<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Wind and rain on Saturday, and wind on Sunday, kept business slow during the weekend, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. But striped bass caught were reported. One trip landed 14 stripers, including two keepers, on Maurice River, toward the barge at the mouth, on bunker. A couple of keepers, not large, around 30 inches, were also reported from Thompson’s Beach, along the bay, near the river. What those were caught on was unknown, but baits like bunker, mullet or bloodworms were fished for stripers currently. One angler also talked about reeling in a striper at East Point, on the bay near the river. So, a few more stripers than before seemed to be caught, and they were probably resident fish, or smaller, young stripers, yet to migrate. Maybe conditions, like somewhat cooler water, or baitfish that began to migrate, made them active.  Or maybe simply more was heard about stripers, because more anglers began to fish for them than previously. Good catches of white perch were reported from the river. Some people still crabbed, and no results were heard. Crabbing seemed to slow, in cooling water. But a few of the blueclaws could probably be trapped. Baits stocked include fresh bunker and bloodworms. Fresh mullet were difficult to obtain, but the shop carries the baitfish when available, and stocks frozen mullet. 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>Newport</b>

Crabbing was slow, and the full moon never helps, said Linda from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. But the sizes of the blueclaws was fabulous, and fishing was great. White perch, striped bass, croakers and sea bass were reeled in. Sea bass are out of season, and are usually throwbacks in back waters like this, but anglers release them for fun. Full moons can trigger crabs to shed and mate, and the blueclaws won’t eat then, making them difficult to trap. But not all the moons trigger shedding and mating, and not all crabs shed and mate at once. This will be the year’s final weekend of boat rentals at Beaver Dam, and the rentals will be available this Friday through Monday, Columbus Day, if weather is fair. A special will be offered through those days: Rent a boat, and get a rental at half-price next year. The shop has also been running a fishing special every Sunday, and that will continue this Sunday:  A dozen bloodworms and a pint of minnows are gratis with the rental of any size boat. If anglers know the prices of those baits, that’s a deal. Boaters for the special are towed to different water that’s faster and deeper than crabbers are usually towed to, if anglers want. Customers fish and crab from rental boats towed up Oranokin Creek, running past the shop. The staff checks on them every hour, and if customers want a break in the meantime, they simply cell phone the store to be picked up. Rental kayaks and canoes will continue to be available, like all season, when the shop is open this weekend, to paddle the scenic creek. After the weekend, the kayaks and canoes will be available if customers call ahead to reserve them, and the creek can be beautiful in autumn. A boat ramp will continue to be available into winter for duck hunting seasons. A season fee for that is only $25, and the hunting is great on the creek. The store will be closed for the season after Monday, but wildlife licenses will still be available. Somebody is usually on the grounds, but call ahead to make sure. Customers can also call ahead to pick up any supplies. The holidays are coming, and check out <a href=" http://shop.beaverdamboatrentals.com/" target="_blank">Beaver Dam’s online store</a> for gifts. Or contact the store for a gift certificate for a boat rental. A 15-percent discount is available for either the gifts or certificates, if customers request. Gifts like these are better than another tie! Linda has said in the past.

<b>Fortescue</b>

No trips fished on the party boat <b>Salt Talk</b> in the past week, and Capt. Howard doesn’t plan to fish before the end of the month, he said. Open-boat trips and charters will resume then, sailing for striped bass, if stripers start biting.

<b>Cape May</b>

The season’s first combo striped bass and duck hunting trips are slated to begin on November 10 on the bay with <b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b>, Capt. Jim said. Anglers can enjoy the combos over a series of days on the bay, or can simply take a striper charter, or a duck hunt, on the bay. Fins also hunts geese on the bay during the goose seasons, and offers a variety of outdoor adventures. That includes saltwater fishing on the bay and ocean, hunting for ducks and geese on the bay and in surrounding states, salmon and steelhead fishing on upstate New York’s Salmon River from Jim’s lodge, and fly fishing for trout on Pennsylvania’s streams like the Yellow Breeches. Jim visited the lodge this weekend, and the salmon migration was slow to begin on the river, but was impending. On the way to the lodge, he saw geese as far north as Albany, but none farther north. A stiff north wind and cold seemed needed to draw the migration south.

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