Recent Fish Kills in Narragansett Bay Are Likely Due to a Combination of Factors, According to RI DEM
August 26, 2008
PROVIDENCE - Scientists with the Department of Environmental Management believe that the recent spate of fish kills in various parts of Narragansett Bay is likely due to a combination of natural factors and existing water quality conditions. As part of the Department’s ongoing Bay monitoring program, the Department has been tracking Bay conditions and investigating reported problems. Over the past week, fish kills have been reported in Bullocks Cove, between Barrington and East Providence; in the Kickemuit River; and in Wickford Cove. The numbers of dead fish have ranged from as low as a dozen to as many as a thousand.
The fish kills, mostly involving menhaden, are most likely the result of four major factors, acting in combination: low dissolved oxygen associated with excess nutrients and algal blooms, poor tidal exchange caused by recent neap tides; an extremely large biomass of menhaden; and predation pressure from bluefish. A widely held theory is that large schools of hungry bluefish may be chasing the even larger schools of menhaden into shallow cove areas, where the dissolved oxygen levels are typically lower than in deeper, better-flushed areas of the Bay; the areas may also be impacted by pollution sources. The cascading effect of more and more fish drawing oxygen from already depleted shallow cove waters leads to hypoxic (low oxygen) and then anoxic (no oxygen) conditions, which stresses and then kills those fish that are unable to escape.
DEM and its partners maintain network of monitoring stations in the Bay, which regularly record oxygen, temperature, salinity, pH levels, and, in some cases, water clarity and the presence of algal blooms. The monitoring data is supplemented by field observations made by DEM personnel to generate weekly reports on Bay conditions. As of last week, the upper Bay stations were showing signs of low oxygen, especially in portions of the Providence River and Greenwich Bay. DEM will continue to closely track the oxygen levels and provide further notification if the trends worsen and become serious.
The monitoring network is also essential to measuring changes in water quality expected by the upgrades planned for or installed during the last few years at wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) in Rhode Island. The additional pollution controls are part of an overall nutrient reduction strategy developed by DEM to restore ambient water quality conditions in upper Narragansett Bay and Greenwich Bay. The strategy includes working with EPA to require and implement nutrient reductions from WWTFs in the Massachusetts portion of the Narragansett Bay watershed.
DEM reminds the public that Bay conditions can be tracked via the Department’s 24-hour Bay Line (222-8888) and via DEM’s Bay Assessment and Response Team (BART) webpage, which includes a regularly updated link to the latest Bay conditions as well as a lot of additional information on the Bay and events such as algal blooms and fish kills. To access the webpage, click on “BART” under “Timely Topics” on the Department’s homepage (www.dem.ri.gov
).
Since the fish kills to date have been localized, dispersed throughout the Bay, relatively small in size, and apparently influenced by a combination of natural factors, DEM anticipates that more such events may occur. DEM urges the public to remain vigilant and to continue reporting any major problems by calling the Bay Line and leaving a message. The information received via Bay Line is extremely useful to the Department in tracking and understanding Bay conditions.
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South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 7/7/2008
July 7, 2008
S.C. marine recreational fishing regulations (PDF file). Saltwater Fishing License site.
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Cherry Grove Pier: Whiting are biting well. Spots are also biting well and a few pompano were also reported. Use live or cut bait such as shrimp or mullet for all.
- Springmaid Pier: Whiting are still biting well. Pinfish and blues are also biting. Use shrimp or other cut bait such as mullet. Several Spanish mackerel were reported.
- Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: Whiting and blues are biting well. A few pompano are being caught. Use live or cut shrimp. Average size Spanish mackerel are still biting well. Use Gotcha plugs.
- Apache Pier: Flounder are biting the best now. Nice 4-and 6-pounders were reported using live mud minnows or shrimp. Blues and Spanish mackerel are biting well on incoming tides. Blues will take shrimp. Spanish are hitting gold hooks.
- Surfside Pier: Flounder are biting well on mud minnows. Some are in the 4-pound range. Blues are hitting live menhaden under a float.
- Garden City Pier: Nice whiting and a few blues have been reported. Use shrimp. Spanish mackerel are biting jigs.
- Folly Beach Pier: Several reports of nice black drum biting live shrimp. Sheepshead will bite barnacles and fiddler crabs. Spadefish are hitting shrimp.
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South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 6/9/2008
June 9, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and further information.
Little River
The winds died down this week, making for better fishing. The surf temperature is around 74 degrees.
