Jeff Nicholās book, entitled Caught: One Manās Maniacal Pursuit of a Sixty-Pound Striped Bass and His Experiences with the Black Market Fishing Industry, published in late September, 2013, is an insightful and often hilarious look at the trial-by-fire all serious stripermen endure as we attempt to navigate the perils of weekend warriorhood on our life-long steam toward striped bass enlightenment. Along the way, youāll find a steady dose of fishing and life wisdom, a solid helping of sound big-bass technique, and some time-tempered perspective on the past, present and uncertain future of our beloved striped bass resource.Lisa Helme DanforthDec 1st, 2013
As the weather continues to deteriorate, and we head ever closer to the hard-wired biological kill-switch for fishing in RI waters, we are in the process of overhauling the way we handle our weekly columns with an eye on the winter months.Lisa Helme DanforthNov 25th, 2013
Mike Wade at Watch Hill Outfitters was winding down after a couple of very long days down at Hal Brown, one of the regionās primary fishing tackle wholesalers, whose fall show at their CT headquarters serves as a first look for many of the local shops at what gear will be lining the peg boards next season. Lisa Helme DanforthNov 8th, 2013
With chowder, beer seems to be a natural. And for all things seafood, you canāt go wrong with the Narragansett Lager. The malty smoothness and crisp refreshment of the lager pairs well with most fish dishes, and is even used in a lot of fish preparations, such as in making batters and in cooking mussels. The Narragansett Lager is also the āOfficial Beer of the Clam,ā but maybe it can be the beer of the tog as well!Lisa Helme DanforthNov 1st, 2013
At the risk of beating one very dead horse, I canāt shake the feeling that weāre standing on the threshold of dark days for our striped bass resource. I wrote a bit about this in last monthās column, too, and I decided when I wrote that entry that Iād leave the subject alone for a bit. Trouble is, with each passing week, Iāve spoken to new people representingā in sumāquite a significant geographic fishing range, and an interesting crosssection of the striper-fishing world. On one hand, I think many anglers have begun to understand the overarching issues feeding the widespread recent concern over the health of striped bass stocks. On the other hand, given the sheer number of people with whom Iāve discussed the issueāand the range of specific interests these people representā Iām alarmed that we seem so far from any real consensus about either the state of the resource, or the challenges ahead.Lisa Helme DanforthNov 1st, 2013
The smell of fish hangs heavy in the living room. "What's on the menu?" I ask, doing my best impression of genuine enthusiasm. "We've got some excellent haddock," our host announces, "Got it at the grocery storeāon sale, too." I avoid my wife's gaze. "Sounds awe-some," I say, drawing the corners of my mouth up into what I hope looks like an appreciative grin. "Smells great."Lisa Helme DanforthNov 1st, 2013
October into November signals Fall fishing and the beginning of tautog season. Word has it that the catch is good ā especially scup and tog and chefs across Rhode Island are getting out the large pots for tautog chowder. Check out a favorite of ours in this monthās āSea to Tableā feature on Pages 9-10! We wanted to share more good news. There is lots of activity this month at Coastal Angler Magazine. In January 2014 Mike and I will launch a sister CAM publication in Long Island.Lisa Helme DanforthNov 1st, 2013
After weeks of āfallā fishing, this season seems to be shaping up as a case-in-point that migrations probably have more to do with moons, the angle of the declining sun, or some other unseen variable than they are about water-temp guidelines or the timing of the line storms, or all the other supposed smoking-gun variables in autumn angling.Lisa Helme DanforthOct 7th, 2013
Whether you call them sea trout, weakies, or by their Native American name, squeateague, weakfish are delicious...and, we hear, they are being caught right now off the RI coast, not an everyday affair. While Weakfish are typically found along the Eastern seaboard from Nova Scotia--where they go to spawn--down to Florida, they really only visit us here in RI on their migration North and on their way back down South again.Lisa Helme DanforthOct 1st, 2013