<b>Brooklawn</b>

Croakers hugged waters tight to shore at Cape May Point and farther north in the bay, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. Surf anglers beached them on bloodworms. A bunch of spots swam among them. Crabbing was tremendous everywhere. That was about the only news from saltwater, because summer flounder season closed today, and the weather was rough around the remnants of the hurricane on Friday. On the Delaware River near the shop a few largemouth bass bit, but rains or something could be used to cool the waters. Lots of big catfish were hauled from the river. Big Timber carries bait and tackle for all fishing from freshwater to the bays to offshore.

<b>Pennsville</b>

Striped bass fishing will be the next angling to take off in the bay, said Matt from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b>. That’ll happen in fall, and small stripers could probably be plugged in the Delaware River’s tributaries at night on soft-plastic lures. But not much was heard about the angling, and catches there will probably also pick up in fall. Some tried to fish for croakers on the river, but Matt heard about no good results, and white perch in the river will probably jump on the hook before croakers do. The perching was good, and customers said the fish were sizeable. Catfish should bite in the river. Lots of peanut bunker schooled the river, and Matt saw fish busting on peanuts that must’ve been blues. Small blues probably roamed the waters. Bloodworms, nightcrawlers and all the frozen baits are stocked. The supply of shedder crabs is probably finished for the year.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Boaters fishing for summer flounder belted some at the 19 buoy before the season closed for the fish today, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. A few blues were around, and small weakfish supposedly schooled, though one weakfish is the bag limit.  The shop’s netter caught a few spots. Croakers had been found off the ocean front, but whether they remained after the remnants of the hurricane on Friday was unknown. Big sharks could be fought on the bay at places like Brandywine, and lots of anglers went for them. Some of the sharks are great tasting, including on the grill, but be sure to check shark ID, because only some are legal to keep. Chum heavy and hold on. Plenty of white perch hovered in the Maurice River and the creeks, and many customers bought worms for bait for them. Lots of customers bought supplies for crabbing, and catches seemed good. September is a top month for crabbing. The blueclaws grow to their biggest sizes of the season, and they feed up for winter, becoming meatier, filling up their shells. 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>

The remnants of Hurricane Earl kept <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b> closed on Friday, and strong winds kept the doors shut Saturday, Linda said. Crabbing was off for customers on Sunday and Monday, probably because of the effects of the storm and today’s new moon. But the weather was gorgeous Sunday and Monday. Catches should be fine once the moon passes. The crabs were good-sized, and a ton of white perch bit for anglers. Crabbers and anglers in the rental boats are towed up Oranokin Creek, running past the property, to several saltwater ponds teeming with crabs, and sometimes fish. 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 and get picked up. Kayak and canoe rentals are available for sightseeing on the creek, full of wildlife. Annual haunted creek rides for Halloween will begin October 7. “Be prepared to be scared,” Linda said. Beaver Dam’s hours through fall are 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through Mondays. Check out the Discovery Channel’s footage of Beaver Dam on the show Café Racer at 9 p.m. October 25. The Discovery crew filmed part of the motorcycle-building show at the shop this week. Congratulations to Mike Finocchiaro and family for winning the drawing in August celebrating Beaver Dam’s fifth anniversary. They won a free crabbing trip on a rental boat and goodies including a crab trap and more. All rental boaters were entered in the contest that month.  Crabbing will be available until the first weekend of October. 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>

A trip Wednesday bagged nine summer flounder and another on Sunday bagged two, said Capt. Howard from the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b>. Throwbacks were also released, and other fish including blues, small sea bass and junk fish like sea robins bit. Anglers aboard the previous week hooked spots at the shipping channel, but the trips this past week did no fishing at the channel. Flounder season closed today, and Howard will determine whether enough other fish are swimming the bay to keep sailing. Trips will at least sail for striped bass during the fall migration. Open-boat trips will fish for them, and charters are being booked for the striper fishing.

Summer flounder were hooked near the 19 buoy, not bad fishing, before flounder season closed today, said Dave from <b>Al’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Blues were around, and so were weakfish. Anglers would reel in a bunch of weaks, and one would be a keeper. Kingfish, a few porgies and small sea bass nibbled baits. Most customers targeted this mix of different fish right off Fortescue, not even past the first drop-off. Spots held close to shore. Boaters could find them, and Fortescue surf anglers angled them up. But bluefish were the main catch from the surf. Fish with bloodworms for the spots and mackerel for the blues. The bay was probably 74 degrees. Minnows will no longer be stocked, because flounder season ended. Shedder crabs were becoming more and more difficult to obtain. The full selection of frozen baits is on hand. The shop’s hours were changed to 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

<b>Port Norris</b>

Customers docked summer flounder at <b>Port Norris Marina</b> on Monday, the final day of the season for the fish, Jim said. Rick Rambo boated four keepers to 24 inches that day at the stakes near Fortescue. Small blues swam the bay, and not many croakers remained, though the hardheads previously schooled on the Delaware side of the southern bay. Tons of white perch, plenty to keep, filled the Maurice River. Fish for them with bloodworms or shedder crabs on a small hook, if shedder crabs can be found. Crabbing was great, and crabbers just needed to find a ditch off the side of the Maurice to load up. Only a few pints of minnows are stocked, and no more will be supplied when they run out, because flounder season closed. Frozen baits including mackerel, bunker and clams are carried.

<b>Bivalve</b>

Joe Pierce and Ben O’Donnell from Millville on a trip landed five weakfish, including one keeper, 15 spots, a puppy drum and some sea bass, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. Joe Pierce on another trip with Tim Russell limited out on weakfish! Pat joked. They caught one keeper apiece, the legal limit, and reeled in four kingfish, several spots and one blue. Tony G. from Monroeville bagged five summer flounder to 24 inches. Mike Colone landed 47 blues, keeping no more than his limit, one weakfish and one spot. Les Berry and Fred Hunt from Haleyville racked up 23 sizeable white perch, and Berry on another trip drilled 35 by himself. Perch fishing was going well on the Maurice River and up the creeks. Minnows will be stocked until the current supply runs out, now that flounder season closed. Shedder crabs and frozen baits are on hand.

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