sports

outdoors with Lou Rodia

First Mackerel Show; Weak fish next?

Mackerel are on the Jersey Coast. The first showing of mackerel came over the Easter Weekend around Delaware Lightship. Boats from Cape May and Wildwood joined the Delaware boats in catching the first fish there. While there are no bonanza catches reported on the first days of the run, rough seas made fishing difficult. Catcfies would have been better with calmer *

weather. As soon as the waves subsided, this proved to be the case. By the time this reaches you, mackerel should be in striking distance of most of the boats on the Jersey Coast, if they have not already moved in, in force. FOR MAY anglers, mackerel represented their first shot at salt water fishing for the season. For others, the mackerel may not be their bag, but it in-

dicates that the season is on its way and before long, we will be catching fish in the back bays, Delaware Bay. the Atlantic Ocean and from surf and jetty locations all along the coast. Fresh water fishing too, opens up. Trout fishing has started in New Jersey and Pennsylvaiift. Shad fishing is also under way. For upper river anglers the shad are caught on rod and reel. Delaware Bay shad are caught in nets. ROD AND REEL anglers keep a weather eye on what is happening in the shad netting fraternity Usually, the first signs of weakfish are reported by shad netters who find a few weaks in their nets in the latter days of the shad run. Weakfish are triggered into feeding by a magical 55-degree temperature in the water. We'll probably get hissed at for saying so. but oftentimes, angler failure to catch weakfish in the early season is because of low water temperature. It is not, as some would have you believe, that the fishing is bad because the betters caught them all. Surface water temperature in Delaware Bay may be 55 , degrees. However, it is the temperature of the water where the fish are swimming and feeding which is the critical number to be concerned with. LOTS OF DAYS the weakfish are presented and not biting on lures. Purely and simply, it is because the water is too cold at the level where the fish are located. When that is the situation, it makes ideal conditions for the netters. Weakfish in water under 55 degrees are easier to net than they are to catch on rod and reel. Remember that as long as the netting is being done legally, the netters have the same right „ to the fish as anyone else As a sports fisherman, we can only ask the netters for the same courtesy we should offer them. That is that they respect our fishing and keep a distance from us.

HOPEFULLY, rod and reel anglers will do* the same for the netters. Unfortunately, there is greed on both sides which provokes confrontation. When two user groups compete for the same resource, there is bound to be conflict. We hope that things stay calm on the bay and that both user groups engage in some polite conduct. We all want to catch fish. Actually, by practicing some restraint and respecting each other's fishing territory, we will all do better. We got a couple of calls from anglers who said they were giving up on the fishing in Delaware Bay because the netters caught all the fish. To them we can only say that the netters must have missed some, based on the catches recorded in the upper bay all summer. WE ARE NOT making a case for netting, nor will we make one against it. We hate wasting fish, no matter who does it. Overfishing will deplete a stock (and it matters not who does it) there will be no fish for anyone. There are times when the ^reakfish disappear from an area where netters and rod and reel anglers are both trying to catch them. When they disappear, it is a general belief that the netters have scooped them all up and that's why the fish are gone. However, it is the nature of weakfish to move out of an area if they are harassed too much. Boat noise, roaring engines, clanging, banging and netting activity put the weakfish under stress that makes them move. WHEN A SCHOOL of fish disappears from an area, it is not because someone caught them all. Fish disappear at times when a y fleet of rod and reel anglers work over a school and harass them. And that happens a lot when there are no commercial boats around. Bluefish anglers find this to be the case ail the time. One or two Kami-Kaze boat operators who zoom through a school of feeding fish is enough to put an end to fishing action no matter who is trying to catch them. We can only urge again, that we all practice common courtesy. It is all to our own advantage if we do. REPORTS: the Happy Days, sailing out of Ocean Hiway Dock. Cape May, reported catching a few mackerel on Good Friday and a little better showing of fish the next day. Capt. Jim Solley of the Happy Days is sailing daily at 8 a.m. for macks. I He said he will be sailing three extra overnight trips in October. In addition to the scheduled ThursdayFriday trips in October, which are already sold out. the Happy Days will add three more MondayTuesday trips. For information on these trips, call Capt. Solley at 886-7725. The Happy Days is cjjartered over the weekend but will be running open boat the rest of the week. The Miss Chris fishing fleet hit mackerel on Sunday. The mackerel fishing

