<b>Brooklawn</b>

Striped bass, mostly 25- to 28-inchers but some to 35 inches, swam active on the Delaware River from the Commodore Barry Bridge to the north, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. Toss bloodworms for a bite, and the bass were sometimes hooked on the upper bay on bloods, plugs and soft-plastic lures, like along the lighthouses, but the fishing was nothing consistent, and none of the linesiders was big. The wait was on for bigger stripers to chew. Fishing in the bay, and along the whole coast, was in the fall transition. Blues were around along the coast, and plenty of tog snapped along the rocks and rubble at many places, though one tog could be bagged until the limit increases later in autumn. Croakers gathered off the coast such as toward Ocean City, and false albacore were fought at areas such as 5-Fathom Bank. Small kingfish, few of them keepers, roamed the surf at spots such as North Wildwood, and stripers were occasionally beached from the surf. News was quiet about offshore fishing. Also along the Delaware River, largemouth bass were on the hunt in the tributaries including Big Timber Creek and Mantua Creek. But some anglers targeted them farther north on the Delaware toward Neshaminy Creek and Tullytown. Little was heard about smallmouth bass around the Big D. Big Timber carries bait and tackle for all fishing from freshwater to offshore. That includes a complete supply of lures and baits for rivers and lakes; rigs, tackle and frozen bait for bays; and offshore lures, rigs and baits.

<b>Pennsville</b>

The bay was transitioning to fall fish from summer fish, said Wade from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b>. So not much was heard about the bay, but tons of small striped bass were played in the creeks and back waters off the Delaware River on 5- or 6-inch rubber shads or cut baits like mullet or peanut bunker. A few stripers could be found on the Delaware itself like maybe at Elsinboro Point and National Park. Elsinboro is closer to the shop, so more news is heard about there. But last year at this time some 40-inchers were nailed at Elsinboro. Wade noted that the parking lot there was closed last spring, and anglers now had to walk to the point to fish, parking beyond the homes that line the road, a no-parking zone except for residents. That’s somewhat of a hike. The usual white perch and catfish could be collected on the Big D. Crabbing was mediocre. Fresh peanut bunker are stocked, and fresh adult bunker will be carried if in demand when fall striper fishing picks up on the bay.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Customers claimed striped bass, shorts but also keepers to 30 inches, on the Maurice River, including at the mouth of the river toward the barge, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. All who mentioned the angling fished with fresh bunker, and the end of incoming tides and the beginning of the flood produced around the barge. Big white perch were boxed at the mouth of the river. A few kingfish were found farther out, in the bay along the sands. Weakfish were occasionally located in the bay, no great shakes. Nobody reported landing stripers on the bay through the weekend, but this fall and September were cooler than last year, and striper fishing should improve daily. Sharon read about healthy-sized stripers entered in the Long Beach Island surf-fishing tournament farther north, so stripers seemed to get active earlier than last year. That action should trickle down to the bay any time. Demand for green crabs for tog  fishing increased, so more of the bait is being stocked, usually arriving on Thursdays. Fresh bunker, fresh clams and a large supply of other baits is carried. 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>Fortescue</b>

Small striped bass, small blues and small weakfish were angled from the bay, said Dave from <b>Al’s Bait & Tackle</b>. But the bay’s temps began to drop, and if the weather stays cool, more catches of stripers might be made, and now was the time to begin trying for them. Chunking bunker should be best, and a friend tried trolling Sunday at 14-Foot Light but only came up with a few shorts. The stripers that anglers caught on the bay were usually in the low 20-inch range and found at the lighthouses or from the beaches. Bloodworms and bunker picked them up at the lighthouses. Beach anglers usually fished with bloodworms or, when they wanted blues, mullet. White perch fishing up the creeks was actually the best thing going. Crabbing was decent. Fresh bunker will be stocked for striper fishing from here on out this season when available. The store is open 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.

<b>Bivalve</b>

Jamie Gonzales and Wilson Torres Sr. and Jr. docked a dozen big croakers from the bay, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. Another customer reeled in and released 30 throwback weakfish from the waters. Few people fished in the weather, but other fish, including short striped bass and  sometimes bigger weaks, were landed around the bay. Fresh bunker was stocked, and shedder crabs, scarce at this time of the year, were even on hand. Longreach Marina’s Striped Bass Tournament kicks off Saturday, lasting a month until Saturday, November 14, awarding a prize for the heaviest linesider. The Atco Hookers Striped Bass Tournament will take place Saturday, November 7, at the marina.

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