Charlie Donilon Remembers When 200 Stripers Were the Day’s Catch

As we sat in the flying bridge aboard his 46-foot fishing boat, the Snappa, Charlie Donilan told me about the olden days. He began fishing here in Narrangansett Bay in 1971. “Back then, jeez, you wouldn’t believe what we’d catch. We’d come back with 200 stripers, and hundreds and hundreds of cod.  Guys would take so much fish, stuff it in their freezers, then throw it out and ask me for more next year. Guys just got greedy…taking so many fish…we’d have up to 800 pounds of cod on board. Now, sheesh, it’s nothing like it was back then. Six is a good day!”

We were fishing on a Sunday afternoon, my shooter Paul Shoul and I, joined by a mom and three teenaged boys.  Also aboard was the very competent First Mate Ryan Proulx, throwing in the four-hooked lines and crying “FISH ON!!” when the rods would be begin to bow down, loaded with fish.  Ryan had the youthful, steely confidence that led me to tell him I think he’s going to have his own boat very soon.

Charlie recalls the years when the Bay’s most prized catch, striped bass, were not allowed to be taken. A marine biologist once told me that the comeback of this big, strong game fish is the success story of the century. The fish were so overfished they almost went extinct, today, sport fisherman may take two fish over 28″ each per day. The fact is that these are the prize that all fishermen here are after; unlike the more common bluefish, the stripers are larger, have beautiful green stripes, and have a more complicated and savory taste.

We reeled in six keeper stripers, big fish about 30-33 inches, and we had the kids pose holding the giant beasts across their chests.  The young teens struggled to wind the metal line, indeed, pulling in a heavy 32 inch fish takes work! We watched as Ryan filleted the stripers and some of the blues, flipping the skins overboard to be quickly chomped down by the hovering seagulls in the boat’s wake.

Donilon sells the unwanted bluefish to a dealer on shore. As we motored back into the protected harbor, passing large party boats and scallopers tied to the wharves we contemplated our catch…a giant bag of striper filets plus a second bag of bluefish that my son-in-law would be happy to prepare the following night.  A good day of fishing…I love my job!