<b>Brooklawn</b>

A few striped bass boated from the bay were heard about, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. But it was “weak,” he said. Few fished the bay since Hurricane Sandy last week on Monday.  Many areas along the bay were destroyed in the storm. Buildings were crushed along the bay’s coast. But party boats and charter boats will fish the bay, and the fall’s striper migration is an important business time for them. The stripers caught were taken on chunks of fresh bunker. The bait was difficult to obtain, because bunker boats were usually prevented from sailing, because of damage to harbors. On Delaware River, good-sized catfish were hauled in, and a few largemouth bass were socked. The river remained somewhat dirty from the weather. Lots of waters including lakes were “a mess” after the storm. Big Timber stocks bait and tackle for fishing on all waters from fresh to offshore.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Fresh bunker was stocked Monday for the first time since the storm, and sold out today, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. Now a nor’easter was coming this week, but the bunker should be stocked again Friday afternoon for the weekend. Anglers should call ahead to order the bait, a favorite for the bay’s striped bass fishing in fall, to ensure a supply. The bait is scarce, because of storm damage. Damage probably often kept bunker boats from sailing, and some suppliers were probably inaccessible. Sometimes the buildings had no power, and sometimes they were located in areas off limits, because of damage. Nothing was heard about fishing, but anglers will probably begin to fish more frequently this weekend, after the storm. People were calling to order bait for the weekend. The Girls Place suffered no damage in the storm, and never lost electricity. But many places closer to the bay were damaged. Still, marinas were heard about that opened back up on the bay and in Cape May. Areas on rivers also took a hit. One area on a river became especially flooded because of a dike that broke. Fresh bunker is being stocked when available, and call ahead to ensure a supply. No fresh clams seem available. Frozen, salted clams are on hand. Eels and all the frozen baits are in good supply.  The Girls Place, located on Route 47, just after Route 55 ends, stocks a large supply of baits and tackle. It’s the long, one-story, yellow building on the right, with plenty of parking, including for trailered boats.

<b>Fortescue</b>

The <b>Buccaneer</b> was being moved back to Fortescue on Monday, after the hurricane, a source from the boat said. The captain hopes to run striped bass charters Friday through Sunday, and fish for them into December. Charters on the Buccaneer are only $400, compared with $500 or $600 on other vessels.

Delaware Bay’s coast was damaged from Hurricane Sandy, but Fortescue’s harbor was in good enough shape for the fleet to keep fishing, said Capt. Howard from the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b>. The fuel dock will need to be replaced, he guessed, and some of the bulkhead was torn up. Houses and buildings on the coast of the bay were severely damaged. Howard hopes to begin fishing for striped bass in the next days. A nor’easter is forecast for mid week. But open-boat trips for stripers will be scheduled daily when no charter is booked and enough anglers want to go. Call to confirm. Striper trips usually fish chunks of fresh bunker for bait on the bay in fall. Sometimes livelined eels can work, and when they do, Howard likes to fish with them. Fresh bunker might be scarce and expensive this season, because damaged harbors will probably prevent many bunker boats from sailing.  

<b>Cape May</b>

Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> joined a short trip on a friend’s boat for striped bass on the bay Sunday, he said. Only a bunch of dogfish bit the fresh bunker baits, but George heard about three or four stripers caught. Good striper fishing is usually happening by Election Day, today, and charters are slated to fish for them this weekend on the Heavy Hitter. A nor’easter is forecast for the middle of the week. George saw one of the Cape May party boats fishing for stripers on the bay the day of his trip, and saw other head boats from the port tied up at the dock. George’s friend got the bunker for bait at a Cape May tackle shop. But fresh bait like that will probably be scarce because of the hurricane. Bunker boats farther north probably can’t sail because of damage like destroyed harbors. Cape May suffered less damage than other places. The town’s location south of the hurricane’s eye seemed the reason. North of the eye, the coast was crushed.

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