Post up up your 2019/2020/2021/2022 Blackfishing Pix/Reports/Adventures/Musings

A string of 4 days of great weather translated into 4 straight Tog charters with a solid bite in most cases, many happy anglers, and one very weary Captain!

Stepping back to last Thursday I had the Al party of 3 join me for a full day outing at Fishers. First drop in a favorite spot at about 40’ depths gave up many shorts but only 2 small keepers for an hour’s effort. Moved a little deeper to 55’ and it was game on. The next 3 hours found a steady bite with a nice bunch of keepers in the 4-6# class and an easy boat limit. Al enjoyed top honors with his 6.5# beauty.

Friday found the James party of 4 aboard and we started in a more open location off Fishers for the last hour of flood tide. The bite was savage for the entire time on this drop and the group culled 8 nice keepers to 4.5# on this drop. Next move to the scene of Thursday’s action and the bite was a little slower than the previous day. Still the guys managed to put another 5 keepers in the box, same size as before. Finished up with an hour in a nearby jigging spot where the guys finished the boat limit and broke off one really good one while I was cleaning the catch.

Saturday with the Chris party joining me we hit the same two drops as Friday. First stop the approaching full moon end of flood tide was still screaming fast and my anchor didn’t bite on the first try. Second attempt she began to bite, then slid a bit before taking hold in a bit shallower location that I like. However, I also had to deal with a huge knot of anchor rode in my locker so I let the guys start fishing while I took care of the necessary repairs. The bite was just as savage as the day b before, but the size of the fish were much smaller and we only managed 2 small keepers here. No worries as the next drop a bit to the north was all we needed to cap a very solid day of togging. The bite started out a little slow but as the ebb tide began to slow the better fish started chewing. In about 90 minutes time the guys limited the boat including 6 real fat fish between 5-6.5#.

Sunday Matt, his lovely wife Jen, neighbor George, and my long-time customer Frank made up the crew for my split charter. Steady and fairly brisk Southerly winds were predicted so I passed on the more exposed drops at Fishers and opted for my favorite CT reef. Sea conditions and the tide for the latter part of the flood were tolerable although getting situated on the piece in the wind vs. tide conditions as a little tough. We did enjoy solid action there and after a lot of sorting managed to put 5 keepers to 5# in the box. Tried my shallow water jig spot nearby as the wind started to freshen but the combination of a very fast tide and broadside waves made fishing this drop very difficult.

So, we headed back across the Sound looking for some shelter from the wind and tried a drop in only 22’. Although there were fish on this spot the super hard running ebb tide made working this location also too challenging. So, I finally moved out to the east side of Plum and tucked in close to the Island to “hide from the tide”. Finally got to a location where the crew could enjoy jig fishing for the last 90 minutes of the trip. Once again, a lot of sorting but the persistent anglers managed to add 4 more keepers to 4# to the box. Although this was the toughest trip of the stretch, the balmy temperatures and good-natured fun aboard still made it a great day!

Hoping that the next round of cooler weather really brings out the big fish as surface water temps are still close to 60 degrees…in early November!!

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I ran a rare one-man charter today for the always enthusiastic “Celebrity Chef” Nader. He came prepared to land some serious Tog with a full arsenal of no less than 6 specialized Blackfish outfits for a variety of conditions.

The early morning ride out to Fishers was a bit nautical in the face of a steady 12-15kt. NE breeze but once we got to my favorite jigging drop things were quite fishable. We both break out the spinning rods, Nader begins with his signature “Trout” rod, and quickly ties into a real brute he can hardly contain for a few minutes until his leader finally parts. While that might discourage some it only increases Nader’s resolve to catch an even bigger fish. We both box a fat 17” keeper next and then Nader decides to up his game and equipment to a super light conventional rod with a snafu rig and 3 oz. sinker. A whole crab goes down and soon he is hard and fast to our largest Tog of the season aboard my vessel. After a very spirited battle I slide the net under a beautiful white chin that tips the scales at just under 10 #, 9.75 to be exact! Not more than 10 minutes later Nader is calling for the net again and this time it is a 7# Tog that hits the deck.

I am still struggling with the spinner and realized the fish wanted bigger baits. Then I noticed that the slightly longer shank hook on my All-American Tackle Tog jig would accommodate 2 half crabs at once. That slight adjustment got me back in the game and I began to land more keepers with regularity. We were looking for only large fish today so I only added one 4# fish to the box. Meanwhile, Nader with his smoking hot hand managed one more super thick fish in the 6# class and by 10:30 a.m. we were in the C&R mode.

No more really large fish were caught for the balance of the day but we easily returned at least 2 more limits of nice Tog up to 5#. So, today was by far our best day of the season so far, quality wise. Despite the very chilly start and rough ride out to the grounds we cruised home on a nice flat Sound as the temperatures seemed to rise a bit…or maybe it was just the adrenaline rush of a very satisfying day on the North Fork Tog grounds!
Capt Mike

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Fished yesterday on a gorgeous ocean for not a ton of action, unlike the past two trips. Hit a local reef hard with Kevin/Longcast and Robbie Pav for a total of 9 keeps to 6lbs. Made numerous adjustments and drop moves, but the fish were in "Full Moon Bite" mode, not wanting to commit with the ridiculous abandon of those prior trips. Like I said, a very frustrating fish to chase - patience is the key word.

