Evening star., 1960-08-21
Abundance OF F|ounders salvation OF Fishing
In Inshore Waters From Cape Hotteros North
BY CHARLES COVELL

outdoor Editor
The lowly founder has
won new respect. If it
weren't for this warm
weather visitor there would
be poor inshore fishing
this summer along the sea-
coast from Hatteras to Cape
May.
Where are the croakers? Only
a few have shown here and
there. Their absence bears out
scientific predictions.
The trout? They're Just
about as scarce. Usually there's
a good fall run but so far there
have been few indications of
it. All up and down the coast
the reports have been the same
founder fishing. often very
good. The rest, indifferent.
The Eastern Shore of Vir-
ginia Is an example. In the
lightly fished inlets, bays and
harbors Of this lonely coast,
which includes the fishing CEN
ters Of Quinby. Wachapreague
and Chincoteague, one usually
can 60 out in anything from an
outboard to charter boat and
catch several varieties OF fish.
Founders Abundant
Not this year. There's plenty
Of flounders-big ones, some
kingf1Sh. a very occasional sea
trout, ditto croaker and the
usual sea robins and other
trash.
Now there's no reason to be-
little the founder. A good
. founder fishing trip can pro-
vide rare sport.
More rightfully called north
ern fluke, these SUNNI er
founders are a voracious, ag-
gressive fish with large mouths
; and needle-sharp teeth that
prey on everything from smaller
fishes to squid and crabs.
They also grow to large size.
To qualify for citations in the
Virginia Salt Water Sport
Fishing Tournament they must
weigh at least 6 pounds. Entries
number 121, the largest a 12-
pound 15-ounce fish caught by
William Gingell, ST., of Chev-
erly, Md.
Fish Out Of Wachapreague
We went fishing a few days
ago with Capt. Ray Parker on
his Evelyn Cree out of Wacha-
preague. Parker has a COM
Portable boat, rugged Al
footer equipped with electronic
aids and a big diesel. With us
were his mate. young Danny
McCloud and our son Charles,
: jr.
Conditions were not too good.
A rip-roaring thunder squall
the night before had stirred up
She bottom as it usually does
and the waters would be murky.
Clouds were still maSsed but
there was no wind as we set
out through the maze Of chan
nels and bays that traverse the
marshes to Little Machipongo
Inlet 10 miles away.
Wachapreague boats as well
as the few from Quinby were
then fishing Little Machipongo
instead of Wachapreague Inlet
directly offshore. They switch
back and forth in wise con-
servation agreement since too
heavy fishing might deplete the
founder supply of Wacha-
preague.
Big Sharks in Area
On the way we discussed
sharks. Saw a big one from
an outboard in a narrow chan
mel between the marshes yes:
terday, I told him. 1T seemed
to be roofing against the mud
bank with its dorsal and part
Of its body exposed. Looked as
II it was scooping up mussels.
1t went down as we passed
over it,"
Might have been" the cap
tain said. They'll eat almost
anything. Probably was a sand
shark although we get all kinds
in here. sometimes even tiger
sharks. I've caught 'em.
Some boys landed a 300
FOUNDER from the dock a couple
OF nights ago using rope, chain
and big hook.
Big sharks are common
enough but once in awhile we
get an unusual ray. Caught a
manta once, something you
seldom see in these parts. Took
off over the surface like a big
bat"
Drift Near Shoals
BY that time we were passing
q Coast Guard buoy tender
busy in the mouth of the inlet
and moved outside to some
sand shoals over which the in
coming tide was breaking and