TOMORROW'S FISH

Say What You See

Share your history in fishing, current fishing experience 

Todd Corayer (TC): “I grew up about 5-miles by boat from Block Island, Rhode Island. I’ve been very fortunate to spend my summers fishing on Block Island. I remember catching my first striper when I was in maybe first grade. I’ve always fished. Later, as an adult, I did some longlining for cod and other things. A little bit of everything. These days, I have my freelance writing gig. I originally was writing for newspapers, but back in the day, writing a fish report with a 6 -7 day lead time until print made it irrelevant. So, that gave me an opportunity to change my columns. It’s not that hard to write “Bill caught a bass on a yellow popper.” My writing has evolved to focus more on the people, the story behind the action.” 

Describe changes you’ve experienced in your fisheries over the years 

TC: “Whatever knowledge I have of climate change comes from being a part of communities of people that are paying attention. I fish a lot. That doesn’t make me a good fisherman. Sometimes I’ll look back at last month and see I caught this, or I didn’t catch that, and that can be an indicator of more than “I didn’t catch anything.’ Part of recognizing the impacts of climate change are considering, “maybe it’s NOT that I’m a bad fisherman.’ Maybe the conditions have changed. Maybe the bait profile has changed.”

What is the role of conservation in your fishing experience? 

TC: “These days, I use my writing platforms, not all the time, but from time to time, to focus on people and new ideas impactful to conservation, climate change, and mostly, just good people. Working in the newspapers, and my columns, allowed me to bring in people that know a lot, that can see beyond the end of the fishing rod, and introduce them to people. I don’t know if it’s always accepted, but I think anglers need to be reminded from time to time that every person makes a difference. That’s what I write about.”

How did you first become aware of and what are your priorities regarding impacts to your fisheries related to climate change? 

TC: “Three or four New Years Eve ago, I went fishing. Conditions were awful, but man, I slammed the striped bass. I got three in the slot limit, and two that were too big to even keep. A s***** day in January. I couldn’t believe it. I parted a #20 fluorocarbon leaders and 2-3. So, at home, cracking my beer, congratulating myself on being the world’s best fisherman, I thought to myself, “those fish really shouldn’t be here. January 1? They should have bounced by. Those fish should have migrated, They should have been gone. There was no reason that a 20-pound bass, a number of them, should be in a 2-3 foot deep salt pond in Rhode Island. Initially, the fish seemed like the gift. I think really, when I think about it now, the insight to that irregularity was the real gifty. The light went off.” 

What would you say to recreational anglers interested in advocating for climate ready fisheries? 

TC: “There’s nothing more important than standing up in a meeting and saying what you see. It won’t always change policy or immediately get you what you want. But that’s the process. I don’t think people really understand that every letter, every email, by mandate, needs to be read by someone. Maybe you don’t like to testify in public, in-person. I get it. But anglers need to be part of the process. I was the only person who could have possibly stood there and testified that I caught four keeper stripers on New Years day. No one else could have brought that to their attention, because no one else was there.

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