was very good; sacks of fish were carried off the boat and a great day was had by all. They have large and small charters available and can be reached at 884-5445 or 886-8164 for more information. They sail from the Miss Chris Dock in Cape May. THE BIG JIM. out of Cape May, will sail for mackerel daily by 8 a.m. throughout the month of April. Also sailing out of Sea Isle City, Capt. Neil Robbins of the Capt. Robbins is running daily for mackerel from April 5, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Capt. Joe Mc Tom money of the Adventurer II out of Wildwood Yacht Basin, < started mackerel fishing Saturday. The four-hour trips leave 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. The adventurer Fleet also has charters available for the 1986 season. Call 886-1676 for information and reservations. FLUKE SIZE: Anglers are reminded that the minimum size for summer fluke under New Jersey law is 13 inches for the 1986 season. The minimum size of 12 inches was implemented last year and will go to 14 inches in 1987 The minimum size for fluke was implemented to allow smaller fluke to grow to at least 14 inches and thus reach sexual maturity. Fluke 14 inches and over should have spawned at least once before reaching that size. It is hoped that the regulations will keep a steady supply of fluke available for commercial and rod and reel fishermen. A 14-inch minimum size has been in place for commercial fishermen for a number of years. The newregulations are being enforced for both commercial and sports fishermen. DRUM/WEAKFISH con test; The Lower Township Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its annual Black Drum-Weakfish Tournament May 24-June 30. The contest is open to party and charter boat patrons, private boat anglers and surf and jetty fishermen. Anglers will compete for $1,000 in cash and prizes in the six-week fishing contest. A grand prize of $250 and a trophy will be awarded in the black drum and" the weakfish divisions. There will be four additional prizes in each division. Additional prizes will be announced. Information on the tour nament is available by calling 886-0901 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.. or by writing Drum Tournament, Box 365, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210. FISHING GUIDE: The new New Jersey Fishing Annual is off the press and available by mail and at

area tackle shops and sporting goods stores. This colorful 64-page magazine features salt and fresh water fishing information of interest to Jersey-based anglers. The editor/publisher is Steve Perrone. who is also editor of New Jersey Outdoors. The magazine is available by mail. Send $7 to New Jersey Sportsmen's Guides, Box 100, Somerdale, N.J. 08083. CHARTER LIST: A new directory of charter and party boat captains operating out of Cape May County ports is available free by writing the Department of Public Affairs, Box 3jj>5. Cape May Court /HoQSe, NJ 08210. Golf Tourney Set May 7 COURT HOUSE - The annual spring golf tournament of the county Chamber of Commerce will be held Wednesday, May 7, at the Stone Harbor Golf Club, Route 9. Rain date is May 8. Entry forms can be obtained from the chamber office here or the Stone Harbor club. Prizes will be awarded, including a free car from Avalon Honda for the first hole in one on the 18th hole. For further, information, call 465-7181. Tourney Set In Slo-pitch GOSHEN - The fourth" Annual Cape May-Middle Township Men's Slo-pitch Softball Tournament will be held Saturday. April 26, and Sunday. April 27 at the Goshen Sports Complex. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place as well as MVP and defensive player. For information contact the Department of Civic Affairs at 884-8411, ext. 20 or 27. Deadline for entry is Monday. April 14. Aqua Aerobics CAPE MAY -The city is again offering a cool, refreshing exercise class in a swimming pool. The Aqua Aerobics class taught by Cheryl Giddis takes place in the Elementary School Monday. Wednesday and Friday 6-7 p.m. Swimming skills is not a pre-requisite for this class. For more information. call the Department of Civic Affairs at 884-8411.

