Providence River Striper Fishing Hanging Tight

The annual striper migration into the upper reaches of the bay is in full swing!  Water temperatures in the upper portions of the bay are in the low sixties and the bait and bass are holding deep in the Providence river shipping channel, but striped bass are on the move and starting to filter into the Seekonk River chasing bait. 

Many of the regulars are doing just fine with one angler telling me he probably caught 300 fish last week. I have been holding my own releasing at least a couple of keepers each outing.

This river fishery winds down as soon as upper bay waters reach around 70 - so get out and have some fun! Although the river system will hold schoolie stripers through the summer, "keepers" prefer cooler waters and will move on. 

This clip was taken on Upper Narragansett Bay in the Providence River close to the city of Providence. 

In the Spring, Pogys (Menhaden) will migrate into the Providence  river and hold in the shipping channel with Stripers feeding under the bait pushing them to the surface (This is how you locate bait for livelining pogys). 


Striped Bass will sometimes use structure to surprise their prey, which was the case in this video where they were hanging  around the ship and submerged pilings.

More on the Rhode Island State Fish the Striped Bass

The striper is different from any other fish 

The striped bass has a large mouth, with jaws extending backward to below the eye. It has two prominent spines on the gill covers. The first (most anterior) of its two well-developed and separated dorsal fins possesses a series of sharp, stiffened spines. The anal fin, with its three sharp spines, is about as long as the posterior dorsal fin. The striper's upper body is blueish to dark olive, and its sides and belly are silvery. Seven or eight narrow stripes extending lengthwise from the back of the head to the base of the tail form the most easily recognized characteristic of this species.

Females reach significantly greater sizes than do males; most stripers over 30 pounds are female. Thus, the term "bulls," originally coined to describe extremely large individuals, has been more accurately changed to "cows" in recent times.

Reproduction

The number of eggs produced by a female striped bass is directly related to the size of its body; a 12-pound female may produce about 850,000 eggs, and a 55-pound female about 4,200,000 eggs. Although males reach sexual maturity at two or three years of age, no females mature before the age of four, and some not until the age of six. The size of the females at sexual maturity has been used as a criterion for establishing minimum legal size limit regulations in recent years.

Habits

Striped bass are rarely found more than several miles from the shoreline. Anglers usually catch stripers in river mouths, in small, shallow bays and estuaries, and along rocky shorelines and sandy beaches. The striped bass is a schooling species, moving about in small groups during the first two years of life, and thereafter feeding and migrating in large schools. Only females exceeding 30 pounds show any tendency to be solitary.

Schools of striped bass less than three years of age (sometimes called "schoolies" by anglers) occasionally travel from upstream into rivers such as the Hudson, Connecticut, Narragansett and Merrimac. Although adult striped bass move into rivers to reproduce, fish less than three years old probably make such journeys to take advantage of a river's abundant food resources.
Striped Bass migration routes from the principal spawning grounds of the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware River, and Hudson River

Striped bass normally do not migrate during the first two years of life. However, adult stripers generally migrate northward in the spring and summer months and return south in the fall. Individuals that hatch in the Hudson River generally do not migrate beyond Cape Cod to the North and Cape May to the south. Fish hatched in the Chesapeake Bay exhibit more extensive Migrations, some being captured as far north as the Bay of Fundy in coastal Canada.

Stripers reproduced in rivers and the brackish areas of estuaries. Spawning occurs from the spring to early summer, with the greatest activity occurring when the water warms to about 65 degrees F. The eggs drift in currents until they hatch 1 ½ to 3 days after being fertilized. Because newly hatched larvae are nearly helpless; striped bass suffer their highest rate of natural mortality during the several weeks after hatching.

The major spawning activity for the entire East Coast fishery occurs in the Hudson River, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Roanoke River-Albermarle Sound watershed. Striped bass are most abundant in the New England and Mid-Atlantic states following year when reproduction in the Chesapeake Bay has been particularly successful, suggesting that much of the East Coast is strongly dependent upon the success of spawning in that one watershed.

Management

Striped bass populations have a history of periods of abundance interspersed with periods of scarcity. A major coast-wide reduction in abundance occurred at the end of the 19th century. No catches of stripers were reported north of Boston for 30 years after 1897. Populations had recovered somewhat by 1921, and an unusually successful year of reproduction in 1934 was followed by 6 years of markedly increased abundance. Great numbers of juvenile fish were recorded in Massachusetts waters in the mid-1940s, and high numbers of increasingly larger individuals followed for a period of years. 

