Michael Tilelli of North Kingston, RI was awarded the Angler of the Year by the RI Saltwater Anglers Association Saturday, Feb. 17 at their Annual Banquet held at the Quonset O Club. Tilelli took the award that requires anglers to enter multiple species categories to accumulate enough points to take the top award.

“I fish both from shore and from party boats and this is the fourth year receiving the award. The most distinguishing factor this year were the abundant bluefish, all pretty good sized ones which we seem to catch consistently from shore,” said Tilelli.

Flynn Jansen of Cohasset, MA received the Youth Angler of the Year award. He is the grandson of Rick Black, RISAA member from Narragansett, RI. Also at the awards banquet members received awards for placing top fish (by weight) for a number of species in youth, shore and boat categories. Hats off to Michael Tilelli, Flynn Jansen and all award winners.

Rhode Island announces outdoor programs for the public

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM)  announced spring programs scheduled to connect Rhode Islanders with our state’s beautiful natural resources. From vernal pool night to spring turkey hunting to birds, bees, and botany there is something for everyone. DFW’s Aquatic Resource Education, Hunter Education, Wildlife Outreach and Volunteer programs have planned a schedule with plenty of opportunities to learn about Rhode Island’s fish and wildlife resources or to try out a new outdoor skill.

Public Input Sought on Recreational Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass

The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is seeking public input on a range of options to manage the Commonwealth’s 2024 recreational summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries.  For options visit https://www.mass.gov/doc/020924-update-on-recreational-bsb-sc-and-fl/download.

The interstate fishery management plan for these species requires a 28% recreational harvest reduction for summer flounder, a 10% recreational harvest reduction for scup, and status quo recreational harvest for black sea bass to achieve their coastwide recreational harvest targets in 2024. Public input will be accepted on the range of options through 5 p.m. on March 7, 2024.

Fishing the San Juan River

Fly fishing expert Ed Lombardo will be the guest speaker at a Trout Unlimited RI Chapter 225, seminar on “Fishing the San Juan River, New Mexico” on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, 6 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Coventry-West Greenwich Elks Lodge, 42 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich, RI.

Located in the northwest corner of New Mexico, the San Juan River is world renowned for providing some of the most rewarding trout fishing you will ever experience consistently producing both rainbows and browns averaging 16 to 18 inches, with many reaching much larger proportions.

Lombardo will speak on what files work best as well as equipment, rods, reels, fly lines, leaders  as well as how to read water anatomy to find the bigger feeding trout, how to get there with maps and more.

Climate-Resilient Fisheries online seminar

Join the Lenfest Ocean Program for their next Climate-Resilient Fisheries online seminar on Wednesday, February 28 at 2pmET/11amPT. In this webinar, Dr. Malin Pinsky, University of California- Sant Cruz, and Brandon Muffley, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, will share results from the project Predicting Near-Term Fisheries Shifts Under Climate Change.

To register visit Webinar Registration - Zoom and for a fact sheet on the project visit New Study to Develop Short-Term Species Distribution Forecasts for Fisheries Management | Lenfest Ocean Program.

Project Background: As oceans warm, the distributions of many fish and invertebrate species are shifting, creating challenges for fisheries managers, stakeholders, and communities. Much of the current research on distribution shifts is focused on predicting where species will be over the rest of the century, but fisheries managers also need to know where and how fish are moving now. Using previous fisheries survey data, researchers worked with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to develop and adapt dynamic range models that can predict near-term (1-10 years) shifts of important fish species along the Mid-Atlantic coast and help inform future climate-resilient fisheries planning.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater fishing in stocked ponds for trout and salmon continues to be good for anglers in Rhode Island in waterways that can be fished without ice. And, in Massachusetts, the largemouth bass bite had been good too. Connor Swartz of Red Top Sporting Goods, Buzzards Bay, said, “Once the snow and ice melt, we expect a good bite for trout and largemouth. Anglers are using shiners with success.”

“Ponds that continue to produce in Rhode Island include Carbuncle Pond, Coventry, “said Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters. Vincent Castaldi of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown, said, “Since the snowstorm on February 13 the local ponds are in an ice over condition.” 

We have ice but not thick enough to ice fish and you cannot fish from shore either. For a complete list of trout stocked ponds in Massachusetts visit Mass Wildlife at Trout stocking report | Mass.gov and in Rhode Island visit www.dem.ri.gov/fishing, or call 401-789-0281 or 401-539-0019 for more information on trout stocking.

Saltwater. Anglers continue to catch school striped bass but not as many compared to January. “Surprisingly, last week on the East End of the Cape Cod Canal anglers have been hooking up with 20 to 30 inch pollock. Many are using Diamond Jigs, some tipping the hook with clams,” said Connor Swartz of Red Top Sporting Goods. You should call ahead to make a party boat reservation for cod fishing.

Visit www.islandcurrent.com and www.francesfleet.com. Full day rates for vessels are generally $130 to $135 per adult and around $80 for those under 12 years old.

Dave Monti holds a 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.