<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

From <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>, Sharon was fishing at the mouth of Dividing Creek when she gave this report in a phone call this morning, she said. Several weakfish, including a larger one that was kept and some 13-inchers released, and a bunch of croakers and spots were already caught on the trip. She was surprised the weakfish were landed that close to shore, and wasn’t going to push farther out for summer flounder, because the trip fished on a small boat. Reports about flounder catches sounded up and down from the bay. Some anglers bagged them, and others didn’t. But fish were around in the bay or anglers could head out and catch. For the flounder, minnows and squid were popular baits. But Sharon prefers baits like shedder crabs, bloodworms and spots. Flounder could probably be boated along the shipping channel and at Flounder Alley, Sharon thought. She caught them east of the 19 buoy on another trip, covered in the previous report. Nothing was heard about bluefish from the bay. Crabbing seemed to pick up, and should this time of year. Seemed a later start to better crab catches this season, but many types of fishing also started late. The weekend was the season’s busiest for customers buying crabbing supplies. Baits stocked include minnows, shedder crabs and bloodworms, and the bait supply is in good shape. The Girls Place, located on Route 47, just after Route 55 ends, stocks a large supply of bait and tackle. It’s the long, one-story, yellow building on the right, with plenty of parking, including for trailered boats.

<b>Newport</b>

Crab catches ranged from about two to three dozen per trip to seven-eighths of a bushel, depending on crabber experience, said Paul from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Crabbing was definitely improving, and lots of trips almost busheled out. The blueclaws were good-sized, including many 6-inchers. Few customers fished in past days, but more probably will this weekend, and anglers had been landing sizeable croakers to 14 and 16 inches. The hardheads bit nearly anything, including bunker and chicken usually used for crab bait. Small striped bass seemed to swim around. Customers at Beaver Dam crab and fish from rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek, running past the shop. The staff checks on them every hour, and if customers want a break in the meantime, they simply cell phone the shop to be picked up. Take advantage of the Frequent Crabber Card to rent a boat four times and get a fifth rental for only $20 this season. Beaver Dam carries everything needed for a day of crabbing, from traps, bait and nets to snacks, drinks and suntan lotion. Rental kayaks and canoes are available to paddle up the scenic creek. Crabs for eating are sold when available. Beaver Dam hosts groups like scouts and family reunions, and can offer an educational day about the environment. <a href="http://www.crabulousnj.com/" target="_blank">Visit Beaver Dam’s Web site</a>.

<b>Fortescue</b>

Fishing for summer flounder was pretty good, not bad, on the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b>, Capt. Howard said. Anglers were actually able to grab some keepers, and a 23-incher was bagged Friday. Trips fished along the outer edge of the stakes, toward the rips that are sometimes called the Miah Maull rips, located somewhat of a ways inshore of the Maull. Trips like recently first stopped closer to shore and caught croakers and spots for flounder bait. That worked out well, was good bait, and gave anglers another opportunity to catch. Better-sized croakers and spots could also be kept to eat, if anglers wanted. But most caught them for bait. A few bluefish and kingfish were usually mixed in on trips. Only small weakfish were hooked. One angler said he lost a bigger weak at the boat. The bay’s temperature dropped, and was 81.5 degrees on Sunday.  Open-boat trips are fishing for flounder daily, when no charter is booked. Anglers can telephone to confirm.

<b>Cape May</b>

Surf anglers along the bay, at places like Sunset Beach and Higbee’s Beach, tugged in croakers, lots of small ones, sometimes larger, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. They banked spots, sometimes summer flounder and once in a while a striped bass. Fewer weakfish than before roamed the surf, but a few remained. Very few kingfish held in the surf, but sometimes a few were found. Little was heard from boaters on the bay. Most customers boated the ocean and the back bay. 

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