Such information suggests that striped bass populations are dominated for extended periods by fish hatched during occasional years of unusually successful reproduction. Also, a year of successful reproduction is often followed by a series of years when spawning fails or is so limited in success that relatively few new fish enter the population.

During the 1970s, the last peak year of reproductive success in the Chesapeake Bay was 1970 (note figure). Levels of reproduction were consistently low in the 1980s except in 1982 when modest numbers of juveniles were produced . Thus, most of the bass harvested in the during the 1970s and 1980s had come from the spawning effort of 1970. The recent extremely prolonged period of reproductive failure had caused a steady decline in striped bass abundance.

The decline was reflected in decreasing success by recreational anglers and commercial harvester. For example, the estimated catch by recreational anglers from the Gulf of Maine to the mid-Atlantic region fell from 6,600,000 pounds in 1979 to 1,700,000 pounds in 1985, while the landings of striped bass by commercial harvest plummeted from 14 million pounds in 1973 to 3.7 million pounds in 1984.

Maryland Index of YOY Abundance Maryland Juvenile Index, 1957-2011

Maryland Juvenile Index, 1957-2011
The decline in abundance of stripers coming from the Chesapeake Bay was felt to be caused by a combination of factors, including the presence of a variety of pollutants in spawning grounds, fishing pressure, and feeding and nutritional problems of larvae. A rapidly changing management plan was developed in response to the severely depleted status of the striped bass. 

Prior to the mid-1970s, management of striped bass was carried out more or less independently by each coastal state. In 1979, Congress amended the Anadromous Fish Act to create the Emergency Striped Bass Study Program. In 1981, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) adopted a coast wide management plan, to be acted upon by each coastal state. This plan recommended minimum size limits for fish caught in nursery rivers and in coastal areas, and restricted fishing on spawning grounds during the spawning season.

In response to constantly dwindling numbers of stripers on the East Coast, this plan was amended (Amendment 3) in 1985 to protect females hatched in 1982 until they have spawned at least once. In 1985, several states imposed mortaria or began a progressive increase in minimum size limits scheduled to reach 38 inches in total length by 1990. Amendment 3 of the ASMFC's plan also stipulated that regulations protecting the 1982 year class would remain in place until the 3-year average of the Maryland's juvenile index (a measure of year class strength) exceeded the long-term average of 8.0.

Atlantic Coast Striped Bass Abundance

The Maryland juvenile index value exceeded 8.0 in 1989 and initiated a new management regime. In late 1989, Amendment 4 to the ASMFC's plan was adopted. The basic premise of this amendment was that striped bass must be managed first to restore the spawning stock biomass and secondarily to support fishery yield. Under Amendment 4, the states were allowed to relax regulations and prosecute tightly controlled fisheries starting in 1990. Daily bag limits of one or two fish were imposed on the recreational fishery of all states and the commercial fishery was greatly reduced compared to historical levels. In addition, each state was required to monitor recreational catches and participate in fishery-independent monitoring or tagging studies used to estimate mortality.

• The 2011 ASMFC stock assessment indicated that the coast-wide striped bass population is declining, although it is not overfished and overfishing is not occurring.  
• The cause of the decline is poor to below-average production of new young in Chesapeake Bay during 2004-2010.  In turn, the catches of striped bass by Massachusetts recreational anglers have responded to the coast-wide decline.  
• The number of fish released (comprised of mostly undersized fish) plummeted after 2006 in response to low “schoolie” abundance.  
• The number of striped bass harvested began to decline after 2008 as the last of the large year-classes grew through the coastal fisheries.  Further declines in harvest are anticipated until the large 2011 year-class grows and becomes vulnerable to fishing.

Striped Bass Recipe

Large bass can be steaked, the baked, broiled or grilled. If steaks are cut particularly thick, they can be stuffed with slices of bacon, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, parsley, apples, and even cranberries, and spiced to taste. Place the lightly floured fish in a foiled baking dish, add one cup or mild red wine and bake at 400 degrees until the flesh flakes.

A late Season Fishing Trip Turned Out Memorable

I was out fishing the Seekonk River last week and no matter what I did could not find fish, so I made the decision to make the run all the way into Pawtucket from the Bold State Park boatramp, but still went fishless for the day.

As of the middle of October 2015 the rivers are still holding a good amount of bait, but not much in the way of any predator fish. The day did not turn out all that bad, in fact it was a day to remember. 

