<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Weakfish, croakers and small bluefish schooled Delaware Bay, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>, and one of the crew from the shop boated them last week. Quite a few weaks reportedly swam the bay. They did last year, too, and should stick around a while. Not a lot was heard about summer flounder catches. Customers headed for flounder, and Sharon imagined they caught. She figured the ocean fished best for flounder. White perch schooled Maurice River. Crabbing held its own, Sharon guessed. Many customers stopped in for crabbing supplies. Fish are around, and weather looks better this week, after rough weather including thunderstorms last week. 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>

Crabbing was “holding,” said Paul from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Trips trapped two to four dozen keepers and a couple of half-bushels. One trip yesterday trapped nearly a full bushel. Catches were somewhat spotty but “going.” Red cedar water – freshwater – a little, flowed down the creek, but seemed not to affect crabbing. More of the freshwater flowed last week because of rain. Numbers of crabs caught were somewhat down, but size was up. Lots of 5-1/2-inch crabs and larger skittered around. Many 3- or 3-1/2-inchers were in, and they should grow to keeper size, 4 ½ inches, by mid-September. White perch swam the creek. Small bluefish showed up in the water for the first time in a while. Good-sized croakers were reported from Delaware Bay, but none was seen in the creek yet. Customers crab and fish from rental boats towed down Oranokin Creek, running past the shop. Rental kayaks and canoes are available to paddle the scenic creek. Beaver Dam can host events like birthday parties and family reunions, and groups like scouts, including for an educational day on the water. Everything needed for crabbing is stocked, from bait, traps and nets to drinks, snacks and suntan lotion. Visit <a href=" http://www.crabulousnj.com/Home_Page.php" target="_blank">Beaver Dam’s website</a>. A celebration of Delaware Bay, named <a href="https://crabsandallthatjazz.eventsmart.com/events/tournament-tickets/" target="_blank">Crabs and All That Jazz</a>, will be held Sept. 16. That will replace the similar Bay Days celebration that used to take place but does no longer. Crabs and All That Jazz will include a crabbing contest, a Crab-Venger Hunt and, at the end of the day, a dinner featuring the crabs caught. Click the link to visit the event’s website for more info.

<b>Fortescue</b>

Capt. Howard and another angler on the <b>Salt Talk</b> boated three keeper summer flounder and five throwbacks Sunday at the stakes in Delaware Bay, Howard said. Seas were rough in the morning in wind that blew up, and 5 ounces of lead was needed to hold bottom at the end of the trip. The tide ran strongly, maybe because of the new moon. A shark and a cownosed ray were also hooked, but no other fish like blues or sea robins were. Howard sounded surprised. He heard about a 7-pound 6-ounce flounder landed Saturday from the bay. A trip aboard Tuesday of last week headed out but had to return early because of rain. Four-and-a-half inches ended up falling that day. Small croakers, small weakfish and bluefish schooled close to shore. Not all anglers aboard like to fish for them. But there’s action. Howard guessed the bay was in the 70 degrees. Rain last week might’ve cooled the water. The original Salt Talk was a Fortescue party boat. Howard sold that vessel, and the new Salt Talk is a charter boat for 1 to 4 passengers.

<b>Cape May</b>

Good summer flounder catches, a few fish, were decked from near Miah Maull and at 60-Foot Slough in Delaware Bay, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. More croakers than before began to turn up in the bay around the Cape May ferry jetty. Blackfish chomped along jetties. Croakers, kingfish, snapper blues, weakfish and flounder gathered at Cape May Channel, at the confluence of the bay and ocean. Local reefs in the ocean seemed to put out great numbers of flounder. Catching keepers in the back bay became a little harder. Crabbing was excellent.

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