<b>Pennsville</b>

Better-sized striped bass to 32 inches began to be tugged from the Delaware River, said Dave from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Calcutta Shads reeled through the currents clocked them, and striper fishing begins to turn on as waters cool. Larger ones begin to feed, and anglers get one last shot at the linesiders before the fishing backs off in winter. Loads of catfish and white perch filled the river, and crabbing began to improve in the waters. News about the bay was quiet because of the rough weather. A few shedder crabs are stocked, but the supply was drying up. Fresh bunker is stocked when available, but none of the bunker boats sailed in the weather, so none of the menhaden was on hand. Big Timber carries bait and tackle for all fishing from freshwater to offshore. That includes a complete supply of lures and baits for rivers and lakes; rigs, tackle and frozen bait for bays; and offshore lures, rigs and baits.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Winds, rains and the storm tore up the waters during most of the past week, and nobody mentioned fishing the bay, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. But weakfish were previously boated on trips, such as one trip when a customer bagged six near the 1 buoy. Kingfish were also coolered at times before the blow, and friends nabbed them. Live shedder crabs for weakfish bait were scarce, but a few were carried. They weren’t too ripe, but that’s the way the supply is at this time of the year. The shop stopped taking orders for live shedders, because the supply was unpredictable. But frozen shedders are carried and will work, and bloodworms, also stocked, are a great substitute. Strips of spots are a popular choice, and fresh spots are on hand. Chicken soaked in shedder oil will also get strikes and is carried, and clams will also gain hits and are available. The bay’s striped bass fishing usually begins in mid October, and the linesiders were late last year, but last fall was warm. This year seems like it’s going to be cooler, so maybe that will trigger the bass to feed earlier. A few small stripers were hooked here and there around the bay, and a few bass reportedly began to wake up and bite farther north, like at Long Beach Island. Maybe that meant the active fishing will trickle south and reach the bay. When the main bite begins on the bay, most anglers will fish bunker chunks, but some will fish clams. Others will troll plugs like Bombers and Stretch 25’s or 30’s. The Girls Place is located on Route 47 just after Route 55 ends, and it’s the long, one-story, yellow building on the right. There’s a large parking lot with plenty of room for trailered boats.

<b>Newport</b>

Five inches of rains dumped on the area, and the freshwater caused crab catches to slow down, said Linda from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. The crabbing seemed to start recovering today, and rental boaters were out there trying. Crab sizes were great, and many people like to crab at this time of the year, because they believe the blueclaws reach their largest sizes, after going through sheds all summer. The rains cooled Oranokin Creek, where customers from Beaver Dam crab, and although the temp will rise after the effects of the rains subside, the cooler waters caused striped bass, including good-sized ones, to get active. A keeper was hooked in the creek right off the dock. The crew from Beaver Dam cranked in big white perch more than a pound. Beaver Dam will be open for crabbing seven days a week through October 4, because haunted creek rides will begin October 8, lasting through Halloween. A discounted special on crabbing will be announced for the final weekend. The application period for the lottery for fall turkey hunting permits ended last week, but leftover permits will be distributed at official locations, including at Beaver Dam, at some point before the turkey season October 26 to 31. Turkey hunters should be aware that the zones for hunting were changed a lot in South Jersey, and see the state’s hunting and trapping digest for the new ones. Beaver Dam is a licensed agent for fishing, hunting and other outdoor licenses. The shop is also a turkey and deer check-in station, including for fall bow deer season that began at some zones. During the duck seasons in fall and winter Beaver Dam will cater to duck hunters, including renting blinds, and the first duck season is in October. Crabbers at Beaver Dam get towed up Oranokin Creek in rental boats, and the staff checks on them every hour. But if the rental boaters want a break in the meantime, they simply cell phone the shop, and the staff picks them up. Kayaks and canoes are also available to rent for sightseeing on the creek. Beaver Dam carries everything needed for a day of crabbing, including all different types of traps, hand lines, nets, bait, bug spray, suntan lotion, drinks and snacks. The shop is open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Customers should call ahead to reserve rental boats, kayaks and canoes to ensure they’re available. Beaver Dam is available to host groups like scouts for nature education. A gazebo with a grill is available for events like birthday parties and family reunions. Catch Beaver Dam’s display at Coast Day in Cape May on October 11.

