The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will be holding their annual youth fishing camp June 28-30. Funding for the three-day camp is provided in part by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The camp will be held at Rocky Point State Park in Warwick for 50 children ages 7-12.

“Fishing teaches us patience and how to take care of the environment,” said Richard Reich, RISAA camp director and board member, “but most importantly, it appeals to our sense of adventure and c is great fun.”

The camp aims to give kids as much fishing time as possible, while teaching them about the environment and the basics of fishing.

“We learned early on that the kids love to fish so we optimized the fishing time from shore, on private vessels and one day we plan to go to Point Judith to fish on a party boat,” said said Reich.

Fishing report:Wind farm is a favorite haunt for fish, study finds

Topics to be covered include fish identification, conservation, use of spinning and conventional gear and tackle, basic marine biology, how and why to use different baits and lures, boating safety, casting from shore and fishing from private boats as well as a party/chartered boat.

Camp is free but space is limited to 50 campers. For more information or to register, visit https://risaa.org/2022-fishing-camp-for-youth. You can also email Reich with questions at [email protected] or call the RISAA office at 401-826-2121.

Fishing survey at the wind farm by charter boat

A research study is being conducted by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to assess the potential economic impacts associated with offshore wind development on rental/charter vessels in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Fishing report:Follow these tips to catch more tautog this spring

Participants will be asked about for-hire/charter fishing activity over the past five years. Having quick access to your logbooks for the years 2017-2021 will allow you to react effectively. Responses will be kept strictly confidential but will be summarized in reports and communications to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and other regulatory agencies. Link to survey: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6778918/for-hire-vessel-survey. The last day to respond to this survey is May 7.

Photo contest highlights climate impacts on fish and their habitat

The 2022 Baird Symposium held its second session on Climate Impacts on Recreational Fishing and Boating on April 13. The symposium is sponsored by the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Sea Grant Program; Ørsted, owner of the Block Island wind farm and developer of offshore wind farms in Massachusetts and Rhode Island; and the Ocean Conservancy.

The symposium also held a photo contest that asked participants for photos depicting climate impacts on fish, habitat or resource users.

Both first-place winners included a striped bass photo submitted by Captain Abbie Schuster of Kismet Outfitters on Martha’s Vineyard. The bass was dropped from a boat into washing or foaming water near a structure. The other first place photo was taken by James Turek. The photo showed severe beach erosion at Weekapaug Fire District Beach in Westerly.

Fishing report:Climate change is changing the way we fish

A symposium report and video showing key learnings from the Baird Symposium are expected to be released in late June.

Where’s the bite?

Tautog. “Reports of some guardian fish [16 inches or larger] caught at India Point Park, Providence,” said Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box in Warwick. “A 17 inch tautog was caught this weekend at India Point Park. Good spots for spring tautog fishing include Stone Bridge and Fogland in Tiverton, and Ohio Ledge in the western passage of Narragansett Bay. Tautog fishing will start to heat up as the water warms up a bit. This week the water was 48 degrees at Narragansett Beach; 50 degrees is when the tautog’s bite starts to heat up. Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle in Charlestown reported, “The bite at the Hooter buoy is good, with anglers occasionally catching a cod when tautog fishing. The tautog move inland as the water warms.

Striped Bass. “The spring striped bass run has begun,” O’Donnell said. “Anglers catch fish along the coast and at 27 inches at the Charlestown Breachway.”

Fresh water. “Brown, rainbow and golden trout fishing has been good in stocked ponds in Rhode Island and Massachusetts,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle in Providence. “Olney Pond in Lincoln Woods was producing for customers, but it was cold.” Bob Mello of Sam’s Bait & Tackle in Middletown reported, “Upper Melville Pond appears to be producing trout for customers.” Tom Giddings of the Tackle Box in Warwick said: “Little Pond in Warwick near West Shore Road behind Vets School produces largemouth bass. We weighed a 5lb bass from there last week. John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle in Riverside reported, “Willet Avenue Pond is still producing trout for customers. O’Donnell said, ‘Barber and Meadowbrook Ponds are producing well for trout anglers.’

Dave Monti holds a captain’s license and a charter fishing licence. He sits on various boards and commissions and owns a consulting business that focuses on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries issues and clients. Send fishing news and photos to [email protected] or visit noflukefishing.com.