<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Kingfish, good catches, were reportedly clocked on the bay, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. A few striped bass were slugged on the rivers like the Maurice all the time, and one customer talked about bagging a number of stripers from the bay at Miah Maull. Fresh bunker was the bait for stripers locally from the rivers to the bay. But bloodworms were a popular seller for white perch that nipped in the rivers including the Maurice, stripers that could be mixed in and kingfish in the bay. The fall migration of larger stripers up the bay should start soon, maybe in a couple of weeks. The store’s bunker supplier said a few stripers began to bite in the surf at Long Beach Island to the north. If croakers were around in the bay, at least of any size, they must’ve swum in the southern bay. Or at least no customers talked about the hardheads, and the shop’s netter picked up none locally. Bloodworms are stocked, and fresh bunker usually arrives daily, and fresh, shucked clams are carried, and customers can order live clams in the shell. Minnows and a comprehensive supply of frozen baits are on hand. 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>

Crabs were plentiful and large, said Paul from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Trips with novices averaged a half-bushel, and trips with experienced crabbers averaged nearly a bushel. Sizes of the blueclaws were either obvious throwbacks or mostly 5-1/2- and 6-inchers, sometimes 7-inchers.  Jimmies began to outnumber shes, after the females were much more abundant than the males previously. That can be good news, because many crabbers prefer to toss back females to promote reproduction. Customers sometimes fished, and one landed a 24-inch striped bass. White perch were around, and so were small kingfish. Even a catfish was hooked. Customers at Beaver Dam crab and fish from rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek, running past the shop. The staff checks on the boats every hour, and if customers want a break in the meantime, they simply cell phone the shop to be picked up. Reserving boats ahead of time is recommended, and crabbing will be available at Beaver Dam from Fridays through Mondays through October 15. This is one of the best times of year to crab, because the blueclaws can be the biggest sizes, after shedding and growing since spring.  Keep an eye on <a href="http://www.crabulousnj.com/" target="_blank">Beaver Dam’s Web site</a> for a special that might be offered. Canoe and kayak rentals are available, and fall is a beautiful time to paddle up the scenic creek. Live crabs for eating are sold when available. After crabbing ends for the season at the shop, the doors will remain open for deer and turkey check ins; outdoor license, bait and supply sales; and duck hunting.

<b>Fortescue</b>

A fairly good mixed-bag of kingfish, croakers, a few short weakfish and a couple of short summer flounder – but mostly kings and croakers – was cracked Sunday on the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b>, Capt. Howard said. The fish were hooked to the south on the bay, and the croakers that were kept probably averaged 10 to 12 inches, not big, but keepable. A few drifts for flounder were taken near Fortescue at the beginning of the trip, because this was the last day of flounder season, though none bit there. The day was overcast like lately, but waters were beautiful. Flat seas. The bay was clean, after runoff from storms dirtied waters previously. A mixed-bag like this will continue to be a potential target, and Howard hopes to begin striped bass fishing around the third week of October. The bay will need to cool to draw striper fishing to take off, and during the weekend was 72 degrees. Open-boat trips and charters are sailing, and open trips are likely to run during weekends this time of year, when no charter is booked. Anglers can call to confirm the schedule. 

Kingfish and croakers were plucked in the number 1 buoy area, said Capt. Ralph from the <b>Buccaneer</b>. Small blues were sometimes in the mix. Trips are available for these fish, and striped bass fishing aboard will probably start in mid October. Charters are only $400, compared with $500 or $600 on other vessels.

<b>Cape May</b>

No trips fished on the <b>Down Deep</b> in the past days, but a few boaters took a stab at summer flounder on the bay locally during the weekend, before flounder season closed Monday, Capt. Bob said. They landed a few, and kingfish and croakers could be found on the bay from Cape May boats.

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