Quahog Dive?????

[wreckedinri]

Well; the original intent was to run out to the Neptune on Saturday and place a mooring on it for a planned trip next week. All was good as we passed Newport on our way out. However, once we rounded the bend outside of Castle Hill the forecasted 2 footers were nowhere to be found. It seems they sent their twice sized big brothers out to play. We slogged our way to the site with the seas dead on our bow. Eventually we came over the wreck several miles off of Seconnet Point only to stuff the bow into a solid six footer. After a brief consultation with the crew about throwing the hook in the present conditions and committing ourselves, we decided to err on the side of caution and beat feet back to the bay. We had a friend with us that wanted to try quahogging so we dropped into a known spot and proceeded to grab a couple of pecks of bigs for chowder. With the visibility at 20 feet or so, and water temps hovering at 47, it was a pleasant dive playing with spider crabs and gathering Mercenaria mercenaria. We stopped by the wall at CC and talked to a lone fisherman hanging out at the end. He reported VERY slow action, but some none the less regarding the Tataug bite.

While we didn't get a wreck dive in . . . the chowder for dinner was very good!

Hopefully I'll be able to report on a decent wreck dive next week.

Be Safe,
Dennis

PS: Gary Gentile's book Shipwrecks Of Massachusetts - North is now available on line. It should be in shops in a couple of weeks. I attended a "Book Release Party" over the weekend and got my copy. FWIW there is alot of interesting background information about popular dive sites such as the Chester Poling, Pinthis, City of Salsbury to name a few. Good read for the bathroom book bin.

 

[NewportDiving]

Do not know if you know this but I will add it in case someone else does not, the cherry stones and little necks are commonly found in 6 - 10 feet of water

Thanks for this great report even though sound like the wave action was a little much, think I would have done the same.

 

[pdive]

What are the licensing/out-of-state rules for shellfishing in Rhode Island?

 

[wreckedinri]

What are the licensing/out-of-state rules for shellfishing in Rhode Island?

Ya just need $200 and to know where to look.
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/manserv/hfb/boating/pdfs/nrannual.pdf

For $200 and a little work you are allowed this:

4.3.3 Non-resident Limit - Licensed Individuals Only. -- A holder of a non-resident shellfishing license may take in any one (1) day not more than one (1) peck each of oysters, quahaugs, soft-shelled clams, surf clams, or mussels. Any person taking more than these allowances in any one (1) day shall be fined upon conviction, one hundred dollars ($100) for each bushel or part of a bushel exceeding the prescribed quantity or be imprisoned for not exceeding thirty days, or both. [RIGL 20-6-10(b)]

 

[GradyDiver]

OK, I didn’t know the how much a peck or bushel was, so I had to look it up. For others that don’t know, here it is:

Peck - A unit of dry volume or capacity in the U.S. Customary System equal to 8 quarts.

Bushel - A unit of volume or capacity in the U.S. Customary System, used in dry measure and equal to 4 pecks (so, 32 quarts).

Does anyone know if this is shucked weight or not?

 

[RIOceanographer]

Does anyone know if this is shucked weight or not?

The limit is based on whole clams still in the shell.