2024 on track to be warmest year ever

This month the European-Union’s Climate Change Service, Copernicus, said that 2024 will likely end up being the warmest year on record.

July 2024 had an average surface air temperature of 62.44 degrees Fahrenheit registered just shy of the all-time high set in July 2023 according to the report.

The ocean continues to warm too as the global daily sea surface temperatures for July 2024 was 69.58 degrees Fahrenheit, the second highest value on record for the month.

As documented by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) these high ocean temperatures impact the health of the world’s coral reefs, cyclone activity in the Atlantic and the storms we get as well as Antarctic ice melt. According to Copernicus, Antarctic sea ice dipped to its second lowest value on record in the month of July.

Warm ocean waters, sea level rise, storms and other climate impacts have and will continue to have a profound impact on the fish in Rhode Island and the region. Not many fish caught in Narragansett Bay in August as the water was too warm. And sea level rise and storms continue to erode our coast and destroy sensitive habitat areas along the coast and Bay.

And the fish we catch today are vastly different in type and abundance. Warm water fish such as black sea bass and scup are here in abundance and cold water fish like cod, winter flounder and American lobster have left the area. Exotic warm water fish like cobia, wahoo and an abundance of tuna are being caught in our area, even a tarpon caught off a Rhode Island beach this summer.

As reported our bait profiles here our robust. Warm water has brought silversides, sand eels, squid, all types of herring and mackerel here in abundance all at the same time which has attracted larger animals to forage close to shore in areas they normally do not feed. This includes whales of all types, sharks and tuna all now just one or two miles off our coast. Last year the top three giant bluefin tuna caught in the Boston Giant Bluefin Classic were caught just two to three miles off Narraganset, RI. All of the fish were close to 800 pounds.

We as a nation need to stem the tide on climate change. Reduce our carbon footprint with renewable energy whether in be wind power, solar and other renewable energy sources being discovered.

We need to do this now to save the fish and preserve our world.

For the past two years, anti-renewable energy voices have opposed solar energy and offshore wind energy claiming that they are harmful for the environment. Offshore wind opponents have claimed the construction of offshore wind is harming whales and creating a toxic environment for fish and habitat.  This is simply not true as noted in two Brown University Climate and Development Lab reports that relate detractors use disinformation, half-truths, and often non peer reviewed research and links their positioning to pro gas and oil think tanks.

As a charter captain and avid recreational angler, I see the devastating impact climate is having on the fish and habitat. I have felt privileged to be able to take people fishing and earn money doing it. I know it is a privilege and believe the oceans belong to all the people of the United States of America, even those living in Kansas as well as impoverished persons living in Providence or New York City. We own it to them, all Americans and all the people of the world to stem the tide on climate change and produce readily available renewable energy.

The days of claiming the ocean for any one interest group are over, whether it be private recreational fishers, commercial fishing, the shipping industry, wind farm developers, the aquaculture industry or charter captains like me. The oceans belong to all Americans and all the people of the world. 

Multi ocean uses have proven to work in Europe that has had offshore wind farms for over 30 years. We need to work together to make it work in America.

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Anglers continue to target largemouth bass and are doing well but that is about to change as Rhode Island and Massachusetts will be conducting their fall trout stocking.”

Striped bass, bluefish, bonito. Chad Ketch of Sam’s Bait & Tackle, Middletown, said, “The striped bass bite is actually getting better as we are at the being of the fall run.  Slot fish and larger are being caught from the Sakonnet River to Newport and Jamestown” 

“Striped bass fishing is better in the Bay now.  We have more Atlantic menhaden and more bass as the water is starting to cool,” said Henault of Ocean State Tackle.  

East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “Terrific surfcasting continues on the Canal. Nine-year-old James Astle reeled in a nice fish that hit an Al Gags gold Whip It while wetting a line in the Ditch with his grandfather. ‘Bucktail Bill’ Jenkinson was exploring the bottom with the lure he is famous for, his 4-ounce white bucktail, when it was hit by a nice bass over slot on an early east tide. Passionate 6-year-old Sage Nicholson continues on her torrid pace, fooling nine fish, including five slots, with a big white Magic Swimmer on a rising east tide.”

Fluke (summer flounder), black sea bass and scup. “We still have an abundance of scup in the mid and lower Bay, and they are still large. Anglers are catching them as far up the Bay as Save the Bay at Fields Point,” said Henault of Ocean State Tackle.

Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, said, “Fluke reports have been improving this week with a good amount of fish being caught with some healthy size keepers in the mix. Most reports are coming from in front of the center wall and out to the east.”

Tautog. “Anglers are catching tautog out in front of Newport and in the lower Bay in the Newport Bridge area,” said Ketch of Sam’s Bait & Tackle.

Bluefin tuna. John Tuner on the RI Saltwater Anglers blog said, “Did a mid-day trip out of Wickford trolled the mudhole landed 35-inch bluefin. Near the Gully we began catching small football bluefin. Not a lot of life out there. Did run into some whales between the Gully and Tuna Ridge.”

This column is dedicated to Peter Magan, my brother-in-law, who passed away last week. He was an avid reader of my column, often calling me to comment or ask a question about what I had written.  He was a great man who we miss dearly.

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.