<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Summer flounder fishing picked up, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. Catches were heard about from north of Miah Maull. Previously flounder mostly seemed to depart the bay for the season. But the fish seemed to move back in this past week. The same mixed bag of fish including weakfish, blues, croakers and spots schooled the bay like before. More weaks, croakers and spots seemed to hold at places like Bug Light and the Punk Grounds. More blues seemed to school farther south. Migrating, large striped bass can usually begin to be found in the bay by the second week of October. Younger, smaller stripers yet to migrate seemed to become more active at places like the Tuckahoe River and the back bay near Brigantine. The catches were usually made at night. Bigger white perch than before reportedly became more common catches in the brackish rivers and creeks. That’s typical as weather becomes cooler, and mouths of rivers and creeks usually attract the fish then. Sharon joined a trip on Dividing Creek that landed a couple of sizeable weakfish and a keeper black drum. Crabs will probably begin to move toward the bay from the rivers and creeks because of cooler weather. The blueclaws winter in the bay, burrowing in the bottom. But crabs remained in the rivers and creeks, and customers crabbed there. Commercial crabbers kept catching. Shedder crabs for bait started to become more difficult to obtain from suppliers. The store is stocking as many shedders as possible, and customers ordered them ahead to ensure a supply. Apparently crabs began to shed less frequently, like usual as the cooler season approaches. All the usual baits, a large supply, are stocked for fishing inshore. A few boxes of offshore baits including butterfish, sardines and ballyhoos are carried, and offshore baits can be ordered ahead.  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>Newport</b>

The new moon and rough weather happened during the weekend, so crabbing wasn’t great, said Paul at <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. The moon triggered the blueclaws to shed and mate, and they won’t eat then, making them difficult to trap. Winds blew strongly Saturday, also difficult for crabbing. But the new moon is finished, and among crabs caught, many were good-sized. Lots were 6 inches. Small striped bass ran around, and spots, croakers and white perch were seen, for customers who wanted to fish. Customers at Beaver Dam crab from rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek. The staff checks on them every hour, and if crabbers want a break in the meantime, they simply cell phone the shop to be picked up. The boats will be available Fridays through Sundays and Columbus Day, Monday, October 8, and should be reserved, because they book up. Afterward, crabbing from the boats will be unavailable through winter. But the shop will remain open every day for crabbing and fishing supplies, duck hunting from the boat ramp, and turkey check ins. The shop is running a special on boat rentals on Fridays: $25 off trips from 6:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Look for specials on the Sunday and Monday of Columbus Day weekend to be announced on the shop’s Web site. Beaver Dam carries everything needed for a day of crabbing, from bait, traps and nets to snacks and drinks. Kayak and canoe rentals are available by appointment to paddle the scenic creek. Beaver Dam hosts groups like scouts and 4H for an educational, fun day. <a href="http://www.crabulousnj.com" target="_blank">Visit Beaver Dam’s Web site</a>.

<b>Fortescue</b>         

Weakfish, blues, croakers, kingfish – plenty of fish – kept biting in the bay, said Capt. Ralph from the <b>Buccaneer</b>. Fishing was good. Looking ahead, striped bass fishing could begin in October in the bay. Charters on the Buccaneer are only $400, compared with $500 or $600 on other vessels.

After Capt. Howard was recuperating from a sprained leg a couple of weeks, he got back out on his party boat <b>Salt Talk</b> this past week, and weakfish, blues and other fish including croakers and kingfish remained in the bay, he said. They were reeled in near Fortescue, and might’ve been fewer than previously. But they still schooled, and reports from other boats said more of the fish apparently swam farther south, toward the 1 buoy or Maurice River Cove. A throwback striped bass was hooked and released on the Salt Talk the other day, and Howard looks forward to fishing the bay’s fall run of stripers. The bay was 74 or 75 degrees, getting cooler. Open-boat trips are scheduled daily when no charter is booked, and call to confirm.

<b>Cape May</b>

Good catches of summer flounder reportedly turned back up from the bay, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. The fishing had slowed for the season, but anglers talked about a rebound in past days. One of the Fortescue party boats reportedly came across good catches. Flounder fishing was good on the ocean, according to friends. Weakfish and croakers could be nabbed on the bay, and plenty of bluefish could be trolled off Cape May Point. Lots of false albacore raced around the ocean like at the East Lump. Sea bass season will open Sunday. The Heavy Hitter was slated to fish offshore for tuna overnight Saturday to Sunday but was weathered out because of winds and seas.

Back to Top