<b>Newport</b>

Crabbing was tough this weekend, because of freshwater runoff from storms last week, apparently, said Linda from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Catches should pick back up when salinity levels rise. Customers sometimes trapped two-dozen of the blueclaws, and took time to do that. On the previous weekend, crabbing wasn’t bad, and many customers nabbed a half-bushel. Crabs caught this weekend were small. But that was apparently because of the freshwater. During the previous weekend, lots of 5-1/2-inchers were taken. So the size was “there,” Linda said, but the large ones weren’t “coming up.” Even commercial crabbers couldn’t catch, and one only trapped three dozen in 300 pots. Crabbing still made for a beautiful day outdoors at Beaver Dam. Fishing was good, and croakers, spots and white perch were hooked on clams and bloodworms. Customers crab and fish from rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek, running past the shop. The staff checks on them each hour, and if customers want a break in the meantime, they simply cell phone the store to be picked up. Beaver Dam carries everything needed for a day of crabbing, from bait, traps and nets to snacks, drinks and suntan lotion. Crabs for eating are sold when available, and none was available this past week, because commercial crabbers couldn’t catch. Rental kayaks and canoes are available to paddle the scenic creek. Beaver Dam hosts groups like scouts, including for educational or environmental experiences, and activities like family reunions. Beaver Dam will be open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily starting Saturday, and was open on weekends previously this season. <a href="http://www.crabulousnj.com/" target="_blank">Visit Beaver Dam’s Web site</a>.

<b>Fortescue</b>

On the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b>, summer flounder were decked at the stakes and the rips, the southern end, inshore of Miah Maull, Capt. Howard said. Only a few of the flounder were keepers, and trips also mixed in fishing for weakfish, spots and croakers along the shipping channel. Bloodworms and crabs were fished for them, and sharks and skates also bit along the channel. A half-dozen ling were landed aboard Saturday along the channel. That was surprising, and maybe was because the bottom was cold. But the surface, according to the fish finder, was 74 degrees. That was normal or maybe high for the time of year. Bluefish 14 or 15 inches sometimes grabbed hooks while customers flounder fished. Boaters from the docks sometimes anchored and chummed just for the blues. A red or brown tide filled some areas of the bay Saturday, seeming to come from north or Delaware River. The Salt Talk last fished for drum on the bay a couple of weeks ago, catching a few. The docks at Fortescue were operating, since the hurricane. Some slips needed to be dredged, and low waters were around since the storm, including at the mouth of Fortescue Creek. Party boats had to depart and return on higher tides, because of that. At the boat launch toward the end of the creek, one of two of the ramps is open, since the storm. Higbee’s launching from the crane is likely operating, but Howard wasn’t asked for this report. Open-boat trips are fishing for summer flounder daily on the Salt Talk, when no charter is booked. Anglers can telephone to confirm. 

<b>Cape May</b>

Fishing aboard tried for drum on the bay Saturday, Capt. Jim from <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b> said. After a couple of hours at the Pin Top, no drum bit, and the decision was made to scope out summer flounder fishing. The trip moved farther up the bay to Miah Maull, 14-Foot Lighthouse and the 19 buoy. But a terrible red and brown tide, apparently flowing down from a flooded Delaware River, filled waters, and no flounder bit. Junk fish, a couple of croakers and a ling were reeled in. The trip moved toward Bug Light, because Jim knew large sharks like browns, required to be released, should swim there. Four- and 5-foot sharks were fought there, at least. Waters on the trip were 70 and 71 degrees, plenty warm for flounder. Trips might also start fishing the ocean for flounder from Avalon soon. Ocean flounder fishing might’ve begun picking up. Trips will also sail the ocean from Avalon for speedsters like tuna soon. Fins and Feathers fishes Delaware Bay in spring and fall, trailering the boat to wherever’s nearest the fishing, like Cape May or Reed’s Beach. In summer, the boat sails the ocean from Avalon. Fins and Feathers offers a variety of outdoor adventures, including duck and goose hunting, when the seasons are open. Anglers can enjoy a combo of striped bass fishing and waterfowl hunting on Delaware Bay over a series of days. Fins and Feathers also fishes for salmon and steelheads on upstate New York’s Salmon River from Jim’s lodge, and fly rods for trout on Pennsylvania’s streams like the Yellow Breeches. 

The <b>Down Deep</b> was sailed for drum on the bay, and a handful were decked the other night, Capt. Mario said. But the fishing was slowing down, and waters were warming. Plenty of sea bass were socked from the ocean aboard, and marathon, open-boat trips for them worked out well. More of the trips are coming up this week aboard, and sign up for the <a href=" http://www.downdeepsportfishing.com/ddsf/76-2/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s Web site for dates for open trips. A few spots remain for the season’s first open tuna trip Sunday. Charters are also fishing.

Nothing much was heard about drum in past days, and Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b> didn’t know how the fishing was, he said. A few summer flounder began to be caught from the ocean at the Old Grounds and Reef 11. The fishing didn’t sound consistent. Like a trip might run to one of those spots, and the fish might bite at the other. Lots of sea bass, including quite a few large, were beaten from the ocean on a charter Sunday on the Heavy Hitter. George mated on a trip Saturday for sea bass on a friend’s boat on the ocean. The anglers picked away at the fish, not fast and furious, in green waters, not good-looking. Lots of throwbacks bit.  Tuna were caught at Baltimore Canyon, and a friend sailed for them during the weekend, landing none. But other boaters bagged them. A shark tournament was held in Cape May during the weekend, postponed from the previous weekend, because of Tropical Storm Andrea. But George heard no results. Charters are sailing for all these fish.

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