<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Summer flounder probably still swam the bay, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. Weather or weather forecasts became spotty again, with frequent storms or forecasts for storms. That kept news scarce about fishing, including for flounder. Weakfish were probably picked here and there in the bay. The bunker netter found weaks in catches, so the trout must’ve been available for anglers. The netter usually nets off East Point, but also works elsewhere on the bay. A few croakers seemed to be reported more and more including from the bay. No details were heard. Again, news was scarce in the weather. Many customers bought crabbing supplies. When crabbing business is busy like that, that usually means some good crab catches were made locally, like in the Matts Landing area. 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>

Most trips landed 1 ½ to 2 dozen keeper crabs at <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>, Paul said. That wasn’t bad, and catches were a little better than he expected, considering that the moon was new. New and full moons can cause crabs to shed and mate, and they won’t eat while doing that. That can slow crabbing, but not all crabs shed and mate at once. Crabs caught were almost either very small or good-sized. Most keepers were 5 1/2 inches or larger. Customers during the weekend began reporting lots of small crabs. A new generation moved in, and commercial crabbers on the bay had reported that previously. Apparently that generation made its way up creeks. Customers crab and fish on rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek, a tributary of Delaware Bay that runs past the shop. White perch suddenly appeared in the creek. A customer Sunday angled 50, and the perch were sizable. Two bit at a time. Customers hooked two or three large striped bass in the creek that were too big for them to land. The stripers broke off. Big stripers have been swimming the creek for weeks. Crabbers seemed to catch best with bunker for bait. Sometimes chicken catches best on the moons when crabs are shedding or mating. The crew thinks the reason is hormonal. Chicken can attract turtles – diamondback terrapins – that have been abundant in the creek this year. Fewer of the turtles seemed around recently. Maybe they were mating or something. Beaver Dam stocks everything needed for crabbing, from bait, traps and nets to snacks, drinks and suntan lotion. Rental kayaks and canoes are available to paddle the scenic creek. The shop can host 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>

A trip Thursday met rough seas but did bag a few summer flounder and some bluefish from the bay on the <b>Salt Talk</b>, Capt. Howard said. Seas were calmer, a little chop but not bad, on a trip Sunday that caught about the same aboard. The trips fished at the ditch between Egg Island Point and the 19 buoy. Trips aboard had been fishing at the wreck buoy, but Howard heard about catches at the ditch, so moved there. He heard nothing about other catches like weakfish, croakers or kingfish from the bay. Bait stealers like sea robins and baby sea bass pecked at baits on the trips. A 15-inch cobia landed was talked about on the radio. Some red water was around, and Howard didn’t know the cause, like maybe one of the creeks or rivers was a cause. 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>

Catches of summer flounder were heard about from near Fortescue on the bay, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Customers were unlikely to sail that far north, and some tried for flounder close to Cape May on the bay. But none reported success. Rumors said croakers began to be around. No details were heard. Kingfishing was good in the surf. Sometimes small bluefish schooled the surf and back bay. Sharks chomped in the surf at dusk and at night. Lots of throwback fluke scurried around the surf, and maybe you’d hook a keeper, but most were shorts. The surf in Cape May is fished on both Delaware Bay and the ocean, because the town is located at the confluence of the two. Sheepshead bit more than usual at places like bridges or jetties. Good white perch fishing was had on Maurice and Tuckahoe rivers.

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