<b>Brooklawn</b>

Flounder got rounded up from places like the 9 and 10 buoys on the southern bay and farther north at the stakes off Fortescue, said Rick from <b>Big Timber Bait & Tackle</b>. A few croakers were plucked from the bay. On the Delaware River near the shop waters became warm for the best fishing for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, and most anglers will wait to fish for them after days begin to cool. But catfish and carp could always be landed from the river. Freshwater water fishing slowed in general in the heat, but some of the lakes gave up largemouth bass in the early mornings and at nights on shiners or dark-colored Scum Frogs or Spro popper frogs. Rick  took an offshore trip Monday that trolled some big mahi mahi 25 to 30 pounds at the 30-Fathom Lump on ballyhoos both naked and on Ilanders. He heard about lots of white marlin and a few tuna caught around Lindenkohl Canyon that day for this week’s Mid Atlantic $500,000. 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>

Anglers were saying that flounder fishing began to back off, and the flatties seemed to begin the push to the southern bay on the migration, but weakfish began to appear in the bay, said Wade from <b>Shag’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Shedder crabs, the favorite weakfish bait, might now be scarce at other shops but are stocked at Shag’s. Lots of small croakers roamed the bay, but not much was heard about larger ones. In the Delaware River fishing stays about the same all summer, and white perch, catfish and small striped bass could be landed. Crabs reached areas farther north along the river, and crabbers at places like Pennsville caught the blueclaws. The shop’s supply of fresh bunker  becomes sketchier in summer, but the menhaden might be carried from time to time when available. Frozen baits and artificial baits like Gulps and Power Baits are on hand.

<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

A few weakfish began to show up around the 1 buoy and the stakes, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. Shedder crabs, the favorite weakfish bait, are becoming scarce but are stocked, but anglers might have difficulty getting as many as they want at this point in the year. The supply for everyone is probably getting ready to end. Plenty of flounder swam around the bay, and lots of spots filled the waters. Small blues, but a few larger ones, 3- and 4-pounders, popped up around the bay. More croakers seemed to hold along the ocean front than in the bay. The shop’s netter found no croakers in his catches in the bay, but found lots of spots. So there were fish to be caught, Sharon said, and crabbing was good. 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>

Catches of crabs picked up for customers in the last couple of days, and the effects of the last shed and the full moon that usually triggers the shed seemed finally finished, said Linda from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Seven days usually pass before the full effects of the shed disappear. Many crabbers on Monday filled half a bushel with the hardshells, a good catch, and the crabbers scored fairly well on Sunday. However, a tremendous number of crabs were seen coupled up, and that meant another shed was apparently beginning, and that was surprising, because the new moon that can also trigger the shed won’t take place until Thursday. Crabbing can become slower during the shed because the blueclaws that shed will refuse to eat. But not all crabs shed at once, so some can always be caught. When crabbing was coming off the last shed, there was certainly disparity in catches. For example if 15 customers headed out, maybe half claimed a half-bushel, and others gathered up 2 or 3 dozen, and others caught a half-dozen. Whether the difference was skill, bait, technique or time of day was unknown. The crab sizes were excellent, and 5- and 6-inchers skittered about. Some of the rental boaters hooked striped bass in Oranokin Creek, where Beaver Dam is located, and white perch always swim the river. One private boater headed up the river to fish and only nabbed skates. Crabbers and anglers get towed up the creek in Beaver Dam’s rental boats, 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>

The bigger flounder gathered in the deep waters around the shipping channel, and boaters could hook them from the Elbow to Miah Maul, said Dave from <b>Al’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Small flounder held closer to shore like at the first and second drop-offs. Weakfish were around at traditional places like the 6 buoy and off the Club House and were bucktailed at the lighthouses. At places like the 6 and Club House, fish for them with shedder crabs on top-and-bottom rigs. Shedder crabs became difficult to find for bait, and definitely call ahead to order. But fresh-frozen crabs are stocked, and are never more than a week or two old, and will work for weaks, although the demand was beginning to put a dent in the supply. All other baits including minnows and a large selection of frozen baits are in good supply at the shop. Tons of spots swam around everywhere and will make a great weakfish bait. Fish for spots with bloodworms or small pieces of crab. Plenty of croakers filled waters right off Fortescue and at the concrete on the Delaware side. Anglers could find them wherever they normally fish for weaks, like at the wreck buoy and the 6 buoy. Bloods and pieces of crab will catch them, but they’ll bite just about anything a weakfish or a flounder will. Blues 1 to 2 pounds, a little bigger than before, schooled throughout the local bay. Loads of spots crammed the Fortescue surf, and the beach anglers also picked up croakers, blues and flounder at times. Bloodworms were probably the best bait from the shore, and crab will work. Decent catches of white perch could be made in the creeks, and Fortescue Creek was full of peanut bunker. Lots of bait schooled around, and crabbing was good.

