Fresh water boat ramps reopen

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The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced that improvements to freshwater boat ramps at Watchaug Pond, Charlestown and Indian Lake, South Kingstown are complete. Construction on the projects began on April 16 with work wrapping up in time for Father’s Day weekend.

The existing ramps at both sites were replaced by new concrete boat ramps, measuring 12 feet in width. As an added amenity, DEM also installed a new, six-foot by 20-foot timber floating dock at each site.

A third boat ramp improvement project, at Echo Lake in Glocester, is planned for the fall. The existing ramp will be replaced with a boat ramp identical to those installed at Watchaug Pond and Indian Lake, along with a new timber floating dock.

Funding for these improvements is being provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration program. The total cost of construction for the three projects is $420,000.

For a list of public boat launching sites in Rhode Island, visit www.dem.ri.gov.

San Miquel Middle School takes students fishing

San Miquel School of Providence in conjunction with the Providence Rotary took students fishing on June 2 to the Carolina trout hatchery for a day of fishing.  The trip has been occurring for twenty years and is a partnership between the school, Rotary and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) who stocks the pond with trout.

Approximately 16 boys earn the right to participate in the fishing trip.  They are accompanied by the school’s eighth-grade teacher and fisherwoman, Jacquie Croft. San Miguel buses the boys to the pond, DEM provides all fishing equipment and Rotary provides the lunch.

San Miguel is an independent Lasallian middle school for urban boys from the Greater Providence area.  This year the school is celebrating its 25th year.

‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ tournament big success

The 13th Annual ‘Fluke Til Ya Puke’ fishing tournament held Saturday, June 16 was a big success once again.  Organizers, Captains Brian and Peter Bacon of Big Game Sport Fishing charters, South Kingstown, say it is the largest fluke tournament in the world.  The tournament has multiple entry categories and over $50,000 in prizes.

Capt. Brian Bacon said, “It was our largest tournament ever with 1,532 participants.  This year the largest fluke was 11.4 pounds caught by William Beletski.”   The fish netted Beletski a $5,000 cash prize in the largest fluke category.

For additional information and a complete list of winners with event photos visit www.biggamefishingri.com or the tournament Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FlukeTilYaPuke/.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass fishing

continues to improve in Narragansett and Mt. Hope Bays, along the coastal shore and at Block Island. Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick said, “The striper bite at Hope Island was good this week with anglers landing nice sized bass with Atlantic menhaden (pogies). Trolling tube & worm and with umbrella rigs is working well too.  Eels are working for my kayak fishermen customers even though it is a bit early in the season to be using eels.”  Jason Macedo of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren, said, “Striper fishing is good, however, pogies are very limited with anglers snagging them from Barrington Beach to the Providence Hurricane Barrier.  If you find the pogies you’ll find the bass.  Customers are also having luck trolling white shad umbrella rigs and some are using eels with success.”  Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown said, “The bass bite slowed a bit the past couple of days in the Bay but picked up off Newport in the Brenton Reef area and off Beavertail Point, Jamestown with anglers having success with eels.”  Peter Jenkins of the Saltwater Edge, Middletown said, “The fish are just starting to show up off Newport.  Once the water warms the fish leave the Bay and move to the lower Bay, off Newport and Jamestown.” Fish are also appearing on the Southwest Ledge off Block Island with anglers landing bass trolling parachute jigs.

Summer flounder

(fluke) fishing improved this week in the Bay at the Jamestown and Newport Bridges as well as along the Southern coastal shore.” said Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle.  Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box said, “Fluke fishing from shore at Rocky Point has been good with anglers landing fish to three pounds.  Fluke fishing on the south side of Block Island was very difficult Saturday because of the Fluke Til Ya Puke tournament.  One customer said there were about a thousand boats fishing there.  I am sure he was exaggerating but the point is that there were far too many boats in one place so he left to fish other areas.”  Greg Vespe of Tiverton said, “We fished the Fluke Til Ya Puke tournament off Block Island and our largest fish being 8.5 pounds and a three fish total of 18 pounds.  The third place tournament winners came in with a 20 pound total for three fish.  The winning boats caught their fish off Montauk, NY.”  Charlie Prisco of Warwick said, “We fished off of Warwick light on Saturday with an outgoing tide using squid and silver sides on a rubber chartreuse green homemade squid rig.  Carole Prisco caught the first fluke at 22", Amanda Prisco caught a 24" fluke and I caught a 19" fluke.”

Scup and black sea bass.

  The black sea bass fishing remains strong in Massachusetts, particularly in the Buzzards Bay, where black sea bass are in season.  However, the Rhode Island season does not open until June 24.  Xavier (4), Lucia (7) and their father Jamie Wong of Cambridge, MA caught sea bass to 22” fishing on my boat south of the Jamestown Bridge; we paused for a quick photo and then released the fish.   Jason Macedo of Lucky Bait said, “The scup bite from shore is very strong.  Places like Colt State Park are producing some very large sup.”

Freshwater

fishing for trout has slowed as the water warms and stocked ponds have been fished.  Anglers are catching largemouth bass; however, this fishery is expected by some to slow during the warm weather this week. However, Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box said, “Fishing at Roger Williams Parks Park and Warwick Pond has been good for customers, many are using our custom line of spinner baits, jigs and swim baits.” Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane said, “We ae selling a lot of shiners with customers primarily targeting largemouth bass this time of year with success.”

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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