Better recreational fishing data may be on the way

Sometimes there is a silver lining and good things come out of a bad situation.  Last week anglers met with Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator and Chief of NOAA Fisheries and her staff, to talk about  recreational fishing issues including improving recreational fishing data with the modernization of data collection and analysis.

Historically, commercial fishing extraction rates have been obtained by reports they are required to file with federal fish managers (and state mangers) on every single fish they catch and where they caught it. However, recreational fisheries are not required to report their catch, so NOAA estimates the number of fish anglers are taking out of the water which are used in part to establish future harvest limits and ultimately regulations.

This year the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), the NOAA organization that estimates recreational fishing catch and effort, reported an error in their effort survey. NOAA conducted a routine study to evaluate the integrity of their effort survey data which is mailed to angler homes and related they may have overestimated recreational catch by as much as thirty percent in select States on select species. 

They announced the error and immediately started to plan a more extensive pilot study to be run in 2024 that further explores bias that may have been introduced by the way and order questions were asked and responded to by anglers in the effort survey.

Hats off to NOAA Fisheries for being upfront about the error and developing a plan to explore it further and correct it. However, the data mishap has opened the door to not only improve MRIP but to perhaps supplement MRIP data with data form states as well as with citizen science data obtained from recreational fishing smartphone data collection applications. 

But first NOAA must establish acceptable standards for both State data collection and smartphone applications to make sure the additional data provides what NOAA would want and can be used to supplement the MRIP data they already collect.

Anglers in the Northeast are working with NOAA’s regional office, the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO), to work on data modernization plans which play a significant role in the agencies new Recreational Fishing Policy and regional implemental plans. Other additions to this implementation plan includes climate ready fisheries provisions, social environmental justice, data modernization as well as continuing to make fisheries sustainable in light of difficult climate impacts including shifting stocks, sea level rise, warming water and a host of others.

More to come on the data modernization effort and the new recreational implementation plan as it rolls out with angler input opportunities in the region.

Ponds stocked in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced that four additional freshwater ponds will be stocked with fish during the week of Dec. 10, 2023. The ponds will be stocked after the recent lifting of Cyanobacteria alerts and Wyoming Pond, Hopkinton, after the conclusion of dam repairs.

Carbuncle Pond, Coventry will be stocked with Seago Salmon, Brook and Rainbow Trout; Melville (Upper and Lower) Pond, Portsmouth will be stocked with Sebago Salmon, Brook and Rainbow Trout; and Wyoming Pond, Hopkinton will be stocked with Rainbow Trout.

Visit DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Facebook Page for stocking updates and visit www.dem.ri.gov/fishing for more information.

Where’s the bite?

Tautog, cod and black sea bass are being caught by anglers anchored up to tautog fish with crabs. 

Parker Mandes of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly, said, “Saturday we caught three keeper cod when tautog fishing. The tautog fishing has slowed a bit but it is nice to catch cod along the southern coastal shore and not have to go further to catch them.” 

“Anglers are catching cod while tautog fishing off Newport in 50 to 100 feet of water. It is hard to work a jig in water that deep so tautog rigs are working best for anglers. The bite is good for cod in the Block Island Wind Farm and at Cox Ledge too,” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren. 

Matt Conti of Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, said, “Anglers are finding fish both South and East of Block Island when anchored up fishing for tautog they are catching both cod and sea bass as well. The Island Current has been doing fairly good too.”

Nick Karjewski of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown, said, “Some anglers are still tautog fishing and the fish they are catching are in deep water.” 

Call ahead to make a party boat reservation for tautog and cod fishing, vessels sail between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. and return in the afternoon. Visit www.islandcurrent.com, www.francesfleet.com and www.sevenbs.com. Full day rates for vessels are $130 to $135 per adult and around $80 for those under 12 years old.

“Freshwater fishing in stocked ponds for trout and salmon is pretty good with a fairly decent largemouth bass bite too,” said Sullivan of Luckey Bait & Tackle. For a complete list of trout stocked ponds in Massachusetts visit Mass Wildlife at Trout stocking report | Mass.gov  and in Rhode Island visit www.dem.ri.gov/fishing, or call 401-789-0281 or 401-539-0019 for more information on trout stocking.

Dave Monti holds a 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.