Marine Recreational
Fishing in Rhode Island
By Erik Williams
and Tony Corey
P1365
Marine recreational fishing
in Rhode Island is a very important part of the economy in the Ocean State.
A major tourist attraction, as well as a strong local interest, recreational
fishing draws approximately 350,000 people to Rhode Island’s waters
each year for a total of 1.2 million fishing trips. More than 45 percent
of these anglers are from out of state – one of the highest percentages
of out-of-state anglers for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. These anglers
spend nearly $100 million each year on fishing equipment, such as tackle,
gas, boats, and repairs.
People are attracted to Rhode
Island because the area is an angler’s delight. Fishers may drop
their lines from a bridge, pier, party boat, charter boat, or private
boat in search of a "keeper" fish. And they are not likely to
be disappointed: In fact, the average angler in Rhode Island will catch
two fish each trip. For the inshore angler, the reward might be bait-hungry
scup or mackerel, flounder, or more challenging trophy species, such as
striped bass or bluefish. Those willing to venture offshore may test their
skills against powerful and hard-fighting tuna, marlin, swordfish, or
shark.
Before venturing out to go
fishing, it is important to understand and be prepared to obey the latest
regulations. Depleted populations of a number of species have prompted
regulations limiting the number of fish per angler, setting minimum size
limits, and restricting areas and times for fishing. Most tackle shops
should have a copy of the latest regulations to help you comply with legal
requirements.
While visiting one of the local
tackle shops, you might also want to get some fishing tips. Remember,
fishing is not all luck: To have a successful trip, you must be fishing
in the right area with the proper bait and tackle. If you are feeling
adventurous but are not sure where and how to get the big ones, you might
be interested in going out on a charter or party boat. Before going out
on a boat, be sure to pick up a copy of "Rhode Island Fishing."
It is free and loaded with charter boat company advertisements as well
as fishing tips, recipes, and interesting stories.
Fishing Ethics
Ethics is conscience; it is
what governs an angler when unobserved. If anglers lacked ethics, in a
single year, certain fish stocks could be severely depleted. Today, it
is no longer enough simply to be law-abiding. To ensure a future for recreational
fishing, anglers must practice proper catch-and-release techniques, and
try to limit their take, not take their limit. By becoming an ethical
angler, you will help safeguard sportfishing as a pleasurable pastime
for now and the future.
The ethical angler:
- Can identify most of the
species commonly caught in the area and is familiar with the regulations
and limits for each species of fish.
- Appreciates the importance
of habitat and other environmental considerations
- Knows how to release unwanted
fish so that they have a good chance for survival.
- Understands and observes
boating regulations.
- Is a courteous angler and
boater who does not "move in" on other anglers who have found
a good spot.
- Keeps garbage in the boat,
instead of teaching it to swim.
- Shares expertise with others.
Sportfish Restoration
Recreational fishing has become
so popular that the fish populations are struggling to keep up with the
anglers. But declining fish stocks are nothing new. As early as the 1850s,
certain species of fish, such as halibut and the anadromous fishes –
those that migrate from salt water to fresh water to spawn – were
beginning to decrease in abundance. The New England states responded early
on by establishing agencies to study and develop conservation measures
for declining fish populations. By 1871, the U.S. Congress recognized
depleted fish stocks as an issue requiring attention and created the U.S.
Office of the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. The agency encouraged
states to implement conservation measures, and initiated its own hatchery
and stocking efforts. In time, the federal projects were substantially
scaled back, and the federal focus on replenishing stocks was largely
supplanted by state efforts to conserve through management of harvests.
While management of fisheries
resources has been directed largely toward commercial fisheries, recreational
fishing was not left out of conservation efforts. The passage in 1950
of the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act provided a way to finance management
and conservation initiatives for recretional fisheries. This act, also
known as the Dingell-Johnson Act, placed excise taxes on sport fishing
tackle to support fisheries management in individual states. In 1986,
this act was expanded, through the Wallop-Breaux Amendment, to apply the
excise tax to all fishing equipment and to direct receipts from such sources
as duties on imported fishing gear and pleasure craft into state coastal
fisheries management. The revenues are distributed by formula according
to each state’s fishing activity. States are required to direct a
percentage of their funding to boating access to public waters, and coastal
states must support marine, as well as freshwater, fisheries enahancement.
Willing Sacrifice
The various efforts to manage
and conserve resources for recreational fishing have been generally successful,
in large part because anglers themselves support these measures. User
fees, size and catch limits, and similar constraints are accepted as part
of the cost of sustaining the sport for all anglers. For many anglers,
catching dinner is less important than the experience of fishing: relaxing
and enjoying the outdoors, and savoring the challenge and adventure of
the fishing process.
For Further Information:
Ross, Michael R. 1991. Recreational
Fisheries of Coastal New England. University of Massachusetts, Amherst,
MA. 279 pages.
Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers
Association, http://www.risaa.org
For the latest sportfishing
news:
Sport Fishing Institute
1010 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington DC 20001
For the latest world records:
The
International Game Fish Assoc.
1301 East Atlantic Boulevard
Pompano Beach, FL 33060
Rhode Island rules and regulations:
Department
of Environmental Management
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Oliver Stedman Government Center
|Wakefield, RI 02879
