Learn how to keep your caught fish as fresh and great-tasting as possible

So, you like to keep your catch fresh and tasting great all the way to the kitchen table.

You bleed most of your fish, put them on ice in a saltwater and ice brine solution, etc. Now take it to the next level.

Time to learn about ikejime on Monday (Aug. 26), at 7 p.m. at the RI Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) seminar at the West Warwick Elks Lodge, 60 Clyde St., West Warwick.

Ikejime is a traditional Japanese technique that involves instantaneously euthanizing a fish. The fish is then thoroughly bled before getting iced down.

More: Want to catch more fluke? Here are some tips on fishing for summer flounder this spring.

More: Fishing for striped bass? Here's how to catch them this time of year in RI waters.

Stu Meltzer, owner of the Fearless Fish Market in Providence and an expert at the art of ikejime, will be the seminar's guest speaker. At his fish market, Meltzer strives to provide the freshest locally caught fish possible.

Ikejime translates to “alive kill” in Japanese. It is a historic Japanese method that dramatically improves the shelf life, taste, texture and appearance of fish. On his Fearless Fish Market website, Meltzer explains the full process.

Also at this meeting, a representative from the state Department of Environmental Management Marine Fisheries Division will provide an update on fishing regulations.

(RISAA members admitted free; non-members are asked to make a $10 donation to the RISAA Scholarship Fund. Food available through the Elks Lodge kitchen starting at 5:30 p.m. with the presentation starting at 7 p.m. For information, contact executive director Scot Travers at (401) 826-2121.

More: Tautog are plentiful these days in RI waters. Here's how to get them in the boat.

New plan for Massachusetts Marine Fisheries

The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game has released a five-year strategic plan, "Connections: Working Together for Nature," to guide the agency’s work from 2025 to 2030. The plan covers the work of its four divisions, including Marine Fisheries.

The plan focuses on solutions at the intersection of biodiversity, climate change, and environmental justice while advancing the priorities of the Healey-Driscoll administration and Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

To explore the Department of Fish & Game’s Strategic Plan for 2025-2030 and see the timeline for implementation, visit mass.gov/DFG-strategicplan .

Where’s the bite?

Freshwater . Dave Henault, of Ocean State Tackle, Providence, said: “Anglers continue to target largemouth bass and are doing well but that is about to change as Rhode Island and Massachusetts will be conducting their fall trout stocking.”

Striped bass, bluefish, bonito . Chad Ketch, of Sam’s Bait & Tackle, Middletown, reported: “The striped bass bite is actually getting better as we are at the beginning of the fall run. Slot fish and larger are being caught from the Sakonnet River to Newport and Jamestown.” Declan O’Donnell, of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said: “Ninigret Pond is producing the best striper bite in the morning and evening on the incoming tide. There is a ton of bait in the back of the pond. Customers are having luck using small profile baits such as half-ounce bucktails and 3-inch Vudu shads. Eels are producing the bigger fish and have been a noteworthy success at the Breachway during the night.”

“Striped bass fishing is better in the Bay now," Henault said. "We have more Atlantic menhaden and more bass as the water is starting to cool."

East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said: “Terrific surfcasting continues on the canal. Nine-year-old James Astle reeled in a nice fish that hit an Al Gags gold Whip It while wetting a line in the ditch with his grandfather. 'Bucktail Bill' Jenkinson was exploring the bottom with the lure he is famous for, his 4-ounce white bucktail, when it was hit by a nice bass over slot on an early east tide. Passionate 6-year-old Sage Nicholson continues on her torrid pace, fooling nine fish, including five slots, with a big white Magic Swimmer on a rising east tide.”

Fluke (summer flounder), black sea bass and scup. “We still have an abundance of scup in the mid and lower Bay, and they are still large. Anglers are catching them as far up the Bay as Save the Bay at Fields Point,” said Henault. O’Donnell said, “Fluke reports picked up last week. The quantity of fish was high with constant action. Still a lot of smaller fish but constant action. We had multiple fish come in over 5 pounds. The best bite seems to be in front of Point Judith, Matunuck and East Beach. We have had shore anglers catching fluke in and around the Breachway, on ball head jigs with gulp. And shore anglers are having success for scup off the beach and jetties.”

Tautog . “Anglers are catching tautog out in front of Newport and in the lower Bay in the Newport Bridge area,” said Ketch. O’Donnell said, “Reports of a good tautog bite with a mix of healthy seabass happily taking a half-crab on a jig. Shallow water tends to be producing better bites for 'tog.”

Bluefin tuna. John Tuner, on the RI Saltwater Anglers blog, wrote: “Did a midday trip out of Wickford, trolled the mudhole, landed 35-inch bluefin. Near the Gully, we began catching small football bluefin R's. Not a lot of life out there. Did run into some whales between the Gully and Tuna Ridge.”

Dave Monti holds a head captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business that focuses on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy and fisheries-related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net or visit noflukefishing.com.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Learn how to keep your caught fish as fresh and great-tasting as possible