music and raffles on Saturday, September 13, 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Portuguese American Citizens Club in Portsmouth.

Tournament organizer Capt. Mike Littlefield said, "Staff Sergeant Potts was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery Regiment, Army National Guard, Providence, RI.  SSG Potts died in 2004 in Taji, Iraq while conducting traffic control operations.  He leaves a wife and two sons behind." 

Entry fee is $25, applications available at Riverside Marine, Sam's Bait & Tackle and Lucky Bait & Tackle or visit www.aistriperteam.com for more information.

Non-toxic wristbands claim to keep mosquitoes away for days

Mosquitno Bands, which came on the market this year, are an all-natural, non-toxic wristband made of silicone rubber infused with 100% citronella oil. In an announcement press release Mosquitno Band said each band contains enough citronella to effectively repel bugs for up to 150 hours of exposure (or six days), and each comes in a re-sealable pouch to preserve effectiveness between uses.  Mosquitno Bands are available in eight solid colors, camouflage, tie-dye and glow-in-the-dark in sizes for adults and children.  

Mosquitno Bands retail for about $3.99 and are non-toxic, chemical-free and DEET-free. Used Mosquitno Bands can be mailed back to the company for recycling in return for two new, free Mosquitno Bands (for every 10 returned). Mosquitno Bands are available at retailers nationwide or online at www.mosquitnoband.com.

Public hearing set for September 30

A fisheries public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, 2014, 6:00 p.m. in the University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Corless Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, for the following items: 2015 Sector Management Plans for finfish, shellfish and crustaceans as well as amendments to the Commercial and Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licensing Regulations in conjunction with sector management plans.  For the proposed amendments visit www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pn093014.htm or the Secretary of State website at: http://sos.ri.gov/ProposedRules.

Where's the bite

Striped bass fishing at Block Island has been spotty.  It's either hit or miss.  Last week Alex and Eric Appolonia fished the southeast shore for fluke and then the southwest side and managed to catch three bass on eels.  Other anglers have fished and left with few hook ups.  Greg Bruning of the Tackle Box, Warwick, said "We had some good news about the Bay; two customers fishing for fluke with squid off Conimicut Light in the channel landed three striped bass in the 12 to 22 pound range.  After landing one by surprise they stared to use larger hooks with larger pieces of squid and boated two more.  This is a very good sign." Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle said, "We weighed in a couple of bass from Block Island last week but that was it… nothing in the Bay."  Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence,  said, "Capt. Rene LeTourneau of On-the-Rocks Charters was landing keeper sea bass and striped bass off Newport vertical jigging with a 2.8 once Daddy Mac jig. In the Bay we have evidence of the fall run starting with blues and stripers being caught at the Watchemoket Cove outflow in East Providence."

Offshore fishing has been good.  Roger Simpson of the Francis Fleet reports some of the best tuna fishing in ten years.  Roger said, "Just an insane yellow fin tuna bite at night on the anchor with chunk baits and freshly caught and regurgitated squid that the tuna were binging on. The vast majority of the yellows were really nice fish in the 75 to 90 lb range and many anglers aboard easily limited out… A nice bunch of albacore mostly of good size complimented the yellows and last but not least one mahi. There was also a very good jig bite on the yellows for those who like jigging." Capt. Andy Dangelo of Maridee II Charters caught sharks (including a 200 pound mako), mahi, striped bass and fluke on one charter last week said Mary Dangelo of Maridee Bait & Canvas, Narragansett.

Summer flounder fishing slowed a bit as fish at Block Island moved east last week.  Dave Henault of Ocean Stare said, "Capt. BJ Silvia of Flippin Out Charters continued to land fluke and sea bass off Newport and the Sakonnet last week in 80 to 90 feet of water." Greg Bruning from the Tackle Box said, "We did well at the East Fishing Grounds last week but they seem to be moving east, hope they hit the Sakonnet River area in the nest week or two."  Angler George Allen of Portsmouth said, "Fishing off Newport for fluke and black sea bass has been good.  Landed four nice fluke and sea bass fishing there last week."  Manny Macedo of Lucky said, "The Bay is so warm that customers are catching what they call trash fish… a lot of sea robins, dog fish (sand sharks), however, good numbers of squeteague, scup and black sea bass are still being caught." Rich and Gisele Golembeski had quite a fishing week… first catching fluke, sea bass and blue fish with their granddaughter Kathryn Hardy and son-in-law George Peckham at the East Grounds and then Sunday Gisele landed an 11 pound fluke in the lower Bay.  Gisele said, "It was caught with one of our handmade chartreuse colored jigs… in about 90' of water… in the exact same spot as the 11.63 pound fluke I caught in 2006!"  Angler Spencer Ingram said, "My brother-in-law and my two nephews came down from Maine for the weekend, dying to go fishing with their cousins.  We headed out Sunday morning to the north side of Newport Bridge and caught several dozen fish using squid and ThomCat Fluke rigs…  We had a complete blast with several keeper fluke from 18-19.5" and loads of BSB from 14-16"."

Shore fishing has improved with striped bass being caught from the beaches.  Mary Dangelo of Maridee Bait & Canvas said, "Customers are landing bass north of the Pt. Judith lighthouse on the beach fishing with lures at night as well as on kayaks at the mouth of the Narrow River.  Anglers on the East Wall (Bay side) of the Harbor of Refuge are landing scup, black sea bass and an occasional fluke.  Fishing at Pier 5 in Narragansett has been good too."  John Littlefield of Archie's Bait & Tackle said, "Sabin Point, East Providence is yielding scup, Tommy cod, northern kingfish and an occasional bluefish."

Tautog fishing bite has improved.  Manny Macedo said, "Two customers caught keeper tautog at the American Tourister plant."  Greg Bruner said, "Rocky Point has been yielding tautog but no keepers reported at this time."

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.