“We are thrilled that the Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament keeps growing. Last year we grew by more than fifty percent. We think we found a great formula with shore, boat, youth and fly fishing divisions .  And this year the Tournament is held in loving memory of Wendy Northup,” said Tournament host, Capt. Chris Willi of Block Island Fish Works, a bait & tackle shop and charter fishing business located on Block Island, Rhode Island.

The tournament will start at 5:30 a.m., Saturday, July 27 and end Sunday, July 28, 12 noon. There will be an after party at Capt. Nick’s Rock & Roll Bar, Block Island on Sunday, July 28 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. with a brief Tournament awards ceremony.

“This is a length only Tournament. When registering online participants download our Tournament app on their smartphone. When they want to make a tournament entry, they take a photo of their catch up against the tournament supplied ruler and send their entry into the Tournament electronically,” said Capt. Willi. 

“So, it is not necessary to attend the after party to receive your tournament prize. Winners will be posted online. Limited dockage may be available after the tournament for four to five hours in Old Harbor at the Town Dock. Contact the Dockmaster on Ch12. Those attending the after party will get a chance to win one of twenty $100 tackle shop gift cards.”

Tournament entry fees are $150 per boat for up to four anglers, $35/person for additional anglers; and $35/shore angler.  Capt. Willi said, “Thanks to the Block Island Wind Farm and Ørsted, gear and tackle as well as tackle shop co-sponsors,  we are able to donate 100% of Tournament entry fees to the Block Island Fire Department and Rescue.”

Tournament highlights include:  cash cards/swag/and sponsor prizes totally $10,000; fluke, black sea bass, striped bass and bluefish with boat, shore, fly fishing, youth, team and photo divisions; take a photo with the Block Island Wind Farm shown and you can enter three photo categories each with $200 prize … most scenic, best fish photo and best team photo; pick up participant bags at one of seven locations including Block Island Fish Works, Block Island; Ocean State Tackle, Providence; The Tackle Box, Warwick; Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, Warwick; Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren;  Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown; and  Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly.

Register online at BI Inshore Tourney | bi-fishworks (sandypointco.com) . For additional information contact Block Island Fish Works at bifishworks@gmail.com or 401.742.3992.

NOAA  rethinks recreational

fishing data collection

NOAA Fisheries is holding an online workshop to “re-envision” the nation’s state-regional-federal recreational fisheries data collection program and partnership, known as the Marine Recreational Information  Program (MRIP). The program has suffered significant data accuracy challenges over the years and NOAA Fisheries aims to improve it.

Two public workshops will be held to engage recreational fishing community leaders and garner their input on the subject. Participants only need to attend one of the sessions as the presentations will be the same. The webinars will provide an overview of the re-envisioning effort including the proposed process outline with milestones and offer an opportunity for participants to discuss the approach and to ask questions.

 “A Briefing on a Collaborative Vision for a Modernized Recreational Fisheries Data Partnership” will take place on Wednesday, May 29 · 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET.  Google Meet joining info: Video call link at https://meet.google.com/vap-aoik-mfh;  or dial: ‪(US) +1 864-402-4558 PIN: ‪475 217 791# .  More phone numbers at https://tel.meet/vap-aoik-mfh?pin=6594445109036.

The second session  s on Thursday, May 30 · 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET.  Google Meet joining info: Video call link at https://meet.google.com/tyz-mqct-eiq,  or dial: ‪(US) +1 740-480-1236 PIN: ‪558 133 395#.  More phone numbers at https://tel.meet/tyz-mqct-eiq?pin=1175771070586.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater fishing. Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick said, “Freshwater fishing for largemouth has been very good. One customer fishing Johnston Pond fished with minnows and hooked up with largemouth bass, a nice catfish and a very large golden colored crappie. To be honest, the trout bite has slowed a lot since opening day.”

Striped bass and bluefish. Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “There have been good sized fish moving through our waters. Bass have been taking eels in Breachways especially at slack tide. Customers are reporting that the sizes have been mixed with people catching fish from the low 20-inch range up to the low 40-inch range. The Worm Hatch continues. A lot more worms still need to hatch.”  

Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, Warwick, said, “The striped bass bite is great throughout the Bay with customers catching keeper fish with huge bluefish mixed in. We had a 40-inch striper taken from shore at Conimicut Point, Warwick and anglers are trolling Greenwich Bay  and the East Bay with great success.”

Angler Dave Gordon said, “Went out Saturday and was into some nice bass right away. Me and my son caught 12-15 nice bass to 37 inches, all on top water, all just north of Hope island to the mouth of EG bay. The birds were working everywhere, and we were marking lots of bait and bass. Still have not seen any pogies?”

Tautog fishing continues to improve. “The Tautog bite has been off and on. Getting mixed reports from both shore and boat fishers. They just have to be patient and maybe try a few spots,” said O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle. 

Henault of Ocean State Tackle, said, “A customer caught a six pound tautog, his first keeper, at India Point Park, Providence this week.” 

Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box said, “Tautog fishing has been outstanding with one angler catching three keeper tautog from the Rocky Point Fishing Pier earlier this week.”

“Squid fishing has been on and off from the shore and from boats in the Newport Bridge area with Capt. Brandon Hagopian report in a good squid bite off Rhode Island’s southern coastal beaches,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle.

 Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verison.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.