SPORTS

Climate impacts on fishing and boating

Posted 3/15/22

By CAPT. DAVE MONTI

Climate change is impacting our coastal shoreline, habitat and the fish we love to catch, eat and/or release. If you are interested in what is changing, and how to employ …

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SPORTS

Climate impacts on fishing and boating

Posted

By CAPT. DAVE MONTI

Climate change is impacting our coastal shoreline, habitat and the fish we love to catch, eat and/or release. If you are interested in what is changing, and how to employ strategies and actions to address climate changes, you will want to attend this free online Climate Fishinar on Wednesday, March 23 and April 13, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Last week Climate Fishinar partners led by the Coastal Resources Center and Rhode Island Sea Grant  at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography announced a free online Climate Fishinar series titled, “Climate Change Effects on Recreational Fishing and Boating: Opportunities and Actions”.

It is a two-part webinar series that will engage northeast recreational anglers, boaters, and climate experts. They will discuss how climate change is affecting traditional uses – both good and bad. Strategies and actions that individuals, governments, and industry are taking to respond to these changes will also be discussed.

As part of the Climate Fishinar series organizers are holding a photo contest.  Send in your photos that depict positive or negative climate impacts on fish, habitat, or resource users and you will have a chance to win one of two $250 cash card prizes. Photos could include a habitat change, fish that have left the area, fish here or here in greater abundance due to climate impacts, etc.

Organizers plan to screen photos during each session. Session I deadline is Friday, March 18, Session II and the final deadline is Wednesday, April 6. To enter, please send photographs to me, Dave Monti at dmontifish@verizon.net, as I have been asked to coordinate entries. Each photo should be accompanied by the name of the photographer, where the photo was taken, and a brief one to two sentence description of the photograph.

To take a look at the list of charter captains, fishing sharpies and climate scientists participating, or to register for Session I on March 23 visit https://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/webinar-series-climate-change-effects-on-recreational-fishing-and-boating/.

Event participants include the University of Rhode Island (URI) Graduate School of Oceanography, Coastal Resources Center, Rhode Island Sea Grant, Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Ørsted, American Saltwater Guides Association, Ocean Conservancy, Rhode Island Marine Trades Association, and Safe Harbor Marinas.

Saltwater Fishing Show big success

The excitement started to build at around 11 a.m. Friday. The line to get in to the New England Saltwater Fishing Show stretched the length of the Rhode Island Convention Center around the corner to the Omni Hotel and then winded in zig zag fashion to accommodate all those wanting to get into the Show at 12 noon. The show is sponsored by the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA).

As the crowd at the entrance stood in line they watched the Fishing Show Launch Event. Those participating to open the show included Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator of NOAA (and former RI DEM Director); Terrance Gray, Acting Director of the Department of Environmental Management; RI State Representatives Deborah Ruggiero and Terri Cortvriend (both of them are shore access champions); Greg Vespe, Executive Director and Dawn Filliatreault Wood, Board President or RISAA; and Lynn Medeiros, long time RISAA volunteer and wife of the late Stephen Medeiros, RISSA founding president and Fishing Show director.

The Launch Event included the sounding of vessel horns, one long and three short blasts, symbolic of a vessel leaving its dock as it backs into an alleyway.

Once open, the excitement filled the exhibition hall as thousands of people attended the three day Fishing Show.

What I liked at the Show?

There was a lot to like at the show, as it is the largest saltwater fishing show of its type in the Northeast. The Show featured tackle, rods, reels, lures, electronics, charter guides, boats, engines, accessories, clothing and much more.  About 275 booths and hundreds of manufactures were represented at the show.

The Kayak Centre of RI, North Kingstown, RI

Kayaks are still one of the fasted growing segments of boating. I particularly liked the Hobie Mirage Lynx shown at the Kayak Centre booth. Chuck Jay, Hobie Northeast Sales Representative, slapped the side of the Hobie Mirage Lynx and said, “What makes this boat different is that it has a solid core, it’s 36 inches wide for great stability, 11 feet long and weighs only 47 pounds.” Fully rigged the boat is only 63 pounds. Christopher Catucci, a fishing sharpie and pro guide for the Centre and Hobie said, “Once I was introduced to kayak fishing I was hooked and have been fishing fresh and saltwater on kayaks ever since.” The Hobie Mirage Lynx has a suggested retail pride of $2,995. However, The Kayak Center has a range of boats and price points. Visit them at www.kayakcentre.com or at 70 Brown Street, North Kingstown (Wickford), RI.

Snug Harbor Marina, South Kingstown, RI

Elisa Cahill and her brother Matt Conti had one of their best days ever Saturday at the show. Their large end cap booth had hundreds of customers buzzing in and out of it. “I’d like a reel to match up with this rod.” said Joel Salafia of Durham, CT. “We have a broad range of reels to match,” said Matt Conti of Snug Harbor. Joel settled on a $210 Penn Squall bait caster reel and left the booth happy with his match. Elisha Cahill said, “It has been very busy, it’s been an outstanding Show.”

Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle,  North Kingstown, RI

“We had a terrific Show.” said Neil Hayes of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle. “Customers each day were ready to buy. Our sales volume was way up. You could tell there was a lot of pent up demand out there.” When ask what was new at the show Neil said, “We introduced the new St. Croix Seage Surf Spinning Rods at the show. They are available in 7 to 12 foot lengths and are made with a newly engineered carbon fiber that is both stonger in flexural strength and lighter than previous rods. They range in price from $210 to $380. And, have a St. Croix 15-year warranty.”

Saltwater Edge, Middletown, RI

Louis Schlaker, an associate at the Saltwater Edge said, “Top water lures are my favorites for early spring striped bass fishing. Lures four to five inches tike Yo Zuri’s Hydro Pencil top water “Walk the Dog” style lure is great. They are available in four colors … black/silver, sardine, bone and mullet.” They were listed at $14.49 on the Saltwater Edge website. Schlaker said, “I also like using a soft plastic, such as a 7 ½ inch slug-go and the Shimano Coltsniper Splash Walker is also a great spring top water lure.” It was listed at about $18.99 on the Saltwater Edge website. Visit www.saltwaterede.com.

Dave Monti holds a captain’s master license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verison.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com.

                                                                             

No Fluke, fishing

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