<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Black drum were heaved from Delaware Bay in the past week, and the fishing seemed to be slowing, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. The catches had slowed a moment, and then a few more drum were boated. The fish were probably about to depart the bay for the year, and anglers will see. Weakfish and bluefish were hooked from the bay. Good fishing for summer flounder was reported from back bays – and usually is this time of year – but also Delaware Bay. In Delaware Bay, the Money Island area fished well for the fluke. Was unusual for flounder to gather that far up the bay this early in the year. So fish were being caught, and that was good news. Minnows, a favorite flounder bait, were scarce. They weren’t potting, maybe because of freshwater runoff from rain, but the reason was unknown. Weather’s been rough. More and more customers crabbed, and crabbing seemed slow or not as good as expected for the time of year. Whether that was because of weather was unknown. Crabbing wasn’t great for commercial crabbers. 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>

Weather kept some from crabbing this weekend at <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>, but those who crabbed, caught, Paul said. They probably averaged two to three dozen keepers per trip. The customers weren’t the most experienced crabbers. They trapped fewer throwbacks than customers did previously, for some reason. That seemed unusual, because lots of throwbacks were reported previously. A couple of the crabs were 6 ½ inches, and most keepers were just-keeper-sized or slightly larger. Each year, the rental-boater who traps the largest crab wins a free boat rental for the next year. Schoolie striped bass 20-some inches swam the water. They kept stealing crab bait, customers complained. Customers crab and fish from rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek, running past the shop. The rentals are available on Saturdays and Sundays until becoming available daily beginning June 23, when schools let out. Rental kayaks and canoes are available to paddle the scenic creek. Beaver Dam stocks everything needed for crabbing, from bait, traps and nets to drinks, snacks and suntan lotion. The shop hosts events like birthday parties and family reunions, and groups like scouts, including for an educational day on the water.  Visit <a href=" http://www.crabulousnj.com/Home_Page.php" target="_blank">Beaver Dam’s website</a>.

<b>Fortescue</b>

Capt. Howard from the <b>Salt Talk</b> did engine work on the boat that needed to be done, and so didn’t fish in past days until Sunday, he said. On that day, he took a trip for a while, and made sure the engine was straightened out, and it was, and also fished a little on the bay. Four throwback summer flounder and some bluefish were reeled in at the rips at the slough between the Old House and Egg Island Point. Maybe flounder fishing will kick in, in another week, he thinks. Four keepers were taken on a Fortescue party boat the previous day, he heard. Howard didn’t know the water temperature, but the water felt relatively warm and was probably in the mid-60 degrees, he guessed. The water was clear, despite recent rain, and weather was overcast and a little windy, but not bad. The blues bit bait along bottom on the flounder rigs, weren’t swimming along the surface like they do to chase bunker sometimes. Did Howard hear about any weakfish from the bay? A few were found in commercial crab traps close to shore, so some should be around. One of the party boats that likes to mix-in fishing for weaks at the lighthouses grabbed some. Fortescue’s party boats might be finished fishing for black drum for the year, Howard thought. The Salt Talk used to be a Fortescue party boat. Howard sold that vessel, and the new Salt Talk is a charter boat for up to four passengers.

<b>Cape May</b>

Black drum still swam the bay, Capt. Tom from <b>Fishin’ Fever Sportfishing</b> said late last week, and was sure they’d bite around this week’s new moon. Room was available for that fishing aboard.

Anglers were all fishing for summer flounder, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. The back bay along the Intracoastal Waterway and the inlets fished well for the flatfish. Nick did hear about flounder boated from Delaware Bay. A trip reeled in four keepers there. The anglers said that was along hard bottom, so Nick figured that was at the sloughs. Reports were still heard about black drum caught from Delaware Bay last week. The fish then seemed to push farther from shore, and Tussy’s Slough was fished for them. A few striped bass were still angled from Cape May’s surf. Dunk fresh bunker or fresh clams for them. Weakfish and flounder were also dragged from the surf. The weakfishing was decent along jetties on bloodworms on floats or soft-plastic lures on bucktails. Not much was heard about bluefish from the surf or anywhere. The surf at Cape May includes Delaware Bay and the ocean, because the town is located at the confluence of the two.

Back to Top