In all my years of fishing around the Pawtucket and Providence waterways I have never seen a Bald Eagle. Well, last week I went out in search of a few late season Blues and Stripers and spotted this guy at the new waterfront park on the Blackstone River, next to the old Apex building. They completed the beautiful park this year which was known as the "Old Parent's Marina."

I was catching some bait and happened to look up and almost fell out of the skiff after seeing this awesome bird just a few feet away from me. They are truly intimidating critters up close.

The first clip is a scan of the Bullocks Point and Conimicut Point areas - other clip shows a school of bait fish (Menhaden), in the main Providence shipping channel, gathering together to make the migration out of the bay to open water - The last clip is a juvenile Bald Eagle waiting to snatch a meal from all the birds feeding on the peanut and adult bunker in Pawtucket.

 The day did not produce any fish but turned out to be a great day on the water.

 

Narragansett Bay Springtime Striper Fishing Is As Good As It Gets

I start looking forward to the springtime Striper fishing in Rhode Island in the winter and as the spring gets closer I really get intense. It's the perfect fisherman's scenario, find the bait...find the fish.

When the keeper Stripers arrive in New England and are pushing the Menhaden up the rivers - inshore towards Pawtucket, the fishing can be nothing short of phenomenal.

The spring fishing only lasts for a couple of months until the rivers warm, but can be as good as it gets.

The center piece of Rhode Island known as Narragansett Bay is great for sailing, boating, fishing, kayaking, cruising, swimming and seal watching, these water activities are just a fraction of the great recreational opportunities enjoyed by millions of residents and visitors each year.

Historic villages nestled along the scenic coast offer waterfront dining, shopping, adventure sport outfitters and more.

Narragansett Bay's protected harbors and inlets along with its deep shipping channels provide a perfect refuge to enjoy the sport of fishing.

Fishing on Gansett Bay starts in the spring when striped bass shoot up the Seekonk River and Providence River to hunt for herring and bunker where we will be waiting for them. As the heat of summer warms the cool bay waters fishing switches to its most northern end at the mouth of the bay near Jamestown and Newport and almost every place in between.

Other hot spots will include the Eastern passage of Narragansett Bay which includes the Mount Hope Bay and the Sakonnet River. 

The bay is filled with inlets, coves, ledges, piers, docks, bridges so move around and try different areas .

Although much of the fishing I do is with live bait,  topwater light tackle fishing in Narragansett Bay during May and June can be epic! When the conditions are right 30 or 40 fish on light tackle per day are commonplace. Spring fishing on Narragansett Bay is hard to beat.

This video is just a taste of the great inshore fishing we have here in Rhode Island

Providence River Spriper Fishing Report

The Providence and the Seekonk Rivers are still holding a good amount of bait and fish - even with water temps in the rivers pushing 70 degrees. The Striped Bass fishing has been pretty good of late if you cover some ground and work the tides.

This weeks fishing consisted  mostly within the Providence River - since the majority of the Menhaden have let the safer confines of the old Apex/ Pawtucket area, and headed for cooler deeper waters in the Providence River Channels and Lower Narragansett Bay.

Still plenty of  bait at Fields Point with not many keeper stripers around the bait school. I tried all my Prov. river hot spots, with no hook-ups. I ran into the Seekonk river and tried the Henderson and Old Red Bridge with no fish. I made the run to Pawtucket where I was rewarded with a double hook-up and four fish for the day - all were released unharmed to fight again.

Go figure, water tempos are on the rise and the fish were up in Pawtucket. With summer upon us and the warmer temps around, look for the fish to start moving into other parts of Narragansett Bay.

This year is not panning out to be as good as past years and there seems to be less boats around the inshore river systems. Maybe more guys are heading to Prudence Island, Bristol, or the Ocean. There were a few boats out today and I would like to hear how your day on the water went?

Trio Of Fish Passages On The Ten Mile River Complete

The last of a trio of fish passages on the Ten Mile River is completed, restoring access to 340 acres of historic spawning habitat. Omega Pond dam ladder has proven far more difficult and costly than the Turner Reservoir and Hunt’s Mill in recent years, but after a few delays Omega is complete. Before the ladders were built river herring and American shad were prevented from entering their fresh water spawning grounds by a 10-foot-tall Omega dam near the mouth of the Ten Mile.

The dam at Omega is the farthest downstream, followed by Hunt’s Mill and then Turner. It’s also served up the most unwelcome surprises.
The one that has caused the most trouble is a gas line that was discovered in an unexpected location in the way of the project. 

