Fishing Report: Warming water affects bluefin tuna limits
The bite for both school bluefin tuna and giants was outstanding last year. The fish were close to shore, many caught just one to two miles off Narragansett, and they were here in great abundance. With the enhanced bluefin bite (many believe it is due to warming water bringing in bait), the number of anglers targeting them has increased. Anglers must have a Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit to fish for bluefin and report their catch within 24 hours.
NOAA Fisheries is adjusting Atlantic bluefin tuna daily retention limits for recreational fishermen. The adjusted limits are effective May 6 through Dec. 31, 2022, unless modified by later action.
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The important thing to note is “unless modified,” as bluefin tuna often have retention limit changes during the season as catch data is good due to the 24-hour reporting requirement. This allows fish managers to adjust harvest limits accordingly.
The new adjusted retention limit for permitted private vessels per day/trip is two school bluefin tuna between 27 inches to less than 47 inches and one large school/small medium bluefin 47 inches to less than 37 inches. Permitted charter boats are allowed three school bluefin 27 inches to less than 47 inches and one large school/small medium bluefin 47 inches to less than 73 inches.
To obtain a permit and report catches, visit the HMS Permit Shop or call 1-888-872-8862.
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Fish pushed north by warming water
As the ocean warms, some fish species adapt by moving into cooler and deeper water so they remain in their preferred water temperatures. Those marine species that cannot move either adapt or perish.
On April 19, NOAA Fisheries released a new tool that can show the movement of hundreds of species due in part to climate change and warming water.
The tool, developed by NOAA climatologist Melissa Karp, is called the Distribution Mapping and Analysis Portal, or DisMAP.
In an advisory announcing the portal, NOAA stated: “Changes in marine ecosystems can have big implications for the sustainability of U.S. fishing. … And, when species move outside of standard survey boundaries, it can impact estimates of abundance that feed into stock assessments.”
Karp’s portal uses NOAA Fisheries bottom trawl survey data. Stakeholders can use the portal’s map-based visualizations to explore changes over time in the distributions of more than 800 species.
Remarkable shifts include American lobster — their distribution moved 122 miles north between 1974 and 2019. Black sea bass moved about 143 miles north and expanded its range by about 39 miles, whereas summer flounder moved north by about 48 miles but acutely contracted its range by about 73 miles.
These changes in distribution and range have wreaked havoc with recreational harvest limits and regulations. For example, a great abundance black sea bass means we will likely catch more. We catch too many and we may overfish, and when we overfish, fishing regulations become more conservative to prevent overfishing. Yet we have a great abundance of black sea bass in our waters.
We need to adapt our fishing laws to be more climate nimble to respond to climate impacts like fish distribution. We need enhanced climate research and more frequent stock assessments to figure out just what is happening to species distribution and range changes so we can incorporate into more frequent stock assessments.
To link to the portal, visit Distribution Mapping and Analysis Portal (noaa.gov).
Where’s the bite?
Freshwater. “The trout stocking was exceptional this year, particularly the golden trout, which have been very large this year," said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box in Warwick. "The largemouth bass bite has been very good, too.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in Riverside reported: “Willet Avenue Pond, Riverside and Carbuncle Pond in Coventry have been producing trout for customers. But just about any pond stocked is producing." For licensing and stocking information in Rhode Island, visit dem.ri.gov/programs/fish-wildlife/freshwater-fisheries/index.php. For information on Massachusetts stocked waterways, visit Freshwater fishing regulations | Mass.gov.
Tautog fishing improved this week with anglers catching keepers throughout the Bay and along the coastal shore. “[On Monday], tautog fishing exploded at India Point. Anglers fishing with light jigs [half-ounce] were on fire,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence. “We weighed in a 10-pound fish that was caught in Narragansett with fish being caught throughout the Bay," Giddings said. Kayak angler Tom Houde reported: “I did pretty good Sunday fishing for tautog on my kayak in the West bay. Landed three nice keepers but had to weed though a dozen shorts.” Littlefield said: “Keeper tautog are being caught at Kettle Pont, India Point Park and at Colt State Park in the rocky shore area.”
Striped bass fishing is improving daily with fish in the 20- to 25-inch range being caught along the coast and throughout the Bay, with occasional keepers mixed in at Sabin Pont and Kettle Point. “One customer caught some nice fish off the Barrington Bridge at night with an incoming tide using worms," Littlefield said. “Customers are catching school bass at Conimicut Point using sea worms," Giddings said. “The East Bay has been the ticket for striped bass fishing with fish being caught from Poppasquash Point, Bristol, all the way up to Providence," Henault said. "Fish to 38 inches and 23 pounds caught this week in the Providence River. Anglers are using soft plastics with success working them throughout the water column.” "East End" Eddie Doherty reported: “Some brave, smaller, school-size bass are enduring the cool water temps and entering the Cape Cod Canal from the west end.”
Scup. “Anglers are catching 15-inch scup off the fishing pier at Rocky Point State Park,” Giddings said.
Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and a 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.
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Fishing Report: Warming water affects bluefin tuna limits
