November 5, 2020 — Ørsted, owner of the Block Island Wind Farm and five other wind farms off the East Coast, is sponsoring a free Fishinar Series. The aim of the series is to encourage comments from anglers regarding offshore wind farm plans while relating strategies and tactics about how to catch the fish we love to eat through expert charter captains and private anglers.
The first Fishinar, “Angling for Ground Fish,” will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, via Zoom. Panelists will include Capt. Chris Willi of Block Island Fish Works, Capt. BJ Silvia of Flippin Out Charters of Portsmouth and Rich Hittinger of Warwick, who is the first vice president of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association and a ground fishing expert in the near offshore. Species discussed will include summer flounder, cod, tautog and scup.
The second Fishinar, “Angling for Pelagic Fish,” will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, via Zoom. Panelists will include charter Capt. John McMurray of New York, president of the American Saltwater Guides Association and a member of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; Capt. Charlie Donilon of Snappa Charters, who is a shark fishing and shark cage diving expert; and Richard Pastore, an RISAA member and near offshore fishing expert. Species discussed will include tuna, sharks and mahi.