Leaders Day highlights how climate is impacting both red and blue states

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s 15th Annual Energy, Environment and Oceans Leaders Day (EEO Day) held Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, was a big success.
The purpose of the workshop is to recognize Rhode Island environmental leaders and update the community on recent developments in the environment, energy, oceans and climate change arena. How climate initiatives and approved funding will be impacted by the new administration were a key focus of the meeting.
“We must connect the dots between climate impacts and impacts on our economy. For example, storms in Florida have been devastating. Insurance rates for homeowners have quadrupled. Many cannot and will not be able to afford insurance and this will impact the ability of citizens to get mortgages and if banks are not issuing mortgages the real estate market is negatively impacted. The same thing is happening in wild fire states and will happen as other states feel climate impacts,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
“We need to kick into a profound education mode to identify climate issues and workable solutions,” said guest speaker Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. When the House investigated oil companies, they delayed the investigation as it showed they knew carbon emissions were having a negative impact on climate. They should be held liable for this damage, much the way tobacco companies have been held liable for causing cancer in humans.”
Senator Whitehouse pointed to climate impacting the fishing industry. What we fish for today is different in composition and abundance than what we fished for ten years ago. “You cannot catch a winter flounder in the Narragansett Bay and when you go to Newport for lobster it was caught in Maine or further north. The cold water fish have left our area and the warm water fish are arriving,” said Senator Whitehouse.
Senator Ron Wyden, (D-OR), chair of the Senate Finance Committee and leading Democrat on the Joint Committee on Taxation, said “The philosophy of the climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act are simple, the more you reduce carbon the better the tax savings. These tax provisions have been successful in red and blue states, in fact the 20 top states taking advantage of tax credit provisions are red states. They are going to ribbon cuttings for all sorts of projects that reduce carbon. I believe many Republicans will defend IRA tax credit provision as they are fueling economies in their states too.”
I was honored to be invited to attend EEO Day and thought it was a great success. Congratulations Senator Whitehorse and staff on another very successful EEO Day.

Striped Bass Board votes to keep
regulations the same
The Atlantic Sates Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Striped Bass Board voted Monday, Dec. 16 to keep striped bass regulations the same for the 2025 fishing season which is one fish/angler/day at a slot size of 28” to < 31” with an open season year round.
Instead of more restrictive regulations to rebuild the stock the Board committed to working on an Addendum to the Striped Bass Management Plan that will adjust 2026 regulations if needed.
Rick Bellavance, President of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association, said, “After almost five hours the board voted to leave everything alone. Although there were some significant closures proposed for Rhode Island in May/June and Sept/October, nothing will change for next year.”
Striped bass are overfished according to a 2024 stock assessment. At the Striped Bass Board Monday members considered measures to reduce fishing mortality and increase the probability of rebuilding the stock to at least 50% by 2029. Instead of initiating new regulations for the 2025 season the board decided to let things slide for another year.

Rig making seminar Dec. 30
A rig making RI Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) seminar will be held Monday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 60 Clyde Street, West Warwick, RI.
Rig components supplied as well as expert advice from members on how to successfully tie rigs for targeting summer flounder (fluke), tautog and other species. Expert rig tiers on hand include Rich Hittinger, Bob Murray, Rich Reich, David Michel, Fred Definis and Scott Travers.
The in person seminar will have food available starting at 5:30 p.m. RISAA members free, non-member admitted for a $10 donation to the RISAA Scholarship Fund.
For information contact Scott Travers, Executive Director, at 401-826-2121.

Where’s the bite?
Tautog fishing and cod fishing. Call ahead to make a party boat reservation, vessels generally sail between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. and return in the afternoon. Visit www.islandcurrent.com and www.francesfleet.com. Full day rates for vessels are generally $130 to $135 per adult and around $80 for those under 12 years old.
Striped bass. Connor Swartz of Red Top Sporting Goods, Buzzards Bay, said, “Not a lot of action on the Cape Cod Canal right now, however, angler have been hooking up with maceral at the East End.”
Ed Lombardo, expert fly fisher and instructor, said “Sunday, fishing from 9 a.m.to 2:30 p.m., at the Narrow River, Narragansett on an incoming tide, I caught two slot sized striped bass (28” to < 31”). No shad but some silversides in the water. Used one of my Ed’s flies to land the fish.”
Freshwater fishing. Swartz of Red Top Sporting Goods, Buzzards Bay, said, “The freshwater bite has been good with anglers hooping up with largemouth bass from shore using spoons and nightcrawlers. The trout bite is good too, particularly in stocked ponds. Long Pond in Plymouth is producing for anglers.”
For a complete list of trout stocked ponds in Massachusetts visit Mass Wildlife at Trout stocking report | Mass.gov, both Whiting and Falls Ponds in North Attleboro were stocked this fall. 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 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.