<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Not a lot was heard about the bay’s fishing, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. This was sort of an in-between period between summer flounder season that will be closed Wednesday and striped bass fishing. But croakers and spots remained in the bay, and a few flounder were lifted from the waters. Nobody seemed to bail the flatfish. Weakfish were sometimes caught. Plenty of customers stopped by the store through the weekend, but nothing was really heard about results of fishing. Anglers kept asking when the striper migration will arrive. They were told that some usually begin to be seen in October. Eels will be stocked for striper fishing starting this weekend. Fresh bunker is already stocked about every other day. Bunker will be the most popular bait when the bay’s striper fishing takes off. Customers sometimes geared up for crabbing still. The supply of shedder crabs for bait is about finished for the season, because the blueclaws will stop shedding through winter. Plenty of frozen shedders are stocked, and they also catch. Minnows are on hand, and will continue to be. Though minnows are popular flounder bait, they remain in demand for freshwater fishing. 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>

The full moon last week affected crabbing this weekend, but crabbing was okay, said Linda from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Most customers left with dinner, she said, and no full or new moon will take place this weekend, and forecasts are calling for good weather then. Weather is beautiful this time of year, a little cold in mornings, but spectacular in afternoons. Full and new moons can trigger crabs to shed and mate, slowing crabbing, because crabs won’t eat when that happens. But not all crabs shed at once, and not all those moons trigger that, so some of the blueclaws can always be caught. Crabs were sizeable, and a rental-boater during the weekend tied for nabbing the year’s biggest, a 6-3/4-incher. So, two crabbers are tied, and the year’s rental boater with the largest will win a free rental next year. Several weeks remain to win, while crabbing remains available at the shop this season. Some rental boaters headed out with fishing rods, and Linda didn’t hear whether they caught, except about one who reeled in spots. Fish like spots, white perch and throwback striped bass are some of the catches possible this time of season. Speaking of fishing, the shop began raising exceptionally large minnows for bait, and anglers are appreciating them. They were popular for summer flounder fishing, but today is the final day of flounder season. But the striped bass migration is coming, and they make super bait for stripers, though anglers might be unaware. Anglers know that spots are baitfish for stripers. But they might want to consider minnows, including if spots are unavailable or too expensive. The minnows are also excellent for freshwater fishing. Customers at Beaver Dam crab and fish from rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek. 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. Catch the Football Widows Special on 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 Friday special: Reserve a rental boat ahead for 6:30 a.m. to 12 noon on a Friday for only $35, a great price. 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. 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>

Fishing sailed one day on the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b> with five anglers in recent days, Capt. Howard said. Croakers and spots were reeled in at first, like on trips throughout the past season. The fish are targeted for good summer flounder bait, but some anglers like to eat them. Then the trip flounder fished, like trips usually did. Maybe 10 or 12 flounder, including three keepers, were landed. One of the keepers weighed 5 pounds 10 ounces, caught by Dominic Salotto from Drexel Hill, Pa. The fish was fat, only measuring 24 or 25 inches in length. A couple of bluefish were in the mix, and the trip fished the stakes near Fortescue and the Miah Maull rips, the same areas as previously. Somewhat fewer croakers, spots and flounder might’ve swum the bay than before, but they were still around. The bay on the trip was 70 degrees in the morning and 72.5 later in the day. The number of anglers showing up to fish dropped off, typical this time of year. Anglers waited for the migration of striped bass in the bay. Fishing for them usually begins in late October aboard. Chunks of bunker are dunked for bait, but eels are livelined when stripers are willing to bite them. Howard likes eeling. Open-boat trips are slated to fish daily on the Salt Talk, when no charter is booked. But the trips might only sail on weekends this time of year, because of demand. Telephone to confirm. Book striper charters now to lock in dates.

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