<b>Pennsville</b>

The Delaware River’s tributaries put up white perch for the few anglers who fished in the windy, stormy weather, said Matt from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b>. A fair number of the fish were picked up, though catches were down compared with before, but the weather might’ve been the cause. Anglers fish for the slabs on the tributaries more than in the river, maybe because the smaller tributaries help corral the fish, making them easier to target. A handful of anglers began to be seen fishing for striped bass on the tributaries from the bridges, but whether they caught was unknown. They usually fish with soft-plastic lures. If they use bait, they dunk bloodworms or fresh peanut bunker or fresh adult bunker, if anglers can find either bunker. The stripers caught in the tributaries will be smaller fish at first this season. Bigger ones begin to bite later in the season. Not a lot was heard about crabbing, but the shop’s owner commercially crabbed. Matt in last week’s report said the owner was gradually pulling in his traps for the season.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Anglers who fished before the weather 10 days ago reportedly hooked lots of weakfish, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. Not many reports came in, either because of the storm or winds. But anglers said a few striped bass were caught on the northern bay near the 35 buoy. Fresh bunker, the popular bait for the bass, usually arrives at the shop several times a week. None was available the past two days, because the weather kept bunker boats from sailing. But a new supply is expected Wednesday at the shop. Good-sized white perch were nabbed on the Maurice River. 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>

Weakfish, quite a few actually, swam the bay, said Dave from <b>Al’s Bait & Tackle</b>. The bag limit is only one, but some of the weaks were 16 or 17 inches, especially in the lower bay. Spots were around, and not a lot of blues were heard about anymore. Dave heard about short striped bass hooked, probably in the creeks, and the fish were probably sliding down the meadows, moving toward the bay. Fresh bunker will probably start to be stocked at the shop next week for striper bait. The current storm might help cool the bay. The storm felt like striper weather, but the season was a little early for striper fishing, and waters were warm. The first substantial striper angling will probably begin in a week or two. The shop is closed Mondays and Tuesdays but open the rest of the week. If striper fishing kicks in, the hours will be extended.

<b>Port Norris</b>

Fishing was mostly weathered out since Thursday, and Saturday’s weather turned out calm, but no anglers showed up, said Eric from <b>Port Norris Marina</b>. A few anglers put together good catches of white perch on the Maurice River and the ditches off the sides of the bay lately. Before the weather, lots of weakfish apparently roamed the bay, though the bag limit is one. Three tuna charters were cancelled on the <b>Bodacious</b>, docked at the marina, in the past days, because of storms and winds. A sea bass charter is slated for this weekend on the vessel. The boat will sail for striped bass later this fall on both charters and open-boat trips.

<b>Bivalve</b>

A few striped bass, not a lot, but some keepers, began to be boated on the bay, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. Fresh bunker should start to be stocked for bait at the shop soon, depending on when the supplier begins to provide the menhaden. The supplier will start when a few more of the linesiders are reported caught, but frozen bunker is carried at the marina. News was scarce in the weather, but blues also swam the bay, and lots of white perch were plucked from the Maurice River and the creeks.

<b>Villas</b>

An occasional croaker was hooked from shore at Higbee’s Beach, and sometimes blues might pop up there, said Jim from <b>Budd’s Bait & Tackle</b>, located in the Villas, and <b>Budd’s Tackle Charter Services</b>, sailing from Cape May. Little else was heard about the bay, because of the weather. More croakers were banked from the ocean surf at Cape May. Kingfish were beached from the ocean surf along the jetties in North Wildwood off 5th Street. Sometimes a striped bass was landed from the surf at different places, but all were shorts. Anglers hope the cooler weather will perk up striper fishing. A couple of boaters trolled bluefish on the ocean at 5-Fathom Bank.  The shop is selling live crabs for $20 per dozen for No. 1’s, $10 per dozen for No. 2’s, and $5 per dozen or $3 for 10 she crabs. A bushel of she crabs is $30. Raw steamer clams, called “specials,” a size between little neck and top neck, are $15.95 for 50, available on weekends.

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