t 54 sports Herald & Lantern 30 May '84

outdoors with Lou Rodia % What To Do About Gill Netters?

We keep getting calls about the netting operations in Delaware Bay. We get lots of questions about what, can and cannot be dofie about the situation. Here is what we can^tell you about the situation in the bay Gill netting is a legal activity. Run around nets are liifited to 200 fathoms and only one net is allowed per boat. The license fee is $20. They are legal from March 15 through Dec. 15. Mesh is 2 3/4 inch minimum. Anchord or stake nets are 2 3/4 inch minimum mesh and limited to- 30

fathoms in length. There is no restriction as to how many 30 fathom or less nets abord the boat or being fished As long as there is a "window" between sections of net, the 30-fathom nets can be stretched out as far as the boat can feasibly stretch them out. That's a loophole in the law and that's why some of the nets are so long. Drift nets must be 200 fathoms or less but again they can be hooked together with a "window" in between. Drift nets are licensed at $20. Anchored or staked nets are lie nsed at $3 each.

THEY. TOO are legal through Dec. 15 As to the question of the Delaware Boats fishing on the Jersey side, they too. must be license^! as above and pay the same fees as Jersey boats do at present. There was an effort to limit the licenses to only New Jersey boats, but that was quashed by a court ruling which involves restraint of trade and if the licenses are offered to anyone they must be offered to all. As to the reasons for air of this netting activity, first and foremost, it is an economic one. It takes an investment of sorts to become a gill netter. A boat, nets and some ancillary equipment are needed, plus a modest license. Fish are a marketable item, as many so-called sportsmen have found out over the years. Lots of rod and reel anglers have solid lots of fish both in fish markets and the restaurants as well as to the commercial fish docks, so there is something to be said about that practice also. However, that, too is legal, unless the sellers of the fish are failing to report the income. That's a tax problem for them, however and they can address that one I themselves. ONE OF THE big pro blems with netting laws is that these are not regulations made by the Fish Game and Wildlife or the Marine Advisory Councils. They are set by statue, and once in place they are tough to change. The legislature in New Jerseyreacts to power groups and pressure groups, and the sportsmen, charter boat and party boat people are definitely not together in a power block of any kind It is almost a miracle to See two party boat captains even talking to each other, let alone working cooperatively For example. there have been hearings on fishing regulations ' all over the state No one ever knows when they are. or even who the representatives are that go to the meetings to speak for the industry Interested people can do find out Most people tend to ignore what is going on around them until they are hurt by-

something. then they react Last year there was some pressure to change the regulating authority from statute to regulation proposed by the Fish and Game council and the Marine Advisory unit. It got little, if any supporf Few knew ^tfBouT it and even fey^K people did anythiog\to jfeupport that legislation^ yrHERE IS now a move•ment to get some of the 'regulations changed to < eliminate the loopholes regarding net length There is also discussion going on all the time concerning stock allocations, protected areas where net fishing might be prohibited. and there is even talk about a differential in the license fee being paid by Delaware Boats operating in new jerseywaters. Senator Ray Zane of Gloucester County has been one of the leaders in the legislature in championing these causes, and it may- well be that he is active because he is interested and that some groups are prodding him to help. My guess is that the local legislators are not aware of the problems of the sportsmen because there are no active groups which speak for the sportsmen down here. There is no group representing the party and charter boat people. either. We spoke to the state people about the problem. They have a netting committee which is willing to meet with a group down here to explain what is going on in the bay and to listen to suggestions which might shape future regulation Which group or where they will meet is up to someone else to decide. MEANWHILE, little, if anything, can and will be done this season. We said that before It takes time, organization, effort and constant attention to these matters. Be assured that the commercial interests pay attention, do have representation at the meetings, do assert themselves at the hearings, and they do keep in touch with the legislators and the regulators That's the status of the

netting. It's getting nasty and before it gets worse, someone should bite the bullet and get a group together somewhere to ; discuss it. We'll help get out the word and help with setting up the metting. All is needed is a leader Now for fishing news: Weakfish turned on for a few days and died out. They may well be back biting again by the time you read the column. Black drum catches are all but non-existent but they too might have decided to bite Best news is plenty of fluke in the inland waterways from Ocean City south to Cape May and the big spread of all sizes of bluefish in the ocean. Delaware Bay has blues and fluke in addition to the weakfish when the weaks decide to bite. Some fluke are showing in the offshore waters along the beach and the wreck fishermen are producing good catches of ling, sea bass and blackfish. Occasional cod are also being caught. We hope that the month of June is a little better for the bay anglers who are looking with anxious eye to the fish movements. Hopefully the fish will start to bite before they lea\|e the bay andjhead for the ocean again I We think black drum vwl! still bite an hi will be a lajte seasion J I ^

