<b>Brooklawn</b>

A few more summer flounder than before snapped toward the 9 and 10 buoys along the shipping channel in the southern bay, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. The fishing wasn’t great, but improved. Talk began to be heard about croakers plucked along the beaches of the southern bay, and kingfish were tugged from the ocean surf. For boaters on the ocean along the 20-fathom line, mahi mahi were decked when waters were blue or clear, and disappeared when waters were green or dirty. Farther from shore, a few yellowfin tuna were gaffed at several places, and sometimes bluefin tuna were, too. In the Delaware River near the shop, lots of undersized striped bass, white perch and catfish swam. Big Timber carries tackle and bait for fishing on all waters from freshwater to bays to offshore.

<b>Newport</b>

Crabbing was “way up,” said Linda from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Lots of rental boaters nabbed two-thirds of a bushel or a full bushel of the blueclaws. The biggest crab of the year so far, a 7-1/2-incher, was docked. “That’s a big crab,” Linda said. One of the rental boaters fished, reeling in catches including croakers and white perch hooked on bloodworms. Then the angler stopped fishing to take advantage of the good crabbing. The peak of crabbing was happening and will run into September and October. The shop will remain open for crabbing through October 15, and now through then will be a great time for catches. The theory is that crabs grow throughout the warm months, reaching their biggest sizes during this final stretch. When waters become cold in fall and winter, the crabs skitter to the bay to burrow in the bottom until spring. When crabbing ends at the shop, the doors, as always, will remain open for other activities, including duck hunting. Customers at Beaver Dam crab and fish from rental boats that are towed up Oranokin Creek, running past the property. The staff checks on the boaters every hour, and if customers want a break in the meantime, they simply call the shop to be picked up. Beaver Dam carries everything needed for a day of crabbing, from bait, traps and nets to suntan lotion, snacks and drinks. Rental kayaks and canoes are available to paddle up the scenic creek. Live crabs for eating are sold when available.

<b>Fortescue</b>

Action on summer flounder was scored aboard, but the keeper ratio “remains the same,” a report on the party boat <b>Bonanza</b>’s Web site said. Small blues were around, and rumors about croakers kept being heard, “and according to past history, the next week or two … may be the time,” the report said. Trips go after croakers when the hardheads are in. For now, open-boat trips are running for summer flounder daily when no charter is booked.

Winds against tides, preventing a good drift, and the weather, were difficult on summer flounder trips in the past week, said Capt. Howard from the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b>. The fish still held in the bay, and trips caught them at places including the wreck buoy and along the edge of the shipping channel. But conditions often weren’t favorable. Water temps stayed okay for the fluke fishing, and actually dropped, were 79 to 80 degrees, and previously were as high as 85 or 86. A few bluefish were landed. Forecasts kept anglers from showing up to fish Sunday, though the weather turned out alright, fishable. A few croakers that hovered along the concrete rubble on the southern, Delaware end of the bay seemed the only croakers around. Open-boat trips are sailing for summer flounder daily when no charter is booked.

<b>Cape May</b>

Summer flounder were taken at the 19 buoy, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. The fish were also boated off Cape May Point, and kingfish, croakers and weakfish were in the mix. Many of the weaks were shorts, but was good to see some numbers of the trout. Catches like that also came from off Higee’s Beach. Surf anglers also tabbed into a mix of fish like that at Cape May Point and Higbee’s.

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