It’s estimated that the trio of fish ladders will open habitats capable of supporting runs of 200,000 herring and 25,000 shad.

The Army Corps is working with the state Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on possibly adding some additional rocks to a section of the rapids that may be too steep for fish during low flows.

This is great news for the fishing community and all outdoors people. I noticed a few more people fishing along the Turner Reservoir since the ladders have been built. With the added forage fish in the reservoir this should help the large mouth bass population!

Regulations for Rhode Island Recreational Striped Bass Fishery for 2015

I'm sure DEM Director Janet Coit means well when she says she is in favor of keeping the Striped Bass industry strong and viable. 

But in reality is DEM really looking out for the good of the fishery by allowing Menhaden fishing in the confines of Narragansett bay?  

I would have to say...NO! Stripers are entering the Bay because of the migrating Pogy population. 

The Striped Bass numbers are down because of the lack of bait. I'm sure most people who fish, have heard the saying.....NO Bait...NO Fish. 

The Department of Environmental Management today filed new regulations governing the Rhode Island recreational striped bass fishery for 2015.

They establish a bag limit of one striped bass per person per day, at a 28-inch minimum size....

DEM Director Janet Coit based today's decision on the need to protect the health and future of the striped bass population. "Faced with the stark reality of a declining population, I am compelled to take strong action, consistent with our neighboring states, to reverse the decline and restore the striped bass fishery to a more robust and sustainable status," said Coit.

Atlantic striped bass are a premier gamefish, as well as an important commercial species - in Rhode Island and up and down the coast. The crash of the stock in the 1970s, subsequent rebound, and current decline form the backdrop for today's action.

The most recent benchmark stock assessment, conducted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), found that, since 2006, the spawning stock biomass (SSB) of striped bass along the Atlantic coast has been steadily declining. 

As of 2012, SSB had fallen below the management target and was approaching the overfished threshold. In response, the ASMFC took action, requiring all coastal states to implement management programs that reduce fishing mortality to the management target within one year.

For the recreational fishery, the ASMFC adopted a new coastwide regulatory standard of one fish per person per day, and a 28-inch minimum size. 

This was a reduction from the previous coastwide regulatory standard of two fish per person per day, and a 28-inch minimum size.... 

On a coastwide basis, the new standard is projected to achieve a 31 percent harvest reduction from 2013 levels. The ASMFC's management program allows for state-by-state conservation equivalency (C/E). As such, states may propose individual state programs that are conservationally equivalent to the coastwide regulatory standard.

DEM and other members of Rhode Island's ASMFC delegation strongly supported the development of a C/E proposal, as a management option, to address the interests of Rhode Island's for-hire industry.

Rhode Island's C/E proposal set forth a separate regulatory standard of two fish per person per day, with a 32-inch minimum size, applicable to all individuals fishing aboard RI-licensed charter and party boats. 

Coupled with the one-fish-per-day-at-28-inch standard applied to all other recreational fishermen, this proposal was projected to achieve a 29 percent harvest reduction for Rhode Island.

From mid-January of this year through early March, DEM conducted an intensive public review process, focused on an evaluation of the two management options: adoption of the C/E proposal versus adoption of the coastwide standard for all recreational fishermen. Hundreds of public comments were offered, many in support of the C/E proposal, many others in support of the coastwide standard. On March 2, the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council voted 5-3 to recommend adoption of the C/E proposal.

In reaching her final decision, Director Coit reviewed the entire public record, with a particular focus on five key factors: resource conservation, risk, enforceability, compliance, and equity. While the record included compelling justifications both for and against the two options, Director Coit found that the arguments in favor of taking a more risk-averse approach applicable to all Rhode Island recreational fishermen outweighed the case for including the two-fish option applicable to Rhode Island's for-hire industry.

"In acting to protect the health of the resource, I seek to protect the long-term interests of all fishermen, including those in the for-hire industry, who rely upon striped bass for recreation, food, and employment," said Coit.

Director Coit said that in many ways, this has been the most challenging marine fisheries issue that she has faced as Director. "The Department heard from hundreds of men and women who love to fish in Rhode Island.

The passion and enthusiasm for stripers and fishing is overwhelming. Rhode Island's recreational fishing is world class, and we want to keep promoting our outstanding marine resources, our party and charter businesses, and the many jobs associated with this fishery," said Coit.

Looking ahead, Director Coit said she intends to work closely with the for-hire industry to pursue separate for-hire quotas for the various fisheries that are important to their operations, with a view to enabling the industry to remain strong and viable.