This is the final Delaware Bay Report of 2010!

<b>Brooklawn</b>

Striped bass were still boated on the bay, but scarce fresh bunker, the bait to dunk, was the issue, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. Most bunker boats stop catching the menhaden this time of year because of demand. But Rick knew about anglers who hung lots of stripers from the Cape May Rips. Eels, spots and bucktails are usually fished there. Reports continued to be heard about stripers beached from the surf, and the bass and blues swam the ocean. Tog chomped, including at the bridges and piers. Corson’s Inlet gave up a bite. Freshwater fishing was slowing down  because of cold waters. The only news that came in was about trout catches at the lakes stocked this fall and winter like Haddon and Audubon lakes. Big Timber stocks tackle and bait for fishing on all waters from freshwater to bays to offshore. The shop will be open through December 23 before taking a break then reopening probably around January 15. The store will reopen full time on February 1. Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Pick up a gift certificate. Most customers now stopped by for the certificates or gifts like rods or reels or for rod and reel repairs.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Winds and cold put a halt to most fishing, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. Not much news was available, but winds are supposed to calm down by Friday, and the weather’s supposed to be warmer a few days then. Striped bass are probably still out there, but whether winds and stirred up waters will affect angling couldn’t be known. The shop will be open through the weekend before taking a break, usually reopening in mid March, depending on the weather. Plenty of frozen, vacuum-sealed bunker is stocked. So is a full supply of other frozen baits. A few fresh clams are currently on hand, and a few might be carried during the weekend, but the shop will see whether the supplier is around. Frozen, salted clams, eels and minnows are stocked, and green crabs are in supply for tog fishing. Sharon and crew thank customers gratefully for the business this season, and the customers are everything to the shop. 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>

Fishing on the <b>Buccaneer</b> wrapped up for the season, Capt. Ralph said. A trip sailed Saturday, got pummeled by seas, and hooked short striped bass. The angling was slow, and prevalent west winds lately, winds predicted to continue a moment, will likely make many stripers depart the bay this time of year. Ralph thanks the anglers who joined the boat’s trips this year, and the vessel’s fishing always kicks back off with striper and drum trips in spring.

<b>Port Norris</b>

The shop hadn’t been open for days because of rough weather, and the doors were open Sunday, but most customers were removing boats from the waters, preparing for winter, said Jill from <b>Port Norris Marina</b>. Customers had docked striped bass previously, but no word was heard about the fishing since then. If anglers plan to stop at the shop, call ahead to confirm the staff will be there. The doors will be closed for the season soon, and the date was unconfirmed.

<b>Bivalve</b>

Nobody answered phone calls to <b>Longreach Marina</b> during the weekdays this week. But Pat from the shop last week said boats are required to be pulled from the slips by December 15, and the marina will continue to be open afterward, and the hours will be determined. When the shop is open in winter, boaters launching from the ramps can take advantage of fishing for white perch, catfish and other catches on the Maurice River. Winter can be a prime time for the perching in New Jersey.

<b>Cape May</b>

Fishing was alright, not great, for striped bass at the Cape May Rips Friday and Saturday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, and a trip Sunday was weathered out, Capt. George said. Lots of throwbacks swam the rips. On Friday Chris Troy’s charter landed six keeper stripers to 34 or 35 inches, eight or nine throwbacks and a few blues. On Saturday fishing was slow with Dave Stockhouse’s charter, and two keepers 31 and 32 inches and a couple of blues were reeled in. Seas and winds were rough. The Heavy Hitter will keep striper fishing as long as the fish are around. Afterward trips will fish for tog.

When trips got the weather to sail, they scored well on striped bass, lots of small ones, at the Cape May Rips, said Capt. Bob from the <b>Down Deep</b>. Anglers had to pick through throwbacks, like 20 per trip, but at least one keeper per angler was usually bagged. Trips fished with spots, eels and bucktails, and spots hooked lots of small stripers, and eels grabbed most bigger ones. The fish swam everywhere at the rips, including at Prissy Wicks Shoal and Overfalls Shoal. The Down Deep will fish through Sunday, before Bob calls it a season.

Trips wrapped up striped bass fishing for the year from Cape May with <b>Legal Limit Charters</b>, Capt. T.J. said. Previously one of his boats fished for the linesiders at the Cape May Rips, and his other boat sailed for blackfish from Tuckerton. All trips, both charters and open-boat trips, will now run from Tuckerton for the tog.

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