Ever wonder how many striped bass you caught last June, or when the summer flounder (fluke) bite kicked in for you the past few years.
Or better still, what the weather, seas and winds are like at your favorite fishing spot in the Bay, around Cape Cod or offshore. Maybe if you had this information in advance you would plan your trips differently. Plan them better.
Now you can get your historical fishing information (like a log book) complete with photos of the fish you caught. You can also find out tides, wind, and sea conditions anywhere through buoy weather with your smartphone or tablet in one simple app called AnglerCatch.
And, at the same time, you will be providing fish managers at the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) or the MA Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) with important recreational fishing data to supplement what is already collected while participating in a pilot project for science.
You will not be giving your fishing spots away, as the data is used in aggregate. And, if you chose not to share specific location information that is OK too.
As a charter captain I have been recording my catch electronically for over ten years. It provides me with helpful log information and makes me feel good, as I am contributing to better fisheries data and fish conservation.
Download the AnglerCatch app for free at your favorite app store. The company that designed the software, Harbor Light Software, has an outstanding help line if you should run into any difficulties. All of this is free as AnglerCatch is a pilot project developed by the RI Saltwater Anglers Associaton (RISAA), DEM, and Harbor Light Software. Visit Marine Reporting Software | anglercatch (harborlightsoftware.com).
Fluke Seminar
Greg Vespe, Executive Director of the RI Saltwater Anglers Associaton (RISAA), said, “When it comes to fabled fluke grounds, no location has garnered more attention recently than Nantucket Shoals. Deep water, strong currents and long steam ride are the norm but if you want a chance at a double digit personal best fluke don’t miss our seminar on Fishing Nantucket Shoals, Monday, May 23, 7 p.m. at the West Warwick Elks Lodge.”
Capt. TJ Harris will be the guest speaker, he is a Nantucket Shoals fluke expert and member of the Aquidneck Island Striper Team as well as RISAA. Capt. Harris will address how to plan your trip, what size fluke to expect, what gear to bring along as well as the strategies and tactics to employ to catch these large fish.
AnglerCatch, the software mentioned above, will he highlighted at the start of the session.
The seminar starts at 7 p.m., however, you can order food off the Elks Lodge kitchen menu starting at 5:30 p.m. Non-members are asked to make a $10 donation to the RISAA Foundation. RISAA members admitted free. The Elks Lodge is at 60 Clyde Street, West Warwick.
Freshwater. The freshwater bite for largemouth bass was outstanding this week as the fish are feeding still in the pre-spawn mode. Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren, said, “The bite for largemouth has been early morning or at sundown using swimbait.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside, said “The trout bite is still good for anglers at stocked ponds. Customers are still catching trout at Willet Avenue Pond, Riverside but have said Brickyard Pond was murky this week and the bite was not good.”
Tautog fishing slaked off a bit with all the wind we had last week making it difficult for anglers to fish from boats and shore and making the water turbid and cloudy. Prior to high winds and seas last week angler Karlis Kaugars of West Warwick landed a ten pound tautog at Bonnet Shores. Karlis said, “We fished the Ohio Ledge area and had no luck and then traveled down the Bay to the Bonnet Shores area and got one bite, a plump ten pound tautog.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait, said, “Customer Albert Bettencourt fished the Warren River area catching 22 fish, and keeping six, releasing all the female fish. Boat anglers are doing much better than shore anglers.” “Now that all that wind has slowed down the tautog bite is expected to improve this week.” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait.
Striped bass/bluefish. “Striped bass fishing was slow in the Bay this weekend but things are expected to pick up dramatically with all this nice weather and warm temperatures. Slot size bass are being caught with small soft plastic baits and the baits the bass are chasing are small too. Best chances for a large bass are in the upper Bay area using poggies (Atlantic menhaden) if you can snag any.” The bluefish bite was on in Wickford Harbor Sunday. Kayak anglers were treated to a school of bluefish inside the Harbor breakwater feeding on the surface. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said, “Customers are catching bluefish in the Bay which is a bit early.” East End Eddie Doherty said, “Jack Barton caught his first slot of the season last week just before dawn near the railroad bridge on the Cape Cod Canal. The satisfied Canal Rat said it was so nice to feel a real tug on his rod after a five month hiatus. There was an unconfirmed report of a 40-inch striped bass caught in the west end so hopefully this fish will be leading the parade of other plus slot fish into the Canal.” “Striped bass fishing was off last weekend but earlier in the week anglers were doing good using soft plastics like Slug-Go lures and Storm Shades. Some anglers were catching fish at Sabin Point and others at Barrington Beach (where they used whole squig for bait).”
“Fluke (summer flounder)/squeteague fishing is picking up along the coastal shore, much earlier than usual,” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait.” “The squeteague are biting in Greenwich Bay and in the Barrington River where an angler caught a nice fish from the bridge. Fish to 30 inches have been caught in the area,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle.
Dave Monti holds a captain’s master 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.
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