JJ

outdoors with Lou Rodia

apuns

For Die-Hards, There 9 s More to Come

More and more seasonal fishing operations are winding down and each spurt of bad weather triggers a few more people into shutting up their tackle boxes, battening down the boat and putting the rods and reels to fest until spring. And, as we have said, repeatedly and for many years, the die-hards and those who suffer the problems of early and late seaswi fishing will get to reap the harvest. At this time of year, much happens. Usually, pre-storm fishing takes off and when the weather settles, it bounces back again with less anglers to enjoy it. Weakfish catches had been terrific. Then the northeaster hit. Sea bass, porgy and blackfish catches are much improved on the wrecks after the storms of the past weeks. Add a few big fluke which are caught around the edges of the wrecks and some big bluefish which will attack your catch on the way to the surface and wreck fishing takes on a new, exciting dimension. Bluefish were last reported up above the Commodore Barry Bridge on the Delaware River. That’s as far up as we have seen them in mhny years. Writer friend Ralph Knisell of Wenonah, N.J. boated a 14 lb. blue and' several others above the bridge a week ago. Some weaks were still well up the bay but they should be moving out. With blues that far up and with the spread of blues north of the Jersey Cape our guess is that we will still have blues to catch as late as Thanksgiving. SURF AND boat anglers should do well. We’ll also have weakfish in the ocean and in the back bays at least until then. That’s unless we get such a drastic change in weather that it totally turns the temperature upside down and the water chills dramatically. Right now the long range forecasts do not indicate this will happen soon. Look for a long

season.

Capt. Al Dulinski of the Big Jim out of Cape May, who is scheduling trips on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for the present time, is one of the skippers reporting super sea bassblackfish activity. Anglers can catch as many as 75 sea bass up to four pounds on a single outing, but n>ost have been catching around 40. Five and six pound fluke have been taking pools. At Sea Isle City, Capt. Neill Robbins also reports continuing good sea bass and blackfish catches. Jimbo Wiggins Jr. and Jim bo III, of Westwood, Pa. teamed for 115 sea bass and blackfish in two days of fishing. George and Fred Real of Gibbs town had 62 sea bass.

Again, just before the storm of last week, ocean catches of weakfish skyrocketed, particularly from Absecon Inlet north to Little Egg Inlet. But some schools of weaks were available from Cape May north to Atlantic City. The schools were two to three miles off the beach and weaks were as big as seven pounds. Top and bottom rigs tipped with squid and/or minnow baits were the most productive. Cut spot and cut bluefish also produced. Capt. Joe Zaborowski of the Challenger fleet in Ocean City will still be running for weaks until they move wit. After that his daily trips • will be for sea bass, porgies and blackfish on the

wrecks.

CANYON CATCH: Dick Murphy, a Philadelphian who runs his boat Sea Warrior out of Stone Harbor, boated a yellowfin tuna on a recent trip to Baltimore Canyon. However, when his skipper, Capt. Walt Hendee, of Stone Harbor, took the boat out into 500 fathoms of water a blue marlin crashed the bait and stripped all but about 50 yards of line from an 80 lb . test trolling rig. Even though the big blue marlin, estimated at well over 500 lbs. had several hundred yards of line out, be turned and surfaced about 100 yards from the boat and plowed water for a while until he threw the hook. While Murphy, who was on the road, did temporary battle with the big blue, Capt. Hendee heard radio reports from boats trolling in Spencer Canyon. They were averaging 18 to 20 fish; with most of the action coming on true alba core and some yellow-

fin tuna.

Crabbers can still make excellent catches of bluedaws in the back waters. If you would like to put some crabs away for the winter, remember that while crabs do not freeze well, there is a way we do so. If you clean the crabs by removing the pincher claws and the backs and entrails, leaving the two halves of the body with the legs removed, you can freeze the raw crab meat in plastic containers or milk cartons by covering the crab meat and crab daws with water before freezing. When you thaw the crabs later they are excellent for spaghetti sauce or they can be steamed for

the table.

At Sea Isle City, Dave Lehner, Don Johnson and Bob Ash of Philadelphia landed a bushel of crabs. Glenda and Lou Vitlello of S. Seaville caught bushels of blueclaws and Silvario and Aniello Conti of Sea Isle City also caught a bushel of crabs. All of the catches were made in Ludlam's Bay and on bunker bait.

Starlight Sailings: At Wildwood Crest, Capt. Jim Cichetti of the Starlight is sailing on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday for the wrecks and excellent fishing for sea bass and blackfish. Some blues and porgies are mixed in. Art Strassler. Bob Mullen Jr. and Bob Sr. of Sea Isle City were among the recent high hookers. They had 223 sea bass and Strassler took the pool with a 10 lb. blue. Chumming trips are set for Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. as long as fares show up. Call ahead

to check.

CAPTAIN’S DINNER: Party and charter boat captairiS will be attending their second annual Captain’s dinner Monday, Nov. 7, at the Lobster House in

Cape May. Tickets include hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dancing and door prizes. The public is invited. Tickets can be purchased from Capt. Andy Applegate in Atlantic City; Capt. Neill Robbins, in Sea Isle City; Capt, f Jim Cicchitti in Wildwood Crest and Capt. Dale Parsons, in Lewes. Del. A Fortescue outlet is being arranged for ticket

sales.

HUNTING: Bow hunters are reminded that the legal hunting hours are from one 'half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. Sunrise and Sunset times are listed in the New Jersey Summary of Hunting and Trapping laws, which is provided free from licensing agents where the hunting licenses are

purchased.

JUVENILE LICENSES are available from any state licensing agent. The 1983-84 license for juveniles 10 to 14 is available for $2.50 (up from last year's $2). To obtain a juvenile license the applicant’s parent or

guardian must apply and present a previous year’s license or a certificate showing the juvenile has completed successfully the appropriate hunter safety course. Juveniles can hunt only with a licensed adult

at least 21 years old.

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