With large sea animals coming closer to shore, here are some tips to avoid any problems
For the past several years, large animals such as whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, Atlantic sturgeon, sharks and tuna have been feeding closer to shore. Warming water has brought robust bait profiles close to shore and it is the food that big animals like to eat, including mackerel and herring of all types, squid, scup, silversides, sand eels, anchovies, etc.
For example, the three largest bluefin caught in the Boston Giant Bluefin Classic Fishing Tournament last year were caught 2 to 3 miles off Narragansett. Expert angler Greg Vespe of Portsmouth caught three thresher sharks 3 miles off Newport and the Sakonnet River last year in his 19-foot boat. And whale entanglement in fixed gear and whale strikes have increased exponentially as these animals are feeding closer to shore, putting them in more frequent contact with humans and vessels.
Keep your distance to protect yourself, your boat and marine animals when observing these animals. Here are some tips from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations:
Give space to animals.Here are the regulations: North Atlantic right whales, 1,500 feet or 5 football field lengths (required by law); other whales, 100 feet (at least), 600 feet (is best); seals, dolphins and sea turtles, 50 feet; and leaping sturgeon also require extra space to avoid injury to you and the fish.
Do not chase: If a whale approaches within 100 feet of your vessel, put your engine in neutral. Do not re-engage your engine until the whale is observed on the surface, outside of the 100-foot or 1,500-foot (if it is a right whale) zone. Do not follow or chase marine animals or cut through their path — you could separate moms and calves.
Report: You can help save the life of a marine mammal (whale, dolphin, seal) or sea turtle in trouble by calling the New England/Mid-Atlantic hotline at 1-866-755-6622, radioing the Coast Guard or contacting your closest authorized responder directly.
Know the law: Marine mammals, sea turtles and Atlantic sturgeon are protected by federal laws that prohibit people from harming or harassing them. If your behavior changes their behavior, that may be considered harassment.
For more information, visit Whale Watching and Wildlife Viewing in New England and the Mid-Atlantic | NOAA Fisheries.
Reminder: Clam Digging seminar this Monday
If you would like to become more proficient when you quahog, you are in luck. A Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association "Digging Clams" seminar will be presented at 7 p.m. Monday at the West Warwick Elks Lodge, 60 Clyde St., West Warwick. Food will be available through the Elks Lodge kitchen starting at 5:30 p.m. Members are admitted free of charge and non-members will be asked to make a $10 donation. For information, contact Scott Travers, RISAA executive director at (401) 826-2121.
Where’s the bite?
“Striped bass and bluefish bite has been very good with smaller bass to keepers being caught on the surface with top water lures and large fish being caught down deeper with pogies and squid," said Parker Mandes of Watch Hill Outfitters in Westerly. "We also have a good mix of small and medium-size bluefish being caught on the surface.” Taylor Brown of Sam’s Bait & Tackle in Middletown reported: “The striped bass bite has been outstanding. From the upper Bay out to Newport and Block Island, the bite is on. Anglers are hooking up trolling tube and worm, umbrella rigs, but also using eels and lures. The fish range from school bass to just under slot size [28 inches to less than 31 inches] to keeper size and 50-plus-pound fish. The bluefish bite has primarily been out in front off Newport, and they are small to large, all sizes mixed in.” Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence said: “The bass bite in the Bay has been very weird, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. some days. Anglers have been successful using eels and Atlantic menhaden whole or cut into chunks.”
Fluke (summer flounder) and scup. “Fluke fishing has been good, better than it has for the past couple of years'" Brown said. "Some are catching a lot of shorts with an occasional keeper, yet others are catching decent-size fish with an occasional jumbo. Fluke fishing around Point Judith and off Newport has been good but no major reports of fluke being caught in the Bay. The scup bite has been outstanding throughout the Bay with anglers catching scup at Rocky Point Fishing Pier, Conimicut Point and Sabin Point.” Mandes reported: “The fluke bite is better inshore than offshore. Anglers are catching fluke closer to shore along Charlestown and Misquamicut beaches. The bite is better inshore than offshore and around Block Island."
Tuna. “Tuna fishing has been particularly good about 25 miles south on Montauk," Mandes said. "Anglers are hooking up with small and medium-size bluefin tuna on the troll, which is working better than jigging.”
“Freshwater fishing for largemouth bass is still good, with many anglers using shiners for bait with success,” Henault said.
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 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: Keep your distance from large sea animals, and other tips
