<b>Brooklawn</b>

Smallmouth bass and a few largemouth bass became more active around the Delaware River with the cooler weather, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. They were mixed together and could be angled from the tributary mouths such as Big Timber Creek, Woodbury Reek and Mantua Creek on creature baits on jigheads or crank baits. Catfish and carp roamed the bottom around the river, especially at the southern tribs like Raccoon Creek, vacuuming up dough baits or baits like bunker, mackerel or chicken. Striped bass but not many keepers swam the Big D.  Rick heard about a few fish catches on the bay but not a ton. He’s been tuna fishing during most weeks, and yellowfin tuna, enough to make the trip worthwhile, hung around the Elephant Trunk. So did mahi mahi and wahoos. Closer to shore, false albacore and bonito were trolled in 20 fathoms at places like the East Lump, Sea Isle Ridge and the A.C. Ridge. Croakers schooled off Cape May and Atlantic City. Blues, kingfish, weakfish, sea bass and other fish were hooked along the sea wall at Atlantic City, and stripers were pulled from Gardner’s Basic in A.C. The whole area around Atlantic City, Brigantine and Absecon Bay is rich for fishing. Customers bought crabbing supplies like mad, and Rick assumed they mostly crabbed at the bridges along the Black Horse Pike on the way to Atlantic City. 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>

Spots, blues, drum, tog and weakfish, a mix of species, ran the bay, and some anglers scored good catches, and they just had to get out and locate the fish, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. Friends and other anglers sometimes hit 20- to 40-pound drumfish toward Miah Maul, and one of the party boats reportedly returned with 10 from a trip. Drum could be found throughout the season in the bay, but few people target them, except in springtime, when the larger population of migrating boomers comes through. Waters around Miah Maul are known to hold resident drum, and so do other areas, probably also including around Flat Top. Crabs, any kind, from green crabs to hardshell blueclaws, and clams will attract bites. Tog can also be found at the rocks at the bottom of Miah Maul, a good lighthouse for the blackfish, and other rocky bottom. They also favor crabs including greenies and hardshells. Sharon heard about a few weakfish boated on the bay off Dividing Creek. A few shedder crabs are stocked, though the supply becomes scarce at this time of the year. Frozen shedders are carried. Green crabs are sometimes stocked at this time of the year, while one of the blackfish is the bag limit, and can be ordered. Fresh bunker is usually on hand, and live clams are usually carried. Sharon was unhappy with the shucked clams available lately and was working on improving the supply. Bloodworms and other baits, a large selection, are at the ready. 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>

Crabbing was taking time to recover from the 5 inches of rains that deluged the area before last week’s report, said Paul from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Oranokin Creek, where Beaver Dam is located, had run high and reddish, looking for a long time like cedar waters from the ponds.  But now the color was returning to a normal greenish. Lasts week’s rough weather also kept most people from crabbing until Saturday, the first time a substantial number of rental boaters crabbed. By Sunday crab catches improved, and by Monday they weren’t bad, and a couple of dozen was the norm. Paul hoped catches kept improving, and the crabs that were caught were big, 5 ½ inches and larger. Many people believe that this time of the year is best for crabbing, because the blueclaws reach their biggest size, after going through sheds since spring. Striped bass were seen in the creek, and the weather seemed to make them active in the area. Paul saw a school Monday morning, and they were small, but a couple “were worth chasing,” he said. He caught a keeper from the dock last week, and on Saturday one customer landed three short stripers and some white perch. White perch swam the creek, and the crew from the shop tackled many big ones, maybe 40, to 1 pound and larger. Spots and eels, including big eels, also held in the creek. Customers were encouraged to throw out a fishing line in the creek when crabbing was slower in the past week.  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, but leftover permits will be distributed at official locations, including at Beaver Dam, at some point before the turkey season from October 26 to 31. 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. Black ducks and coots were already seen along Oranokin, but farther down the creek. 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>

Fishing on the <b>Bonanza</b> served up a mix of fish including drum, blues, croakers, spots, weakfish and kingfish, Capt. Mike said. The species varied depending on the day, but drum 25 to 35 pounds were claimed toward the lighthouses and shipping channel on each trip through the weekend. Nine of the boomers were hauled aboard Saturday, and two per trip were taken Friday and Sunday. Trips began fishing Fridays through Mondays until returning to a daily schedule when striped bass fishing begins, and Mike gave this report on Sunday. The blues were mixed in with the drum lately, and after drum fishing, trips moved inshore for the fish like croakers, spots, weaks and kings. Anglers had to work to hook fish, and the angling wasn’t a breeze, but they put catches together. Waters were probably 69 or 70 degrees, and would need to cool a little to get the season’s first stripers to become active. But Mike heard about a few shorts reeled up from near one of the lighthouses. Trips will probably start looking at striper fishing during the third week of October, fishing with bunker chunks and eels. Striper charters began to be booked, and a few dates remain. Tog fishing could be in the mix as the season goes on, including if anglers have to wait for striper fishing to pick up. Delaware’s tog season opens September 29, with a bag limit of 10 fish, and togging on the Delaware side of the bay will become an option on the boat then. Jersey’s tog limit is currently one fish, until six of the blackfish can be kept starting November 16.  Open-boat trips are 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.

Daily, open-boat fishing on the <b>Salt Talk</b> is on break until striped bass turn on in the bay, maybe by mid October, Capt. Howard said. Then the trips will fish bunker chunks and eels for the linesiders. But charters remain available for any species on tap.

Blues, kingfish and weakfish could be plucked from the Fortescue surf and from boats at the 6 buoy and the 1 buoy, said Dave from <b>Al’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Spots were reeled in from boats but not really from the surf. Drum, sometimes big ones to 80 pounds, were decked near Miah Maul. A few shedder crabs are stocked, and frozen shedders are carried. Chicken worked well for bait from the beach, but shore anglers also scored on bloodworms. Drum anglers fished with crabs including green crabs and blueclaws, and sometimes soaked clams. Fresh bunker started to be carried. Occasional striped bass, local, non-migrating, small fish, were picked up from the Fortescue surf and the creeks, but no more was heard about stripers. The linesider fishing usually picks up in the bay from mid to late October, but maybe the cooler whether will get them going earlier. The bay was warm, about 70 degrees, and will need to cool to the mid to low 60s before stripers really turn on. The shop is open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

<b>Bivalve</b>

Customers docked a mix of fish that came from waters from the 1 buoy on in, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. Anglers and their catches included: Lucky Murray and Steve, Bob and Bert, Millville, six weaks and six blues; Albert and Anthony Albano and Tom Finsel, Millville, 11 blues, six sea bass, four porgies and two weakfish; Matt and Chris Brady and Anthony Barone, Woodstown, 16 blues, one croaker and lots of sharks; and Frank Huntzberger, Bridgeton, nine kingfish, six blues, five spots and four weaks. Also, Kim, Pete and Kyle Plummer from Millville rounded up 12 white perch from either close to shore or up one of the creeks. Pat will try to stock fresh bunker starting this weekend for striped bass fishing. The marina’s remaining minnows were released, now that demand for them dropped after flounder season. Frozen baits are on hand.

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