FISHERMAN'S CALENDAR
SO season opens
SC season closes
C clear water
D water dirty, roily
N water normal height
SH slightly high
H high
VH very high
M water muddy
L low
R rising
WT50 water 50°
FG fishing good
FVG fishing very good
FF fishing fair
FP fishing poor
OG outlook good
OVG outlook very good
OF outlook fair
OP outlook poor
TUNA: RHODE ISLAND: The 15th U.S. Atlantic Tuna Tournament at Point Judith ended last week, and the Manhasset Bay Sportsmen's Club of Port Washington, L.I. was in first place, with two giants totaling 856 pounds. Squan Inlet Anglers Club of N.J., with two tuna weighing 846, came a close second. Over 500 anglers in 110 boats caught seven blue-fins between Narragansett and Block Island in the three-day event. Roy Dackerman and his brother Ray, Squan Inlet anglers, took their two fish in the same boat; Ray won the outstanding achievement trophy for fighting his 355-pounder for one hour 40 minutes during a heavy squall. New Jersey State Senator W. Steelman Mathis mastered a 597-pounder in 50 minutes to pull in further honors for his state.
NOVA SCOTIA: Students at the 2nd Annual Intercollegiate Game Fish Seminar and Tuna Match at Wedgeport clearly learned the lesson that fish often do not bite. Three five-man teams representing Yale, St. Francis Xavier of Nova Scotia and Dalhousie universities (Dartmouth was entered but did not participate) studied big-game tackle and the identification of tuna around the world, but had no specimen to study firsthand after three days of fishing. The group's general chairman, Ed Migdalski of Yale's Bingham Oceanographic Laboratory, held out hope for tuna anglers later in the season: "I saw more fish in Soldier's Rip in one morning than I had seen in the last five years at the International Match." But he feels the abundance of live bait steered the giants from anything but play in the chum slicks last week.
MARLIN: HAWAII: Kona agent reports seven blue marlin taken off his shores last week, totaling 1,732 pounds. Largest was a 540-pounder subdued in one hour 10 minutes by William Boyde of Lake Wales, Fla.
BAHAMAS: Stanley Shields of Guelph, Ontario, created a sensation at Harbour Island, a tiny resort 50 miles northeast of Nassau, when he reeled in a 285-pound blue marlin from their lightly fished waters. OG.
TROUT: WASHINGTON: FG/OG for native and sea-run cutthroats in Naselle, Willapa and Hoh rivers. Tomyhoi Lake producing fine brook trout, and chain lakes out of Heather Meadows report success with White Miller fly in early morning for cutthroats and brookies. OVG.
OREGON: FG/OVG for Wickiup Reservoir: algae clearing as water level drops. Bait fishermen and trollers as well as fly-fishermen taking limits of trout 2 to 8 pounds, average 4 pounds. Large Hopper flies or Blacknose Dace streamer best in early morning or late evening in shallows.
MONTANA: FVG and bound to improve through August. Madison now making strong comeback after hot weather slump. Big Hole excellent in lower part, though mossy in upper reaches near Wisdom. FVG also at Rock Creek and Black-foot in Missoula area; streams there generally L while east of Divide they remain H. Recommended patterns: Muddler Minnow, Joe's Hopper, Adams and Light Cahill.
STEELHEAD: WASHINGTON: Tacoma operative reports the most exciting summer steelhead season on record is now being enjoyed in Klickitat River, where veteran anglers are taking limits. OVG.
STRIPED BASS: NEW JERSEY: FVG for August for nocturnal figures off the rock jetties from Ocean Grove north through Long Branch. Charles Searles of Rahway hit the jackpot last week from an Ocean Grove jetty, with seven fish in one day, the biggest a 46-pounder taken on a rigged eel.
RHODE ISLAND: FVG off Point Judith, where one party of four took 14 stripers in the 50-pound class in 1¼ hours last week. OVG.
BLUEFISH: NEW YORK: FVG trolling for blues in Long Island's Shinnecock Inlet with a Gimmick lure. OG for trollers as long as skittish bait stays in inlet. Surf casters using chrome jigs also taking blues to 10 pounds from west side of inlet accessible from Dune Road.
FLORIDA: With cessation of rains in northwest state, blues have returned to shallow grassy flats in St. Marks to Carrabelle areas. FG on cut bait.
PACIFIC SALMON: CALIFORNIA: Salmon doldrums prevail outside Golden Gate, but anglers scoring in northern counties. Humboldt Bay produced several large chinooks last week. FF on Sacramento at Redding, with Gravel Plant riffle best bet; ditto at Corning for some fish in 20-pound class on red-and-white spoons.
WASHINGTON: Spectacular salmon fishing continues unabated off southern coast, in straits waters and Puget Sound. Angler success so great (best estimate 75% all anglers taking home limits from all favorite areas) that custom canning outfits at Sekiu and Neah Bay refusing sportsmen's fish after 9 a.m., and six special traffic handlers have been deputized to patrol boat-laden Neah Bay Road. Some fishermen begrudge time to cut herring fillets, are finding that salmon take hunks cut off any old way. Agent advises next two weeks bid fair to be best of season, with humpie runs going well into September. OVG.