Spottail Bass: Fair. Anglers are catching spottail bass along structure in the ICW, around creek mouth drains, and in the upper creeks using live mud minnows and Berkeley Gulp. The jetties are also productive right now.
Trout: Good. The trout bite is strong and 3 to 5 pound fish are being taken at the Little River jetties where some big trout are being caught on live shrimp. Berkeley Gulp baits and DOA shrimp have also been effective.
Flounder: Excellent. Most of the flounder have now returned inshore and can be caught in Cherry Grove and 53rd area creeks using mud minnows. Flounder are also being taken at the Little River jetties. Fish up to 8 pounds are being reported caught.
Surf Report: Whiting and pompano are prolific, and sand fleas have arrived. Bluefish are also being caught in good numbers.
Cherry Grove Pier: The Spanish mackerel and bluefish bite has slowed in the last week, and only occasional flounder are being caught. Some nice black drum are being caught in the evenings, up to 4 or 5 pounds, and good sized whiting are being caught.
Menhaden and finger mullet schools have begun to arrive; expect the bait to arrive in full force in the next couple of weeks. Surf temperatures are around 78 degrees.
Spottail Bass: Good. The large schools of spottail bass have broken up for the year, and fish are cruising alone or in small packs. Spottails are being caught in the backwaters and creeks, and many drum are being caught by flounder fishermen drifting or trolling Murrells Inlet. Some larger fish are also being caught around the Murrells Inlet jetties. Mud minnows, live or cut mullet, and cut shrimp are all producing.
Trout: Very good. Trout fishing is hot at the Sunset Bridge. Also, some trout are being caught on the outside of the jetty walls. Try Mirrolures, Gulp shrimp, or live shrimp.
Flounder: Very good. Flounder fishing is hot and nice numbers of fish are being reported with about half of these fish being keeper sized. Drift or troll live mud minnows in Murrells Inlet or the Tubbs Inlet area. Some very large fish, including a 9 and 11 pound doormat, have been caught in the surf at Garden City. In the recent Murrells Inlet Rotary Tournament overall catches were very strong and some large fish were taken.
Pompano: Very good. Pompano have showed up and are feeding aggressively in the surf. Fish with sand fleas in areas that have not been dredged for best results. The fish are mainly small but a 2.5 pounder was weighed in recently.
Piers: The Spanish mackerel and bluefish run seems to have slowed down.
Springmaid Pier: A few Spanish mackerel and bluefish are still being caught, with occasional pompano and some whiting also being taken. Sheepshead are still doing well.
Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: The bluefish bite has slowed down but Spanish are still being caught in good numbers by fishermen jigging. Some small pompano are also being caught.
Apache Pier: Blues and Spanish have slowed, but some nice sized flounder in the 3-5 pound range are being landed. Trout, including a pretty 4 pound 4 oz fish, are also being caught.
Surfside Pier: Blues in the 6 to 7 pound range are still being caught, and fishermen continue to jig up some Spanish mackerel. The bit for both species has slowed, though.
Garden City Pier: While bluefish and Spanish mackerel have slowed some are still being caught, although the Spanish are mainly in the 11-13 inch range and being caught jigging. Whiting are being caught with some pompano mixed in. Beyond the breakers in the middle of the pier flounder are being caught.
Offshore: Spadefish are prolific at the near shore reefs, such as the Sherman wreck, and large numbers are being caught using jelly ball teasers to draw the fish up and then fishing with pieces of cut jelly balls. The 3 miles reef has been very good. King and Spanish mackerel are stacked up at Belkie Bear and Paradise Reef. Dolphins, including some big bulls, tuna and some wahoo are being caught 40 miles offshore and at the Parking Lot. Grouper and Snapper are still biting out at the Ledge. In the recent Governor’s Cup Billfish Tournament out of Georgetown 21 blue marlin, 4 white marlin and 98 sailfish were released. The big dolphin was a 60 pound fish.
Cape Romain/McClellanville
Spottail Bass: Good. Fish are not difficult to locate on the flats, but at times it is difficult to draw strikes. Try a variety of lures to get them to bite, ranging from DOA or Gulp shrimp to topwater plugs to gold spoons to flies. Mud minnows or live mullet may also be effective. Tailing action is being reported.
Trout: No reports.
Charleston
Spottail Bass: Very good. More and more bait is showing up everyday and tailing action is starting to get hot on the flats. Lots of fish are also being caught in the ICW, creeks, and Wando River. Some monster spottails are being caught out around the Charleston jetties fishing cut bait.