A three-angler trip Saturday on the <b>Buccaneer</b> boxed 11 keeper flounder to 23 inches and some blues in deeper waters around the Elbow, Capt. Ralph said. So that was a good catch, he said, not a bail, but for flounder fishing, not bad at all. Short flounder were also tossed back, of course. A few boaters talked about landing a couple of weakfish in shallow waters toward the 1 buoy, but not a large enough population was around for a charter to target so far. The bay’s croakers were currently too small for charters.

On the <b>Salt Talk</b> anglers reeled up flounder, no big numbers, but enough to keep things interesting, Capt. Howard said. Trish Ness won the pool on Wednesday’s trip with a 4-pound 7-ouncer, and her brother tugged in a 4-pounder, so decent-sized ones were around. Trips fished near Fortescue to as far south as Miah Maul, and a few small blues were sometimes mixed in. Tides ran hard recently, for some reason, even though the full moon passed, and the new moon was yet to come. But sometimes 6- and 8-ounce weights had to be fished to hold bottom. Boats that fished for croakers ran to the southern bay at the Anchorage and even as far away as Bowers Beach. Some local boaters picked up two or three weakfish a day on the bay in inshore waters. Shedder crabs for weakfish bait became tough to find. 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.

The <b>Bonanza</b> sailed for croakers, but flounder were mixed in, Capt. Mike said. Trips had been running to the southern bay for croakers in the mornings, then moving north on the bay to target flounder to finish out the day. But lately more flounder were mixed in with croakers on the southern bay, so trips kept fishing there. Twenty keeper flounder were bagged among croakers on Sunday’s trip. The croaker fishing was “okay” lately, Mike said. Bluefish were often up in the mornings, and the Bonanza doesn’t target them, but other boats got on plenty at times. One trip on the Bonanza tried anchoring for weakfish, and a few of the trout were hooked. But the trips can only fish for weaks with a light crowd of anglers, because fishing on anchor with more aboard is impossible. A special, open-boat, flounder trip to the Old Grounds, in the ocean off Delaware, will sail Wednesday, and a few spaces are available, because of cancellations. Call to reserve: 609-381-2978. The trip might be the last of the season to the Old Grounds. But if enough anglers express interest, one more could sail. The Old Grounds, with rough bottom that attracts flounder, can offer some of the best flattie fishing when winds and tides create the right drifts. The fishing was holding up, from what Mike heard, and forecasts called for clear weather Wednesday. After flounder season ends, trips will probably fish for croakers, unless light crowds make weakfishing possible. Later in the year, when the weather cools, trips will go after striped bass and tog. The Bonanza is 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.

<b>Bivalve</b>

Customers began docking weakfish, picking them up around the 1 buoy, and they continued to claim flounder at usual spots or at Miah Maul, the 1 and toward the E.P. Tower, said Pat from <b>Longreach Marina</b>. Shedder crabs are in short supply, difficult to keep stocked, but minnows, spearing, squid, mackerel and other baits are on hand. Anglers and their catches included: Paul Evans and Harold Cox, Roebling, 15 weaks, lots of spots and lots of big sharks; Heidie Lure and Carl Davis, Millville, seven weaks and lots of throwbacks; Kim and Kevin Plummer, Millville, six weakfish, all over 18 inches; Jerry Hoffman and Doggie Weldon, Haleyville, five weaks; Capt. Jason Renyo, Scott Omachne and Robert Long, Millville, six flounder to 24 inches and 30 shorts; and Paul Goodman, Williamstown, three keeper flounder and 25 shorts.

<b>Cape May</b>

The flounder season has got to be the best in a long time, said Matt from <b>Jim’s Bait & Tackle</b> in a fax. A good population of the fish was piled up in the ocean at Cape May Reef, Reef 11 and the Old Grounds. But Delaware Bay gave up the flatties at the 9 and 10 buoys and Brandywine Slough. The fluke were also mixed in with small blues at the Cape May Rips. The shop will hold an End of Season Flounder Tournament on Saturday, August 29, and call the store for details.

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