Cape May Court House, N.J. – Fishermen are preparing their tackle boxes for Middle Township’s 19th Annual Drum Fish Tournament. The friendly competition will be held from May 19-21 in the Delaware Bay.
“Everyone fishes around here, so it’s a good time for all the locals,” said Chris Denham, who has been participating in the event for eight years. “There’s a lot of good drum fishermen so it’s competitive, but it’s also fun and friendly.”
Last year, Denham was a member of the four-person team on Captain Craig Stocker’s boat, “Little Yipps.” The longtime friends caught two drum fish that had a total weight of 88.5 pounds, earning the team second place for the heaviest combined weight.
Roy Trainor, captain of “Determined,” won first place for the heaviest combined weight (99 pounds), and first place for the single heaviest fish (54.3 pounds). Weigh-ins can be close, as the prize for the second heaviest fish went to Bruce Schumann, captain of “Southern Star,” who caught a drum fish weighing 54.1 pounds.
Third place for the heaviest total combined weight went to Captain Donald Douglass and his boat “Pour Again” for catching two drums weighing a total of 69.5 pounds.
The drum fish event has become a popular tradition in the community, said Suzanne Schumann, Middle’s Deputy Business Administrator and a member of the tournament committee.
“This tournament draws a great crowd of people, many who are repeat competitors. Some have even been a part of the tournament since its initial year,” she said. “It is great to see all the families come together at the Captain’s Meeting and during weigh-ins, and it’s impressive to see all the boats lined up through the Delaware Bay every year.”
Fishermen can put their lines in the water beginning at noon on May 19, and can remain fishing until noon May 21 – when weigh-ins close. Boats are allowed six anglers plus one captain to a boat.
Participants can sign up at the Captain’s Meeting, held 6 p.m. on May 18 at Menz Restaurant, 985 Route 47, Rio Grande, or in advance by filling out the application. The registration is $225 and includes two tickets to the Captain’s Meeting dinner. Additional tickets to the dinner can be purchased for $25 each.
Drum fish are common in the Delaware Bay. The bottom-feeding fish gets its name from the drumming, croaking or throbbing sound it makes as its muscles vibrate against its swim bladder, according to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.
The state record for a single drum fish catch belongs to a fisherman who pulled up a 109-pounder in Delaware Bay in 2008.
For more information, contact Anne Becica at 609-465-8732.