6/29/10
PART VII - MINIMUM SIZES OF FISH/SHELLFISH
7.10
- This action INCREASES the recreational possession limit for bluefish to 15 fish per person per day. [This regulation becomes effective upon filing].
7.10 Bluefish
- Possession limit for recreational fishermen -- No person shall possess more than ten fifteen(15) bluefish unless he/she has a permit meeting the requirements of RIGL 20-2-26, 20-2-26.1, 20-2-27,20-2-28, 20-2-28.1. Compliance onboard vessels will be determined by dividing the number of fish onboard a vessel by the number of recreational fishermen onboard said vessel.
August 21, 2010
RIDEM sets new regulations for Tautog
The Marine Fisheries Division recommendation states:
"There is a compelling need to reduce fishing mortality in the recreational Tautog fishery. RI and MA share responsibility for managing the regional Tautog stock. RI's higher possession limit in the fall appears to be a primary cause of the over fishing that is occurring on the stock. It also incentivizes MA fishermen to fish in RI waters, further contributing to the disproportionally high take from RI waters."
Following a public hearing and recommendation of the RI Marine Fisheries Council, the RIDEM Director has set the following regulation changes
for the remainder of 2010:
Sets different regulations between private recreational anglers and the party & charter boats
Recreational anglers
3 fish per person/per day from now through October 15 (status quo)
6 fish per person/per day from October 16 to December 15 AND a 10-fish BOAT LIMIT from now to December 15
New changes are a reduction from 8 fish/day to 6 fish/day in the fall fishery, and the new boat limit. This means that no more than 10 Tautog may be caught on any boat, no matter how many anglers are aboard.
Example: 1 angler on a boat can posses 6 fish 2 anglers on a boat can have no more than 10 fish TOTAL (5 fish each) 3 anglers on a boat can have no more than 10 fish TOTAL (3 fish each + 1 extra)
Licensed Party & Charter Boats
1 fish per person through October 15 (new)
8 fish per person from October 16 to November 30
(will drop to 6 fish in 2011)
1 fish per person from December 1 to December 15
Mandatory logbook reporting for all Tautog fishing activities (new)
Here is the Latest on the Rhode Island Saltwater license issue. You have a choice this year.
Rhode Island (Updated 4-15-2010)
Rhode Island’s new Recreational Saltwater Fishing License is currently only available via a simple, user-friendly website: www.saltwater.ri.gov. The license will also be available at participating vendors, such as bait and tackle shops, by June 1st of this year. Where you can get the saltwater license has not been decided yet. My guess it will be local baitshops/Benny’s. More to follow.
The cost of the license is $7 per year for RI residents and $10 per year for non-residents. There is also a temporary 7-day license available for $5. The license is free for anglers who are over 65 years of age and for active military personnel who are stationed in Rhode Island.
No license is required for anglers under 16 years of age, for anglers fishing on licensed party and charter boats, for anglers who are on leave from active military duty, and for anglers who are blind or permanently disabled. A full description of all exemption categories is available on the license website.
The RI license enables the holder to fish legally not only in all RI marine waters, but also in all federal waters and all state marine waters throughout southern New England (as well as in all other reciprocal state marine waters throughout the U.S.). The federal registration does not cover fishing activities in neighboring state marine waters, including Connecticut and New York. The federal registration, available at www.countmyfish.noaa.gov, is free for 2010, but is expected to cost as much as $25 in 2011 and thereafter. Rhode Island does honor the federal registration, as well as licenses issued by reciprocal states, so anglers fishing in RI marine waters are covered if they have a RI license, or a license from a reciprocal state (such as Connecticut or New York), or a federal registration.
The RI license is currently only available via the www.saltwater.ri.gov website. For 2010 you can participate in the National registration for free, by calling this number 1-888-674-7411 or on the website https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/register/home.jsp OR you can buy a R.I. Saltwater license, Residents $7.00, Non-Residents costs $10.00.
Either national registration or a R.I license is required as of Jan 1 2010.
THIS IS FOR ANYONE FISHING IN RHODE ISLAND.
Helpful link from RISAA.
Rhode Island will honor the licenses of all recriprocal states:
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts (starting in January 1, 2011)
- New York
- A Federal Angler Registry permit
Those fishing in violation of the chapter would be guilty of a civil infraction and would be fined $10 for the first offense, $50 for the second and $100 each for subsequent offenses. The money raised will fund administration of the licensing program and support fisheries management and improvement.
Massachusetts
For 2010 fishing saltwater in Mass will require you to only register with the National
Saltwater Angler Registry. National registration for free, by calling this number 1-888-674-7411 or on the website https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/register/home.jsp
Find more Massachusetts info at: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/recreationalfishing/rec_license.htm
Connecticut
Fishing in Connecticut requires a CT Saltwater License because Ct now has a saltwater licensing program and is not covered by the National Angler registry.
Connecticut law allows non-resident anglers who hold a marine waters fishing license in New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Maine to fish in the marine district and land marine fish in this state without a Connecticut license provided the state issuing the marine license affords the same privilege to resident Connecticut marine license holders.
Find more Connecticut info at: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2696&q=443060&depNav_GID=1630
AFFLIATES:
RISAA : The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association
UMS: The United Mobile Sportfishermen
RFA: The Recreational Fishing Alliance