<b>Brooklawn</b>

Summer flounder were around throughout the bay, and anglers picked through plenty of throwbacks to bag keepers, aid Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. Anglers would catch 50, including three or four keepers at most. Flounder fishing was similar on the back bays along the coast. Reports rolled in during the weekend about striped bass to 35 inches popper plugged on the Delaware River at the rotted docks and pilings on both the Jersey and Pennsylvania shorelines, including around Philadelphia, in the early mornings and late in the days. Big catfish 10 and 12 pounds swarmed all around the river. Offshore fishing for yellowfin tuna was some of the best angling around. The tuna were beaten toward 100 fathoms from Baltimore Canyon to Wilmington Canyon, and now reports were heard about the catches as far as Spencer Canyon. Bluefin tuna swam 20-fathoms, like at the 19-fathom lump. Big Timber carries tackle and bait for fishing in all waters from freshwater to bays to offshore. That includes everything from trout worms for lakes to flats of sardines for offshore.

<b>Newport</b>

Numbers of crabs caught started to vary depending on skill, said Linda from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. People new to crabbing might catch fewer, but a half-bushel of the blueclaws per trip was average. Hardcore crabbers are more common in the early season, and people new to crabbing show up in summer like now. But even the newbies caught, and nobody was skunked. The season’s first bushel of crabs was caught on a trip last week. Some of the crabs caught were good sized, up to 6 ½ inches, this past week. Lots of male crabs started to be seen, and that can be good for crabbing, because many crabbers like to throw back females. That helps breeding, is good for the population. The crabs hit both bunker and chicken, and both are stocked. Beaver Dam carries everything needed for crabbing, from bait and traps to suntan lotion, snacks, drinks and ice. Only types of traps allowed in Oranokin Creek, where customers crab, are stocked. The state prohibits commercial traps in the waters. That isn’t the case in many waters, and partly makes crabbing so rich in the creek. The environment just seems right, too. Live crabs for eating are also for sale when available. No customers fished in the creek this past week, and crabbing was on, so everyone concentrated on crabs. The shop’s rental boaters are towed up Oranokin Creek for crabbing and angling. The staff checks on the boaters every hour, and if any want to come in during the meantime, they simply cell phone the shop to be picked up. Reserve ahead to ensure a boat, including the size: four-, five- or six-person.  Rental kayaks and canoes are available for paddling the scenic creek.     

<b>Fortescue</b>

Nine keeper summer flounder were bagged among 30 or 35 throwbacks landed on a trip Saturday on the <b>Buccaneer</b>, Capt. Ralph said. So that was a good catch, and if the size limit had been 17 inches, instead of 18, lots more of the fish would’ve been keepers. A couple of small bluefish were mixed in. The next flounder charter will sail Wednesday on the boat. Flounder charters on the Buccaneer are only $400, compared with $500 or $600 on other vessels.

Trips scored a better week of summer flounder fishing on the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b>, Capt. Howard said. More people began to show up to fish. Catches were better on some days than on others, but bigger flounder were somewhat more abundant, and the number of flounder caught was a little higher. Many of the fluke were undersized, and not every angler bagged a keeper, but a couple of the flatties caught topped 5 pounds, and several were 4 pounds. A few bluefish were landed. Trips fished anywhere from the wreck buoy to the Ditch to Miah Maul. Open-boat trips are fluke fishing daily when no charter is booked, and call ahead to confirm.

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