<b>Fortescue</b>

On the <b>Buccaneer</b> 1-1/2- or 2-pound bluefish were boated near the Elbow on Sunday, Capt. Ralph said. Seas were calm by then, after the storm. Trips will look for weakfish, if the trout are around, until they fish for striped bass, when the linesiders turn on this fall.

Thirty blues, a few 35-pound drumfish, a few tog, some big spots and a 22-inch weakfish were bagged Monday on the <b>Bonanza</b>, Capt. Mike said. Only four anglers were aboard, but they were regular customers who fish on the boat twice a weak, and they showed up, wanting to go, so the trip sailed. The boat is on a Friday to Monday open-boat schedule until striped bass season, unless a group of like eight anglers calls and wants to go on another day, and then the boat will go, unless chartered. Trips were anchoring and doing fishing like this for now, picking away at catches. Mike heard about a few charter boats that found weakfish close to shore. The Bonanza’s striped bass trips will probably begin in October, fishing with bunker chunks and eels, and maybe some trips will sail for tog when the bag limit increases to six of the blackfish on November 16 from the current limit of one. Open-boat trips are currently sailing 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Fridays to Mondays, unless a charter is booked. The charter schedule can be checked on the vessel’s Web site. Charters are available throughout the week.

Not a lot fished because of the weather, but those who did, caught, said Dave from <b>Al’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Big spots, sizeable blues to 2 and 3 pounds and weakfish were reeled in. All could be found right off Fortescue, including at the first drop-off, and some anglers also grabbed weaks near the 6 buoy. A few kingfish swam the bay, including in the Fortescue surf. Surf casters also banked a few blues and weaks, and Dave heard about large, out-of-season flounder sometimes nailed and released in the surf and from boats. Many anglers fished bloodworms for weakfish, now that live shedder crabs were scarce for bait, and the bloodworms worked well. But plenty of frozen shedders are stocked, and so is chicken soaked in shedder oil that will claim both weaks and blues. Anglers also stripped out the spots they caught to use for weakfish bait. Lots of sharks and oyster crackers roamed the bay. Small, short striped bass began to get active at places like near the lighthouses, because waters somewhat cooled, and anglers sometimes hooked all the stripers they wanted. The bay temperature dropped but was still in the 70s. Small stripers are always the first that begin to bite in the season, and larger ones usually arrive toward the end of October and beginning of November. Lots of crabs skittered about and were plucked from the waters. The shop is open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

<b>Bivalve</b>

The rough weather and forecasts kept most boaters from fishing during the weekdays last week, though the bay’s seas were flat as a lake on about three of the days, despite predictions for worse, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. Anglers were even scarce during the weekend, though the storm was mostly finished by Saturday. But those who fished and their catches included: Mike Cargen and Michael Vance, Belmawr, two limits of weakfish 20 to 26 inches; Bob Carroll and Dave Parkhill, Port Norris, 35 white perch; and Bill Wolf and Jim Bentley, Dividing Creek, 80 perch. Previously the weaks were found at areas including near the number 1 buoy, toward the E.P. Tower and near Miah Maul, and they might still be there now. The perch were caught either close to shore or up one of the creeks. Lots of perch filled the Maurice River, and perch anglers could look no farther than on the river across from Longreach to hook up. The waters at the barge that’s grounded where the Maurice meets the bay are often a honey hole for perch and sometimes striped bass and other fish. The supply of shedder crabs, the favorite weakfish bait, was scarce, but the shop is carrying them when available. A few minnows remained stocked but will be the last carried for the season, now that flounder season closed. Frozen baits such as spearing and squid are on hand.

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