EXIT ZERO SURF SHOP 301 A. BEACH DR. CAPE MAY t ' — - NQW 0fiEN ? QAYS > NEW SUMMER ARRi S N 10 A M I B©ATSH®PS | 1 J • DISCOUNT MARINE STORES • j • ANNUAL • i | SPRING SALE | / 9 A" anti-fouling bottom paint t * OUOFF (Pettit • Gloucester • Interlux) . ^ : s 1 * t up to On marine electronics (Ray 4 ' £~g\% Jeff • Si-Tex • Icom 'King I J OFF Regency • T.I.) 1 ; ~SUPER SPECIALS~ \

! TEMPO ( 6 Gallon Outboard Gas Tank * LIST $28.00 I S^SS i -we

i RAY JEFF i "5000VHFFM- j 50 Channel radio telephone j $1 CO 00 LIST ! lOO 449.95 J ' , i

| ~Me^Sfclhis ad when ordering I • THE BOAT SHOPS • r • Somers Point Branch Store — 507 New Rd. (Rt 9) ' • ' (609) 927-5992 1 • Manahawkin Store & Warehouse— 756 US Rt. 80 ) ! (609)597-1271 Inmaiuiiiiiii i. hi » .ii <

[?] mii i ii i —

Triump * Low-Priced •Steel-betted radial etjigBfto WNWWMI WHrrewmu PRICE p165«»13 (36 00 p195t75rw (4500 p20v75ri4 (48 00 p?lv75«ts ssi 00 p22s"sftis ss4 00 p23975bis s5»00

I 721 Our top of thm llna radial P1SS/B0R 13 W'viewaii I whitcwau price ■ - / "OV7DR13 (48 00 H Pi'S>8oni3 (48 00 ■ A I n^KVni P1R&80R13 (WOO ■ Kk HnrtH p?ov70Ri3 (S'oo ■ P17VTSR14 (49 00 ■ k *pie&7sfti4 (53 00 M P7OS 70R14 (64 00 H \wa P20V7SRI4 (61 00 ■ p?iS77sn<4 »; s oo ■ P22C7SRI4 (6500 ri P20&7SA1S (62 00 | ( P21577SB1S (65 00 I P22517SR1S (67 00 I P235775R15 (71 00 I

sis Radial" White letter ateelbelted redlal » vt-' pity7owi1 ; 70 series ' ' price ' |lwi''wi4 (69 96 ■v-ttj 4 1 -1 "f « (72 95 i kj »??v0r<5 (73 95 , e td tows (78 95 ^ i[J p?sv 70B 1 - (R-- 95 80 series ~ price p23m0r14 (72 95 p?45«0ft<4 (7895 i p23&c0r1s (76 95 I p24&60r1s (79 95 i p256760b16 (6095 | 1

j fflUOOPflUUIVO U.5. Ht. 9 Cape May Courthouse 465-4553 c'losed suwo>y |

Surfing Winners

■ y SEA ISLE CITY - Surfers from Cape May County took four first places in a recent surfing "Contest sponsored by the city off 30th Street. Eastern Surfing Association points were awarded. First place winners were: Ed Kane. Cape May. 3 A Boys; Randy Young. Ocean City, 3A Juniors; George Gerlach, Ocean City , Sr. Men/Grand Masters; Jennifer Grottoola. Wildwood Crest. Women. OTHER LOCAL prize winners were. David Stuempfig second, and Kevin Crumley third. Ocean City, in 3A Boys; Adam Tarrantini and Mitch Leonard, both Ocean City, second and third, 3A Juniors; Joe Grottola. Wildwood erest, second, Paul Gibbons and Nick Swain. Cape May, third and fifth, and John Gangini. 6cean City, fourth, 3A Men's; Skip Jastremski, Wildwood Crest, second and Tom Leonik. Court House, fourth. 3A Masters; Lisa Roselli. Wildwood Crest, second. Women. Kane and Jennifer Grottola were third and fourth in the Mayor's Trophysuperheat. % \ L

