<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Summer flounder still swam the bay, Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b> thought, she said. She’d been away, hadn’t heard many reports. Ocean flounder fishing seemed slow, hit and miss, at reefs. Catching a keeper seemed tougher and tougher, for the moment, at least. A few croakers were plucked from the bay. Kingfish likely schooled the bay, like before. Weakfish might’ve, but nothing was heard about them, since Sharon was away. White perch fishing became great on Maurice River, picking up considerably. The eighth annual Mauricetown Gunning Club’s perch tournament and barbecue will be held Saturday, August 20. See info on The Girls Place’s Facebook page. Crabbing was pretty good, and was throughout this season. Many customers bought crabbing supplies. Baits stocked included shedder crabs that arrived fairly steadily. Plenty of minnows were on hand, and bloodworms were in supply. The Girls Place, located on Route 47, just after Route 55 ends, carries a large supply of bait and tackle, and is the long, one-story, yellow building on the right. It’s on the way to the bay.

<b>Money Island</b>

A 2-pound summer flounder won the pig roast and fishing tournament Saturday at <b>Money Island Marina</b>, the marina’s Facebook page said. The angler won a custom rod that Mike Buehler, a local craftsman, built. Other catches that won included a brown shark that was the largest fish and was released. Browns must be released by law. A 6-1/2-inch crab won for the biggest blueclaw. The event was successful and fun, Bruce from the shop said in a phone call. Croakers were reeled from the fishing docks the past couple of days. White perch were tugged from the docks previously. Throwback striped bass always mill around the dock this time of year and can usually be played.  The marina features a bait and tackle shop, a boat ramp, boat slips, dry-dock boat storage, fishing docks and gas. The fishing docks, $5 per adult and free for kids, can offer angling for white perch, small stripers, and croakers, at different times of year. A 12-foot aluminum boat with a 2.5 h.p. outboard is available to rent to fish the creek. Baits stocked included plenty of minnows.

<b>Newport</b>

The new moon is past, and crabbing picked up well, actually, said Paul from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Trips docked three dozen keepers apiece and more, sometimes a bushel and plenty of half-bushels. A bushel is the legal limit, and big crabs were seen. A 7-15/16-incher was nailed, becoming the biggest any customer trapped this year. The customer with the year’s biggest wins a free boat-rental next year, an annual prize. A 7-11/16-incher was also whacked, and a good number of 6-inchers were creamed. One customer trapped a bushel, and almost half of the bushel’s crabs were 6-inchers. Fishing picked up, too, after fishing had been slow. A couple of groups who visit only to fish were happy with white perch catches they made. Paul was unsure how many they landed, but the perch were big. Spots were also caught. Customers crab and fish from rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek, running past the shop. Rental kayaks and canoes are available to paddle the scenic creek. Reserve rentals ahead, because they book up. Beaver Dam carries everything needed for crabbing, from bait, traps and nets to drinks, snacks and suntan lotion. The shop can host groups like scouts and 4H for an educational day on the water. Events like family reunions and birthday parties can also be hosted. Visit <a href=" http://www.crabulousnj.com/Home_Page.php" target="_blank">Beaver Dam’s website</a>.

<b>Cape May</b>

In the surf, croakers and kingfish were dragged-in at Cape May Point, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. That’s at the confluence of Delaware Bay and the ocean, and spike weakfish bit in the surf all around. Sounded like some summer flounder were banked from the surf, mostly at the Concrete Ship and Higbee’s Beach on the bay. A mix of some of these species could be boated at Cape May Channel off Cape May Point. Sharking was good in the surf at night. For boaters, summer flounder gave up lots of action, even if keepers were difficult to come by. Good numbers chewed in the back bay. Ocean reefs produced better-sized. Boaters headed to the reefs farther away. On Delaware Bay, flounder were beaten toward Fortescue. Weakfish schooled the bay at Brandywine. Crabbing was excellent at Cape May.

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