Herald & Lantern 8 June '83

outdoors

sports

43

with Lou Rodia

Sound Out Local Fisherman: Find Out What’s Biting Where

Nothing is more disastrous than a fishing trip that does not produce fish, unless it is listening to the fallout after we make a prediction as to what fish are going to do. The minute you stick out your neck and make a prediction, get ready to have your^head lopped off. Most recently, the hay blossomed forth on Wednesday. Smiling faces, filled coolers and even a few anglers who had so many weakfish that they quit and went after fluke for the balance of the day were featured in the fisher man contacts we had with bay anglers. So good were the reports that one angler friend who thinks that eating weakfish is next to heaven turned down a couple of fish from an angler buddy because he was going Thursday He forgot the "bird in the hand" adage which has guided people since Kindergarten days Thursday. his total catch with three budies were three sharks. He ruefully admit ted at dockside after the trip that the third shark looked mighty good to him and that he should have at least kept that one for dinner WHY DO FISH do the things they do 9 No one really knows for sure There were and still are lots of sign:* that there are weakfish all over Delaware Bay A dismal day like Thursday after such a good day on Wednesday leads one to speculate that they might have dropped out of the bay to deeper water around the Mussel Beds By the time you read this, we MAY know Day to day. keep in touch with the fishermen who are out on the bay to see just what the weakies are up to Some speculated that the fish bit late in the day after a lot of the boats left. Others said the fish bit well under the lights at night While there will be a resident summer population of weakfish in the bay until fall, it may be that more boats will be turning to wreck fishing for sea bass, ling and blackfish; to bluefish. and to fluke again by the time this column hits the street. Whether you fish your own boat or on party and charter boats, weakfish activity can be a

BIG FLUKE - Bob

day-to-day change. ON OTHER FRONTS, however, there is more certainty. Night chumming bluefish has started and early reports indicate that there are lots of blues to be caught Trollhg parties are also scoring well on blues throughout the size range from two pounders to slammers. Wrecks continue to produce sea bass. ling, blackfish and occasional blues ^nd porgies. However, sea bass have predominated in the bags. Inland waterway anglers are finding more fluke Hot spots have developed. At Sea isle City, Ludlam s Bay has been producing good catches of up to 35 to 50 keepers per trip. in minnows and squid, herring or mackerel strips Best fishing has been between Buoys 108 and 115 north of the bridge At Grassy Sound. North Wildwood, best spots have been in ( Grassy Sound across from* Dad’s Place Dock, the channel west of the drawbridge to Stone Harbor. the channel north and south of the North Wildwood Drawbridge and in Creasy’s Thorofare Behind Stone Harbor, Channel Marker 48 is another hot spot Fluke to five pounds are being caught The "secret" has been to use small minnows with a short strip of squid, mackerel or herring Fluke are feeding on grass shrimp and, since they are glutted, they are not taking hold readily Lots of fish are being started up from the bottom only to have

them drop off

LIGHTER TACKLE, smaller sinkers and smaller baits often help in this situation. So does using uncluttered fluke rigs Keep fishing those spinner, bead and buck tail com binations called "killer" rigs They work But be flexible and try the unclut-

tered versions

Also, try a double hook (tandem) rig with two hooks, tied to a leader about two to three inches apart. Put the minnow on the back hook and your squid, mackerel or herring attractor on the front hook Inland waterway fishing for fluke should be good for several weeks before the water warms up too much Occasional bluefish and weakfish are being picked

up in the sounds.

TOURNAMENT: The annual South Jersey Marina Shark Tournament will get under way Friday Paul Hoffman, weighmaster. said about 75 to 80 boats are expected to compete for the $5,000 in prizes. Late entries can call Paul at 884-2400 or visit the Marina at Cape May to enter the shark event. FISIII N G F E V E R : Three-year-old Christine Shaffer has "fishing fever" and it comes naturally Christine is the daughter of Charles and Belle Royales Shaffer Her dad operates the Starfish out of Sea Isle City. Her paternal grandfather sailed the original Starfish for many years

the party fishing business Christine's maternal great grandfather Ben Hoyles was also for many years identified with the party fishing business in Wildwood. Her maternal great-grandmother is still active around the Royal Flush docks. So are her uncles, Capt. John and Eebie Royles. They have in like manner, grown up on and around party boats. Since apples rarely fall far from the tree it is natural for Chris to have an affinity for tishing. Two weeks ago, she boated 20 sea bass and ling on one of

the frequent trips she makes out into the ocean on her dad’s boat This week she added another "exploit" to her already growing list of fishing accomplishments Her dad took a busman's holiday and went down to Wildwood Crest to fish for drum on the Royal Flush Naturally Christine went along She managed to hook a 50-lb. drum The fish was landed with some assistance from her dad. of course. It weighed more than she does. Add one more rabid fisherman to the growing list

tchthe Winner! In ttn CAPE MAY COUNTY, N.J. year round FISHING TOURNAMENT Enjoy some of the finest fi^hmo on the East Coast along with g>ya\ accommodations and FAMILY J

WRITE FOR FISHING KIT ANTHONY T. CATANOSO. Dlredor Boi 365. Cap* May Court Houia. N J 08710

FISHERMEN ALWAYS WELCOME! MACKEREL SQUID SHFDDf R ( RAO SHARK CHUM *

[

RODIA’S

BAIT & TACKLE ON RT -47 (EASf OF R1 9) EXIf 4A GARDFN S1AIF PARKWAY LARGEST TACKLE SELECTION CAPE MAY & DEL. BAY INFO.I (609) 886-0505

Yeager of Audubon Park with the 9'2-lb. fluke he

boated while fishing for from Sea Isle and Townweakfish in Delaware Bay. send s Inlet Her mother is Yeager was fishing is boat the daughter of the late Minnow when the big fluke Capt Ed Royles and Junior hit a hucktail-squid combo. Royles Belle grew up in

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