Outdoors in RI: ‘Tis a Season, Litter-Free State, Ocean Sciences Path to URI, Westerly Land Trust

To Every Sport there is a season…

Just reviewing as we end the year, hunting and fishing season in RI – here you go:

Tautog (Blackfish) Late-Season Bite Continues (Through Dec 31)

• Rhode Island’s tautog season remains open until December 31.

• Late November into early December is considered prime “white-chin” trophy time.

• Many charters (Newport, Point Judith, Sakonnet) are still running — often discounted “end of season” trips.
  Great tie-in to your tautog story.

___

Saltwater: Holdover Striped Bass (Mid–Late December)

• Schoolie stripers move into the upper Bay, Providence River, and Narrow River, where they overwinter.

• Shore anglers still fish through December on warmer days.
  Possible short piece: “Yes, winter striper fishing exists.”

___

Freshwater: Trout-Stocked Ponds Open All Winter

RI DEM stocked 24+ ponds/rivers in October — all open for fishing through winter.

• Carbuncle Pond

• Olney Pond (Lincoln Woods)

• Carolina Trout Pond

• Upper/Lower Melville

___

HUNTING — NOW TO DECEMBER

Shotgun Deer Season (Statewide)

• Runs Nov 30 – Dec 15 in most management zones.

• One of the biggest seasonal outdoors periods in RI.

___

Archery Deer Season Continues (Through Jan 31)

___

Small-Game & Upland Bird Hunting (Through Feb)

Active species now:

• Rabbit

• Squirrel

• Pheasant (state-stocked areas still open)

• Coyote

Pheasant stocking ends, but hunting continues.

___

WATERFOWL SEASONS (LATE NOV–DEC)

These are still open and popular:

• Ducks

• Canada geese

• Brant

Rhode Island’s coastal duck hunting is strong into December

___

Beautification Mini Grant Awardees – Towards a Litter-Free Rhode Island 

Governor Dan McKee, First Lady Susan McKee, and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced municipal projects selected to receive a Municipal Beautification Mini Grant through the Litter-Free Rhode Island (LFRI) initiative.

“Rhode Island is a beautiful state, and this mini-grant opportunity will help our communities keep it that way,” said Governor McKee. “These projects are bringing re-energized life, color, and civic pride to public spaces that will better the lives of not only residents, but also the experiences of people visiting our state.”

“Every idea, project, and action matters as we make a Litter-Free Rhode Island,” said First Lady Susan McKee. “Through this mini grant, we’re celebrating Rhode Island’s community spirit and building a state we can all take pride in.”

Through this grant opportunity, cities and towns could apply for up to $2,000 for small-scale projects that enhance the beauty and livability of public spaces. Project elements that were considered we ones that promoted civic pride, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. Eligible projects included, but were not limited to, fall plantings for spring blooms, tree planting, and public art installations.

“We’re proud to join the Governor and the First Lady in supporting our cities and towns as they continue to make Rhode Island a wonderful place to live and work,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “These projects will add color and creativity to our communities while celebrating the natural beauty that makes our state so special.”

Below are the selected projects:

• Newport ($2,000): The city’s project would plant a variety of glower bulbs in the spring and summer to ‘color in’ areas along the new walking path in Aquidneck Park. Additionally, the bulbs would be planted near benches, welcome signs, municipal offices, and more.

• North Smithfield ($1,894): The town is purchasing and installing American flags and flag poles across a 1.16-mile stretch used for the town’s annual Memorial Day Parade. This project promotes civic pride across the parade route and further enhances the parade and area.

• Providence: ($2,000): The city is sprucing up Amtrak Station Park by planting new flowers, shrubs, and trees. The project would also add signage and restoration work.

• Smithfield ($1,820): The town’s project would create a 25-foot-round display of flowers near the baseball fields at Deerfield Park.

• West Greenwich ($2,000): The town is converting a recently purchased church into a new senior center and historical space. This grant funding would be used for landscaping and flower planting in the front lawn and would open new opportunities for outdoor education and events.

• West Warwick ($2,000): The town will install picnic tables, walkways, and flowers at Factory Street Park to promote a better community space for residents and families to enjoy.

___

‘Bridge to Ocean Exploration’ serves as pathway to URI for CCRI students

CCRI students gain hands-on experience in URI ocean science labs

Students from the Community College of Rhode Island can gain valuable hands-on experience in laboratories at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) through the Bridge to Ocean Exploration (B2OE) Program.

Developed and managed by the NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI), an organization comprised of multiple institutions and organizations, and led by URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography, the B2OE program arranges for CCRI students to work on OECI research projects 6-8 hours per week alongside URI graduate students, professors, and industry professionals at URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus. The students don’t receive credit toward their major, but they do earn a stipend for their time.