. Wallace on College Team

WESTMINSTER. MD - Sue Wallace, a junior out fielder from Avalon. was a member of the 1981 Western Maryland College softball team The 1981 graduate of The Peddie School provided depth in the outfield and performed pinch-hitting duties for the Green Terrors. She hit .250 with two

walks in 14 trips to the plate Western Maryland finished its 1984 season with a record of 10-4 and a 5-3 mark in the Middle Atlantic Conference Southwest Section. Wallace, a physical education major, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry M. Wallace of Pelican Drive.

* Cape May County — ALMANAC JINK

MOON PHASES/POSITION'S The Moon'! affect on the Tide is greatest when closest to Earth (in perigee) and when in direct alignment with Sun & earth (full S new moon phases) On and about these dates, low pressure systems and/or strong winds (depending upon direction ) may j result in flooding, and extrentely low tides Moon Phases New Moon Mas Mi First Quarter 6 Full Moon |3 Last Quarter .'| New Moon •* Perigee T \pogee 20 TIDE TABLE Computed for Cape May City beachfront, for other areas, see Correction Times DATE LOW HIGH a m p.m. ij.m. p.m. 1 Fri 9 53-10 00' 3:46—3:35 2 Sal 10 40- 10 48 4 32-4 19 3 Sun II 35—11 43 5:15- 5.09 4 Mon - 12:34 6 07 - 6:07 5 Tue 12:41 -1 31 7 03-7 15 6 Wed 1:40- 2:30 8:05-8 29 7 Thu 2:42- 3 32 9 05-9 36 8 Fri 3:47 - 4:33 10 01-10:37 9 Sat 4:51-5:30 10:54-11:32 10 Sun 5:52-6:24 It 4511 Mon 6:46- 7:12 12 27-12:35 12 Tue 7:36-7:58 1:20- 1:24 13 Wed 8 23- 8:42 2:10- 2:13 14 Thu 9:07-9:25 2:58-3 00 15 Fri 9:52-10 07 3:44- 3:44 16 Sat 10:40- 10:53 4:26-4 28 17 Sun 11:26-11:39 5:09-5:10 18 Mon -12:15 5:49-5:56 . 19 Tue 12 23- 1:03 6:34-6:47 20 Wed 1:11— I 49 7:21-7:47 21 Thu 1:58- 2:38 8:13-8 48 22 Fri 2 46- 3:27 9:03-9:45 23 Sat 3 42-4:20 9:53-10:36 24 Sun 4 41-5:15 10 38-11:26 25 Mon 5:37 -6:03 U 2326 Tue 6:29-6:48 12: 16— 12:08 27 Wed 7:18-7:33 1:04-12:55 28 Thu 8 03-8:16 1:54-1:44 29 Fri 8 48-9:00 2:42-2:35 30 Sat 9:38-9:48 3:28-3:23 4

CORRECTION TIMES Compute approximate times of high t low water for your area by adding or subtracting the following number of minutes for each tide phase in the Tide Table LOW HIGH Great Egg Harbor Inlet Minus 12 plus 10 Ocean City 1 9th St Bridge i plus 35 plus 22 Corson Inlet ibndgei plus 21 plus 7 Sea Isle City i Ludlam Thoro Bridge) plus 66 j plus 43 »a Isle City Beach minus 2 minus 21 Townsend Inlel plus 21 plus 4 Seven Mile Beach plus 15 o Stone Harbor i Great Channel Bridget plus 43 plus 40 Hereford Inlet (Anglesea) plus 19 o Wildwood Beach Minus 2 minus 17 West Wildwood (Grassy Channel bridge) plus 46 plus 43 Cape May Harbor plus 1 minus 4 Five Fathom Bank Plu»!l plus 1 Cape May Point Plus 46 plus 34 McCrie Shoal plus 28 phis 22 Delaware Bay Bayshore Channel (Bay -Canal Junction) Plus 31 plus 36 Miami Beach plus 75 plus 71 Dennis Creek Entrance Plus 98 plus 84 Brandywine Shoal Light plus 77 plus 52