<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

Most customers who fish for summer flounder fish the bay for the flatfish, and news was slow about the fluke from the bay, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. A couple of reports talked about a few flounder boated near the 19 buoy in the bay this season. But that was no great shakes, and escaping wind and rain to boat the bay was difficult. Weather including storms was tough on Saturday. Severely stormy weather hit last Tuesday night, leaving many in South Jersey without electricity, especially farther north, toward Philadelphia, though near the shop was only without electricity a moment. Between all of that, weather was often too windy to boat. Wind began to blow again on Monday, when Sharon gave this report in a phone call. Getting reports was difficult. The best flounder fishing was reported from back bays. Some said flounder fishing was pretty good at Reef 11 on the ocean. Croakers had been heard about from Delaware Bay, but customers sometimes tried for them this weekend, saying they failed to find the hardheads.  Some customers said crabbing improved at the shore, not catching tons, but some good-sized. Shark fishing was okay on the ocean, Sharon guessed. June and July is the time of year for that. Plenty of minnows were stocked. Bloodworms and shedder crabs were on hand. Fresh bunker arrived two or three times a week. 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>Money Island</b>

The weekend was a washout, and none of the boats sailed from the docks, said Bruce from <b>Money Island Marina</b>. Weather was tough most of last week, and summer flounder had begun to be reeled in previously. Closer to shore typically fished best, but that was some time ago. What’ll happen now will be seen. Boaters, when they fished back then, also ran into small bluefish chasing bunker schools. Bruce saw no weakfish boated from the bay yet this year. Anglers fishing from the docks at the marina sometimes reeled up croakers and white perch on live grass shrimp or bloodworms. The marina features a bait and tackle shop, a boat ramp, boat slips, dry-dock boat storage, and gas. Baits stocked usually include minnows, and all the frozen bait, like spearing and squid. Bait also usually includes live grass shrimp on weekends. Sometimes the shrimp can be available on other days, when in demand or someone wants.

<b>Newport</b>

Crabbing was better than expected, considering 2 inches of rain fell this weekend, said Paul from <b>Beaver Dam Boat Rentals</b>. Freshwater from rain can slow crabbing, but boats that crabbed Sunday averaged one or two dozen keepers apiece. Paul was surprised the customers caught the blueclaws, after drizzle and rain throughout Saturday, and a rough storm that night. The shop was closed Saturday in the weather. Many crabs were 3 ½ inches or 5 ½ inches, just undersized or oversized. Four-and-a-half is keeper size for the hard-shells. Paul was glad to see the number of 3-1/2-inchers, because that seemed to bode well for the future. Those crabs should grow to keeper size this season. The 5-1/2-inchers were sizable crabs. Some especially exciting news was that two boats that concentrated on fishing nailed some good-sized white perch and really large croakers on Sunday. Fish weren’t really caught in previous weeks, so the angling seemed to begin. Some of the anglers who fished had a wire cage they kept the catches alive in, and the cage became open, and half the fish caught were lost. But they still bagged 10 or 15. Crabbing on the boats became available daily starting Monday for the season, after it was available on weekends only, previously. Two boats that crabbed Monday landed about two dozen keepers apiece. Customers crab and fish 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 are available to paddle the scenic creek. Beaver Dam sells everything needed for crabbing, from bait, traps and nets to suntan lotion, drinks and snacks. Paul raises minnows for fishing bait, and had to do maintenance on the livewells this season, diminishing the supply. His current supply is almost reaching the size he’d sell. When the minnow operation is completely up and running, the minnows are some of the largest around, because he raises them. Most stores obtain minnows from suppliers who net them in the wild.   Visit <a href=" http://www.crabulousnj.com/Home_Page.php" target="_blank">Beaver Dam’s website</a>.

<b>Fortescue</b>

More summer flounder began to be docked than before, said Capt. Tom from <b>Erica Leigh Charters</b>. Weather kept fishing in port on Saturday, but boating was possible on Sunday. The fleet from the marina caught more keeper flounder that day than previously. Tom hopes to get out for the fish in coming days. 

<b>Wildwood</b>

Sand tiger sharks and dusky sharks were fought and released, after being tagged for NOAA, on the bay with <b>Fins & Grins Sport Fishing</b>, Capt. Jim said. A total of six were nailed on a trip Wednesday, and both species must be released. These were big fish, including an honest 300 pounds for the sand tigers. The trips are an opportunity to fight large catches without the long trip offshore, and the bay trips are half the price. Fins is also sharking on the longer trips to the ocean. A total of 34 sharks were landed in six trips, in the week before weather canceled fishing aboard this weekend. The sharks were from five trips on the bay and one on the ocean. Fins fishes for all species available from the ocean to Delaware Bay and the back bay. All trips sail from the boat’s slip in Wildwood.  Fins fishes every day, and reservations aren’t required but suggested. Telephone for availability.

<b>Cape May</b>

Croakers showed up, along jetties, in Cape May Canal, at bridges and all around, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Big weakfish still held along jetties, hitting bloodworms on floats. Surf fishing was mostly quiet, though. An occasional striped bass was angled from the beach. Many summer flounder scurried the surf. Boaters lifted aboard flounder from the back bay. Flounder fishing lit up at Cape May Reef on the ocean Wednesday, reportedly. Eleven keepers were bagged on one boat there that day. The trip reported that a couple of other boats fished the reef at the time, catching the flatfish just as well. Nothing was heard about flounder from Delaware Bay.

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