Expanded tournament includes mainland ocean shores 

“We are thrilled that the Block Island inshore fishing fournament keeps growing. We surveyed past participants and put what we learned to use to expand the tournament,” said Capt. Chris Willi, tournament director and owner of Block Island Fish Works, a bait and tackle shop and charter fishing business located on Block Island, Rhode Island. “We now are fishing for nine species with an expanded fishing area that includes areas south of the Newport and Jamestown bridges including the Rhode Island southern coastal beaches to about fifteen miles south of Block Island itself (See tournament map).”  

The tournament will start at 5:30 a.m., Saturday, July 26 and end Sunday, July 27, at noon. There will be an ‘After Party’ at Capt. Nick’s Rock & Roll Bar, Block Island on Sunday, July 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. with a brief tournament awards ceremony. 

“This is a length only tournament. Participants download GotOne, the tournament app, on their smartphone. To make a tournament entry they take a photo of their catch up against the tournament supplied ruler and send the entry into the tournament electronically. This makes it unnecessary to attend the awards ceremony to pick up prizes,” said Capt. Willi. 

Species now include bonito, false albacore, bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna and mahi in addition to fluke, black sea bass, bluefish and striped bass. 

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

Tournament highlights include: cash cards, swag, and sponsor prizes totaling $10,000; boat, shore, 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 — for the 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; Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren;  Ocean State Tackle, Providence; The Tackle Box, Warwick; Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown; Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown; and  Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly. 

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

Recreational catch data helps assess fisheries 

Last Thursday, May 8, the Marine Affairs Division of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management held a workshop for charter captains to discuss the importance of encouraging their fishing customers to participate in intercept interview surveys when leaving their vessels. Nathan Andrews, fisheries specialist for DEM, said, “If we were able to capture even a small enhanced number of surveys from charter customers on what they caught it would make our data more robust, reduce uncertainty and lead to less buffer in harvest limits which could possibly lead to more liberal regulations.” 

Experts at NOAA Fisheries’ regional science centers, in consultation with states, regional partners and through a public process, perform stock assessments which assure our shared fisheries resources remain productive, sustainable, and economically viable. 

Stock assessors review a wide range of data to help determine stock status. This includes private boat, shore, and for-hire (charter boat) saltwater recreational fishing catch and effort information. These data are compiled through large-scale surveys that are part of the state-regional-federal recreational fishing data collection partnership known as the Marine Recreational Information Program.  

All datasets are plugged into a statistical stock assessment model that determines a stock’s current and future population size and if it is overfished (the population is too low) or if it is undergoing overfishing (the catch rate is too high). 

For additional information visit Recreational Fishing Data | NOAA Fisheries and for information about DEM and angler surveys contact Nate Andrews at nathan.andrews@dem.ri.gov . 

Quahog week, May 11 to 17 

The ninth annual Quahog Week is taking place May 11 to 17. The event celebrates the cultural and economic importance of the quahog, Rhode Island’s official state clam. The week-long event aims to boost awareness and  demand for local seafood and the RI Seafood brand, while honoring the dedicated harvesters and the vibrant local food industry that brings fresh quahogs to tables across the state. Visit seafood.ri.gov for a full list of participating restaurants and markets and the specials they are offering. 

Where’s the bite? 

Striped bass. Angler Fred DeFinis of Middletown, said, “I fished in the east passage last week for three days and landed a fair number of fish. By far, the most common size is 28 to 29 inches which are probably of the 2018 year class, the last good spawning year.” Expert fly angler and instructor Ed Lombardo, said, “I got one fish Thursday on an incoming tide near Middle Bridge on the Narrow River.”  “Some nice stripers, especially during the rainy nights have been caught. Bass fishing has been consistent along the beaches and in the breachways. The rain seemed to slow down the worm hatch a bit,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown. Angler Gil Bell fishing the surf in South County, said, “Caught a fact, sea lice free 30” striped bass which I released.” 

Tautog. “Tautog should continue to move closer to shore as the water warms up. Offshore water temperatures have just reached 50 degrees, while the pond temperatures hit the mid-60s this week. As a reminder female tautog can be full of eggs this time of year and is good sport to release them and keep the males,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle. Capt. Mike O’Grady of Fishing Machine Charters, said, “Tautog fishing is good. We are catching full boat limits with a bunch for shorts and a good squid bite too.” 

Squid and summer flounder. The squid fishing has been very good with anglers hooking up at night. And, the fluke are right behind them. Angler Matthew Haczynski reported Sunday finding squid and fluke off Block Island, “We managed to boat three keepers between all the shorts in 75’-100’. A few fish were tossing squid on the way up. A good sign of better things to come.” 

Freshwater. For complete regulations, a list of trout stocked ponds, and a copy of the RI Freshwater Fishing Regulations and Guide visit Fish & Wildlife | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov. 

Dave Monti holds a captain’s master 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. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net, visit www.noflukefishing.blogspot.com or www.noflukefishing.com .