Anglers with Andrea Charters got into a decent mix of fish, including a few weakfish, some flounder, a handful of small croakers, snapper blues and even 20- to 30-pound drumfish, Capt. Dave said. Weakfish were always a target and are the boat’s specialty, and shedder crabs were always aboard for weakfish bait, and the trout could be found, both at rubble at the reefs in the northern bay and now at nearby open waters, too. But the main body of weaks in recent years usually showed up toward the second week of August, although that’s later than previous years. But the fishing has changed, so anglers need to adjust. A trip Saturday grabbed a couple of weaks in open waters in close proximity to structure. When the population increases, charters will find them more often at open waters and closer to shore. Flounder fishing actually improved a good deal regarding the ratio of keepers, and doormats to 4 ½ pounds were boxed on trips. Much of the flattie population was slightly undersized and should grow to be keepers in the coming weeks, before the season ends. The croakers swam in no great abundance so far but were hooked the last three or four trips, only at structure. The blues were snappers that pretty well loaded the bay. The drum were fish that spend the summer in the bay, unlike large ones that depart toward summer, and could be found at certain structure or holes. But some also came up from open waters on the vessel.

Three flounder trips ran on the Buccaneer in the past week, and shorts, plenty of them, continued to give up action, but a few keepers, including big ones 20 to 23 inches, were around, Capt. Ralph said. One trip, for example, probably reeled in 75 flatties including four keepers, and one of the anglers on the charter hooked 13 of the fluke on one piece of fresh bait, if that’s any indication of the abundance. Action was non-stop. The weather was certainly enjoyable, and the charter, who included children, seemed to appreciate the day and the action. The shorts were 15 to 17 inches, only an inch to a few inches undersized, keepers in recent years. Difficult to tell a charter that a 17-inch flounder, a big, fat, prized catch in past seasons, couldn’t be kept. The Fortescue and Cape May party boat fleets were seen fishing the 14-Foot Light area, and anglers on the vessels generally also landed shorts and a few keepers, but the number of keepers might’ve improved lately. Plenty of small blues were scattered about, and if anglers like to eat blues, the small ones taste best, but they also make great bait strips for flounder. Ralph saw no croakers show up yet.

An open-boat trip came back with about 15 keeper flounder Sunday, and a charter picked up around eight Saturday, and lots of throwbacks bit, said Capt. Howard from the Salt Talk. So fishing was relatively good. Friday’s full moon slowed the bite, but it bounced right back. A couple of dozen blues were usually landed on flounder trips, and no croakers, weakfish or kingfish appeared yet. Open-boat trips are fishing for flounder 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, unless a charter is booked. Charters are also focusing on flounder.

A few more flounder were hooked every day, and sometimes a dozen keepers, including 21- and 22-inchers, were taken, and other times two were boated, but plenty of shorts kept things busy, said Capt. Mike from the Bonanza. Anglers just had to be there to bag a catch. The Bonanza will run a limited number of open-boat flounder trips to the Old Grounds in the ocean off Delaware, and the first is slated for Wednesday, August 6. Reservations are required, and call 609-381-2978. A charter Wednesday evening fought a slough of bluefish at structure on speck rigs and bucktails. Three weakfish were also pinned down at the structure, and a couple of flounder were landed on drifts in open waters prior to the structure fishing. That’s how the boat’s charter fishing is going at the moment: The anglers usually drift for flounder at first and then move to the structure for weaks and blues. The number of weakfish should increase as the season progresses, until the trout become the main focus on charters. Mike heard about a few puppy drum hauled in, but none was part of the catch on the boat the past week. Maybe that meant the fish were spread out. The ocean near the beaches was unusually cold this year from dominant south winds, and that might’ve delayed fish like croakers and weaks from arriving in the bay. Another trip on the boat was a lighthouse cruise, and the vessel offers sightseeing trips. Open-boat trips are fishing for flounder on the bay 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