“CCRI is training excellent students for their associates degrees, but they may not be aware of career opportunities in the ocean workforce,” said Adam Soule, OECI executive director. “Many of the CCRI students in the B2OE program matriculate to URI to complete their undergraduate degree with a newfound appreciation for how their skills may be applied to the ocean enterprise. In addition, the B2OE students contribute directly to OECI successes in research, communication, software development, and engineering.”

As many as 10 CCRI students may be students selected for the program each year. During the application process, it is determined if the students’ skills and interest align with the needs and expectations of the mentors and their associated projects.

Projects relate to the following subjects:

• Computer science/programming
• Ocean exploration data science
• Ocean engineering and robotics
• Deep sea biology
• Virtual environments and 3D models
• Science communication and video production

Professor Andrew Davies, who has a joint appointment in GSO and the College of the Environment and Life Sciences, has participated in the program for years by welcoming CCRI students into his lab.

“It’s been phenomenal, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great students who are really invested in developing their skills and are not afraid of trying new things,” said Davies. “They’ve come with fabulous mindsets, a willingness to learn, and a broad set of skills that have been tremendously valuable for the lab.”

Tim Melendez, who is from Lynn, Massachusetts, but resides in West Greenwich, has worked in Davies’ lab the last two years after entering the Bridge to Ocean Exploration Program in 2023-2024.

“Tim has been developing new hardware parts for our platforms, bringing his experience in mechanical engineering to the fore,” said Davies. “He has phenomenal skills with CAD, prototyping, and general fabrication, which have been put into practice with our ocean observation platforms.”

Matt Grecco and Dwight Paniagua, from Warwick and Providence respectively, were added to Davies’ lab last year.

“Matt and Dwight developed new databases that helped to streamline data management and workflow on our ocean observing program,” said Davies. “Matt is maintaining and developing our suite of database tools used by students and staff to analyze oceanographic data.”

After completing an associate degree in computer engineering at CCRI in May 2025, Paniagua transferred to URI as a junior through CCRI’s Joint Admissions Agreement. He’s expecting to graduate from URI with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering in 2027.

“My involvement in the Bridge to Ocean Exploration Program partially influenced my decision to attend URI,” said Paniagua. “While still enrolled at CCRI, I met a lot of nice, hardworking, and amazing people in the URI community who were passionate about their work, which I found motivating and inspiring.”

Paniagua is currently working on low-power electronics and firmware programming to help Davies build a new remote camera system that is capable of long-term deployments. He’s applied his Python programming skills to predict the lifetime of the camera system with a given battery.

For the next cohort of the Bridge to Ocean Exploration Program, Davies expects to bring on two additional students to work on new projects.

“It’s fantastic that Professor Davies continues to give students opportunities and exposure to projects they may not otherwise have considered, since they are non-ocean science majors,” said Holly Morin, URI marine research associate and B2OE program coordinator. “He’s now having previous B2OE students mentor students coming into the program.”

Davies has been impressed with the progress each student has made in his lab.

“The growth in each of these students has been profound and I am proud to have worked with them,” said Davies.

The fifth cohort of the Bridge to Ocean Exploration Program will start in early December with an onsite orientation. The CCRI students will work on their projects from January through the end of May.

“URI, GSO, and OECI are working to supply the ocean workforce in Rhode Island for all Rhode Islanders,” said Soule.

___

Champlin Foundation makes possible farming and open spaces part of feeding the most in need in RI

The Westerly Land Trust — part of The Champlin Foundation’s Conservation & Parks portfolio — will clear and prepare land that their partner, the Jonnycake Center of Westerly, will begin farming. This is the Center’s second such farm. Fresh produce grown on site will support Jonnycake’s weekly farmer’s market in the summer and its food pantry year-round.

“The Westerly Land Trust is committed to conserving open space and protecting our natural resources. When we can accomplish those goals while supporting a partner like Jonnycake and helping them put food on the table for families in need, it’s a win-win,” said Executive Director Jennifer Fusco.

About The Champlin Foundation: Since 1932, The Champlin Foundation has awarded more than $725 million to fund capital projects for Rhode Island nonprofit organizations. Its nine areas of focus cover Arts & Culture, Conservation & Parks, Education, Healthcare, Historic Preservation & Heritage, Libraries, Social Services, Welfare of Animals, and Youth Services. For more information visit ChamplinFoundation.org.

___

New Tautog State Record

Vladimir V. of New Jersey caught a 23 pound, 15.12 ounce tautog in Newport while fishing on the Tall Tailz Charter vessel, and set a new record.