_sports

outdoors j^ilh^ou^Rodi^

Drum, Weakfish Play the Waiting Game

Any day now, someone will catch the first black drum or the first weakfish on rod and reel in Delaware Bay AND report it officially. We have had a few reports (rumors) but were not able to confirm them. One is that a few weakfish are being caught by small boat anglers in Delaware Bay.

The only confirmed bay action in April was the arrival of schools of bluefish. They did provide early sports for the boat fishermen. Weakfish were being caught in the nets. At least one drum was netted. VETERAN ANGLERS were not upset by this turn of events. Weakfish generally start somewhere

between late April and mid-May. Black drum do likewise. While anglers are anxious, it is too soon to be concerned. A few warm days and mild weather may make all the difference in the world. Perhaps, by now, the bay will have started to turn on. Meanwhile, anglers interested in pioneering bay action can fish for blues and catch something while waiting for the weaks to start. Water temperature is still the key. It holds true for jetty fishermen as well. They, too. are waiting for the weakfish to show up innumbers. As of now, nofie have been reported. A HANDFUL of anglers are trying. The past weekend saw a few more making the effort to find a weakfish. While they were doing so, they passed up a chance to catch some tautog. Few anglers fish for tog in the rocks any more. And they miss some good fishing and some good eating. Tog may not look pretty, but they are excellent table fare. They can be a good fill-in while waiting for something else to happen around the jetties, particularly if the water temperature is below 55 degrees. Traditionally, the first jetty weakfish reported on the lower Cape jetties are caught on float rigs and bait. That's because the weakfish are sluggish in the cold water. If it is a little below 55 degrees, it is virtually impossible to catch one on a lure, but they may hit bait. As the temperature creeps up, the weakfish get a little more active and will become aggressive. THAT'S WHEN the bucktail-plastic worm combos and Rebel plugs come into play A few are caught on Hopkins lures as well. The same is true for boat fishermen They find it difficult to catch weaks when the water temperature is below the magic 55 degree mark

1 Even when it creeps up to ) 55 degrees or a point or two t above it, the fish are still i sluggish. That's when the i veteran anglers reach into their bag of tricks and fish a little differently. Small boat anglers have an advantage in that they can switch to lighter tackle and smaller lures. Four to six pound line and ultra - i light outfits enable these anglers to fish 1/4 to 1/2 • ounce bucktails and get them on the bottom. THEY CAN also use smaller twister tails. These smaller lures more closely .resemble the shrimp and i small crabs which are plentiful in the bay at this time of year. Ultra-light outfits unfortunately are not good for party boat . fishing . Charters can fish ultralight tackle. Head boats need heavier gear because of the nature of the fishing. But you can still fish small lures. One way is to fish a normal size bucktail which will get your bait on the bottom. Tie a two or three-foot trailer behind the heavy lure and fish a small bucktail on the end of the trailer. OR. YOU CAN get an inline sinker (one with eyes at both ends). Tie one eye to the end of the line and tie a two or three-foot trailer behind the in-line sinker. Again, use a small bucktail at the end of the trailer. These smaller lures can be effective on lots of days. REPORTS. Lower Cape boats are either fishing wrecks for sea bass and blackfish or they are making runs to Delaware Bay for weaks and blues. Check your favorite skipper to see what his plans are for the day you plan to fish. It is transition time now The Capt. Robbins at Sea Isle City is fishing for sea bass and ling. ...Capt Charlek Shaffer of the Star /ish is wreck fishing for sea bass.. CAPE MAY: The Sea Star II is making exploratory trips to Delaware Bay for weaks and blues Capt. Paul Thompson of the Porgy 111 has been wreck fishing pending the start of weakfish action in the bay The Happy Days is also fishing Delaware Bay. The Miss Chris fleet is splitting action with an 8-hour and a 6-hour boat fishing Delaware Bay and another fishing all day on wrecks for sea bass and blackfish. The first weakfish caught on the boats out of the Miss Chris docks will earn a 710Z Penn reel for the angler who catches it. The dock is also sponsoring a weekly contest for the biggest weakfish caught on a day trip on the Miss Chris boats ...The Big Jim is fishing for bass and tautog on the wrecks until the weakfish get started. .Capt. Jim Sullivan of the Fiesta is also reporting good bluefish action up in the bay. and is waiting for weakfish to start. i STONE HAfiBOR: Capt Don Cramer of the Capt. Cramer reported some excellent six-hour fishing for sea bass and tog on the Pig * Iron wreck off Stone Harbor The sea bass went to 2a4 lb Bud Burke of Stone Harbor boated 35 fish. His

