Two voluntary Right Whale Slow Zones were put into effect by NOAA last week as whales were detected Southeast of Nantucket, Southeast of New York, NY and redetected by the New England Aquarium Southwest of Martha’s Vineyard. Both slow zones are in effect through Sept. 8, 2024.
These Right Whale Slow Zones may be extended as they often are when these large animals are redetected.
The northern right whale population is one of the most endangered species in the world, with a total surviving population now estimated at only around 340 animals, including about 100 females that can bear young.
Because vessels of all sizes can strike and injure a right whale, NOAA Fisheries encourages vessels less than 65 feet in length to slow down to 10 knots or less within active slow zones.
Studies have shown that ship speeds of 10 knots or less can reduce the danger of a ship collision being fatal to whales by 80 percent to 90 percent, according to Oceana.
Mariners are requested to avoid or transit at 10 knots or less inside Dynamic Management Areas (DMA) where right whales have been detected. Please visit Reducing Vessel Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales | NOAA Fisheries for coordinates and more information.
Where’s the bite?
Freshwater. Angler Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, Warren, said, “The largemouth bite is still on at night. I have had success with frogs and caught a six and a half pound fish this weekend.” “The largemouth bite is good in the lower water column as the water is warm on the surface.
Gorton and Little Pond in Warwick are producing,” said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, Warwick. Parker Mandes of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly, said, “Freshwater anglers are having difficulty as the water is very warm, cloudy and weedy.”
Striped bass, bluefish, bonito. “Anglers have started catching school size striped bass and keepers in the Seekonk River using Atlantic menhaden chucks and top water lures with success,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence.
Giddings of the Tackle Box, said, “The striped bass bite is improving with a good bite still on in front of Newport and at Block Island.”
East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “Rain bait continues to sprinkle the surface, but the Canal has slowed down considerably, producing some 26-32 inch bass with a few exceptions.”
Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle, said, “The striped bass bite at Brenton Reef, Newport, is still very good, caught a 46” bass their last week using a bucktail. The bonito, small to 18 inches, were running pretty good too last week. And the bite on the Southwest Ledge at Block Island is good too landing 12 to 15 pound bluefish, a 220 pound brown shark (released) as well as multiple large bass.”
Parker Mandes of Watch Hill outfitters said, “We had reports of false albacore at the East Wall this week with bonito being caught all week on the fringes of mackerel schools that surface. The striped bass bite is good along beaches with the same 28 to 38 inches fish trolling our salt ponds at night and early mourning.”
Dave Gordon relates this weekend on the RI Saltwater Anglers blog, “Not much to report...very slow fishing in the Bay. Got some small bass under the Newport Bridge last weekend fishing with a friend. Rode all around this morning without seeing anything .I’ve been marking bait in the channels but nothing on them.”
Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, Warwick, said, “We have more bait in the Bay and in coves including skip jack bluefish so everyone is hopeful that with this cooler weather things will improve in the Bay.”
Fluke (summer flounder), black sea bass and scup. “Anglers are hooking up with keeper fluke at Rocky Point and Warwick Light with weakfish being caught there too. Large scup are still being caught in the mid Bay area,” said Giddings of the Tackle Box.
The black sea bass bite off Newport was good this week with keeper size fish being caught in the Brenton Reef area and off the Sakonnet River. “Fluke fishing has slowed down a lot, I think it is almost over for the season,’ said Mandes of Watch Hill Outfitters.
“Caught keeper fluke this week dropping epoxy jigs down to the bottom in the Brenton Reef area,” said Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle.
Tautog. “Keeper tautog are being caught at Hope Island, for an early season bite it is fairly good, we even had a customer catch a keeper tautog at Rocky Pont Fishing Pier,” said Giddings of the Tackle Box.
Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, said, “Not many tautog fishing yet, but customer and kayak angler Tom Houde has been hooking up with tautog off Jamestown this week.”
“Reports of tautog fishing being good are coming in. Customers are reporting catching fish to eight pounds. The bite is good both in the Bay and out in front off Newport,” said Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle.
Bluefin tuna. “We now have school bluefin tuna in the 28” to 40” range being caught at the Gully with larger medium sized fish now appearing too,” said Parker Mandes of Watch Hill Outfitters.
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.
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