<b>Brooklawn</b>

Waters around the 9 and 10 buoys turned out summer flounder, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. Fishing for them became better than before on the ocean at Reef 11 and the Old Grounds. Bigger flounder 6 and 7 pounds, and more keepers, could be found there. Croakers began to show up in the bay at usual haunts 20 feet and deeper. But croakers and kingfish also hugged waters close to shore around Cape May Point. On the ocean small mahi mahi flooded areas like 5-Fathom Bank and the Old Grounds. Take bait and small hooks for mahi when fishing for flounder at places like the Old Grounds. Tuna could still be boated at spots closer to shore like the Hot Dog and the Sausages, and they swam farther from shore at the canyons, but were less abundant than previously. Good fishing for marlin was had in the deep along 1,000 fathoms. Close to the shop, the Delaware River was loaded with large catfish averaging 5 or 6 pounds, and small striped bass swam the river. Big Timber stocks bait and tackle for fishing in all waters from freshwater to the bays to offshore.

<b>Newport</b>

Crabs were coming off the effects of Saturday’s full moon, were shedding, said Paul from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Full and new moons can trigger a shed, and catches then can drop off, because shedding crabs refuse to eat, and catches did drop down this time, and the shed was huge. But crabbing improved each day now, and shedding, and slow downs, usually only last three to five days after the moons. Not all crabs shed on a given moon. Shedding currently seemed to be lingering longer than usual, and crabs were also mating, and were still coupled up. But this should all end any day, and catches should be back to normal any time. Experienced crabbers nabbed a bushel, and inexperienced put together a half-bushel. Novices picked a couple of dozen. The sizes of the crabs was down, probably because the mature ones were mating. But the hope is that the larger crabs will be seen again soon. The sizes currently were either 4 ½ to 5 ½ inches or small. Many of the crabs were females, and hardcore crabbers will let go any females, so they breed. All crabbers are encouraged to let go females that are pregnant. If newly pregnant, crabs will have a purple triangle underneath. If pregnant longer, the purple will become a dome, sometimes with an orange fringe. Crabs with a white bottom are not pregnant. One in a million eggs becomes a mature crab that is caught, a study from Maryland said. Fishing somewhat picked up, and customers landed croakers, and small bluefish were sometimes around. Customers crab and fish from rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek, running past the shop. The staff checks on them once an hour, and if customers need a break in the meantime, they simply cell phone the shop to be picked up. Rental boats should be reserved, and they do become booked up. Crabbing will be available at Beaver Dam daily through Labor Day weekend. After Labor Day, crabbing will be available Fridays through Mondays through October 15. Afterward the shop will be open for duck hunting, fish and game licenses, deer check in, and more. Rental kayaks and canoes are currently available to paddle the scenic creek.  

<b>Fortescue</b>

Summer flounder bit at the stakes, the Ditch and hear the Old House, said Capt. Ralph from the <b>Buccaneer</b>. Croakers hovered along the rubble-bottom in the southern, Delaware side of the bay, and if anglers want to go for them, trips aboard can. Charters are also fishing for flounder, and the trips on the Buccaneer are only $400, compared with $500 or $600 on other vessels.

A couple of trips sailed for summer flounder Wednesday and Saturday on the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b>, Capt. Howard said. Saturday’s trip was a charter with a family who bagged eight flounder to 4 pounds, letting go throwbacks. The fish were around, and the trips fished at the stakes and the rip toward Miah Maull. A few bluefish, no numbers, were hooked aboard. The bay was 80 degrees, down from a peak of 86 this summer. The days weren’t as hot as before, and the nights were becoming cooler. Forecasts for stormy weather kept many anglers from showing up Sunday, and only one of the party boats got out that day. Private boaters sometimes anchored and plugged away at a variety of small fish like croakers, weakfish, porgies, sea bass and spots. Open-boat trips are sailing for summer flounder daily when no charter is booked, and call to confirm.

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