Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-16
IN LARGE NUMBERS
RETURN TO JERSEY COAST
One of GGest Fish IN Waters Back Absence of THO Years
BuIocFS Channel Bass Weighed only 55b Pounds-Fresh
Water NoteS-PerSonaL Items About Anqers
By DIR. S. H. LIPSCHUTZ

There is hardly any type of fishing that
has so much of the old tradition and folk
lore of the old Jersey fishermen entwined
about It's tales as the fishing for Sleeps
head about the pilings and wrecks along
the Jersey coast. The old salt would
keep his weather eye peeled for the first
sign of the dogwood blossoms. and when
they made their appearance in the spring
the word would be passed along and
last years tackle would be gone over and
mighty preparations would be made.
Sheepshead is one of the gamest and
most difficult fish to catch, and a sport
| that will try the patience of the most
persistent of anglers In former years
| they were found in great numbers along
| the Jersey coast in the vicinity of old
wrecks, piiings and along the steep banks
In the thoroughfare and in the channels
in the inlets.
At Corsons Inlet, where the fish have
been recently taken after an absence of
several years, ii was not an unusual
: sight to see 20 or 80 fishermen planted
along the old bridge waiting for that
elusive touch that told of this king of
table fish crushing the clam bait.
Facts About Sheepshead
The old Jersey salt would cover the in
lets, banks and old wrecks and in a likely
spot branch of 'sassafras would be stuck
In the mud at low water, and on the
Following low water this branch would
be investigated, and If there were any
sheepshead about the bark of the sassa-
fras would be entirely stripped off as
far as the high water mark This would
tell the fisherman that at this particular
spot the sheepshead had made merry on
this toothsome bit and would hang around
for more, Then the fisherman would get
busy and nine times out of ten he would
get his fish
Another spot much sought after was
along the steep banks, where the tide
would be likely to undermine the bank
and large portions of 1t would be cut |
of, allowing the CLANS hidden in the |
banks, 10 drop into the channel, and here |
the sheepshead would lay in wait for such |
easily gotten food
\ most unusual feature of tine Sleeps |
head is the fact that he will stay at one |
particular spot where food may he found |
and will not leave that locality until the |
supply is exhausted, This fact was taken |
into consideration by the old salt, and |
thus the planting OF bait was resorted to !
with great success
The bite OF the sheepshead Is a very
unusual one. and 10 a novice that has his
hrst strike he may be fooled In thinking |
he Is bothered by crab. The fish does
not take the bait and run with II, like |
his brothers, but will take the clam in
his mouth. crush the shell, suck the meat
from 1t and spit out the shell, without
hardly tremor felt, except by the most
fisherman.
Notes on Bass Fishing
Phil Hoffman. of New York. who is a
veteran striped bass fisherman, having
hshed the northern Jersey coast extern
5ively, caught his first channel bass.
which weighed 80 pounds, at Corson's on
Sunday last. On the following morning
no repeated his performance by Bleaching
4 S6-pounder
j. w. Moore. Of Brooklyn, landed a ss-
pound channel bass from the surf at
Corsona,
DR.. Frank Lee, of Philadelphia, landed
lis first channel bass at Corson's Sun
lay 1t weighed 30 pounds
Dr. Emerson Sausser, who Is spending
he summer at his bungalow at Ocean
;ity, Is eombing the surf for channel
,ass.
Ike Newlin. OF Philadelphia, caught a
O-pound channel bass while surf fishing
i Corson's Inlet, N. ].
George Kennedy, of the Philadelphia
inquirer, Is daily hitting the game fish
i Corson's, and has some fine catches
o his credit
Master Harry Kennedy, OF Norwood
"a, Is the youngest surf fisherman of
he CorsOn's Inlet colony, and Is working
ard 10 catch his first channel bass This
2-year-old enthusiast hung a bass. but
lost him his first fish.
The first sheephead OF the season was
aught at corson's OF the Pennsylvania
ridge on July by George Chalfant. OF
1t weighed pounds.
On July MT Chalfant bettered his
ormer catch by landing a 55s-pounder.
lso aheephead This is unusual. as