Trout: Fair. Fish are in the Wando, Cooper, and the ICW around Wild Dunes, but from day to day they can turn off and then on again. Both live bait and artificials are productive at times, and best fishing is coming to the north of Charleston.
Flounder: Fair. Some flounder are around but catches are not very good yet, although they may be picking up. As more and more baitfish arrive, and flounder continue to return inshore, catches should improve straight through to October. Target flounder using live mud minnows fished slowly on the bottom. Some giggers report being successful in the last few days.
Sheepshead: Very good. Most any structure, from nearshore wrecks to the jetties to inshore piers and bridges, is holding sheepshead right now. Fish fiddler crabs or cut shrimp.
Spanish Mackerel: Very good. The Harbor is full of Spanish mackerel right now, and these can be caught trolling or sight casting Gotcha Plugs, Castmaster or Drone spoons - most anything shiny and fast should draw strikes.
Folly Beach Pier: Fishing at the pier has really improved, and some nice fish are being caught. 5, 6, and 7 pound Spanish have been caught, as well as kings up to 29 pounds 13oz. A 7 pound bluefish was recently caught, an 8 pound sheepshead and a 5-6 black drum. Some large pompano are being caught sporadically, and a few trout are being taken amongst lots of whiting and other bottom feeders.
Offshore: Spadefish are prolific at nearshore reefs and wrecks - use pieces of jelly balls. Dolphin are abundant and still being caught in large numbers, although this action has slowed a bit in the past two weeks, and wahoo fishing is very good although not quite as strong as last year. Barracuda are out in full force, and some yellowfin tuna are being caught at the Georgetown Hole.
Hilton Head
Spottail Bass: Very good. Tailing action is strong around high tide and will continue to improve all summer. On the incoming tide fish the edges of the grass with rattle floats and natural colored Gulp Shrimp to catch slot sized fish as well as larger ones. Also use brown Gulp Swimming Minnows, or mud minnows. A few hours before and after low tide good action is being reported on the low tide flats.
Trout: Fair. Trout fishing has dropped off in the last week or two although some nice-sized fish are being caught. Use Gulp shrimp imitations or live shrimp and target drops on the falling tide, or fish around the grass when the water is high.
Cobia: Read about cobia fishing in the Beaufort report.
Offshore: Spanish mackerel, bluefish, and jacks are all being caught in the Gaskins Bank reef area. Troll shiny spoons and plugs or sight cast at baitfish busting the surface. The best offshore bite is dolphin and wahoo, which continue to move closer in as temperatures warm.
Beaufort
Spottail Bass: Good. Fish are spread out and feeding aggressively on the large mullet schools which have showed up. Spottails are beginning to tail in large numbers in the grass and can be sight-fished for by lure or fly fishermen. Some topwater action is also being reported.
Trout: Few reports. There are scattered reports of some trout up to 4 pounds being caught recently, but most of the local guides are concentrating on cobia or tailing redfish.
Flounder: Good. Flounder are in the inlets and beginning to be caught throughout the creeks. Fish mud minnows along the bottom.
Cobia: Very good. Cobia action is at its peak in the Port Royal Sound and Broad River, but since the sharks have arrived much of the action has move towards the mouth of the sound were many anglers are fishing on top. Lots of anglers continue to fish around the bridge in deep holes, too. Fish are being caught on all types of baits, such as menhaden, eels, squid, and whiting, when anchored up or drifting. Sight fishing with plugs has been off and on, and the fish have been willing to take flies at times, too. Puglisi fly patterns have worked the best. Best fishing is two hours each side of the tide change - when tides are running strongest fish are unlikely to bite. The inshore cobia bite will thin out about mid-June, but some fish will stay in the area right through to August. Lots of cobia are being seen at artificial reefs like the Betsy Ross, although enticing them to eat has been difficult.
Paradise Pier: Some decent whiting have been caught as well as black tip sharks and stingrays. The biggest catch is blue crabs which are being caught by the 5 gallon bucketful around low tide.
Offshore: Black Sea bass and snapper are still available at offshore reefs. Out at the 20 mile mark kings and Spanish mackerel are being caught, as well as some cobia which have already made their way offshore. 45 miles out king mackerel, dolphins, and little tunny are prolific trolling. Further out wahoo, dolphin, and billfish are being reported.
