The RI sportfishing community has been shocked and saddened by the unexpected passing of Steve Medeiros, President and founder of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA). RISAA was the voice of sport fishermen all across this state for decades and Steve Medeiros was the guy who made everything happen. I've known Steve for decades as my sons and I were long time members of RISAA. I also did lots of seminars for the club. Steve was the perfect guy to run RISAA. He was a tireless and dedicated worker and he could get things done with political clout that would benefit sport fishermen across this state. His accomplishments will be felt for decades to come and will be his legacy that will live on. He and RISAA were at the forefront of anything and everything that affected saltwater anglers in this state. He lobbied hard for fair regulations, worked to get an inexpensive saltwater license in place, worked to limit the seining of menhaden in the Bay, worked to gain public access across the oceanfront, ran the big RI saltwater fishing show and wrote a monthly newsletter to name just a few of his many accomplishments. RISAA was a model of efficiency. They held monthly meetings with informative seminars, set up charities, provided scholarships, ran special and year round tournaments, set up numerous committees, and ran youth events that greatly promoted fishing for kids.
Steve was the glue that made all of this stick and run so smoothly. He will be missed by RISAA members as well as all who fish along saltwater here in RI. They say those who pass away will be remembered by what they left behind. Steve will surely be remembered for all he contributed to saltwater fishing in RI. He was one of the great ones of sportfishing here in RI. Thank you, Steve Medeiros, for all you have done for the fishing community over the years.
