East Bay Anglers August Meeting: Paulie Bettencourt

[JohnR]

Meeting: August 12, 2009
Riverside, RI
Speaker: 7:30
Topic: Paulie Bettencourt will talk on conditions in the bay.

This meeting is open to people that MUST call in for a "reservation" 401-245-8375 in advance.

"The Bay: what it was -- what it should be -- what it can be” by Paulie Bettencourt

When Paulie Bettencourt is not on the water he can often be found in a meeting fighting for regulations needed to save the creatures he harvests. The late Senator Chafee often called on Paulie to talk on environmental issues related to the Bay.

Paulie has been a commercial fisherman for 45 years. Working within regulations on seasons, limits and sizes he catches and sells: stripers; scup; fluke; sea bass; clams and quahogs. He lives in Pawtucket and keeps his boat in a building near the upper Seekonk river.

As an environmentalist Paulie has worked closely with DEM on issues related to virtually every bay species on his list. Throughout his career as a bay ‘commercial’, Paulie has led the way on conservation issues. He is articulate, and is known for doing his homework.

Two other members of the famous Bettencourt family recently joined the East Bay Anglers: Albert and his son Kevin. He is “Uncle” Paulie to them.

Where’s the enforcement?

Being on the water so much, Paulie is witness to many instances of people abusing the bay, breaking laws, or taking fish under illegal conditions. So, it’s no surprise that one of his pet peeves is the lack of enforcement. His ‘repertoire’ of stories is full of incidents where DEM failed to enforce its own regulations.

Another by-product of his presence on the water has been his awareness of the failure of certain species. He was the first to raise the alarm over the collapse of the flounder population. He also was the first to spot the failure of horseshoe crab breeding. As is typical of these events, the biological research quickly caught up to what he could see daily.

Member of school committee

Being a ‘concerned citizen’ about bay issues has encouraged Paulie to participate in other political arenas. During the years that his daughters (3) were in school, he ran for and served on the local school committee. He was one of few members who actually went to classrooms to observe events. He became well known as someone who pulled no punches.

Helped save striped bass

However, my own appreciation of Paulie relates to his service on the striped bass issue in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. We both served on the Citizens’s Advisory Committee. In those days it was more typical of commercial fishermen being at loggerheads with recreational fishermen. Paulie was bigger than that. He was fighting for the fish itself, not for his ‘rights’ to harvest them.

Third speaker in bay series

If you’ve been paying attention, you now recognize that we’ve had three perspectives on the Bay: Save the Bay’s John Torgan, URI’s Dave Bengston have both told us what we can expect.

Now a commercial fisherman with more than 45 years of experience in all phases of marine harvesting will give us his perspective. It should be an illuminating event for everyone who cares about the conditions of the Bay.

Will Barbeau

[Clammer]

I know Paul VERY well AKA baitman .

we fished together for years . his whole family was/is water people ..... they have forgot or passed with more information than 100 of us will ever know .

If ya got to his talk / get ready .. he,s probably the only guy on the water crazier than me . except he probablt has learned to shut off the swearing .
I promise you he,ll get excited / yell / his arm will switch .but he knows his stuff .
Fishpart & I were out fishing saturday >>>.1st time [ED] has been allowed out of jail in 13 months >>>>>> on the way in I took a detour & found baitman .....we went over to him & doubled up >>>>>>>>>>> Ed had a chance to see a pro in action ..we got into his boat .can,t remember if we were invited ......Ed used one of [their] rods & was being taught on a new phase of fishing [FOR HIM} long story short //Paulies paid me in fish to get out of his boat /cuz I was screwing them up ;;
he,s nuts but good //

[Crafty Angler]

Originally Posted by Clammer

... his whole family was/is water people ..... they have forgot or passed with more information than 100 of us will ever know...

If ya got to his talk / get ready .. he,s probably the only guy on the water crazier than me . except he probablt has learned to shut off the swearing .
I promise you he,ll get excited / yell / his arm will switch .but he knows his stuff...
he,s nuts but good //

Clammer is right on the money...

I knew who Paulie was but never met him until we had our booth at the RISAA Show for the old Angler's Art and my wife and I talked to him and his brother, I think it was - his depth of knowledge on Narragansett Bay is pretty amazing

I'd be happy to know just the stuff he's forgotten along the way - believe me, like Clammer said, he is a character but you'll be in for an education and some entertainment - what you won't hear is BS and a lot of pontificating

Paulie's one of the last of a kind, descended from a long line of baymen

If you're in the area or have a chance to get over that way, do it - I'm gonna see if I can make it over myself

[JohnR]

Just remember to: people that MUST call in for a "reservation" 401-245-8375 in advance.

[ThrowingTimber]

Address?

[JohnR]

"people that MUST call in for a "reservation" 401-245-8375 in advance."

It is in Riverside IIRC but you need to call this number and speak to Will first - not sure if I can make it

[luds]

He seems like a pretty interesting guy. I think they did a piece on him about a year back on ESPN2 Saltwater Sunday. It was one of those urban angler segments.

I'll see if it's on youtube or something.

[JohnR]

How did it go? Couldn't get out early enough to catch the meeting.

[Raven]

what he thinks about seals

[ThrowingTimber]

Good talk.

He spoke about a TON of common sense stuff he had brought up to DEM and our local politicians etc.. and how they fail to act.

Something interesting he mentioned was that 6 DEM patrol cops retired last month and none of the positions were filled. There's NO enforcement in RI.

I thought his suggestions for shellfish management areas were fantastic, but make far too much sense for the local green cops.

He spoke the truth held no punches and all his suggestions ideas etc were all reasonable.

hearing that the boat taking pogies up in Prov had a net twice the legal size this year made e throw up in my mouth a little bit... I hope they dont let those guys back up there this year. It was a real good talk and he would answer any and all questions asked, with the exception of grass shrimp, uh uh not a word about grass shrimp. It was def. worth going.