Still time to register for the Tog Classic
If you have not fished a tautog tournament, this is the one to enter. The AnglerCatch RI Tog Classic will be held Sunday, Oct. 13, from sunrise to 2 p.m.
There are over $50,000 in prizes and great online and in-person auction items to bid on, and a great after-party, which will be held at the Portsmouth Portuguese American Club, 35 Power St., Portsmouth. The after-tournament dinner, raffle and awards ceremony are something you won’t want to miss, with live music and much more.
Tournament entry is simple at www.ritogclassic.com. Prizes are awarded to the top three fish in each division. There are adult shore, boat and kayak divisions, as well as a Junior Angler Division for those under 12 years old. The entry fee is $100 for adults and $30 for Junior Anglers. Fish are weighed in from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Portsmouth Portuguese American Club.
This year the tournament is co-sponsored by AnglerCatch, the angler smartphone logbook app with a purpose (to account for angler fishing catch and effort), the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (as they are seeking to enhance tautog catch and effort data to help manage the species) and Ralph Craft of Crafty Custom Rods, tournament founder who is still tournament director this year as he provides guidance for new tournament sponsors.
Scoping meeting for 2025 Atlantic
menhaden management
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is holding an industry scoping meeting Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. at the DMF Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station, 30 Emerson Ave., Gloucester, Mass., to discuss the state’s management of the 2025 commercial menhaden fishery in Massachusetts.
During the meeting, DMF will review recent fishery performance and the existing management measures before seeking input on potential revisions for 2025. This scoping meeting serves as a precursor to DMF developing any specific management proposals that would be subject to public comment prior to rule-making.
Contact Nichola Meserve at nichola.meserve@mass.gov or 978-619-0017 for information about the meeting.
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass, bluefish, bonito: Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, said, “The striped bass bite is good off Watch Hill and Charleston beaches, with a diminished bonito bite. However, we had some reports of False Albacore being caught off the West Wall of the Harbor of Refuge, but that bite faded quickly. Hope the come back stronger this fall.”
“The bass bite is on in the Greenwich Bay area, with anglers catching school bass and keepers right here in Apponaug Cove, with larger fish still being caught off Newport,” said Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, Warwick.
East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author said, “Fish have been scarce for some, but many were able to locate bass on the east flood tide, like John ‘Captain’ Morgan, who reeled in a healthy 34-inch striper that attacked his green mack FishLab on the bottom. Attleboro first-grader Sage Nicholson muscled in a 36-inch striper from the incoming east flow that fell for her blue mack Savage Gear Sandeel, and during the same tide six surfcasters had their rods bend simultaneously with nice fish that looked to be at least 40 inches! The bluefish invasion is keeping the tackle shops busy stocking soft plastics.”
Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Striped bass are now feeding on smaller baits, including silver sides and rain bait. There have been a mix of striped bass, blues, bonito, and an occasional Albie along the South shore of Rhode Island. Most fishing is structure dependent, with an occasional open water beach blitz. In the coming weeks we expect to see more of these open water blitzes. The best way to make sure you get into one is putting in your time or having good luck. Watch wind and bait migrations to put yourself in a productive area. The breachways are hot at night, with some fish being caught in the morning and evening. Fishing in the ponds has been good, with a fun top water bite going on.”
Expert kayak angler Tom Houde said, “I was part of the plastic navy out there Friday morning at Brenton Reef. The majority of fish were stripers, bluefish and some bonito around, along with many short black sea bass. I took one slot fish home for seafood chowder.”
Fluke (summer flounder),
black sea bass, scup and cod
The black sea bass bite is still good, however the summer flounder (fluke) bite has faded. “Keeper black sea bass are being caught by anglers tautog fishing, but if you want to target them, the East Grounds and South of the Block Island Wind Farm and Sharks Ledge are good bets.”
Tautog
“The blackfish bite has been good from boats and shore. Even with all the sand around the Charlestown Breachway, we are pleasantly surprised to see customers catching their fair share from the rocks,” said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle.
“We have a good tautog bite in 25 to 30 feet of water off Charlestown and in the boulder field at Scarborough Beach, Narragansett. The Bay is good too in lower water depths,” said Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor.
Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle said, “Customers are catching keeper tautog south of Hope Island and at General Rock in North Kingstown.”
Tuna
“Tuna fishing continues to be good but spotty, as it is hard for anglers to follow them with rough seas and wind. They are not getting out multiple times a week. The bite was strong in the middle of last week at the Gully, however that bite faded over the weekend,” said Elisa Cahill of Snug Harbor.
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.
