Western Sound Blackfishing 2019

[BlueMarlin478]

If you know, you know... its that time of the year folks.

We're 4 days away from the opener and unfortunately it looks like Mother Nature is going to throw a potential tropical storm at us forming off the coast of the Carolinas by Friday. Was hoping to fish opening day, but right now looks like the Western Sound could be seeing sustained 17-25mph NE winds, gusts to 30. While its fishable if you can hide on the Westchester side, I'd rather wait a day or two instead of getting tossed in a washing machine. Having said that, my only concern is if it moves the fish off the shallows for the rest of the wknd - water is still very warm so hopefully not.

Ready for that familiar, tap, tap, CRUNCH! And remember, try to release the big gals over 20", those are 20 year old fish in our waters!

 

[dsedy]

Cain't wait for the opening!

 

[BennyV]

Unfortunately I’ll be away for the opener. I did catch quite a few shorts this past weekend while porgy fishing.

 

[BlueMarlin478]

Also just noticed theres a Tog countdown in the LI Sound forum, awesome!

Looks like mother nature is going to spare us this wknd - Friday will be unfishable it seems, but it should clear enough to possibly* sneak out Saturday afternoon. Wonder what this is going to do to water temps however... kings point currently at 66, believe it was in the low 70s last week.

 

[buddha162]

Thanks Mike for opening up the 2019 WLIS tog thread!

I'm tying up connection knots as we speak...20lb fluoro feels like rope after the 4/5/6lb leaders I've been using for smallies lol. Gonna check my drysuit zippers/gaskets tonight, and sharpen up my tog jigs for good measure. Can't wait to start pitching crab!

 

[Carpg1]

Sunday morning, western sound, plenty of fish, all shorts, two different spots 20' to 24' H2O.
Oh well beats work ! Out again on weekend.

 

[AllyKat]

Sunday..10-2 pm. Mid Sound. 30 feet. Plenty of life with keepers mixed in.

 

[BlueMarlin478]

Sat - 315 - 445p, 25 fish, 1 keep by myself. Couldn’t get the jig down quick enough, was catching fish on an unbaited jig at one point. All the crabs were super soft so lost a ton of bait.

Sun - 645a - 5p 126 fish, 6 keep among 7 of us. Had a couple newbies on board or the total should have been over 200 easy. Moved around a ton after incoming, bite was super slow in the afternoon.

Mon - 7a - 3p, 93 fish, 9 keepers to 6lbs, had a limit (6) by 1230 all on one spot among my buddy and I. Bite slowed a bit around midday with slack tide.

Hopefully this storm doesn’t mess things up too badly. Back at it on Sat.

 

[Carpg1]

Back out Sunday morning Hen and Chicks, 24' H20, Lots of shorts and 2 keepers mixed in 2 at 17" plus some short sea bass.

 

[BennyV]

Was out yesterday. Bail job on shorts. Few keepers mixed in. Get em while they’re chewing.

 

[BlueMarlin478]

Saturday - 279 fish tallied, 8 keepers to 18", best action in 20-30 it seems

Sunday - cut short at 115 due to rain, 90 fish tallied, no keepers

Anyone still getting them super shallow, sub 10 ft?

 

[Matts]

Anyone else still out there? They're still biting.

My recap for the season so far. Lots and lots of shorts with a keeper sometimes in the mix. I hope this cold spell doesn't send them all deep. Surface was about 55 this weekend.

Had my best day last weekend and did pretty good this weekend in the west, finding fish at all depths and with green crabs, jigs and sinkers. Millions of shorts, though.
Caught a possible PB (not my boat and under 10lb) and released it to make more. The small ones cook up better anyway. Pictures are just as good. Hopefully it won't end up in someone's pot before it spawns a few more times.
Had a fun trip last Monday (11/4) on the Hampton Lady, my first effort at ocean tog, winning the big money pool. Took second too with a whistle fish, but you can only win one prize.

That's it for my ramblings.

 

[AllyKat]

Got out the last two weekends..Eatons Neck area....35 feet.... 11/3 was non stop action with shorts and the very occasional keeper, and some seabass mixed in. 11/10 was not as action packed, but more keepers along with a decent 20 incher that fell to my jig. Water temps were mid 50's this past weekend....I'm sure the cold snap will send the fish deeper, and bring us closer to that fat lady singing. Hoping they stick around through thanksgiving weekend.

 

[BlueMarlin478]

Thanks for the report AK!

Got out myself on Sunday with a couple buddies, we tallied 135 fish amongst 4 of us, with one newbie aboard. Great action in deeper water than usual, all on Greens. I was riding a hot streak and put all 5 keepers in the boat myself, both on conventional and then switching to spinning when the tide slacked off. Just one of those days when you're on, you're on. Water temp was 57 on the surface mid sound, western end - hopefully it doesnt drop us too quick and with a little warmer weather the temps bounce back up. Praying we get a decent finish to the season!

 

[buddha162]

Anyone else still out there? They're still biting.

My recap for the season so far. Lots and lots of shorts with a keeper sometimes in the mix. I hope this cold spell doesn't send them all deep. Surface was about 55 this weekend.

Had my best day last weekend and did pretty good this weekend in the west, finding fish at all depths and with green crabs, jigs and sinkers. Millions of shorts, though.
Caught a possible PB (not my boat and under 10lb) and released it to make more. The small ones cook up better anyway. Pictures are just as good. Hopefully it won't end up in someone's pot before it spawns a few more times.
Had a fun trip last Monday (11/4) on the Hampton Lady, my first effort at ocean tog, winning the big money pool. Took second too with a whistle fish, but you can only win one prize.

That's it for my ramblings.

Great report and stellar release! We need a slot on these fish asap...before then, we can each make the ethical decision to let the big ones go.

Made my first and possibly last tog trip yesterday, never seen so many shorts in my life...from 10 - 30ft on asians/jig, eeked out one keeper @19 ran out of crabs by 1pm. The nicer fish are definitely holding on edges and drops.

 

[Matts]

Buddha, when can we expect a blackfish catch and cook?

 

[buddha162]

Buddha, when can we expect a blackfish catch and cook?

Haha hopefully in the next week or two! It's been awhile since I did a cooking video...I'm getting a headache just thinking about the editing lol...fishing videos are much easier!

 

[BlueMarlin478]

Anyone get out this past wknd? Was upstate hunting for a change. Did bag a deer so that was cool!

Just looked at King's Point, temp is reading 49.1 right now, that does not bode well - anyone else have readings midsound?

 

[BennyV]

Last day my boat got out was Veterans Day. Done for the season. I heard of some being caught to the east off Norwalk islands before this past weekends blow. Was pretty brutal.

 

[Matts]

I was out yesterday for the whole flood. Slowest day of the year. Water about 47 on the surface. breeze from the NW. Fish very sluggish. Still managed quite a few, but nothing over 15" and most about 13" using sinkers and jigs.

Greens and asians got the same interest. Lots of green halves came back with all the good stuff sucked out.

A few bass to 26" and some rats on the way out on shads. No mid-sound schoolie action noticed.