Fishing Report: Plenty of 'blue' initiatives in the 'green bond' on Question 3

Question 3 on the statewide Rhode Island ballot this year is what is commonly called a "Green Bond." Green bonds are typically earmarked to raise money for climate and environmental projects, often associated with initiatives to acquire funding to purchase open "green" space for the public good.

Much of the $50 million requested in Question 3, however, is for "blue" initiatives related to our estuaries, bays and ocean.

"Green" and "blue" components of the bond include $16 million to make cities and towns more resilient to climate impacts such as sea level rise; $3 million for forests and habitat restoration to help them continue to serve as a filter for groundwater supply and help purify our air; $5 million for small-business energy loans; $3 million for Narragansett Bay and watershed restoration; $12 million for a new Roger Williams Park Education Center; $4 million for brownfields; $5 million to purchase open space; and $2 million for local recreational facilities.

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Question 3 will get my yes vote as these initiatives are at the very heart of our way of life, a big part as to why we live in the Ocean State. They are funds to keep our water blue, our forest green and our economy in the black, acting like a magnet for fishing and tourism generating billions in economic impact for Rhode Island each year.

Fifty-million dollars is a lot of money, but to put things in perspective, we have a Question 2 on the ballot, which asks for $250 million in bonds for construction of the state’s public schools. And Question 1 seeks $100 million in bonds for the University of Rhode Island Narragansett Bay Campus’ marine discipline education and research needs. Both of these bond issues deserve consideration, too, as they foster research, education, training and jobs in our blue-green economy.

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Fall Fly Tying Program

Stock up on your fly-fishing flies by joining the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Fish & Wildlife Aquatic Resource Education’s annual Fall Fly Tying Program. Learn how to tie flies from knowledgeable fly-tying instructors.

Participants will have a choice of tying saltwater or freshwater flies at either the beginner or intermediate level. You will even have a chance to win a holiday wreath covered with a variety of flies.

The program begins Monday, Nov. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Cold Spring Community Center in North Kingstown. The fee is $5/person/session or preregister for all five sessions for $20. For information or to register online, visit https://dem.ri.gov/events/fall-fly-tying-workshop or contact Kimberly Sullivan at (401) 539-0037 or kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov.

Where’s the bite?

Striped bass. “Slot size [28 inches to less than 35 inches] and smaller school striped bass are in Bays and out in front along the coastal shores,” said Jeff Sullivan of Lucky Bait & Tackle in Warren. “The striped bass bite along the southern coastal beaches and breachways has been very good. Anglers are having success with metal lip lures and SP Minnows,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence. Cape Cod Canal fishing continues to explode with multiple bait profiles, striped bass of all sizes and a great bluefish bite. "East End" Eddie Doherty, expert Canal angler and author, said: “Plenty of baitfish are still swimming in the Canal feeding sustained blitzes for miles. Striped bass were breaking for hours riding the east tide as Anast Terezakis and his son, Nick, from Connecticut had a good day at Pip’s Rip. They had fish up to 42 inches and Anast landed a 26-pounder on a white Beachmaster pencil.”

Black sea bass and scup. The scup bite is still good anywhere with water movement and structure. “Customers are catching some keeper black sea bass when tautog fishing as far north as the Providence River and the scup bite remains strong in the East Passage,” Henault said.

Tautog. “Tautog fishing has been producing many limit catches of fish up to 7 to 8 pounds," said Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown. "Some areas are starting to get picked over, so keep moving around. Shore anglers continue to do well, too, with a few customers catching 8-pound fish from the West Wall of the Harbor of Refuge last week. There are still a few good-sized sea bass being caught by those targeting tog or fishing for them specifically on deeper pieces of structure." Sullivan reported: “Tautog fishing exploded last week. We landed five double-digit fish. The Aquidneck Island Striper Team [a fishing club] tautog tournament winning fish weighed in at 11.7 pounds.”

Freshwater. “Not many customers have been targeting trout this fall," Henault said, "but the largemouth bite seems to be very good.”

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: Lots of fishing and tourism initiatives in RI Question 3