By Dave Monti
I attended a workshop on Wednesday titled “Fisheries in a New Era of Offshore Wind Development,” given by NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center from Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The workshop took place in the Coastal Institute Auditorium at the URI Bay Campus in Narragansett.
The aim of the seminar was to provide an overview of the development in the 15 ocean wind farm lease areas that have been granted. The seminar highlighted the development process; potential interactions with NOAA’s fisheries mission, including the impacts on their scientific enterprise; and a discussion of the major challenges and opportunities of achieving coexistence between sustainable fisheries and offshore renewable energy.
Jon Hare, director of NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, said: “There are a lot of challenges, such as our ability to do all the regulatory reviews without additional staff, the pace and scale of development, and all the science questions that must be addressed in regard to fisheries, protected species and ocean ecosystems.
“We have opportunities, too, such as the formation of the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance, a group comprised of wind developers, fishing industry, states, federal government and energy companies,” Hare said.
The alliance aims to share research and develop research protocols for wind-farm development projects.
Additionally, Hare noted that there are fisheries that can possibly benefit from ocean wind farms, including commercial gill netters, hook-and-line fishermen and the recreational fishing sector.
Hats off to Hare and NOAA’s Greater Atlantic Region for reaching out to the community in this fashion. About 100 people attended the seminar and another 80 joined a webinar online.
Seminar on black sea bass
On Monday, you can expand your knowledge of black sea bass, their biology, migration patterns, regulations, fishing locations and more at a Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association Seminar. The seminar will be held at the West Warwick Elks Lodge, 60 Clyde St., West Warwick. Nonmembers are welcome to attend with a $10 donation to the association’s scholarship fund; members attend free. An optional dinner starting at 5:30 p.m., sponsored by the Elks Lodge, is available for an additional cost.
Speakers include Jason McNamee, chief of the Division of Marine Fisheries for the Rhode island Department of Environmental Management; Kraig Ruth, chairman of association’s Kayak Committee; and Capt. Eric Thomas of Teezer Fishing Charters. Visit www.risaa.org for additional information.
Chub mackerel fishing
Last week, chub mackerel started to school on the surface along our shore. On Sunday off Jamestown’s Beavertail Point in heavy fog, angler Kevin Fetzer of East Greenwich hooked up with one. “It gave me quite a fight on light tackle. We were rigged for bonito, so I threw a Deadly Dick at the mackerel school and hooked up. The fish ran three times before it was netted.”
Atlantic chub mackerel (Somber colias) are a fast-growing species that matures in two to three years and lives for as many as eight to 10 years. Chub mackerel are found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and are silver in color with a greenish-blue back. The chub mackerel in our waters have larger eyes and they are a bit “chubbier” than your average mackerel. They are generally found within 10 miles of shore in water between 50 and 72 degrees. Young mackerel live around sandy beaches or kelp beds while adults are found in deeper water.
The chub mackerel is a healthy meal, high in protein and rich in omega-3 and unsaturated fatty acids. It is often baked and grilled whole. In Sicilian cuisine, it is also served filleted and raw, marinated in oil, lemon, salt and pepper.
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass and blue fish. Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box, in Warwick, said: “We have a great bluefish bite in Greenwich Bay off Oakland Beach and Goddard Park as well as in the Providence River. And, the striped bass bite is holding strong at Block Island.”
Bonito, false albacore, chub mackerel have been schooling along the southern coastal shore and off Newport, and at the mouth of the Sakonnet River. We ran into some furious chub mackerel surface frenzies on the surface off Beavertail on Sunday. Giddings said: “False albacore and bonito are running pretty good now off Newport.” Lucky Bait & Tackle in Warren reported a great false albacore and bonito bite last weekend off Newport and at the mouth of the Sakonnet.
Scup, black sea bass and fluke. Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said: “We did chip away at some quality fluke with the fast drift early last week, but it was way too fast at times. When things slowed down, we chipped away some doormats to 10 pounds. There has been more than enough sea bass to catch while waiting for a fluke keeper.” Giddings said: “Black sea bass, Northern kingfish and scup fishing continues to be strong just about everywhere in the mid- and upper Narragansett Bay areas.” Ken Landry of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, in Warwick, said: “We have been sending customers down to the lower Bay to the bridges and south for fluke, scup and black sea bass.”
Freshwater fishing remains very good for bass, pike, perch and catfish. Giddings said: “Little pond behind Warwick Vets is yielding some nice largemouth and catfish for anglers. Overall the freshwater fishing for customers has been outstanding.”
Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. He is a RISAA board member, a member of the RI Party & Charter Boat Association, the American Saltwater Guides Association and the RI Marine Fisheries Council. Follow Capt. Dave on twitter @CaptDaveMonti. He’ll be tweeting about ‘Where’s the bite’, fishing regulations, national fishing policy, and issues that impact the fish. Forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visitwww.noflukefishing.com.