Shark predation, sharks eating an angler’s catch as they bring it to the boat, has been increasing exponentially. And it is not very pretty.
The cod fishing this month has been hit or miss at the East Grounds, Cox Ledge and Sharks Ledge off Rhode Island. However, the bite at Georges Bank off Massachusetts and Rhode Island has been good but with an increase in shark predation.
Scott Travers, Executive Director of RI Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA )said, “My largest cod was about 15 pounds, and I lost a real large one to a shark and the end of the day.” Scott and his Association fished the Georges Bank area on the Capt. John, a Helene H party boat out of Hyannis, MA.
This year shark predation when anglers fished for striped bass, summer flounder and now cod has been increasing. This summer the number of striped bass entered in the Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament was down dramatically due to shark predation.
Shark predation needs further study by NOAA and the recreational fishing community as to why it is increasing and how to lessen its impact.

Artificial reefs to help stop erosion, enhance fishing and aquaculture
Two years ago, Mike Wade, owner of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly, said, “The town is considering pumping more sand on the beaches from out in front of our beaches. The idea is to replenish the sand from storm erosion. The only negative is that sand will wash away too. I think artificial reefs could be an answer and provide new habitat for fish to grow that anglers can catch.”
This year Mike Wade mentioned the challenge to Rich Hittinger, 1st Vice President of the RI Saltwater Anglers Association and chair of their legislative committee and they were both off and running on the initiative.
Their search led them to two University of Rhode Island School of Ocean Engineering professors, Doctors Annette and Stephan Grilli, who along with their graduate students were modeling the possible impacts of different reef configurations to help absorb ocean energy and protect our coastal shores from storm events and normal wave action made even more intense by various climate impacts.
Hittinger said, “We also looked at the work researchers and scientists from the University of Miami are doing. They recently sunk 27 interlocking concrete structures that will form two hybrid reef units 1,000 feet offshore of North Beach Oceanside Park, Miami Beach. These structures have holes and a hollow core to absorb the wave energy.”
Anette and Stephan Grilli have been working with their graduate students to model the effectiveness of various options for artificial reef design, size, and placement in Rhode Island Sound just off the barrier beach that separates Ninigret Pond from the ocean.
Hittinger said, “Through their work they have identified design features and reef placement that improve the function of artificial reefs both during intense storm events like Super Storm Sandy and during average sea state conditions. Their results confirmed that a properly designed artificial reef would significantly reduce the wave energy reaching the shoreline, the mean current magnitude along the shoreline, and the subaerial eroded volume of the beach- barrier system, particular during storm events.”
Last week staff from the Rhode Island US congressional delegation, state senators and representatives, the Department of Environmental Management, Coastal Resources Management Council, and a host of environmental groups met during a RISAA online workshop to discuss project, next steps and how all can help seek funding and necessary permits to build the project.
For information about the initiative contact Rich Hittinger at richhittinger@gmail.com.

Where’s the bite?
Striped bass, bluefish, bonito. Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, said, “Customers are catching inside on salt ponds with soft plastic lures and bucktails, as well as live eels. Off the point swimming plugs as well as surface lures are producing. Many healthy fish in the 20 lb class were taken this week. A few bluefish around but not crazy numbers.”
East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “Striped bass are loading up on baitfish for their journey south and the new moon lit up the canal with slots plus over 40 inch fish riding the east tide in from Buzzards Bay.” “We saw a big uptick in the amount of school and keeper bass in Apponaug Cove and Greenwich Bay this past week with larger fish being caught off Newport and in the East Passage,” said Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, Warwick.
Cod fishing. See above story.
Tautog. “Most of the by catch like scup and seabass have moved to deeper water making it a bit easier to just target tog. If you drop a crab and get no tautog bites move to a new spot. Like I said where there is one there is more. Yes the bite can get better as the tide starts moving, often times if you are simply in the right spot you can find pretty consistent action,” said O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle.
Olson of Ponaug Bait & Tackle, said, “Tautog fishing exploded this week with customers catching their limit of three fish with the General Rock and Hope Island North Kingstown, RI areas working well for anglers.”
Freshwater fishing is outstanding, particularly in RI and MA waterways that have recently been stocked with trout. The largemouth bass bite has been good too as fish are starting to stage in fall areas. Trout stocking locations in Massachusetts are updated daily, visit Trout stocking report | Mass.gov for an interactive map. Visit www.dem.ri.gov/fishing for waterways stocked in RI.
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 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.