If you’re looking for a tussle, plenty of catfish always swim the Delaware River. Dunk cut baits like mackerel, bunker or eels at the mouths of creeks on moving tides, said Rick from Big Timber Bait & Tackle. The river’s largemouth bass were on the pre-spawn and a little sluggish, but crank baits or Spro Aruka Shads drew strikes at the mouths of Big Timber Creek and the Schuylkill River, around Petty Island north of Camden, and along the turns, rips and edges of creeks. Schoolie striped bass could be played around the island off National Park on 3-inch Mr. Twisters, diamond jigs or bloodworms. Crabbing was good, and look for the blueclaws along the trestle bridges on the creeks along Delaware Bay. Farther down the waters, flounder covered the bottom at Flounder Alley in the bay, though many were shorts. Only a few weakfish swam the bay so far, and no major population of croakers appeared yet but should soon. Drum still got hauled aboard once in a while around Tussy’s Slough. The shop carries all freshwater, inshore and offshore baits, tackle, rods and reels. Baits include minnows, shiners and all the frozen inshore baits. A full selection of rigs for bay fishing is stocked, and so is crabbing gear. Big-game tackle and bait such as spreader bars and flats of butterfish are in complete supply.

Pennsville

One- to 2-pound bluefish could be hooked on the nearby Delaware River, and spots, also in the river, could be used for bait, said Matt from Shag’s Bait & Tackle. He reeled in seven or eight striped bass to 25 inches at Arnold’s Point and Dunk’s Bar while soaking shedder crabs. The schoolies were larger than the usual 18- to 22-inchers, usually all shorts at this time of year, but fun for catch and release. Flounder could be found as far north as Ship John, and nobody reported landing weakfish or croakers so far. Crabbing was good locally, and customers target the bridges along the tributaries in Salem County, about the only place to escape the currents of the Delaware River. Shedder crabs, bloodworms, nightcrawlers, trout worms and all the frozen baits are stocked.

Port Elizabeth

Flounder fishing seemed to improve a little, with anglers boating more keepers and greater numbers of all sizes of flounder, though the keeper ratio was still low, said Sharon from The Girls Place Bait & Tackle. Back-bay flounder fishing was probably somewhat better, and the waters around Atlantic City’s Borgata doled out better catches than many places, according to one report. The back bays also gave up striped bass on baits like live spots. Nobody mentioned drum catches from Delaware Bay anymore, but Sharon’s friends took a drum trip, though she heard no results yet. The netter found lots of spots, a few weakfish and some blues in the bay, so weaks were apparently trickling in, and that’s good news. If weaks are going to come, they should start appearing soon, considering July is here. Weaks in recent years turned on most in August in September, although that’s later than in the past. Crabbing was good, and the shop carries live crabs for eating. Some are always on hand, but calling ahead for a bushel or large amounts is recommended. Minnows, shedder crabs and bloodworms, both regular-sized bloods and extra large ones about 10 inches, are stocked. The extra-large worms are great baits and arrive on Wednesdays, and when they’re sold out each week, they’re sold out. Fresh bunker arrives nearly every day, and frozen spearing, herring, mackerel and squid are carried. The squid selection includes large, over 2-pound, whole squid, smaller whole squid, tube squid, strips that the shop cuts and Pro Cut strips. Plus other baits are on tap. 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.

Newport

Crabbing was fabulous, said Linda from Beaver Dam Boat Rentals. A partial list of customers who busheled out included Edward Miller’s group, Ken Kepler’s family, Marie Meyers and friends, Joe Monk, Henry and daughters, and Devon and Jose. Anthony Monica counted his crabs and came up with 130. Certainly more customers busheled out, but these crabbers gave their names. The blueclaws were good-sized, and this is it: crabbing season, the height of summer. Conditions like the water temps and no huge influx of freshwater were all great. Shedder crabs were already seen, and the full moon doesn’t occur until the 18th, so they were early. Anglers can also fish on the waters at Beaver Dam, and somebody latched into a striper that seemed just under legal size, but the fish got off. Perch also roam the area. Customers crab from rental boats that are towed up Oranokin Creek, and the staff comes around and checks them every hour. But if crabbers want to take a break in the meantime, they simply call the store, and the staff comes and gets them. The staff also keeps tabs on the best places to crab and puts customers on the spots. Beaver Dam also offers daylong canoe and kayak rentals, and most customers use them for sightseeing, because the creek is a wildlife haven. The shop carries everything needed for a day of crabbing, including several types of traps for sale, traps for rental, baits including bunker and chicken backs and even crab spice, crab crackers, suntan lotion, drinks, snacks and ice cream. Gift certificates are available. A gazebo with a grill can be reserved for parties. Beaver Dam Boat Rentals is open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day.

