The Fisherman Jan. 2001
 
In this age of video games, dot-com everything and 200 channel television, it's often difficult for families to develop and maintain similar interests for extended periods of time. The Wooster family is a unique exception to this trend. Aboard their 31- foot CABO, "Digger," based out of South Jersey Marina in Cape May, Leroy, his wife Ginny, their 17 year old daughter Candyce and 12 year old son Lee, fish as a family team. Together they make up a formidable crew that can be found on the water just about every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day, chasing stripers, blues, flounder and weakfish on the near shore grounds and billfish, tuna, wahoo and dolphin at the canyons.

We caught up with Leroy while he was preparing the Digger for the trip to Florida for the winter. No armchair angler, Wooster has been fishing for nearly his entire life. His dad started him fishing in the late 60s aboard the family's 48-foot Owens. Over the next eight years his father purchased several boats including a 31-foot Jersey, and in 1973, a 40-foot Post. In 1976 his father purchased a 43-foot Post which he owned until he passed away. Leroy also spent time as a mate on a boat in Atlantic City for two seasons after the passing of his dad. His children have also fished since before they could even say "fish." "I can recall my daughter sitting on a car seat in our 17-foot Proline,"  says Leroy. "My kids enjoy any kind of fishing with me, though my wife likes the day trips. She's not too big on overnighters, but she's caught plenty of fish" he adds.

CABO CAPABLE
Leroy is also an experienced boat owner in his own right, having progressed from a 13-foot Boston Whaler which he owned at age 13, to the 17-foot Proline, before moving up to a 21-foot Chris Craft.  With the desire to ply offshore waters,  he bought a 27-foot Grady White.  Soon he realized he was pushing the envelope a bit with the Grady White  for overnight trips, which necessitated the move to something larger. "Since we do a lot of offshore fishing I wanted the safety, range and reliability of diesels," explains Leroy. "We looked around and finally settled on the 31-foot Cabo.  I like the way CABO deals with its boat's owners. They're very receptive to their opinions and make changes for the positive," says Wooster.  "This boat is above and beyond my expectations."

Though he did a lot of fishing over the years out of Atlantic City, four years ago Wooster decided to move the "Digger" to Cape May. And while the family likes just about any type of fishing, they enjoy plying the canyons for billfish most. "I kept my boats in Atlantic City because my dad kept his boats there, " he says, "but between Delaware Bay and the ocean, Cape May has many options, plus there are so many fishermen to relate with. It's also a nice place to bring the family for vacations," adds - Leroy.

The offshore fishing was also a big attraction. As Leroy puts it, "We love to fish for billfish. Catching them is such a challenge. We fish all baits with light-tackle and wind-on leaders," he adds. While he supports catch and release, he's more concerned with a clean release then tagging a billfish prior to release.

TOURNAMENT TIME
Tournament fishing with the family is something special for the Woosters who fish numerous tour-naments each year from their homeport of Cape May as well as other hot spots along the coast. In fact, after spending this coming winter in Pompano Beach, Wooster plans to take the "Digger" to Walker's Cay to fish the IGFA Barta Blue Marlin Classic in April, before returning to New Jersey. "My kids approached me about entering that tournament and we like the way the event supports the International Game Fish Association's Junior Angler Program," says Leroy.

Back home he's enjoyed good luck in many events. Four years ago he won the largest shark division in the South Jersey Shark Tournament. In 1998 Candyce won the Female Angler of the Year award from the Cape May Martin and Tuna Club where Leroy is a member. Then, in 1999, Candyce won the junior Angler of the Year Award from that club and the "Digger" also placed third in points for white marlin release in the South Jersey Offshore Open the same year. This past season saw the crew of the "Digger" place third in the Stone Harbor Invitational Tournament after releasing a blue marlin. The Woosters have also won numerous other individual and team club awards as well. Though Leroy admits that due to work schedules and family commitments it's often tough to get friends together to fish with him, he's comfortable fishing with his wife and children and confident in their ability in the cockpit.

While the current "Digger" is only three years old, Leroy already has his eyes on his next boat, the 35-foot Cabo fly bridge. "I bought the 31-foot express boat when the kids were just getting into offshore fishing. I wanted a boat that would allow me to stay close by in case they needed help. They've proved to me that they're capable, and I have confidence in their ability to work the cockpit," says Wooster. judging by their accomplishments, it looks like that new boat may be on order sooner than later!