Cape May County ALMANAC APRIL, I9XK MOON PHASES/POSITIONS CORRECTION TIMES The Moun t effect on eh* Tide n Compute approximate timet greatest when closest to Earth of high tr low water for your tin perigee) and when in direct area by adding or subtracting alignment wilh Sun * Earth ,h, following number of tfuU 4 new moon phases i On m|But«« for each tide phase In an<T about these dates, low the Tide Table pressure systems and/or strong winds I depending upon direc Hon/ may remit in flooding and/or extremely low tides Moon Phase* LOW HIGH , l-ii-t quarter. _ I. .» Great Egg Harbor Inlet \r* Moon n Plus 12 pluslO Fir*! Quarter t: Ocean C.ly < 9th St Bridget - Eu" Moon 21 pjyjjj plus 22 „ Canon Inlrt ( bridge I Perigee U Plu*71 Plu»7 Sea Isle City i Ludlam Thoro Bridge ' TIDE TAB1.F. plus 66 plus 43 Computed for Cape May City Sea Isle City Beach beachfront, for other areas, see mmua2 minus 21 Correction Times Townsend Inlet plus 21 plus! HATE HIGH I.OW Seven Mile Beach a.m. • p.m. am p.m. ^ 0 I Tue 12 32 IW VI Tits Stone Harbor W.il i r; 2 IK « or, n it i Great Channel Bridge i Thu 2 «. I Ui '< in 'I Hi plug 43 plus 40 I Fn l a; 4 w In i/7 Hi 2K Hereford Inlet i Anglesea I • Sat I * r, II in * it 22 „ ; Man «! u !i .73 12 12 12 27 Wildwood Beach it Tin- 7 II 7 ii 12 37 l ii7 Minus 2 minus 17 •• Will 7 ai H nr. I IK IF. West Wildwood III Thu it 2i. H W 2 It. -'hi (Grassy Channel bridge) II Fri 'J in t 12 2 .74 2 VI plus 46 plus 43 s. ,12 hut i 17 -i 47 i -N I 22 Cape May Harbor I II Sun in 1 7 IU 24 4 .14 I U . minus 4 14 Mm. in 37 II <12 141 4 23 p ... „ " 13 Tin- II 44 II in .21 :.»4 five | II. Wrtl 12 « B 21 fa 111 phtll plu*« 17 Thu 12 43 t <8 7 to 7 27 Cape May Point IK Fri 1 43 2 4.1 K 12 K 41 plus 46 plus 34 PI Sal 2 VI .1 48 H 23 s 41 McCne Shoal M Mm" 4-* \ S!»ii H n P|US22 ► 22 Tut 7 4H h 2n II 48 Delaware Bay 21 ttnl fa IK 7 112 12 l» 12 ;!3 Bayshore Channel * 24 Thu 7 24 7 47 I lu I 2u i Bay -Canal Junction i I 27. Fri 8 III K 14 I V. 2 117 phis 47 plus 36 , 2»; Sal k '« * i 24 2 4u 2 ">4 Miami Beach it 1 SZ i " " ' f! 7" a™15 "«•« "i T I • ih i ' y, h '41 [■( Dennis Creek Entrance "in WH i ih i * 7 13 7 vt P*»in P"*97 Brandywine Shoal Lighl plus 77 plus 32 V a/

, THE SEASON HAS BEGUN! { j cruise to Harrahs s i * MARINA HOTEL CASINO CITY Y . ABOARD THE JERSEY CAPE'S OWN CASINO BOAT, ' / THE 85 FT. CASINO CHALLENGER"1 ' ' 2 TRIPS WEEKLY / . Saturday — 6 P.M. ' ' Sunday — 2 P.M. ' ' Starting Saturday, April 12. ' ; *2000e.e.«, ' RECEIVE ' 5 $20°° Be nua Package* I M ' HEATED CABIN • SNACK BAR • / '■/ SAILING FROM OCEAN CITY MARINA & FISHING u / CENTER 3RD & BAY AVENUE -tan soil J a CALL FOR RESERVATIONS & INFO ' ^ 'Subject To Change Without Notice. 628-2935 '

MOSSBROOKS ri » "Firestone Kal 29 Yn Of Serving Satisfied Customers EXPERT MECHANICS - All WORK GUARANTEED I*. 9 A Stone Hartor Bfad.. C.M.C.H. 7 AM to 6 PM Morhfri., Sat. 7-5