This week the RI Marine Fisheries Council will hear a proposal to close the Providence River from Conimicut Lighthouse, north to the city, to commercial pogy boats who net menhaden. The proposal would also limit the size of vessels inside the bay to 85-feet or less to purse senie for menhaden inside Narragansett Bay. As it looks at this time, the proposal has a very good chance of passing. This would end a 50 or more year battle between recreational anglers and the pogy boats to keep them out of the Providence River. At era might be ending at last. This will provide a sort of sanctuary to the pogies in the spring time when they are here in the largest numbers. It will make getting bait easier and hopefully, hold the stripers and bluefish here longer into the season. Regulations for all users groups will also be discussed tomorrow night at URI in Kingston at 6 pm. On the agenda are regulations for seasons and sizes for fluke, scup, black sea bass and tautog. Our fluke size is likely going to go to 18-1/2 inches in length and seven (7) fish per day per man. Black sea bass have a tentative season of July 1st to Oct. 1st and a 13-inch size limit, with a 25 fish bag limit per person. However, the Mid Atlantic Council is awaiting and next Wave of statistics on the black sea bass fishery and those regulations could change. Scup and Tautog have not been decided upon as of yet and we would likely know until tomorrow night.
