<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Customers talked about good fishing for summer flounder at Reef 11 on the ocean, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. But some also spoke about boating decent flounder catches near the E.P. Tower on the bay. There’s a drop-off toward there, heading toward Miah Maull, where the fish apparently gathered. The shop was busy with customers this weekend. Croakers were reeled from the mouth of Dividing Creek on a trip Sharon joined. The trip hooked a few far upstream, near the bridge, and Sharon was surprised how large they were. But the mouth fished best for croakers on the outing. Spots, a few weakfish and some throwback striped bass were heard about from the bay. The stripers were apparently resident fish that live there all year. Pretty much the same mix of fish swam the bay that did previously this summer, and they probably will until early October, unless weather drastically changes. The bay’s anglers usually begin to search for large, migrating stripers in early October. The anglers usually become serious about the fishing in the third week of October, but a few of the bass will probably arrive by early October. The fish stop in the bay while migrating south for winter. A white perch tournament was held this weekend, and one angler who competed landed beautiful, 12-inch perch on Dividing Creek, far upstream, he said. Little was heard about crabbing, and crabbing might’ve slowed. But customers will talk about scoring well on the blueclaws at places like Turkey Point or Dividing Creek, and others will say they didn’t trap many. Shedder crabs are stocked for bait, and the supply is tapering off for the season, like usual. Crabs won’t shed much longer this season. Lots of frozen shedders are stocked, and they catch well. Minnows are carried, and usually are throughout the year. Eels will probably begin to be stocked in a week or two for striped bass. The supply of fresh, shucked clams is usually increased now, because anglers begin to want them for stripers already. Fresh bunker are almost always in supply, arriving about every other day. 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>

Crabbing was slow Saturday but started to pick up Sunday at <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>, Linda said. On Sunday, half-bushels or 40 keepers per trip were seen. Slow crabbing on Saturday was probably because of the new moon at mid-week and a chilly night Friday, the shop’s crew assumed. New and full moons can trigger crabs to mate and shed, and crabs won’t eat when mating or shedding, slowing down crabbing, and that can last a few days. But not all moons trigger that, and not all crabs mate or shed at once. Many crabs were currently females, and the staff usually encourages crabbers to release females and keep males, because that can help grow the population. But females become abundant this time of year, so that’s probably impractical. The females are attempting to become pregnant before winter, gathering in the back waters, chasing away males. Crabs were good-sized, and a 6-3/4-incher was biggest this year.  The year’s rental boater with the largest will win a free rental next year. Croakers weren’t as abundant in the creek as before, but were around. White perch could be found in the creek, and grass shrimp or bloodworms are best bait for them, and the shop doesn’t stock those baits, so bring your own, if looking for perch. The shop sells exceptionally large, 4-inch minnows, including for summer flounder bait. If anglers want a supply, telephoning ahead will save time, so the minnows can be gathered and waiting.  Baits stocked also include squid and, for crabbing, bunker and chicken. Lots of eels were caught in the creek, and certain customers three weeks in a row fought big cownosed rays in the creek, and that was unusual. Customers 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.  Telephone ahead to reserve boats to ensure they’re available, and crabbing is still busy at the shop. Catch the Football Widows Special this Sunday and the Sundays of October 6 and 13, when Eagles football games start at 1 o’clock. Any rental boat with only women and/or children then will get a dozen free crabs, when the boat is reserved ahead. Take advantage of the Frequent Crabber Card to rent a boat four times and get a fifth rental for only $20 this year. 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. Beaver Dam hosts groups like scouts and family reunions, and can offer an educational day about the environment. The shop is open 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and crabbing is available Fridays through Sundays. Columbus Day is usually the year’s final day of crabbing. But if weather remains pleasant, crabbing could be available afterward at times. When crabbing ends, the shop remains open, including for different supplies and duck hunting. Hours then aren’t guaranteed to be daily, but someone is usually on hand at the store. Customers should telephone ahead to confirm. <a href="http://www.crabulousnj.com/" target="_blank">Visit Beaver Dam’s Web site</a>.

<b>Fortescue</b>

A few summer flounder were decked each trip on the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b>, and croakers and spots hooked aboard were more spread out than before, Capt. Howard said. Trips all summer have been stopping to catch the croakers and spots first, fishing for flounder afterward. The croakers and spots were often used for good flounder bait, but some anglers kept the better-sized croakers and spots to eat. A few bluefish and throwback weakfish were mixed in on trips. The boat fished at the stakes near Fortescue and at the Miah Maull rips, the same places as most summer. The bay was 77 degrees, a couple of degrees lower than before, and the temperature was lower than that in mornings. Looking ahead, striped bass could be targeted next aboard, and the bay’s striper fishing usually begins to peak in late October. Trips aboard fish chunks of bunker for them, but live eels are kept aboard, in case fishing with eels for them turns on. Sometimes stripers pounce on eels, and Howard likes eeling for them. Open-boat trips are slated daily when no charter is booked. But open trips this time of year are likely to fish on days with demand, namely around weekends. Telephone to confirm.

Back to Top