No Fluke

10 fluke fishing tips for future use

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Summer flounder (fluke) fishing has been pretty good this year. Mike Wade of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly said, “Fluke fishing along the southern coastal shore has been outstanding so far this season.” Capt. Rick Bellavance, president of the RI Party and Charter Boat Association said, “Fluke, black sea bass, scup and striped bass fishing were all great at Block Island. It’s been the best week for charter boats so far.”

So if you have not given summer flounder fishing a try, now is the time. This year, recreational regulations are the same as last year. The minimum size is 18 inches, with an eight fish/person/day bag limit with a fluke season running from May 1 to Dec. 31.

Here are 10 fluke fishing tips I like to remind myself of when planning a trip.

Wind and tide should be in line as you want to drag (or drift) over the front of the fish so it sees your bait, drift over the back of the fish and it may never see your bait.

Fish edges and breaks this means fishing channel banks, edges of structure, etc. My largest fluke have been caught on edges.

Match the hatch tipping with squid, blue fish, bass, silversides, mummies and minnows. Often times, whatever we catch I will cut up and strip for the fluke rigs.

Trailer teasers work, my largest fish have been caught with the trailer stinger bucktail.

Find the fish, repeat pattern… noting both location and depth.

Power drift (putting boat in and out of gear to go slow) for movement at slack tide.

Both jigs and traditional fluke rigs work.

Fluke face into current to feed, drag bait over front of fluke from boat or shore.

Power drift or troll perpendicular when wind and tide not ideal.

Personal favorite is big bait… Capt. Monti’s fluke cocktail…squid rig tipped with squid, fluke belly and horizontal minnow, believe that big baits catch big fish, you will catch fewer fish but they will be larger.

 

DEM arrests three for failure to fin clip striped bass

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Division of Law Enforcement announced the arrest of Chad W. Braga, age 31, of Swansea, Massachusetts, and Brandon DeFaria, age 34, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. The two men, charged with failure to fin clip striped bass found in their possession as required by law, were fishing recreationally out of Galilee. Braga and DeFaria are scheduled to be arraigned in 4th Division District Court on Wednesday, July 27. The seized fish were donated to local charity, Amos House.

Last month, Michael A. Saviano, age 35, of Warren was arrested at the Independent Park Boat Ramp in Bristol on fin-clipping violations. The arrest was the first since Rhode Island enacted fin-clipping regulations earlier this year. He will be arraigned in 6th Division Court on July 22.

“The striped bass fishery is an important one in Rhode Island, and preserving it and all our marine resources are responsibilities we take very seriously,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “These regulations are the latest steps in our efforts to thwart illegal fishing practices in Rhode Island. I am extremely proud of our DEM Division of Law Enforcement and the commitment and professionalism our officers demonstrate every day in responding to illegal activity and bringing the people responsible to justice.”

In April, DEM enacted regulations to help prevent the illegal harvest and sale of Atlantic striped bass; the rules require recreational anglers to clip the right pectoral fin of striped bass 34 inches or larger at the time of harvest. Complementary dealer regulations make it unlawful for a licensed dealer to purchase and/or offer for sale any striped bass with the right pectoral fin removed. Braga and DeFaria, who holds a Massachusetts commercial fishing license with a striped bass endorsement, were found with six striped bass meeting the clipping requirement.

Saviano, who also holds a Massachusetts commercial fishing license with a striped bass endorsement, was found with two striped bass. All men were apprehended as part of DEM striped bass enforcement patrols.

 

Newport International Boat Show announces partners

Newport Exhibition Group, owners and producers of the Newport International Boat Show which is taking place Sept. 15 to 18 on Newport Harbor, announced today its sponsorship program for this year’s show.

“Our attendees come from all over the globe and represent a sophisticated demographic with varying life and boating styles,” said Nancy Piffard, show director of Newport Exhibition Group. “We make every effort to improve their experience by partnering with companies that share our goals. This year’s sponsors are exceptional and we are really looking forward to Sept.”

Current sponsors include Celebrity Cruises, Centreville Bank, Dockwa, Harbor Town Wine, Harpoon Beer, Helly Hanson, Hendricks Gin, Karma Wellness Water, Lipton Pure Leaf Collection, Polar Beverage, Sea Bags, Sebago and Sobieski Vodka.

Where’s the bite

Fresh water fishing has been OK. Angler Harold Hemberger said, “Fished the pond located in the Buck Hill Management area today in Burrillville. It was all pickerel all day (Sunday). I caught six pickerel on a red and white daredevil spoon. I was there for about three hours. The faster I fished the spoon the more hits it generated.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait and Tackle, Riverside, said, “Things seemed to have slowed a bit for freshwater customers, however, Stump Pond is producing bass for some customers and a nice carp was caught at Brickyard Pond.”

Striped bass fishing was good this week at Block Island with fish being taken with eels and trolling umbrella rigs and parachute jigs. I fished Block Island with Ron and Josh Barnes and friends Monday. They caught striped bass up to 46 pounds trolling umbrella rigs. The early morning bite was very active. Many Macedo of Lucky Bait and Tackle, Warren said, “We sold a lot of eels to anglers fishing Block Island. And, there are still a lot of school bass in the 24 to 25-inch range in the Bay.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait and Tackle, Riverside, said, “We had two nice fish, 36-inch and 31-inch striped bass caught from shore at Sabin’s Point this weekend right at dusk.” Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Striped bass are still being caught in the Mid and Upper Bay with a good bite off Newport.”

“Summer flounder (fluke) fishing has been very good at the mouth of the Sakonnet and at Ft. Adams Newport with anglers limiting out,” said Many Macedo of Lucky Bait and Tackle. Anglers are generally limiting on black sea bass too (3 fish/person/day, 15-inch minimum size) as they fish for summer flounder (eight fish/person/day, 18-inch minimum size). Patty Ferrara of Ray’s Bait and Tackle, Warwick, said, “Fishing for fluke south of the Jamestown and Newport Bridges has been very good for customers.” Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said “Boat limits of big sea bass on full day trips were caught this week with varying numbers of nice size fluke mixed in. Some better numbers of big fluke later in the week with Friday and Saturday by far the best days with Saturday’s biggest fish weighing in at nine pounds.”

Scup fishing has exploded in the Bay and along the coastal shore. “Huge scup are being caught at Portsmouth, Bristol and Tiverton,” said Dave Henault of Ocean Stale Tackle. “Things are off the wall with scup. A customer caught eight nice scup at Colt State Park,” said John Littlefield of Archie’s. “Sixteen and 17-inch scup are being caught at Independence Park, under the Mt. Hope Bridge and at Colt State Park,” said Manny Macedo of Lucky Bait.

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. He is a RISAA board member, a member of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association and a member of the RI Marine Fisheries Council. Contact or forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit his website at www.noflukefishing.com.

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