About this time of the year I usually start off a column with “When the dogwood’s white-the Drum will bite”, and the dogwood in my backyamd is just starting to tum-sometimes you get fooled on this, though, because the early drum are sometimes taken right after they start catching them in the nets in the Bay. Rod's market in Green Creek has three drum hanging out for the benefit of tourists. They were undoubtedly taken by some netters who take them to Rod who purchases them for resale. There was, however, one drum taken this last week on April 29th by Bob Cox on the boat Prowler. and he weighed it in at Joe Radio's in Rio Grande. Joe is having his regular drum and weakfish “contest this year, and the drum dates are May 5 thru June 21. I didn’t catch the weakfish dates. AS ALWAYS at this time of the year, there are many reports of drum being taken on hook and line that really came out of the nets. Bob Neelv told me that Tom Dunn had caught a 73 lb drum on BUI Tomlin’s boat, ( according to his sources, but told me to check it out. I ran over to Tom's place on Delsea Drive today, and asked him; and he said the only place he’d caught a drum this year was talking about it at the Dog Show — so that’s the first false lead. However Tom did tell me that Jackie Tomlin had gotten 27 in his ness. The place that Bill Cox caught his drum on hook and line was at Bug Light.

JACK OSBORNE and George Spalding were leaving Rosemary's this afternoon (Saturday), and asked me to come along. I had to turn them down, because of some surgey on my teeth. They were going to try a little farther up, because they hadn’t done anything Friday night at the “Bug.” Bob Neely also told me that Mark Kimsey, informed him that one of the draggers came in with 150 boxes of big weakfish, and some of them were doing so big that it only took 6 or 7 to make a box (100 lbs.). This has been verified, however I don’t know whether the catch was in the Ocean or the Bay. I did hear of some draggers losing nets on the 4 shoals off Peirces Point, so maybe one of those foggy nights we had this week sort of confused the captains. THE POUND nets along the Bay have been producing some real big weakfish, and I’ve heard of one 17 pounder being netted there. The early run of spring drum, which usually peaks about (full moon May 8) should find some big weakfish included in the catches. I was down talking to Joe Halbruner, of Erma this week, and he figured somebody would catch one of those tiderunners near the Concrete Ship to start it off, and then some would be taken by one of the boys who bucktail early out near Brandywine. Well, Joe was pretty near on the Button. When I visited Joe Rodia's he had a picture of a 13 lb 2 oz weakfish Bill McGrann of Philadelphia had caught off the rock jetties at Cape May Point. If the weather stays real clear like it’s

been doing we should have some more catches this weekend. I ENVIED Ellery Bowman, who last weekend took 53 mackerel out near 4 FB (Northeast End), and got to witness the Queen Elizabeth II pass by as she headed for the mouth of the B*^. I also want to pity tribute right here to Coni

Bill Hughes, who stuck to his guns and got the U.S. Coast Guard to reinstate the almost 200 buoys on the

inland waterways that they were going to phase out. Thanks, Bill, there will be a lot less boats going

aground in the backwaters because of your efforts. DOWN AT Roseman's Boatyard, which is starting to look like a Bertram display basin, I was pleased to notice that Capt. Richard Stotz has a 31’ Bertram docked there named the Sea Wife 11. The party boat? were having a hard time locating mackerel this weekend, but

sevw-al had some good catches of sea bass off the wrecks in the Ocean. There may be still some mackerel catches, but there has been some scattered reports of bluefish being taken. I’ll try to have more positive news on that next week, but at this time of the year I have to either see a fish or a picture of it before I can report on it.

South Shore Ford’s OT ONE DCENT! or Service Sale

South Shore Ford offers factory rebates from Buy a 1982 Ford Escort, Fairmont. Granada or $300. to $2000. on new 1982 Ford cars and Mustang car. or 1982 EXP car or 1983 Ranger trucks. Plus our own big cash discounts! Plus truck at our special low prices and don't pay the closest thing to COST-FREE Driving. one red cent lor maintenance for the first 24 months or 24,000 miles*.

Not one red cent for transmission, power train, parts or laborK^ft Not one red cent for brake pad lining or clutch lining. Not one m^mLj

red cent for spark plugs. Not one red cent for

TVic/'vr'K^rc

for engine belts or hoses. Not one red centtt^H

shock^A absorbers. Not one red cent

f of oil changes or filters. m Not one red cent... not even for wiper blades. •South Shore Ford s tactory authorized warranty otter is limited to the earlier ot 24 months or .24.000 milds and applies to most everything excluding tires, accidents, abuse or tluids added between scheduled maintenance intervals TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR $2,000. REBATE AMD NOT ONE RED CENT FOR SERVICE SALE! Now through June 6,1982. You^ like our bottom line. (It'll keep you out ot the red.)

TUCKAHOE ROAD & ROUTE 9, MARMORA, NJ. 08223, 399-8000

I