<b>Port Elizabeth</b>

A couple of reports did roll in about a couple of striped bass in the low 30 inches beached from the bay at Fortescue from shore, said Sharon from <b>The Girls Place Bait & Tackle</b>. Someone said a 48-incher was banked from the bay at Sunset Beach in Cape May. A couple of 30-inch stripers were known to be landed farther north at Long Beach Island from shore. A commercial boater from Barnegat Inlet reported seeing a large school of stripers migrating south in the ocean 5 miles from shore. Barnegat Inlet is located at the island’s northern end. So, a few stripers began to seem active, and the bay’s anglers waited for the fall migration of the fish to kick in. Weather’s been improved, after a particularly rough stretch of weather in past weeks, and maybe more reports will come in, because of that. Good populations of kingfish and weakfish were found in the bay until the weekend. That seemed to slow since, and dogfish moved in. Crabbing remained good, and customers kept after the blueclaws. 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>

Was a busy weekend at <b>Money Island Marina</b> in perfect weather, the marina’s Facebook page said. Anticipation was building about the pending fall migration of striped bass. But plenty of stripers to 18 inches were already active in Nantuxent Creek, running past the shop. Anglers catch and release them from the fishing docks, kayaks and boats. White perch bit in the creek. So did a few mullet to 12 inches, common in the creek this time of year. Anglers at the fishing docks nabbed all these species and other catches. The stripers and perch were most abundant. When large, mature, migrating stripers arrive in the bay, headed south for winter, the marina stocks fresh bunker, favorite bait for them. Baits like that are carried when in demand throughout the fishing season. Plenty of large stripers have also been reeled from the creek over the years, and October is a good time to look for them. The marina features a bait and tackle shop, a boat ramp, boat slips, dry-dock boat storage, fishing docks and gas. The fishing docks, $5 per adult and free for kids, can offer angling for white perch, small striped bass, croakers and more, at different times of year. A 12-foot aluminum boat with a 2.5 h.p. outboard is available to rent to fish the creek.

<b>Cape May</b>

Weakfish were boated from Delaware Bay last week, said Nick from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Surf anglers in Cape May dragged in blues and sometimes striped bass, not big stripers, that week. However, this 42-pound 50-1/2-incher was the season’s first striper weighed at the store and was heaved from the town’s surf during the weekend. What a first! Surf anglers also cranked in blackfish along jetties. Fishing for small stripers was very good in the back bay in early mornings and evenings on soft-plastic lures and top-water plugs. Crabbing was still great, and one crabber trapped 40.

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