Dividing Creek

Crab catches got better during the weekend, and were already good, and customers probably averaged three dozen keepers, said Ann from Wildlife Boat Rentals. A few fished and angled up perch and a catfish. No boats are in the waters at Wildlife, but the shop is catering to crabbers who fish the many places along the roads at the creeks and ponds in the area, and the staff can point you in the right direction. All crabbing supplies, including everything from bunker baits, traps, nets and weights to bug spray and sunglasses, are on hand. Fresh grass shrimp, the favorite perch bait, is carried when available, and frozen grass shrimp and squid are stocked. Live crabs are sold for eating. Wildlife is open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Fortescue

A flounder charter on the Buccaneer produced a number of keepers to 26 inches, so it went well, Capt. Ralph said. The boat fished the shallows in the stakes, were the fleet was fishing. But winds against the tide on a trip Sunday were a disaster, preventing the drift that was needed, and a couple of blues bit, and that’s it. The flounder size limit this year is terrible, and 18 inches is a big fish. Probably 25 flatties came up that were a half-inch to an inch short. There were no lack of flounder in the bay. Some anglers caught small drumfish at the concrete and rubble at the reefs on the Delaware side of the bay near Fortescue. But Ralph is concerned about those fish being taken before they’ve got a chance to breed. Captains at Fortescue were trying to support the passing of new regulations for drum with a 36-inch minimum size and two-fish per person bag limit, compared with the current 16-inch, three-fish limit. Drum fishing was super on the bay this year, and drum are one of the Buccaneer’s specialties, and Ralph’s been sailing for them since the 1960s, when hardly anyone targeted the boomers. This year loads of anglers, anglers who had never even drum fished before, whaled on the fish a long time. That’s probably partly because other types of fishing were more difficult on the bay lately. For some reason, the drum parked themselves at one spot this year, and never really moved, an easy target, although during other years they were more mobile. Some boats returned with 20 of the giant fish, far more than anglers could reasonably consume. Anglers should realize they’re likely to wipe out the drum, and tighter bag limits could help, and plenty of the fish for many meals could still be taken. Weakfish have been scarce in recent years in the bay, the Weakfish Capital of the World. Boaters used to bail tons of the trout, and big ones, non-stop. Weaks were probably fished out. Anglers then turned to croakers that appeared in huge numbers, reeling in tons, and the croaker population has now dwindled. Croakers would normally already be schooling the bay, yet only a few are around. Ralph heard from others who said croakers are being found in states farther south, but they’re all small. Anglers should put two and two together. If you hook a small drum, enjoy the catch, but consider reeling in the fish gently, and letting it go to be an 80-pound boomer that can breed and that you can bag another year. Ralph questioned why drum predominantly appeared at one place this year, and why no population turned up at spots like Slaughter Beach, where they normally do. Maybe that indicates that commercial boats netted them in certain areas, though that’s only speculation. But something unusual seemed to affect where the drum where found.

Anglers with Andrea Charters reeled in a few 1- to 2-pound weakfish, Capt. Dave said. They also hooked croakers—smaller ones, none big yet—five drum from 20 to 30 pounds and even a kingfish. Trips were leaving the dock to target weaks, but at this time of year, catches are usually a mixed bag. Dave’s charters nabbed the weaks at rubble at some of the reefs but also in open waters. They fished with shedder crabs on rigs with hooks dressed with bucktail. Snapper blues also swam the bay, and charters on the boat did no flounder fishing. Acres upon acres of bunker schooled the waters, and balls of other bait were seen on the scope, and crabbers caught lots of blueclaws. All the forage was in place for fish like weakies and croakers to arrive in numbers. Some anglers speculated whether the cold ocean delayed fish from migrating. Andrea Charters specializes in weakfishing, and the trout in recent years turned on mostly a little later in summer, though in years past the fishing kicked in earlier. That’s fishing: You never know!

