Experts weigh in on ‘How to catch bigger fluke’
It is my honor to be the guest speaker at the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association seminar Monday, March 25, at 7 p.m. at the West Warwick Elks, 60 Cyle St., West Warwick. The presentation, “How to catch bigger fluke,” will feature a take-away list of top tips on how to catch bigger fluke.
The presentation includes a series of interviews with charter captains, fishing guides and expert fluke anglers. Many, like Greg Vespe and Jeff Sullivan, live and fish right here in the East Bay area. Strategies and tactics for fishing summer flounder in Bays and the ocean with maps and charts will be covered, as well as rigs, jigs, baits and my favorite places to catch fluke.
Highlights of the presentation include Capt. Monti’s Fluke Cocktail, a rig and bait arrangement proven to catch larger fluke as well as small bait presentations and the importance of flirting with that fluke until it is enticed to strike.
You will not want to miss this presentation, as it takes the best form and puts it into a logical approach on planning and implementing fluke fishing trips.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with dinner available through the Elks Lodge. Members free, non-members are asked for a $10 donation to the RISAA scholarship fund. Have questions, call Scott Travers, executive director, at 401-826-2121 or email him at travers@risaa.org.
Try your hand at navigating in a wind farm
Find out for yourself how hard (or easy) it is to navigate in an offshore wind farm, Thursday, March 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. Try your hand at navigating in a wind farm through a simulator, very much like the ones that ocean captains of large ships train on except your vessel is a sport fishing boat or commercial fishing vessel.
The simulator will give you a taste of what it is like to navigate within an offshore wind farm. Feel free to come and go as you please during the open house.
Open house sponsored by Ørsted's Marine Affairs team in partnership with the United States Maritime Resource Center, 333 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown.
For information and to reserve a spot, visit Offshore Wind Simulator Open House Tickets, Thu, Mar 21, 2024 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite.
Trout Unlimited Annual Fundraiser and Banquet
The Rhode Island Trout Unlimited Chapter (TU#225) will hold its Annual Fundraising Banquet and Auction on Saturday, April 6, from 3 to 7:30 p.m. at the Quonset O Club, North Kingstown.
This year, Native Fish Coalition (NFC) Executive Director Bob Mallard and National Chair Emily Bastian will be keynote speakers. Both Bob and Emily are founding members of NFC. The title of their talk is “Fly Fishing Maine, Wild Native Fish, State Heritage Fish Waters and Native Fish Coalition.” They will share their recreational and conservation accomplishments in the beautiful state of Maine.
The banquet will feature an early evening dinner buffet with multiple entree choices, served salad and dessert. There will be numerous bucket raffles, a door prize, silent auction and live auction items.
Live auction items include a guided Maine fishing trip with guest speaker Bob Mallard, a half-day charter in the Watch Hill area with Jeff Perry, a half-day charter inshore or Ninigret Pond with Ray Ramos, and a half-day wade trip – salt or fresh – with Ed Lombardo. There will be three special raffles which you do not have to be present to win.
A variety of sponsorship opportunities area available. Contact Susan Estabrook at susan@ysrinc.com with your choice of sponsorship. Please put in the subject of your email “TU-SS.” Purchase dinner and/or raffle tickets online @ https://secure.etransfer.com/RICTU/Dinner.cfm.
Where’s the bite?
Freshwater fishing: Anglers are advised that the trout fishing season ended Feb, 29 in Rhode Island and reopens again on Saturday, April 13. “Anglers are catching pike, pickerel and largemouth bass in Rhode Island and Massachusetts ponds. The largemouth prespawn bite has been very good,” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren. It is time to renew or get freshwater fishing license and trout stamps for the new season too. For freshwater fishing information in Connecticut visit https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Fishing/Freshwater/Freshwater-Fishing; in Massachusetts visit Freshwater Fishing | Mass.gov; and in Rhode Island www.dem.ri.gov/fishing.
Saltwater
Anglers continue to find school striped bass in estuaries. “Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, said, “Anglers have been catching fish in the salt ponds in the upper Narrow River all winter, some as large as 25 to 36”. And this week we have had a couple of reports of herring in the rivers. The only other saltwater action … some anglers are fishing for winter flounder, and the Island Current party boat has been targeting tile fish at the Canyons in 600 to 800 feet of water. They have caught fish to 30 pounds with the trips running 24 hours from 9 a.m. to 9 a.m. the next day.”
Jeff Sullivan of Luckey Bait & Tackle, said, “The herring has shown up already in our rivers, and when they start coming out after the spawn fishing will be great for striped bass. I have been targeting white perch, because the bite is still incredibly good.”
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.
