<b>Note</b>: Most of the charter and party boats stopped fishing on the bay for the season, and only a few of the marinas and tackle shops remain open, typical for the time of year.

But striped bass and big blues continue to be caught from the bay, so this report will continue.

But next week’s Delaware Bay Report will probably be the year’s final.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

This is the final week of business for the season for <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>, Sharon said. The doors will be open through Sunday, and anglers were scarce, even though a good number showed up at the shop Monday, though no results were heard about their fishing so far. Weather during the weekend prevented many from angling. So, few details about the bay’s catches were heard, but striped bass and big blues did seem to remain in the waters. One angler on Monday said someone nailed a 54-pound striper on Sunday. Fresh bunker for bait should arrive today, and was particularly ordered because the next days looked like rough weather, likely to keep the bunker boats from sailing. Saturday looked like a better day, probably fishable. Anglers are encouraged to call and order bunker if they want the bait, because the menhaden becomes scarce at this time of year, and the boats won’t sail for bunker without enough demand. If anglers plan to fish beyond Sunday, Sharon recommends they buy fresh bunker now, immediately freezing the bait. The bunker should stay in good shape for a month when handled carefully that way. Green crabs are on hand for tog fishing, and other baits are in stock. Now was a good time to buy holiday gifts including stocking stuffers. Customers are welcome to call the shop to check on the supply of bait, tackle or gifts. The shop usually reopens sometime in March, depending on the weather. During some years the doors opened on March 1, but the second week of March is a more likely time. Sharon and the crew at the shop thank the season’s customers, and she said the shop has a great bunch of them. 

<b>Fortescue</b>

Capt. Ralph from the <b>Buccaneer</b> called it a season, he said. He considered the year’s fishing good, including for striped bass this fall between unusually frequent winds and storms that cancelled many trips. Charters will kick off again in May for stripers followed by drum, and Ralph thanks everyone who fished aboard, and wishes everyone Happy Holidays and a good New Year.  

<b>Bivalve</b>

Customers kept docking striped bass, and the fish seemed to come from all over the bay, seemed spread out, and big blues also tore up the waters, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. Boat slips are available, and fresh bunker is stocked for bait for both fish. Anglers and their catches included: Scott Murray and Eric Osborne, four stripers 42, 40, 38 and 34 inches and nine blues; Kim Plummer and Pete Plummer, three stripers and seven blues; Gary Harb, Gary Wilson and Tim Lamar, three stripers 31 pounds apiece and eight blues; and Chuck Umba, Perry Johnson, Sean Kampmeyer and Brian Weber, a 41-inch striper, two 34-inchers, a 32-incher, 10 blues and lots of spiny dogfish.

<b>Cape May</b>

Business slowed a bit, but the fish stuck around, said Matt from <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b> in a fax. The bay’s striped bass fishing tapered off a little, but big bass were hauled from the Horseshoe and the Punk Grounds, and big blues also chomped, both fish taken on bunker. Harry Brill weighed in a 41-pound striper from Crooked Neck in the bay, and Peter Dorsey checked in a 33-pounder from the Punk Grounds. Stripers at the Cape May Rips were smaller than before, were mostly schoolies. The tops of tides were best to catch them, because waters were clearer, and eels, jigs, bucktails and rubber shads did the job. Stripers schooled the ocean at the Wildwood Lump, 20-Minute Slough and Peacock Shoal, and jigging or trolling for them seemed best, and dogfish could be a problem if bait were used. Big blues were mixed in. Blackfish moved to deeper waters, could be grabbed at Wildwood Reef and Cape May Reef. Surf fishing was spotty, and mostly short stripers were beached, but anglers hoped the cold weather pushed in more bass from up north. 

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