<b>Pennsville</b>

Striped bass seemed to bite somewhat more than before, said Matt from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Reports rolled in about a few catches from the northern half of the bay. Bloodworms flew out the doors this weekend, so fishing apparently increased. Anglers were seen fishing at the bridges along the tributaries of the Delaware River, and whether they fished for white perch or stripers couldn’t be known, but some surely fished for stripers, and probably caught. The tribs, instead of the river, are the more popular place to fish for them during the fall, unlike in spring, when spawning stripers flood the river. The perch fishing was good, and many anglers targeted them. Catfish can usually be caught along the tribs. The shop’s owner commercially crabbed, finding more than enough of the blueclaws around. Fresh peanut bunker is sometimes stocked, and fresh adult bunker will probably be carried soon.  Bloodworms and nightcrawlers are on hand.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

The most customers in some time trafficked through the shop on Saturday, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. Many tried for striped bass, and not a lot was heard about results, but some of the fish were supposedly boated at places like the 2 buoy and the 35 buoy, both in the northern bay on the Delaware side, and at the reefs around there. Anglers talked about catches like one who said a trip hooked eight including one keeper. No big, migrating stripers seemed around, and any stripers caught were probably younger, non-migrating fish becoming active in somewhat cooler waters. The season was early for the migration, and waters were warm for the run. Fresh bunker, a bait for stripers, usually arrives at the shop three or four times a week, and fresh clams, another bait for the linesiders, will arrive on Thursday. Another nor’easter is supposed to arrive around Thursday, and will probably keep the bunker and clam boats docked, making the bait scarce a few days. But any bait like the clams arriving Thursday should last a moment. Some anglers gathered croakers, weakfish and blues around the bay. Healthy catches of white perch were plucked from the Maurice River. Crabs were still trapped in the back waters, though the season will soon be late for catching the blueclaws. 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>Fortescue</b>

Croakers invaded the bay, and trips, when they could sail between rough weather, cleaned up on loads every time, said Capt. Mike from the party boat <b>Bonanza</b>. The trips ran far south in the bay to catch them, and Mike jumped on deck and fished for them himself, piling up a 5-gallon bucket and a half full of the slabs each time he did, keeping some to freeze for winter, giving some to friends, and so on. The fishing was that good. A few striped bass were landed to the north on the bay on a handful of charter boats, but waters were warm for striper fishing. A few dates remain for striper charters on the Bonanza this fall, and anglers better reserve them if they want to go for the fish. A scattering of Sundays are left, and some weekdays are open. Open-boat trips will sail for stripers when the fishing kicks in, and call for the schedule that will sail when no charters are booked. Open trips are currently fishing for croakers on Fridays to Mondays. 

If anyone wants croakers, a million of the fish are stacked up from the Anchorage to Miah Maull, said Capt. Ralph from the <b>Buccaneer</b>.  A charter on the boat creamed a mess of them, leaving them biting after enough were coolered. The fish were good sized, and the fishing was lots of fun. Some kids were aboard and enjoyed the catches. The trip tried for striped bass on the way back to port, but nothing was doing. Young, non-migrating stripers always hold in the bay at places like the shipping channel from the Elbow to farther north, and some probably began to bite in somewhat cooler waters than before. But no bigger, mature, migrating stripers entered the bay yet. Charters are being booked to fish the striper migration.

A few striped bass showed up, said Dave from <b>Al’s Bait & Tackle</b>. He heard about a group who boated five keepers to 33 inches near Ship John on artificials. Artificials like plugs and bucktails are popular for catching the fish this time of year in the shallows. Catches were also heard about from the southern bay like in the shallows toward 20-Foot Slough and the coves. Anglers search for clear waters in close, often trolling for the fish there. All the catches were probably younger, non-migrating stripers that move to the bay from the creeks and start feeding more aggressively this time of year. The bay was 67 or 68 degrees, still warm. A mix of fish like croakers, weakfish, blues and spots – not many, but the fish were there – swam the bay right off Fortescue. Out-of-season summer flounder, good-sized ones, were some of the only fish hooked from the surf at Fortescue. Sharks and rays probably bit along the beach. Plenty of white perch schooled the creeks, and crabs were around. Fewer of the blueclaws skittered about than earlier in the year, but they were really big, full of meat. Fresh bunker will begin to be stocked at the shop this weekend for striper fishing. The store is closed Mondays and Tuesdays but open the rest of the week. When striper fishing kicks in, the hours will be extended.

<b>Port Norris</b>

Anglers tried for striped bass through the weekend, and no catches were heard about, but some should begin to be reported soon, said Harrison from <b>Port Norris Marina</b>. Some customers motored out for croakers, weakfish and spots, but no results were heard about. Customers mainly waited for the striper migration. Good catches of white perch came from the Maurice River, and crabs were trapped along the creeks and ponds. The 60-foot <b>Bodacious</b>, docked at the marina, bailed a bunch of sea bass on charters Saturday and Sunday. Charters and probably open-boat trips will fish for stripers on the vessel during the run. Fresh bunker, the favorite striper bait, is available at the marina, and anglers should call ahead to reserve.

<b>Bivalve</b>

Frank Kirby from Millville docked 20 croakers, and quite a few of the fish now filled the bay, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. A few striped bass, none of them too big, but keepers, began to be reeled in. Fresh bunker, the bait to use for stripers, is stocked, and so are frozen baits. Longreach Marina’s Striper Tournament will run from October 22 to November 20, and the entry fee is $40 per boat.

<b>Villas</b>

Croakers, a large population, were piled up at the Punk Grounds, said Mike from <b>Budd’s Bait & Tackle</b>, located in the Villas, and <b>Budd’s Tackle Charter Services</b>, sailing from Cape May. Croakers and kingfish were beached from the surf on the Delaware Bay side of Cape May, like toward the ferry. Blues and small stripers were banked at Poverty Beach, and kings and a few stripers were dragged from the surf at Stone Harbor. Not many stripers, only occasional ones, were landed anywhere in the surf, but the catches were a start. Blues also came from the surf at North Wildwood. The shop sells live crabs for eating at market prices, and check the prices on the store’s Web site, or call. She crabs had been abundant, but the number of males was increasing now. Weekday specials are often available on crabs. Clams for eating are no longer carried until next season.

Back to Top