Eastbayri.com

OK, so most recreational saltwater fishing regulations have not been established at press time, but we do have a good idea of what they might be.

Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (RIMFC) species advisory panels (AP) review stock assessments, past fishing activity, regulation options and solicit public comment on proposals. Some of these panels have met and others have not. But Jason McNamee, marine biologist for the Marine Fisheries Division and his associates at the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), spoke to me recently about what we can expect for 2012 recreational regulations.

The striped bass AP met Jan. 17 to review both commercial and recreational regulations. Stock assessments have been deemed healthy, so recreational regulations for 2012 are likely to be status quo — 28-inch minimum size, no closed season with a possession limit of two fish/person/day. Commercial regulations are likely to be status quo, too. However, Mr. McNamee said, “There was public comment on the start date of the spring commercial striped bass season, so there may be further discussion on this start date at the next public hearing.”

Summer flounder (fluke) recruitment stock assessments used by the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission (ASMFC) offered conflicting information last year. The June recruitment was at 80 million fish, and the August was 60 million. “The conflicting data would have created a need for a 2012 adjustment,” said Mr. McNamee. “However, recreational fishing experienced an under-harvest in 2011.”

The under-harvest was so great that even with lower recruitment, we may still experience a liberalization in recreational fluke regulations this year. The 2011 regulations included an 18.5-inch minimum length with a May 1 to Dec. 31 season and seven fish/person/day. An increase to eight or nine fish will be explored, vetted both at the Jan. 31 AP meeting and the Feb. 22 public hearing. So overall, we have good news for fluke in 2012 — status quo or a slight liberalization.

Black sea bass are regulated by both the ASMFC and states. At a recent ASMFC public hearing, the species management plan options discussed included managing the species state by state or by two different regional options. The Rhode Island black sea bass AP discussed these options Jan. 19 and the sentiment came down on the side of the state-by-state option. Stock assessments have been good, so an early season start might be in order along with an increased bag limit of one or two fish. So, 2012 regulations are likely to be liberalized with the season starting July 1 (rather than July 11 as it was last year) and run through Dec. 31. The 13-inch minimum size will likely stay the same with an enhanced possession limit from 12 fish/person/day to possibly 13 or 14 fish/person/day.

The scup stock assessment is good and the species was under-fished in 2011. “Recreational landings were about one half of what was allowed,” said Mr. McNamee.

The species is managed regionally with Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The season in the Ocean State was extended to Dec. 31 last year and this is likely to occur again in 2012. Additionally, there will probably be a liberalization in the number of fish allowed. In 2011 the minimum size for the private angler was 10.5 inches with a 10 fish/person/day bag limit. However, for party and charter boats, the minimum size was 11 inches with a special season possession limit that jumped from 10 fish to 40 fish/person/day from Sept. 7 to Oct. 11. The enhanced bag limit allows charter and party boats to fish the species when other fish are not as available, yet they have to catch fish at least 11 inches.

“There was some sentiment at the AP meeting to make the season consistent with one set of regulations, meaning a 10.5-inch fish for party and charter boasts as well as private anglers with a 25-fish bag limit,” said Mr. McNamee.

This proposed change would likely receive some push back from the charter and party boat industry, as it relies on the enhanced bag limit to allow businesses to function when other species are not aggressively fished. Overall, it’s good news for recreational anglers targeting scup in 2012 as the season will likely be lengthened and the bag limit may be enhanced.

Tautog harvest numbers were low in 2011, but the assessment does not include “wave 6” in November and December. The tautog AP will meet Feb. 6, but regulations will likely be status quo: split seasons with a 16-inch minimum size, an April 15 to May 31 spring season with three fish/person/day, a closed season June 1 to July 31 and then a three fish/person/day season from Aug. 1 to Oct. 12. The bag limit increases to six fish from Oct. 15 to Dec. 15 with a 10 fish/boat limit in all periods except for charter and party boats.

Mr. McNamee said he thinks recreational anglers were happy about how things worked out last year with menhaden. He was referring to the fact that Greenwich Bay and north of Conimicut Light were closed to commercial boats.

When asked about the apparent abundance of menhaden in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay in the fall, Mr. McNamee said he didn’t think new restrictions and enhanced weekly monitoring (with air surveillance to manage better) had an impact on the volume of fish. However, he said, “Perhaps the schools were not fished as often commercially and this kept them together. So less commercial fishing may have created an apparent enhanced volume of fish.”

The impact of lower targets imposed by the ASMFC will hopefully be seen over the next few years and menhaden will be more plentiful along the East Coast and in Narragansett Bay, he said.

Fishing flea market

Mark your calendar. The East Bay Anglers will hold its Spring Fishing Flea Market on Saturday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to noon inside the Riverside Sportsman’s Club in East Providence. The cost of a table to sell your stuff is $25 and $2 to attend the flea market (free for kids). This is for both fresh and saltwater gear. Call Dave Fewster for information at 401/230-8201

Capt. Dave Monti has been fishing and shellfishing on Narragansett Bay for more than 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Your fishing photos in jpeg form, stories, comments and questions are welcome. Visit Capt. Dave’s No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him at dmontifish@verizon.net.