<b>Brooklawn</b>

Lots of weakfish schooled the bay from Maurice River Cove to Fortescue at places like off the Club House, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. They were small, but a good number were keepers, and were more abundant than in some time. Loads of small croakers, spots and kingfish swarmed the bay and many coastal waters. Small blues ran the bay to the ocean surf to farther out in the ocean. Rick usually fishes offshore for tuna once a week, but stayed docked, because of slow catches. A trip might return with two or three tuna one day, but other trips would be skunked. Large mahi mahi reportedly roamed 20 miles from shore. In Delaware River, plenty of catfish milled around, and small striped bass held at the island off National Park and just upstream from the mouth of Big Timber Creek. The store stocks bait and tackle for fishing in all waters from fresh to offshore.

<b>Newport</b>

Crabbing was slow, because the blueclaws were mating, said Paul from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. But catches seemed to improve slightly in the past several days, and fewer seemed to mate. Previously crabs were seen coupled on practically every piling, but not now. Crabs had been mating the last few weeks, a longer time than usual. They usually mate around the full and new moons through summer. Paul guessed that very warm waters prevented them from mating until now, and cooler waters now made them get to business. They seemed to be making up for lost time. Even commercial crabbers talked about slow catches. But the mate should end, and crabbing should become super again. Catches were terrific this season, some said the best in 30 years. Even if no more crabs were caught, Paul couldn’t complain, he said, because of the great season. But the catches should rebound, and this time of year is usually excellent for crabbing. Crabbing will be available Fridays through Sundays now, after Labor Day passed. Crabbing had been available daily until then. But the shop will remain open daily for crabbing and fishing supplies. Kayaks and canoes can be rented daily by appointment to paddle up scenic Oranokin Creek, running past the shop. Crabbers at Beaver Dam are towed up the creek on rental boats. The staff checks on them once an hour, and if crabbers want a break in the meantime, they simply cell phone the shop to be picked up. Look for a discount special to be announced on the shop’s Web site for crabbing on Fridays. Rental boats should be reserved, and the vessels are still booking up. This weekend was very busy, though the shop was closed on Monday, Labor Day, because of rough weather. Beaver Dam carries everything needed for a day of crabbing, from traps, bait and nets to suntan lotion, snacks and drinks. The shop hosts groups like scouts and 4H for an educational day. <a href="http://www.crabulousnj.com" target="_blank">Visit Beaver Dam’s Web site</a>.

<b>Fortescue</b>

The party boat <b>Salt Talk</b> was docked through the past week because Capt. Howard sprained a leg, he said. But weakfish and the mix of other fish that schooled with them, including blues and croakers, remained in the bay that trips caught previously. One of the mates from the boat sailed for them on another vessel, and lots of the fish were found. Open-boat trips are scheduled daily when no charter is booked, and call to confirm.  

On the <b>Buccaneer</b> no trips fished in past days, Capt. Ralph said. He thought fishing might’ve somewhat slowed, but would say weakfish and blues likely still schooled the bay. He heard little news about the angling, but trips on the boat previously hooked lots of the fish at Wreck Buoy Slough. Looking ahead, trips will sail for striped bass this fall on the bay. Charters on the Buccaneer are only $400, compared with $500 or $600 on other vessels.

<b>Cape May</b>

Small blues schooled off Cape May Point, and a mix of fish including kingfish, croakers and weakfish loitered along Cape May Channel, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Mostly small croakers, but some of them large enough to keep, schooled the bay. Nothing was heard about weakfish in the bay, but the trout probably held along the shallow flats and the stakes. Big sharks, mostly browns and sand tigers, required to be released, haunted the bay. Anglers fished for them at deep spots like 60-Foot Slough. Ocean summer flounder anglers caught at places like the Old Grounds, Reef 11 and Cape May Reef. Closer to shore, good catches of flounder were winged around the Cape May Inlet buoys on the ocean. Flounder could be found in the back bay, and high tides, cooler waters, were probably best for hooking them.

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