Herald & Lantern 1 June '83

outdoors

sports.

41

with Lou Rodia

Black Drum Providing Rare Surprise in Bay

Salt water anglers never really know what is going to grab their bait' or lure once it disappears below the surface of the water Fresh water fishing enthusiasts on occasion get surprised when an unusual fish grabs their bait, but those surprises are few and far between. It happens all the time in salt water. Delaware Bay anglers are now facing a phenomenon which, has startled some fishermen and rewarded a few lucky ones who have put angler skill, a lot of luck and tackle which help up under strain to land some might big black drum on some very light spinning gear Way back when, anglers approached black drum with tarred line and heavy sinkers, fishing for these big bag monsters with hand lines from small wooden rowboats Some used rods and reels — but they are usually stout bamboo rods and the old knuckle buster reels with no anti-reverse or star drag Few of us now in the bay fishing drum remember those 'good old days’’ and few of them would really want to fish that way again) Black drum will take lures. While the biggest percentage of black drum will always take clam baits fished on the bottom with balanced 30-to 60-pound conventional fishing outfits, some are being taken on light spinning rods. And while it is a great angling feat to catch one in that manner, most anglers will be kidding themselves if they turn to spinning rods and 10-to 15 pound line to try to catch one. Most of the drum hooked on these outfits will be lost, mainly because of the obstacles the angler has to face. The slightest nick in monoficiment line that light will take away most of its strength. Fins, gill plates and scales on a drum will do a number on monofiliment line. If the drum swallows the lure or bait tied to the end of a 12-pound, outfit, the rough grinders and the rough interior of the mouth will also chafe the line. Another problem results if the drum decides to dog it’ in the tide. The light spinning rod does not have sufficient backbone to raise the fish and to bring it up to the boat The biggest deter rent to light tackle angling for drum, however, is that it ties up all of the rest of the anglers on the boat while you are trying to land a big fish on light gear. If you plan to fish that

Flotilla Appeal CAPE MAY — Small boat patrols, public education, and fellowship are provided by Flotilla 22. U S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. which meets 8 p m Thursdays on Yacht Ave. John T. Lincoln is member ship traihing officer

way, be sure the rest of the anglers are aware of what you are doing, and are willing to set aside their fishing time while you do battle with a big fish. The real test of any fishing trip is doing what pleases you anyway, so" if big fish on light gear is your way to go, and you en joy it, go to it. Be prepared however to pay the price in lost fisli, upset anglers who are along on the trip, wrists, arms and back that ache and loss of a lot of terminal tackle. Other than that, catching a drum on light gear is a real thrill, and it is a great achievement. Ask Sam Pozzi, of Woodbury, N.J. Sam was fishing in his 32-foot. Pacemaker off Brandywine Light for weakfish, using a 12-pound test spinning outfit. He had tied on a bucktail tipped with squid and was fishing weaks in the accepted manner when his rod tip headed for the bottom. His angling buddies on the trip and Sam at first thought he had snagged bottom, but it soon developed that what he had was a big fish. "At one point I thought I had a whale!" Pozzi said He’s caught some big fish in the tuna, marlin and tarpon class, but Sam said it was a real angling thrill to finally bring the 67'2-pound, black drum over the rail of his boat Dee Mir. It was also the first black drum he ever caught Sam said luck was with him all the way, because once the fish was in the boat the line and the bucktail parted company. Had the line given way seconds before, the drum would have been lost. Another lucky angler fishing for weakfish hooked and landed a black drum on 12-pound, test line May 23 Dave Drea, fishing with the Spanky’s Pub and Grub charter from Philadelphia on the Mary M out of South Jersey Fishing Center boated a 57-pound fish in Delaware Bay. Capt. Ed Yates said Dave's fish was mixed in with weakfish up to 10-pounds. Bucktails have been the best bay producers for Mary M fares, Yates said. Bay anglers are seeing an upswing in weakfish catches, and while many of the fish are still in the 10-to 14-pound, range, some five to eight pounders have started to show up. Big fluke, black drum and bluefish are also showing up in bay angler bags For the ocean fisherman, mix ed bag fishing is available for the party boat fleet Sea bass, blackfish and ling make up the bulk of the catch for party boats from Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Avalon, Wildwood and Cape May. The first porgies of the season were reported from Capt John Royles of the Royal Flush out of Wildwood Crest. John said his fares are boating sea bass and blackfish, with the week's topper being a 12-pound. 14-ounce, tautog caught by Rick Zatavetsky of Philadelphia Woody • Bevans of Laurel, Md , was a high hooker with 25 sea bass and tautog

Night chumming for bluefish has also started with Capt. Joe Zaborowksi of the Challenger fleet out of Ocean City announcing his 6-hour trips leaving at 7 p.m. from Sampson Bros Marina in Ocean City on Friday and Saturday until the summer starts. Other boats out of Wildwood Crest. Cape May and Sea Isle City are also planning night bluefish trips in addition to the nor mal four-and eight-hour daytime runs. Inland waterway fishing has been centered around Ludlam's Bay Frank Vitiello at Vitiello's Dock. Sea Isle City said James York. Bull and Brian Harris of Millville, boated 51 fluke on minnows and mackerel bait. Bill and Cass Plotts of National Park had 35 fluke up to four pounds, and George Mur phy of Sea Isle City had 32 fluke. Minnows and mackerel or herring strips have been effective by fishes oh bucktails. Fishermen have been producing fluke to four pounds, an occasional bluefish and an occasional weakfish while fishing from Dad’s Place. Grassy Sound. North Wildwood, according to George Dunham. Minnows and squid have been most productive

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