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| Coming to Charlestown's Watchaug Pond |
Beginning
on Monday, April 29, DEM will begin a supplemental spring trout stocking;
brook, brown, and rainbow trout will be stocked in 46 locations across the
state, and Sebago salmon and tiger trout will be stocked in select locations
statewide.
"Freshwater
fishing is an important part of our culture and economy in Rhode Island, and
we're proud to support it through our stocking program so that anglers can have
fun catching the beautiful hatchery-raised trout and salmon we've stocked in
fishing areas across the state for this free event," said DEM Director
Janet Coit.
"After a fabulous Opening Day, we are pleased to continue to offer anglers special fishing experiences in Rhode Island this spring. We encourage people of all ages to visit a favorite fishing spot on free fishing weekend and make some new memories!"
"After a fabulous Opening Day, we are pleased to continue to offer anglers special fishing experiences in Rhode Island this spring. We encourage people of all ages to visit a favorite fishing spot on free fishing weekend and make some new memories!"
New
this year and for the first time, DEM is stocking Sebago salmon, a landlocked
variety of Atlantic salmon averaging two- to two-and-a-half-pounds for Free
Fishing Weekend. There is a two-fish limit for salmon which must be part of the
overall five-fish limit for trout and salmon.
Sebago salmon are being stocked in the following six ponds:
Sebago salmon are being stocked in the following six ponds:
•
Watchaug Pond, Charlestown
• Carbuncle Pond, Coventry
• Olney Pond, Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln
• Meadowbrook Pond, Richmond
• Barber Pond, South Kingstown
• Stafford Pond, Tiverton
• Carbuncle Pond, Coventry
• Olney Pond, Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln
• Meadowbrook Pond, Richmond
• Barber Pond, South Kingstown
• Stafford Pond, Tiverton
Also,
tiger trout, a hybrid of brook and brown trout and first introduced last
spring, are being stocked in the following three ponds for this special fishing
weekend:
•
Shippee Sawmill Pond, Foster
• Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown
• Melville Pond, Portsmouth
• Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown
• Melville Pond, Portsmouth
A
special weekly brown trout float stocking – where trout are stocked at various
locations along the river – is being conducted by volunteers on the Wood River
from the Rt. 165 Check Station fishing access to the Barberville Dam, Arcadia
Road, for four weeks beginning on April 25. Anglers will need to hike to areas
between these locations to enjoy fishing for these beautiful browns.
Daily
stocking location updates will be available to the public each afternoon,
beginning on April 29.
Please call Fish & Wildlife Headquarters at 401-789-0281 or check out our Facebook or DEM website for updates. Take a picture of your catch and send it to dem.fishri@dem.ri.gov or tweet it to us @RhodeIslandDEM.
Please call Fish & Wildlife Headquarters at 401-789-0281 or check out our Facebook or DEM website for updates. Take a picture of your catch and send it to dem.fishri@dem.ri.gov or tweet it to us @RhodeIslandDEM.
The
free fishing program was established in 1995 to encourage Rhode Islanders to
experience freshwater fishing as a new outdoor experience and highlight some of
the state's premier freshwater fishing areas.
As part of a larger network of recreational opportunities in the state, fishing plays an important role in connecting people with nature, promoting health, attracting tourism, and supporting a treasured tradition for Rhode Island families. Freshwater fishing generates over $37 million a year in Rhode Island.
As part of a larger network of recreational opportunities in the state, fishing plays an important role in connecting people with nature, promoting health, attracting tourism, and supporting a treasured tradition for Rhode Island families. Freshwater fishing generates over $37 million a year in Rhode Island.
Freshwater
fishing regulations on size and creel/possession limits apply on May 4 and May
5. The daily creel and possession limit for trout and/or salmon is five, of
which only two can be salmon, from April 13, 2019, through November 30, 2019;
and two trout and/or salmon, of which two can be salmon, from December 1, 2019,
to February 29, 2020.
The creel /possession limit for trout taken in the Wood River between Rt. 165 and Barberville Dam at Arcadia Road is two from Saturday, May 11, 2019 through February 29, 2020. The daily creel limit for landlocked Atlantic salmon is two fish per day, statewide, until February 29, 2020; this limit must be part of the overall five-fish limit for trout and salmon.
The creel /possession limit for trout taken in the Wood River between Rt. 165 and Barberville Dam at Arcadia Road is two from Saturday, May 11, 2019 through February 29, 2020. The daily creel limit for landlocked Atlantic salmon is two fish per day, statewide, until February 29, 2020; this limit must be part of the overall five-fish limit for trout and salmon.
Information
about stocked freshwaters, size and creel limits for all freshwater fish
species is available in the 2019 Freshwater Fishing Abstract, or by calling
DEM's Great Swamp Field Office at 789-0281, or the Aquatic Resource Education
office 539-0037.
To
prevent the spread of invasive organisms such as Didymo and other harmful
aquatic "hitch hikers," Rhode Island strictly prohibits the use of
external felt soled or any natural or synthetic porous material capable of
absorbing water in any freshwaters in the state. This includes any waters
shared with adjacent states in which Rhode Island fishing regulations apply.
Follow
DEM on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) or Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM
for more information on recreational opportunities in Rhode Island as well as
other timely updates.
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