As fishermen, we need to advocate and stand up for the fish. Because if we do not, no one else will and there will be no fish in the sea to catch for commercial or recreational fishers.

Last week, the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) issued a press release asking President-Elect Trump to make changes that liberalize the Magnuson-Stevens Act (the fishing law of this nation) so it benefits the RFA’s members or ‘sector’ as the press release states. The Recreational Fishing Alliance press release said the Alliance is comprised of fishing industry representatives as well as recreational fishermen.

The release stated, “The days of the environmental zealots running the show are, for the most part, over… So, we're excited about this new direction, and look forward to some positive changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act that will benefit our sector, along with a new attitude towards fishery management.”

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve heard from 30 fishermen, many of them leaders in the fishing community on how we need to keep the MSA strong…the way it is, so it continues to rebuild fish stocks around this nation (over 40 fish species stocks have been rebuilt under the act). They said it is important to get this message to the Trump administration as what is good for the fish is good for the economy.

The RFA said it wants “changes to MSA (fishing laws) that benefit its sector.” It does not say it wants fishing laws that benefit the fish. When fishing laws are written to benefit interest or user groups rather than the fish, the fish suffer, stocks can become overfished to a point where they cannot be rebuilt and can disappear forever.

Strong fishing laws make good economic sense. They grow fish to abundance at the highest possible sustainable levels so there are more fish in the water for all of us… recreational and commercial fishers.

Both the commercial and recreational fishing industries have hit a high under a strong MSA. In a 2014 report, NOAA said in 2012 recreational and commercial fishing had an annual economic impact of $199 billion, which was up seven percent from 2011. The fishing industry continues to rise for all. Fishermen throughout the nation are landing fish. For example, many of the species being caught recreationally in the northeast such as scup, striped bass, tautog, summer flounder and black sea bass have been rebuilt to sustainable levels and in some cases to abundance thanks to a strong MSA. Yes, fish bio mass goes up and down, however, the difference is we have fisheries management plans in place under the MSA that allow us to manage the fish in an effective, sustainable way.

The Trump administration should not take the bait. Strong fishing laws will create more fish for all (as it has been proven) and will act as a strong economic engine for commercial and recreational fishing. So the hope is that the Trump administration will stand up for the fish and continue to have a strong MSA because it is good for the fish…and good for the economy.

Tautog tips from the experts

Learn tautog tips from the experts with Capt. Dave Monti Monday, Nov. 28, 7 p.m. at a Rhode Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) seminar. Capt. Monti will highlight his favorite tautog fishing tips with interviews from some of the region’s top tautog fishermen and captains. Tautog tactics, gear, when and where to fish for tautog will be covered. The seminar will be held at The Villa, 272 Cowesett Avenue, West Warwick. Non-members welcome with a $10 donation to the RISAA Scholarship Fund. Members attend free.

Where’s the bite?

Cod fishing.

Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “On cod trips last week, pool winning cod fish have been in the low to mid-teens on just about every trip, and most fish are nice fat green market fish. Limits of sea bass were generally easy to come by in sizes to four pounds. A decent amount of good-sized scup have been mixed in as well.”

Tautog fishing.

Anglers are catching keeper tautog off Newport, Jamestown, North Kingstown, Narragansett and along the southern coastal shore with black sea bass mixed in. And same as last year, anglers are catching an occasional cod fish. Angler Jerry Pesch landed a 25-inch cod when tautog fishing off Newport near Seal Ledge last week on No Fluke Charters. Christian Silvia of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly, said, “The tautog bite is very good on the reefs with fish now moving to deeper water. Most anglers are reaching their limit.” Tautog must be 16 inches or larger and the limit is six fish/person/day with a 10 fish per boat limit that does not apply to party or charter boats. Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances Fleet said, “Tautog limit catches were caught on the boat every trip last week, and on a few outings this past Thursday and Saturday there were plenty of them. Thursday, the boat was tied up back at the dock before 3 p.m. Pool fish in the 9- to 11-pound range occurred on just about every trip. We had plenty of short tautog on most outings, as well as keeping things busy along with a few handfuls of keeper sea bass and an occasional cod fish.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside, said, “Tautog fishing seems to be where the action is in the Bay with a strong bite still reported at Conimicut Light and the Plum Light House in North Kingstown. Tautog fishing at the Barrington Bridge and the Wharf Tavern has slowed with a 12 short to 1 keeper tautog ratio.”

Striped bass and bluefish.

Christian Silvia of Watch Hill Outfitters said, “Striped bass and bluefish were being caught all day Saturday at Charlestown Beach and we had reports of a 37-pound and an 18-pound striped bass caught in the Misquamicut/Weekapaug Beach areas.” Gil Bell of Charlestown landed a 33.9-pound striped bass Saturday from the beach. Angler George Allen said, “I have never seen so many school bass off Newport in the fall. Anglers are hooking up on almost every cast.”

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing for over 40 years. He 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 and a member of the RI Marine Fisheries Council. Contact or forward fishing news and photos to Capt. Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net or visit his website at www.noflukefishing.com.