catch was divided between sea bass and tautog. WILDWOOD: Capt. Joe McTommoney of the Adventurer II has been wreck fishing on four-hour trips. ...The Sea Raider reported an excellent outing for Wildwood Cub Scout Pack 184. John Cusella. 9, led with over 50 mackerel. Capt. Jay Beecroft said Jim Shull of Bridgeton boated an lla4 lb and a 9 lb blackfish. The Sea Raider is also fishing Delaware Bay. Drum trips will start May 9. WILDWOD CREST: The Royal Flush has returned to its berth at the Royal Flush Docks. Trips are set for sea bass and tautog. For information call 522-1395. . . The Starlight has started sailing daily into Delaware Bay for weakfish, fluke and blues. The new 70 ft. Twilight has moved into its berth at Blake's Dock. The boat will accommodate up to 100 anglers and will be * available for day and night charters.

Cape May County ALMANAC MAY MOON' PHASES/POSITION^ CORRECTION TIMES The Moon , , ffect on the T.de „ CompuU approximate times grea test when closest «o Earth of hifh * low Mt„ ft,, ^ > tin perigee, and when in direct ar#a by addm( or subtracting I aliment with Sun * Earth thf /oihwi„t number of Ifull * new moon phase. j On minutel lor each t.de phase In and about there dates. low Tlde Table preifure tyitemi and/or strong winds l depending upon direction) may result in flooding and'or extremely lew tides Moon Phate* t-OW HIGH I. at i Quarter 30 Great Egg Harbor Inlet New Moon a pfcjg tf pluslO Pir.1 Quarter i» ocean City (9th St Bridge) FuMMo°" n plaaB plus 22 : Anoeec .a Carton Inlet (bridge) • *»» Sea Isle City * 1 Ludlam Thoro Bridge ) TIDE TABLE plus 66 plus «3 ? Computed for Cape May City Sea Isle City Beach beachfront, for other areas, see minus 2 minus 21 C..r«i«.n Tim .. To«>«e*l Inlet plus 21 plus 4 ' DATE HIGH LOW Seven Mile Beach a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m ^,5 0 3 1 Thu 2:20 — 3:06 8:43- 9:07 Stooe Harbor 2 Fn 3:26- 4:11 9 46-10:12 (Great Channel Bridge) 3 Sat 4:30— 5:10 10:38—11:10 p)us43 Dlus40 5 Mon 6:21-6:48 —12:10 f 6 Tue 7:06- 7:25 12:46-12:51 * u... . „ . 0 1 7 Wed 7:45 - 8:01 1:30- 1:31 8 Thu 8:22- 8:34 2:12- 2:10 Minus 2 minus 17 | 9 Fn 8:58- 9 08 2:52- 2:47 West Wildwood 10 Sal 9:34- 9:41 3:31- 3:20 (Grmsay Channel bndgei 11 Sun 10:11-10 16 4:67- 3:54 pits 46 phis 43 12 Mon 10:50-10:53 4:42- 4:26 Cane Mav Harhnr % 13 Tbe 11:35-11 33 5 20- 4 57 . , ^ ^ 14 Wed - 12:23 5:58- 5:38 p,U* _ minus 4 15 Thu 12 18- 1:13 6 48- 6 34 Five Fathom Ban* | 16 Fri 1:13- 2:09 7:48- 7:53 plus II plus 1 ' ' 17 Sal 2:09- 3:05 8 47- 9 07 Cape May Point 18 Sun 3 13- 4:07 9 44- 10 09 plus 46 plus 34 19 Mon 4 18- 5 05 10:35-11 05 McCne Shoal i 20 Tue S 21- 6 00 11 21-12 00 . _ Met- ne Shoal 21 Wed 6:19-6:5! -12 11 p,u,a Plus22 ... 22 Thu 7.12- 7.38 12:54- 1:02 Delaware Bay 1 | S3 Fri 8:02- 8:27 1 49- 1:54 Bay-shore Channel 24 Sat 8:52- 9-16 2:42- 2:46 (Bay-Canal Junction 1 ; 25 Sun 9:46-10 06 3:34- 3 39 plus47 plus 36 » Mon 10:41-11:04 4:26- 4:31 Mum. Beach 27 Tue -11:41 5:18- 5.26 ., 28 Wed 12:02-12:42 6 14- 6 26 P P 29 Thu TOO- 1:42 7 12- 7 35 Dennis Creek Entrance • 30 Fri 1:56- 2 40 8:12- 8 44 P«US1I4 plus 97 . 31 Sat 2:55— 3 38 9:18- 9 45 Brandywtne Shoal Light plus 77 plus 52 WWW

