DATE: Thursday, July 24, 1997               TAG: 9707240590

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BOB HUTCHINSON

                                            LENGTH:   30 lines

FISHING FORECAST A WEEKLY GUIDE TO THE REGION'S HOT SPOTS

Fishing's summer doldrums have struck, and while they haven't affected all species along the Middle Atlantic, they've affected enough.

These doldrums, for lack of a better word, occur almost every year at this time. The days are hot, rainfall is scarce, winds are generally light and fish seem to get a case of the blahs.

Fortunately, several things can chase the doldrums. However, not all of them are good.

A cold spell often will turn the trick. A mid-summer northeaster can also get the job done. Neither is usually damaging.

But a hurricane or tropical storm can also be effective. And that's not good, especially if it's a serious storm, like Danny. As much as the Middle Atlantic needs rain, it doesn't need the 40-plus inches produced by Danny in some parts of Alabama.

The summer doldrums can also end for no apparent reason, and that's really good news.

As for the angling outlook, let's be optimists and call for things to perk up now, prompting all fish into a feeding frenzy.

Some are already at that point, including bluefin tuna, croaker, amberjack and black drum. But others, like white marlin, spadefish, cobia, dolphin and yellowfin tuna, apparently have been affected by the doldrums.

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