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South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 6/2/2008
June 2, 2008
For more recent updates and further information visit www.SCFishingReport.com
Little River
Strong winds have continued to make for tough fishing this week in the Little River area. Spottail Bass: Fair. Anglers are catching spottail bass along structure in the ICW, around creek mouth drains, and in the upper creeks using live mud minnows and Berkeley Gulp. The jetties are also productive right now.
Trout: Good. The trout bite is strong and 3 to 5 pound fish are being taken at the Little River jetties where some big trout are being caught on live shrimp. Berkeley Gulp baits and DOA shrimp have also been effective.
Flounder: Excellent. Most of the flounder have now returned inshore and can be caught in Cherry Grove and 53rd area creeks using mud minnows. Flounder are also being taken at the Little River jetties. Fish up to 8 pounds are being reported caught.
Surf Report: Whiting and pompano are prolific, and sand fleas have arrived. Bluefish are also being caught in good numbers.
Cherry Grove Pier: The bluefish bite is still excellent, with lots of blues up to 9 pounds and averaging 5-6 pounds caught. Spanish mackerel, trout and lots of medium and small flounder are also being caught.
A few menhaden and finger mullet schools have begun to arrive; expect the bait to arrive in full force in the next couple of weeks.
Spottail Bass: Good. The large schools of spottail bass have broken up for the year, and fish are cruising alone or in small packs. Spottails are being caught in the backwaters and creeks, and many drum are being caught by flounder fishermen drifting or trolling Murrells Inlet. Some larger fish are also being caught around the Murrells Inlet jetties. Mud minnows, live or cut mullet, and cut shrimp are all producing.
Trout: Fair. There are few recent reports of trout catches but the Georgetown area has been most successful for trout. Also, some trout are being caught on the outside of the jetty walls. Try Mirrolures, Gulp shrimp, or live shrimp.
Flounder: Very good. Flounder fishing is hot and nice numbers of fish are being reported with about half of these fish being keeper sized. Drift or troll live mud minnows in Murrells Inlet or other inlets and creeks.
Pompano: Very good. Pompano have showed up and are feeding aggressively in the surf. Fish with sand fleas in areas that have not been dredged for best results. The fish are mainly small but a 2.5 pounder was weighed in recently. Perry’s Bait and Tackle sells sand fleas.
Bluefish: Very good. Huge bluefish by South Carolina standards are being caught in the surf, including large numbers of fish between 8 and 15 pounds as well as lots of 12 to 14 inch fish.
Piers: This is one of the best years in memory for Spanish Mackerel off the piers, and the bluefish run continues to be one of the strongest in some time.
Springmaid Pier: Spanish mackerel are being caught in large numbers, although most are on the small side. Bluefish are also being caught, and croaker and whiting generally ranging from half to one pound are being caught, with occasional flounder and black and red drum mixed in.
Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: Good sized whiting are being caught and the 2 lb. 10 oz. state record was tied off the pier recently. Lots of good sized Spanish Mackerel and bluefish are being caught, and pompano have also arrived.
Apache Pier: Blues and Spanish are still very good, and lots of flounder have been caught recently, including a 10 pound 14 ounce doormat. A 34 pound 8 ounce jack crevalle was also landed in the last few days, and lots of nice sheepshead up to 9 pounds have been caught.
Surfside Pier: Large Spanish mackerel up to 6 pounds 5 ounces and bluefish in the 6 to 10 pound range are being caught. Pompano and whiting have also been abundant.
Garden City Pier: Large numbers of 10-14 inch bluefish are being caught with some occasional monsters up to 10 pounds mixed in, and lots of keeper sized Spanish mackerel are being caught. Pompano, whiting, and flounder up to 18 inches are being taken, although most flounder are in the 14 to 15 inch range.
Offshore: Spadefish are prolific at the near shore reefs, and large numbers are being caught using jelly ball teasers to draw the fish up and then fishing with pieces of cut jelly balls. The 3 miles reef has been very good. King and Spanish mackerel are stacked up at Belkie Bear and Paradise Reef. Dolphins, including some big bulls, tuna and some wahoo are being caught 40 miles offshore and at the Parking Lot. Grouper and Snapper are still biting out at the Ledge.
Cape Romain/ McClellanville
Spottail Bass: Good. Fish are not difficult to locate on the flats, but at times it is difficult to draw strikes. Try a variety of lures to get them to bite, ranging from DOA or Gulp shrimp to topwater plugs to gold spoons to flies. Mud minnows or live mullet may also be effective.
