Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-26
DHE rains last week evidently cid
not extend far back In Mary
land, as the Potomac did not

TIME rains last week evidently cid
not extend far back In Mary
land, as the Potomac did not
get muddy, ncr even discolored,
and is in perfect condition for an
Cling. According to Joe Fletcher. we'll
known boatman, the run Of herring
recently reported made FISH flying
visit and remained only two days.
Last Sunday only a few were caught
on hook and line, and since then
practically none. However, he said.
more and larger rockfish were caught,
some of them weighing around three
pounds, and that many good size
white perch still are in the river In
the vicinity of his place.
This column has not been opti-
MYSTIC over the herring run, and still
is of the opinion that q stable run
of these bony fish will not materi-
alIze this season. y Comparatively few
shad and herring have been caught
in the lower river by the commercial
netmen, and If they are not landed
by these men, surely they will not
make their appearance in any large
numbers in the swift waters above
Washington.
Last Wednesday We made another
of my fishing excursion to the bay
off Solomons Island and to the mouth
of the Patuxent River. Previously
we visited Honga River and landed
Sc hardhead, none of them big fell
lers," and l though some of them
would be taking bait on our side OF
the bay as we had received several
off Drum Point Light and across the
river off Hog Island.
We went out with Capt. Eddy Bowen
in his new boat, a 45-foot cabin
cruiser. First we drifted between Cedar
Point and the bell buoy and did not
get a strike and then moved several
miles below Cedar Point with the
same lack Of success. Our next move
carried us back into the PatuXent
River and up to Point Patience. Here
we anchored just short distance
above the big ocean liners. The water
at this place is very deep. but for the
third time We met defeat. If the fish
we're present they certainly we're not
hungry, because we offered them
bloodworms. shrimp and soft-shell
crabs. In a last desperate effort to
take home a fish or two, We trolled
around Point Patience for the rock
fish, but it was not our day.
Upon our return TO shore we learned
some hardhead had been landed that
day of Solomons across the river in
the mouth of a creek that empties
into this stream from the st. Marys
shore at Town Point. Another boat
taking out from Capt Woodburn's
with DR.. S. D. Amato and party of
four and fishing across the bay in
the Honga River returned with a catch
of % hardhead. the largest weighing
2l2 and 2& pounds. The two largest
fish were weighed in at Capt. Wood
burns wharf and entered in the con-
test offered this season by Capt Harry
WOODBURY.. He is giving SIS for the
largest hardhead, and $40 each for
the largest blue and sea trout. OF
course. all fish entered in the contest
lldNC W NC Taught lIOlIl OllC Vi Illo
boats and be weighed at his wharf.
CAPT. EDDY BOWEN, at Solomons,
~ says there is only one reason for
the hardhead not biting in deep water
around the island, and that Is the
chilliness of the water. dipped my
hands into the water both in the bay
and the Patuxent River on this last
trip and III bet the temperature was
not more than As or so degrees. At
this time of the year 1t normally is
so or IS. This condition can not last
much longer, however, and when the
change comes we will be right in good
Summer heat. which will take only
several DAYS to warm the water and
start the fish biting. Then not only
hardhead but sea trout and blues
should be biting. Both of the latter
species are being taken In the nets
as far up the bay as the mouth of
West River.
THERE is no doubt about the I'M
usual large number of hardhead
in the bay and its tributaries. The
nets of the commercial fishermen are
packed with them and the price has
dropped so low the netmen are pass
ing them up. Anglers will spend
thousands of dollars this season to
catch them. for, after all, they are the
backbone of the fishing season, at least
they have been for past years. This
season we all hope that sea trout and
blues will be so numerous that many