Flounder fishing was about the same: lots of shorts, plenty of action, and anglers culled through to pick up keepers, said Capt. Mike from the Bonanza. Russ Shino bagged four keepers on Saturday’s trip. “Penn Reel” Bob won the pool with a 30-pound drum on Sunday. Drum fishing on the southern bay, where the behemoths gathered earlier this season, kind of dried up by the end of last week. The bay was in the mid to upper 70s. Small croakers reportedly held south of Delaware Bay, and the cold ocean might’ve prevented croakers and weakfish from migrating to the bay. The Bonanza will run a limited number of open-boat flounder trips to the Old Grounds in the ocean off Delaware, and the first is slated for Wednesday, August 6. Reservations are required, and call 609-381-2978. Charters on the boat are first fishing for flounder and then switching to fishing for weakfish in the evenings around the lighthouses and structure. The Bonanza is fishing for flounder 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Customers grabbed flounder in close or at the first drop-off, said Dave from Al’s Bait & Tackle. Everybody was waiting for croakers and weakfish to arrive. Kingfish scurried around within a mile of the beaches. Puppy drum took up summer residence and bit around Flat Top. Surf fishers banked decent catches of flounder, perch, blues and big, cow-nosed rays. Perch filled Fortescue Creek, and short stripers could be caught and released in the creek on bucktails, bloodworms or maybe shedder crab. Crabbing was productive. Shedder crabs, minnows, bloodworms and frozen bunker, mackerel, squid, clam and other baits are stocked.

Bivalve

Lots of flounder could be landed, but many were throwbacks, because of the size limit, said Pat from Longreach Marina. A few weakfish, not a lot, were around, and nobody returned with croakers. Ben Scholl Sr. and Jr. and Joe Cereonka took the trip to the ocean and came back with an 85-1/4-pound, 52-inch bluefin tuna, three mahi mahi and a cobia. Minnows, shedder crabs and all the frozen baits are stocked. The annual Longreach Marina Kids Fishing Tournament is set for August 9. The kids will vie for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in both the boys’ and girls’ categories for the largest weakfish and flounder. If too few of either species are entered, blues and croakers, in that order, will be substituted. Each kid also gets a prize, and each is entered in a drawing for a boy’s and a girl’s bike. The annual Cumberland County Fishing Tournament, formerly a weakfish tournament but now open to all the major species, is on the books for August 2.

Dennisville

Whether drumfish finally stopped biting was difficult to tell, but anglers seemed to stop fishing for them, said Rusty from Captain Tate’s Bait & Tackle. Nobody ordered live clams for drum bait. Flounder fishing continued producing a bunch of shorts but a few keepers mixed in, and the Punk Grounds gave up a bite in the past week or so. Flounder Alley around Miah Maull and 14-Foot Light was another place to look. A few croakers were supposedly found at the northern end of the bay on the Delaware side. Rusty kept reading reports about croakers on the southern end, but he was yet to see any that came from there. A few scattered weakfish were reportedly picked up here or there, no big concentrations. The northern bay above Fortescue seemed to be a place they were located. Some of the trout also came from along the lighthouses at night. Anglers there usually toss bucktails but still tip them with shedder crabs, the favorite weakfish bait. In the back bays along the coast flounder fishing was about the same: a bunch of shorts and a few keepers. The bay behind Northern Wildwood and Stone Harbor produced the better catches. Tracy Bavolos checked in a 6.3-pound 25-3/4-inch flounder she nabbed at Grassy Sound. A flounder tournament was held at Grassy Sound over the weekend, and a fair number of hefty fish were entered. Rusty heard about no small bluefish appearing yet off Cape May Point like they usually do in summer. Blues appeared mostly scarce all along the coast lately. Offshore boaters walloped bluefin tuna on jigs and on the troll at areas including 19-Fathom Lump, the Hambone and Massey’s Canyon. Farther from shore, Poorman’s Canyon and maybe part of the Wilmington doled out a yellowfin tuna bite.

Cape May

Flounder fishing remained a bit slow, and no concentration of the fish held anywhere, but more keepers appeared in the bay, said Matt from Jim’s Bait & Tackle in a fax. Bayshore Channel near Crow Shoal produced a few, and so did the bottom of 60-Foot Slough. A few keepers were reeled in from the ocean just off Cape May Inlet around the yellow range buoys. The bigger flatties hovered around the Old Grounds off Delaware, but again, no big concentrations. Surf fishing was slow at Poverty Beach, and sandsharks were thick. Healthy sized weakfish could be taken before daybreak through very early in the mornings at the Cape May Point wash. Most sharpies bucktailed or jigged the trout, but bloodworms also worked.