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Fresh Water: Fresh water fans can try fishing one day for free May 24. The State has set aside that date as a free fishing day. Anglers can fish free (no license is required on that date). Check local licensing agents for the rules FLUKE ACTION: Ludlam 's Bay continues to provide the only reported fluke action on the Jersey Cape. Brad and Scott Weil of Exton, Pa., and Bill Joseph, of Mantua, caughteight fluke using squid and minnows for bait. The anglers brought their fish into Vitiello's Dock in Sea Isle City. A few warm days will open up fluke fishing all along the inland waterway. Fish for fluke along the channel edges with minnows and squid combinations. Use cut mackerel or strips of herring for bait as well. Tie a lead head jig direct- . ly to the end of the line and bait the bucktail with squid or minnows. Use the jig as a sinker and fish attractor

Laws ' Printing Wins Tournament

GOSHEN — The fourth annual Cape May - Middle Township Softball Tournament took place April 26-27 at the Goshen complex with Laws' Printing defeating Burke Builders to win the title. The tournament attracted 10 teams divided into two brackets. The top two teams in each bracket advanced to Sunday Burke Builders and Carlos O'Brien's were the bracket winners with

4-0 records apiece. Laws' Printing and Classic Video came in second in their brackets with 3-1 records. CARLOS O'Brien's finished in third place with a 5-2 record as it got fine performances from Joe Bimbo in left field, Ed Grant in right field and Kevin Olsen on third base. Laws' Printing and Burke Builders squared off for the championship with Burke Builders needing to win two straight from Law's to win the championship because of a loss to them earlier in the dayBurke Builders came from behind to win the first game 5-4 as they scored four runs in the 6th inning IN THE championship game, Laws' Printing scored 10 runs in the second inning to ice a 22-8 victory. Kevin Sherman had a 3-run homer in the second and had 4 rbi's in the game. John Fuller had 4 hits and 5 rbi's. Bill Cook had 5 hits in the two-game series. Burke Builders had outstanding performances from outfielders Chuck Matthews and Joe Genovese and shortstop Ken Johnson. PITCHER Ted Farrante of Laws' Printing got the Gold Glove award for his outstanding defensive performance in Sunday's championship series. Sherman won the most Valuable Player award as he hit five home runs in the tournament.

LCMR Star Bound for Catawba CAPE MAY - Denise Marie Rutherford of this city has signed a letter of intent to attend Catawba College. Salisbury. N.C., and play field hockey, it was announced by Nan Whitley, field hockey coach. Rutherford is a student at Lower Cape May Regional High School, where she was a three-year starter and team captain in field hockey, playing for coach Pat Komar. She is also a four-year starter in softball at LCMR, where she was coached by Deb McFall. She was the team's most improved player in 1984 and is captain of the team this year.

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