Fishing Report: Fluke bite on the rise in Sakonnet River and the Bay
The inshore summer flounder (fluke) bite is improving off the Sakonnet River, in mid-Narragansett Bay at Warwick Light, along the coastal shore and at Block Island, if you can stay away from the dogfish.
We picked up several fluke at Warwick Light Saturday. “Headed out fishing for fluke at the end of the Sakonnet River," angler and underwater recreational fish videographer Eric Duda said last Sunday. "Our first drop, nice 20-inch fluke on! Fishing was hot or cold. Some spots really good, other drifts were not. A bunch of smaller-size black sea bass caught, and one huge blue. We caught 12 keeper-size fish and released about 15 short fluke. Bucktail jigs with squid seemed to work the best.”
Fishing Report: Time to get ready for the Block Island Inshore tournament
Climate change affects habitat of large whales
New research finds climate change is having an impact on how large whale species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, use habitats in the warming Gulf of Maine, showing that right whales’ use of Cape Cod Bay has shifted significantly.
The study illustrates the need for adjustments in protective measures for threatened and endangered whales. Measures have been taken by Massachusetts officials to avoid whale line entanglements in traditional lobster pots, fish traps and other fixed fishing gear. Enhanced measures are needed to avoid entanglement wherever the whales frequent.
Using more than 20 years of data, the scientists measured shifts in whale habitat use in Cape Cod Bay, evaluating trends in peak use for North Atlantic right whales, humpback whales and fin whales.
The study found that peak use of Cape Cod Bay had shifted almost three weeks later for right whales and humpback whales. Changes in the timing of whale habitat use were related to when spring starts, which has been changing as a result of climate change.
The study suggested that highly migratory marine mammals can and do adapt the timing of their habitat use in response to climate-driven changes in their environments, with results showing increased habitat use by right whales in Cape Cod Bay from February to May, with the greatest increases in April and May.
The study, led by the New England Aquarium and including researchers from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the U.S. Geological Survey Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, the Center for Coastal Studies, UCLA, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Canadian Whale Institute was published June 7 in the journal Global Change Biology at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.16225.
Fishing Report: Now's the time to fund NOAA's climate-change battle
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass and bluefish. Mark Tracey of Barrington caught a 34-inch bass with a 9-inch Saltwater Doc surface plug last Friday on the outgoing tide in the Providence River in front of the windmills. “We made five or six drifts with lots of action and near misses until this one got a good hold of it," Tracey said. "I remove the front hook on the lure and fish it only with one at the back for easier release.”
Mike Curran hooked up with bass in the Providence River last weekend using chucks and live-lining Atlantic menhaden. “I fished Upper Bay on Friday and caught four keeper stripers to 35 inches, two on live pogies and two on fresh chunks drifting with 20 boats around me," Curran said. "A good number of fish caught by other boats also around the pogies.”
East End Eddie Doherty reported: “A school of good-sized striped bass entered the Cape Cod Canal chasing bunker on a midafternoon east tide. The few guys who were there did very well at all levels of the water column with one surfcaster reeling in seven fish in an hour that were all over 30 pounds, each on a large white Magic Swimmer.”
Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence said: “On Monday, Capt. Mike Littlefield of Archangel Charters in Newport caught a 55-pound striped bass.”
Declan O’Donnell of Misquamicut Bait and Tackle in Charlestown said: “Nice striped bass being caught in the salt ponds and out in front on the reefs. There seems to be more bait moving into the ponds and there are still a few worm hatches going off. Some bigger bass, including fish into the 30-pound class, were reported out front and at Block Island this past week. Bluefish remain thick in the area and are taking many variations of lures.”
Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait and Tackle in Warren said: “We caught some huge bluefish [their largest looked to be about the mid-30s in inches] Monday in front of Narragansett Beach.”
Summer flounder/black sea bass. “Fluke fishing has been pretty good at Block Island and decent along the beaches," O'Donnell said. "Most people who are trying for fluke are at least getting a few fish for their effort. Still a lot of shorts along the south shore beaches with a few decent-sized mixed in. Black sea bass fishing is improving with more keeper-sized fish around.”
Anglers are reminded that the minimum size for black sea bass is now 16 inches. The bite continues to be good in Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay and off the coastal shore with anglers catching good-sized keepers mixed in with a lot of undersized fish.
Anglers are reporting that fluke are now being caught off the Sakonnet River, at Warwick Light in Rhode Island and in the lower and mid-Narragansett Bay areas. “We canceled our Block Island fluke trip last week," angler Peter Johnson said, "as the fluke grounds south of the island were loaded with dogfish.”
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 that focuses on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy and fisheries-related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net or visit noflukefishing.com.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Fishing: Inshore summer flounder bite improving, here's where
