<b>Brooklawn</b>

Croakers and kingfish could be found close to shore in the southern bay from the Concrete Ship to 60-Foot Slough to Bug Light, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. Bluefish roamed everywhere from the bay to 40 miles off the coast. False albacore gathered in the ocean at the lumps and ridges like 5-Fathom Bank and Sea Isle Ridge. Windy weather kept news scarce about offshore fishing for tuna and big game. In the Delaware River lots of big catfish could be cornered. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing was good, and was better along the Pennsylvania side of the river. Spots they swam included the mouth of the Schuylkill River and the mouth of Chester County’s Ridley Creek. Walleyes even held in the river along the piers, around the ship yard and at the mouths of Mantua and Woodbury creeks. Uncommon for them to show up this far downstream now, especially because the river was low, and the saltwater line was far upstream, but they were there. Big Timber carries tackle and bait for fishing in all waters from freshwater to the bays to offshore. 

<b>Pennsville</b>

White perch fishing really kicked in along the Delaware River, said Matt from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Actually, the catches are typically better in the tributaries, instead of the river itself. The tides run slower in the tribs. Fish with bloodworms or shedder crabs, though the supply of shedders is low everywhere, is nearly finished for the year. Catfish should surely be able to be caught in the waters, but customers mostly chased the perch. Striped bass fishing in the tributaries will pick up later in the year, though some could probably be hooked. Most were hooked as a by-catch when anglers perch fished. Crabbing gave up mostly females in the past days, and most crabbers prefer males, for whatever reasons. So that made crabbing slow, but more males could be seen any time, and that’s cyclical. Bloodworms, nightcrawlers, frozen baits and other baits are stocked.

<b>Newport</b>

Crabbing became the best so far this year this weekend at <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>, Paul said. Some of the boats returned with two bushels of the blueclaws. “When beginner crabbers catch almost a half-bushel, you know that’s good,” he said. None of the rental boaters fished, but a private boater reeled in two good-sized striped bass from Oranokin Creek, the waters that run past the shop. Stripers started to be seen around the creek, and waters were cooling, picking up the action. Nobody fished for white perch, but perch fed on shrimp around the docks, and the slabs were around. Paul fished the creek, landing puppy drum and spike weakfish. Crabbers in the rental boats are towed up the creek to several saltwater ponds teeming with the hardshells. The staff checks on the boats every hour, but if the boaters want to take a break in the meantime, they cell phone the shop to be picked up. Kayak and canoe rentals are available for sightseeing on the creek, full of wildlife. Annual haunted creek rides for Halloween will begin on October 7. Beaver Dam’s hours through fall are 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through Mondays. Crabbing will be available until the first weekend of October, and Beaver Dam opens back up during the duck seasons afterward. Visit <a href="http://www.crabulousnj.com/Home_Page.html" target="_blank">Beaver Dam’s Web site</a> for more info about the business.

<b>Fortescue</b>

None of the fleet seemed to sail in the weekend’s weather, said Capt. Ralph from the <b>Buccaneer</b>. But his next trip is slated for Saturday, and his last trip racked up a good catch of spots, blues, a few blowfish and a couple of keeper weakfish, a mix of fish. Fishing now, after the weather, probably remained like that. Striped bass charters will begin when the fish start biting this fall.

Weakfish, though the bag limit is one per angler, were abundant, and a decent number were keepers, said Dave from <b>Al’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Many anglers caught spots from the bay for weakfish bait. If spots were unavailable, they used bloodworms or crabs. Bluefish, a respectable population, ran around and grew bigger than before, now were 3 and 4 pounds. Anglers boated all these fish right off Fortescue. Surf casters at Fortescue beached mostly blues, sometimes weakfish, and sometimes spots. Weakfish 16 and 17 inches were occasionally checked in from the beach. Spots usually favor shallow waters. Good catches of white perch were clocked on the creeks, and crabbing began to slow down for the season. The bay was 71 or 72 degrees, and the temps had dropped to that range some time ago, but lately held steady. The bay’s striped bass fishing usually takes off toward the third week of April. Last year they began to bite around October 17, if Dave remembered. The angling usually really kicks in during the fourth week of October, but that can depend on water temps and the weather. Bloodworms and the full selection of frozen baits are stocked. The shop is now closed on Mondays but is open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

<b>Port Norris</b>

A few weakfish, including keepers 16 inches, blues, spots and occasional kingfish and croakers were pulled in, said Harrison from <b>Port Norris Marina</b>. Super catches of white perch were plucked from the creeks and the Maurice River, and crabbing was good. On the 60-foot <b>Bodacious</b>, docked at the marina, trips sailed offshore, muscling aboard lots of mahi mahi and a few tuna and swordfish. Harrison thought only charters, no open-boat trips, were currently running, if he knew correctly. But sometimes the boat has sailed open for offshore fishing, so anglers might check to confirm if interested. Charters and likely open trips will sail for striped bass when striper fishing begins this fall.

<b>Bivalve</b>

Joe and Debbie Pierce from Millville boated two weakfish, a croaker, a puppy drum, a spot and lots off sharks, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. John Angerman from Berlin docked a 23-inch blue. White perch fishing was great up the Maurice River and the creeks, and anglers used bloodworms or shedder crabs for bait. Jay King and Tyrone Bryant from Gouldtown totaled 30 perch to 14 inches and a blue. J.B. King, also from Gouldtown, picked up 20 perch. Shedder crabs and frozen baits are stocked.

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