<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Hurricane Irene on Saturday night was weathered well at <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>, Sharon said, and she was grateful. Most boats were pulled from the waters before the storm, and no customers reported fishing the bay again yet. But the shop’s netter today caught spots, kingfish and weakfish. So fish seemed to remain in the bay, and the netter said waters weren’t too dirty.  Crabbing could take a moment to recover, because of freshwater from the rains. The bait supply was good at the shop, and fresh bunker arrived today, and green crabs are on hand. Bloodworms probably won’t arrive until Thursday, and were ordered from Maine today. 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>

<b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b> was reopened today, after being closed Saturday to Monday because of the hurricane, and customers were catching crabs again, Linda said. They also caught Friday, the last time the shop was open. The property fared well through the storm, no major impact. Linda hopes everyone is safe and sound. The shop will be open for crabbing daily through Labor Day. Afterward the store will be open for crabbing Fridays through Mondays through October 15. The time of year is great for crabbing. Afterward duck hunting, outdoor licenses, deer and turkey check-ins and sales of supplies will remain available. So will kayak and canoe rentals, and fall is a beautiful time of year for the paddling.  Crabbers at Beaver Dam are towed on rental boats up Oranokin Creek, running past the property. The staff checks on them every hour, and if customers want a break in the meantime, they simply cell phone the shop to be picked up. Reserve rental boats, because they become booked. Beaver Dam carries everything needed for a day of crabbing, from traps, bait and nets to suntan lotion, snacks and drinks. Live crabs for eating are for sale when available.

<b>Fortescue</b>

None of the fleet seemed to sail yet since the hurricane, Capt. Ralph from the <b>Buccaneer</b> said. But Fortescue seemed to escape damage from the storm, and Ralph talked with other captains, and they said all was well. The Buccaneer is fishing for summer flounder and croakers. Flounder trips on the Buccaneer are only $400, compared with $500 or $600 on other vessels.

The crews from eight or nine of the boats from the fleet, including the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b>, Capt. Howard said, sailed up the river to wait out the Hurricane on Saturday night. The vessels were run up the Cohansey to where the boats normally spend the winter. But the storm didn’t amount to much, and the Fortescue docks and marina and everything appeared to fare well. One of the Higbees who stayed at Fortescue in the storm said the weather was no worse than a typical nor’easter. A few shingles blew off Howard’s house. A few boats remained in the harbor at Fortescue during the hurricane, and nothing bad seemed to happen to them. Howard returned the Salt Talk to Fortescue late Sunday afternoon, and is now resuming summer flounder fishing aboard. One trip on the boat, on Wednesday, ran for the fluke this past week, between the weather, and a few of the flatfish were bagged. A couple of charters were weathered out Friday and Saturday aboard. Other boaters sometimes anchored inshore, bloodworming for a mix of fish like porgies, spots, weakfish, kingfish and small croakers that bit. But the Salt Talk will stick with flounder fishing, including through this holiday weekend. Open-boat trips are fishing for summer flounder when no charter is booked, and call to confirm.

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