Trout: No reports.
Charleston
Spottail Bass: Very good. More and more bait is showing up everyday and tailing action is starting to get hot on the flats. Lots of fish are also being caught in the ICW, creeks, and Wando River, with tons of 5-12 pound redfish being caught on live and dead mullet, shrimp and crabs. The Harbor, inlets, and creeks are teeming with bait, and some monster spottails are being caught out around the Charleston jetties fishing cut bait.
Trout: Very good. Fish are in the Wando, Cooper, and the creeks around Wild Dunes. Early morning topwater action on Spooks has heated up, and during the day anglers should fish live shrimp under a float, or DOA and RipTide shrimp with a slow retrieve around oyster beds. Night fishermen have also done well fishing DOA shrimp under well-lit docks. Flounder: Very good. Flounder can be found throughout inlets, the ICW, and creeks. Target flounder using live mud minnows fished slowly on the bottom. Small flounder are also being caught in the surf.
Sheepshead: Very good. Sheepshead are schooled up at the nearshore reefs such as Capers Reef and are also being caught inshore. Reports of nice catches around inshore structure, as well as at the Charleston jetties, are common.
Folly Beach Pier: Some whiting, spots, pompano and a few trout are being caught, but pier fishing has yet to really pick up in the area.
Offshore: Out at nearshore reefs sea bass are still being caught in good numbers, and spadefish have started to show up as well as large bluefish. Dolphin are abundant and being caught in large numbers, and wahoo fishing is great. Barracuda are out in full force, and some tuna are being caught at the Georgetown Hole.
Hilton Head
Spottail Bass: Very good. Tailing action is strong around high tide. At other times fish the edges of grass on the incoming tide with rattle floats and natural colored Gulp Shrimp to catch slot sized fish as well as larger ones. Also use brown Gulp Swimming Minnows, or mud minnows. On the beginning of the falling tide bigger spottails can be found schooling and feeding aggressively for brief periods. The topwater bite is also very good on shallow and medium depth flats when the weather is calm.
Trout: Very good. Trout fishing is very good and some nice-sized fish are being caught. Use Gulp shrimp imitations or live shrimp and target drops on the falling tide, or fish around the grass when the water is high. Large fish in the 18 to 20 inch range are being taken when the water is up. Topwater fishing is also productive in the morning.
Cobia: Read about cobia fishing in the Beaufort report.
Offshore: Wind has been tough but wahoo have been caught offshore on days when boats can get out. Dolphin are also around in large numbers.
Beaufort
Spottail Bass: Good. Fish are spread out and feeding aggressively on the large mullet schools which are showing up. Spottails are beginning to tail in large numbers in the grass and can be sight-fished for by lure or fly fishermen. Some topwater action is also being reported.
Trout: Few reports. There are scattered reports of some trout up to 4 pounds being caught in the last few days, but most of the local guides are concentrating on cobia or tailing redfish.
Flounder: Good. Flounder are in the inlets and beginning to be caught throughout the creeks. Fish mud minnows along the bottom. Most fish are still at or below the legal limit; this may improve somewhat as the season continues but biologists suspect the average size of the flounder stock is smaller than usual this year.
Cobia: Cobia have arrived in full force in the Port Royal Sound and Broad River, and the fishing has been better the past few days after the full moon. The Christmas Tree rip has been productive. Fish are being caught on all types of baits, such as threadfin, eels, squid, and whiting, when anchored up or drifting. Sight fishing with plugs has been off and on, and the fish have been willing to take flies at times, too. Puglisi fly patterns have worked the best. Best fishing is two hours each side of the tide change - when tides are running strongest fish are unlikely to bite. Lots of cobia are being seen at artificial reefs like the Betsy Ross, although enticing them to eat has been difficult. The best cobia bite may still be yet to come inshore.
Paradise Pier: Some decent whiting have been caught as well as black tip sharks and stingrays. The biggest catch is blue crabs which are being caught by the 5 gallon bucketful around low tide.
Offshore: Spanish Mackerel are being caught off Bay Point 8 miles out, and little tunny and king mackerel are 20 miles out. Bottom fishing has dropped off somewhat but spadefish are at the reefs are biting well. Dolphin and wahoo are abundant in the Gulf Stream, and yellowfin tuna are being taken sporadically fishing deep. In the Fripp Island Memorial Day King Mackerel tournament the big king was 36 pounds, and the big dolphin was a 35 pound bull. Wahoo catches were off for the day.
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