<b>Brooklawn</b>

The bay around the shipping channel from Brandywine to 14-Foot Light was a place to turn up flounder, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. Big flounder were waffled in the ocean at the reefs and at the Old Grounds. Croakers began to push up the bay, and a few could be located at places like the Horseshoe, the Banana Peel and the stakes off Fortescue. Weakfish were yet to come in for the most part. Along the Delaware River largemouth bass were willing to bite, especially at any of the creek mouths. Bucktails, creature baits, Strike King Redeye Shads and Spro Aruka Shads worked.  Striped bass were spread up and down the river, and they were small, up to 30 inches, but abundant, good for the future population. Rich was headed out for tuna yesterday, and bluefin tuna swam far south at the Hambone but also at closer places like Massey’s Canyon and 19-Fathom Lump. But the bigger ones held south. Mahi mahi grouped up throughout the waters, like at the lobster pots.  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>

Customers talked about bailing loads of flounder, mostly shorts and a few keepers, all over the bay, and Gulp mullets were the killer bait, said Dave from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Commercial crabbers found a handful of weakfish in the pots, but no large amount of weaks seemed around. On the Delaware River anglers could  toggle in white perch, catfish and a few small, 15-inch striped bass. Shedder crabs and fresh bunker are usually stocked, and all the frozen baits are carried.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

A customer this morning said he took a trip that walloped 11 keeper flounder near the E.P. Tower, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. The flattie fishing seemed to keep producing, though finding the right place and staying on the spot was key, like with any angling. Snapper blues popped up on the flounder grounds, and anglers at the docks talked about finding a few weakfish, not many, in the bay. No substantial population of croakers was heard about. The other main news was that boaters tackled big bluefin tuna on the inshore ocean, and lots of mahi mahi gathered in the same waters. Big-game baits like flats of sardines and butterfish are available and should be ordered a couple of days in advance. Baits stocked for the bay and other coastal fishing include shedder crabs, minnows, bloodworms, sandworms and a large selection of frozen baits. Fresh spots, a good bait for nearly any fish, are carried, and spots moved in to the bay. The sandworms are more common up north but are less expensive than bloodworms and highly effective. 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>

Crabbing was spotty on a couple of days, and was tough on Saturday, but customers nabbed one-half to three-quarters of a bushel per trip Sunday and Monday, and one busheled out Monday, said Paul from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Tides had been out of whack since Thursday’s storm, and the parking lot got flooded on high tides, but tides were now returning to normal. Paul couldn’t really say he noticed that the crabs shedded. Plenty of large blueclaws 5 ½ inches and over were on tap. Oranokin Creek, where customers crab, was in the mid to upper 80s, while the bay was probably in the 70s. The warmth of the creek was probably one reason the stream is rich with crabs, because the crustaceans love warm waters. A couple of anglers landed a few white perch on the creek, and rays were seen in the ponds. Customers crab or fish from Beaver Dam’s rental boats that get towed up the creek, and the staff checks on them every hour. But if the rental boaters want to take a break in the meantime, they simply cell phone the shop, and the staff picks them up. Kayaks and canoes are also available to rent for sightseeing on the creek. Beaver Dam carries everything needed for a day of crabbing, including all different types of traps, hand lines, nets, bait, bug spray, suntan lotion, drinks and snacks. The shop is open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Customers should call ahead to reserve rental boats, kayaks and canoes to ensure they’re available. Beaver Dam is available to host groups like scouts for nature education. A gazebo with a grill is available for events like birthday parties and family reunions.

<b>Fortescue</b>

A trip socked 14 keeper flounder to 24 inches on Sunday on the <b>Buccaneer</b> with four anglers aboard, Capt. Ralph said. So that was a good day, and the fishing held up. The boat at first fished near the 32 marker with no luck. So the trip moved a little south, and still nothing bit. Then the vessel was motored toward the Elbow, and a few started chomping. Then the anglers stayed there the whole day, making the catch, drifting repeatedly over the waters. Depths 23 to 25 feet produced, and deeper areas gave up none of the flatties. Six blues and three small croakers were mixed in. Other boaters might’ve fared less well, but moving to find the fish—looking, instead of staying where other boats parked—made a difference. If the Buccaneer had stayed at the 32, the fishing probably would’ve remained slow. The vessel was all alone where the fish were found. If anglers want flounder, jump aboard quickly, because the fish could head to the ocean any time, and trips on the Buccaneer were catching so far.

Flounder fishing dropped off on trips through the past week, said Capt. Mike from the <b>Bonanza</b>. He couldn’t know if the moon, the tides or some other cause was the reason, but the boat was headed right back out for the flatties this week, and he hoped the angling bounced back. Trips fished north, south, west and all over. Sizeable flounder were sometimes caught, though. The number of small blues taken was all right, and a few croakers showed up on occasion, and a weakfish bit here or there.  The next special, open-boat trip for flounder at the Old Grounds in the ocean will probably sail Wednesday, August 19, and call to reserve: 609-381-2978. The Old Grounds, located off Delaware, features rough bottom that especially attracts flounder. The deep-water fishing particularly depends on conditions or winds and tides that create the right drift, but when conditions are favorable, the fishing can be some of the best. The Bonanza is flounder fishing on open trips on the bay 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, unless a charter is booked. The charter schedule can be checked on the vessel’s Web site.

The past week was slow for flounder fishing, and customers caught, but no big numbers, scored less well than before, and many of the fluke were small, said Capt. Howard from the  <b>Salt Talk</b>. Still, enough of the fish were bagged to keep things interesting. Open-boat trips are flounder fishing 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., but always call ahead to confirm that no charter is fishing instead. Charters are available.

Croakers and weakfish were boated at the first drop-off, said Donna from <b>Al’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Bluefish prowled the Elbow and the Southwest Line, and flounder fishing remained good. Fortescue surf anglers beached spots, croakers, a few weakfish, one 23-inch drum, brown sharks and one small thresher shark. Weather forecasts for the coming weekend called for light winds and calm seas, and fishing should be on. Minnows, shedder crab and frozen mackerel, spearing, herring, sand eels, bunker, clams and more are stocked.

<b>Bivalve</b>

Waters around the 1 buoy served up lots of flounder, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. Tony Rizzo and John Swydersky from Pittsgrove limited out on flounder. Ben and Kim Hitzelberger and Ray Summers from Elmer bagged four flounder, including a 6-1/4-pound 26-incher, and a bluefish. Todd Wann, 10, decked two 18-inch flounder while fishing with his dad, and they also released a bunch of shorts and a sea bass. The pair, from Williamstown, kept two blues, too. No weakfish and no croakers were seen at the marina. The shedder crab supply was a little off and on, but the minnow supply was in good shape. Longreach also stocks frozen baits such as  mackerel and spearing. The marina’s annual Kids Fishing Tournament will take place Saturday, August 8.

<b>Cape May</b>

Anglers racked up a slew of flounder, and the south Old Grounds in the ocean off Delaware turned out the best catches, healthy numbers and large fish, said Matt from <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b> in a fax. But Delaware Bay also served up a mess, even though lots of shorts had to be weeded through to grab keepers. On the bay they covered bottom at the Punk Grounds and at the flats near the number 1 buoy. Surf fishing was a little slow, but croakers, kingfish and flounder were sometimes banked, and the suds on the bay at Higbee’s and Sunset beaches was a little better.

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