<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Several days of wind kept news scarce through the weekend, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. But weakfish and kingfish were probably hooked from Delaware Bay, and summer flounder were likely angled from back bays. The weaks and kings were probably also beached from the surf. No croakers were heard about yet, and the season was early. Croakers usually swim local waters in July and August. Crabbing was pretty good, and sales of crabbing supplies were busy. Shedder crabs are coming in for bait. Minnows, bloodworms and practically all baits are stocked that anglers might need for local fishing. Customers were buying more bait for sharking on the ocean than before. They began to buy more bait than previously for tuna fishing, and that demand will come on this season. The Girls Place, located on Route 47, just after Route 55 ends, carries a large supply of bait and tackle, and is the long, one-story, yellow building on the right. It’s on the way to the bay.

<b>Newport</b>

Novice crabbers often trapped two to four dozen, and better crabbers trapped a half-bushel, said Paul from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. A couple of catches filled two-thirds of a bushel. When weather wasn’t a factor, crabbing wasn’t bad. Wind 20 to 30 m.p.h. forced the store to be closed Saturday. But the shop was back open Sunday. Bunker for bait caught better than chicken did. That can change. No customers seriously fished in past days, but a burrfish was hooked, and two 4-foot rays swam along the dock. Those were each unusual to see in the creek. Customers crab and fish from rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek. Rental kayaks and canoes are also available to paddle the creek. Rentals are now available daily, after being available on weekends previously. The change is made once schools let out for summer. <a href=" http://www.philly.com/philly/health/on-the-delaware-bay-nj-town-struggles-against-sea-rise-will-money-island-vanish-20170625.html" target="_blank">Check out Paul in an article and video on the Philadelphia Enquirer’s website</a> about water supposedly rising along Delaware Bay from global warming. Visit <a href=" http://www.crabulousnj.com/Home_Page.php" target="_blank">Beaver Dam’s website</a>.

<b>Fortescue</b>

A few summer flounder were boated at “open water” on Delaware Bay, said Capt. Howard from the <b>Salt Talk</b>. Someone from the dock who fishes all the time landed the fluke and other catches like weakfish at places like a mile from shore at the first drop-off. Weakfish and kingfish were plucked near lighthouses. Howard just finished his day job for summer and will fish more frequently now and will probably have more news then. The Salt Talk was a Fortescue party boat that Howard sold, and the new Salt Talk is a charter boat for up to four passengers.

<b>Avalon</b>

A trip Saturday would’ve fished Delaware Bay for summer flounder aboard, but forecasts for wind and rain nixed that, said Capt. Jim from <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b>. No rain fell, but wind sure blew. He plans to fish the bay for flounder on trips this coming Sunday and Monday. A short, 4-hour trip Sunday fished the back bay aboard for flounder, reeling up a keeper and shorts. Just a relaxing, good day, he said. When charters aboard fish Delaware Bay, the boat is trailered and launched wherever’s nearest the fishing. Otherwise the boat departs from the slip at Avalon.

<b>Cape May</b>

A few black drum remained in Delaware Bay last week, though nobody really fished for them anymore this year, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Summer flounder were grabbed from the back bay and ocean reefs, but none was talked about from Delaware Bay. Weakfish were nipped along jetties in the bay’s surf on bloodworms fished from floats. Small bluefish schooled everywhere including the surf, the back bay and around inlets. Cape May includes surf along both Delaware Bay and the ocean, because the town is at the confluence. Kingfishing reportedly went fairly well in the ocean surf, and croakers schooled a couple of miles from shore, yet to pull into the surf. Kings had been reported boated from Delaware Bay when the bay’s drum fishing was peaking. Not much was reported about striped bass, and water was warming for that.

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