Kevin's really pretty 6lb fish - taken on a super light action slow pitch Grappler - a crazy deep bend on that stick!

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I had the Al party of “spirited senior citizens” out with me yesterday for some Veteran’s Day Tog action. Thankfully the strong winds and rain predicted did hold off just long enough for us to complete the trip in relative comfort.

With the ominous forecast I chose not to sail all the way east to Fishers and spent the trip closer to the north side of LI/Plum I. First drop at Mulford on what should have been a quiet stage of the tide at the very start of the flood found the current really booking. First time ever I have found an Eldridge tide prediction to seem off and the guys had to move from 12-16 oz of lead pretty quickly…ugh! Anyway, action was very steady with the typical parade of shorts and only 3 keepers to 17” finding the box.

Tried another drop on a small piece north of Orient but just couldn’t get the boat quite right and after 30 minutes of some short activity we headed east to Plum. Finished the day on one of my oldest set of reliable numbers and the bite was very consistent once again. After a lot of sorting, the crew managed to get within one fish of a full boat limit to just under 4#. No real biggies but plenty of sweet fillets to go home with the guys.

Just as we turned the corner by the Gut the SW wind began to come up and we made it back to the dock just at the first rain drops began to fall. Sure made cleanup a little easier!
 
Blackfish ala' Mrs. Lep

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Blackfish Fillets
Clams & Mussels
Oil-cured Artichoke Hearts
Slivered Red Onion, Shallots, Celery
8 Cloves Garlic - Sliced
Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes
Sliced Yellow Peppers
Black Olives
Fresh Basil & Parsley
1 Bottle Clam Juice
1 Can Chopped Clams
3/4 Cup White Wine
1 Tablespoon Capers
Salt and Pepper
Served over Rice

Tastes like it looks - Delish!
 
Blackfish ala' Mrs. Lep

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Blackfish Fillet
Clams & Mussels
Oil-cured Artichoke Hearts
Slivered Red Onion, Shallots, Celery
8 Cloves Garlic - Sliced
Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes
Sliced Yellow Peppers
Black Olives
Fresh Basil & Parsley
1 Bottle Clam Juice
1 Can Chopped Clams
3/4 Cup White Wine
1 Tablespoon Capers
Salt and Pepper
Served over Rice

Tastes like it looks - Delish!
Yet another "restaurant" I am dying to try!!:)

You guys are making me drool!!!!!
 
Blackfish ala' Mrs. Lep

View attachment 55980

View attachment 55981

Blackfish Fillet
Clams & Mussels
Oil-cured Artichoke Hearts
Slivered Red Onion, Shallots, Celery
8 Cloves Garlic - Sliced
Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes
Sliced Yellow Peppers
Black Olives
Fresh Basil & Parsley
1 Bottle Clam Juice
1 Can Chopped Clams
3/4 Cup White Wine
1 Tablespoon Capers
Salt and Pepper
Served over Rice

Tastes like it looks - Delish!
Dang
 
Yesterday’s split charter found Chef Nader, his friend Dan, my long-term customer Frank G. and Mitch (Chinacat) from the board join me for some fine fall Tog action. This was the first time this season it felt like a real fall trip as my hatch covers were partially frozen when I climbed aboard at 5:30!

Since we had solid action with keepers on a deeper drop on Sunday’s charter off CT I decided to try a favorite deep drop off Fishers that was also helped by the softer ¼ moon tides. Arrived about 90 minutes before the end of the ebb and had solid action for the next 2.5 hours. The typical sorting routine was present but slowly the crew started to fill the box with nice 16.5-18” keepers. By the time flood began we had 10 in the box and, typically, as the shift occurred, Nader does his stuff and lands a fat 6.25# fish to complete our time on the deep drop.

Next, we move into the shallows and everyone breaks out the spinning tackle for some increased excitement with the feisty Tog. Immediately, Nader and Dan deck 2 Tog close to 4# each and Frank quickly follows with one of his own. We are now only 2 fish shy of our full boat limit so the decision was made to return one of those fish and keep 3 slots open for something larger. We tossed back a couple more keepers until Nader, once again, ties into another nice fish of 6#. Then the extremely light current combined with the slackening wind slid the boat off my favorite piece and the action slowed down. Now we ae starting to question the wisdom of throwing back keepers but Mitch’s perseverance manages to deck another nice fish in the 4# class.

Determined to find my fares one more quality fish to fill the limit, I reanchored the boat and after a bit of adjustment with the amount of anchor rode put out I finally got us back on the better bottom. While a few smaller keepers were caught again the guys held back and finally Dan was rewarded with the best Tog of the day weighing in at 7.5#. Cruised home on a nice flat Sound to conclude an extremely satisfying but chilly fall Blackfish trip.

Although it sems like the fun just started it’s hard to believe I am looking at the close of the 2022 season in just another 11 days. I sure hope Mother Nature gives me at least one or two more shots at our excellent North Shore Tog fishing.

Tight lines to all!!

Capt. Mike

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Here’s some pics from our A-team charter on the Gypsea over the wknd. One fish tip the scale at #10 and the pool fish winner took home $1600 for main and Calcutta?
 

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Day Before Thanksgiving with Capt. Mike

Had another excellent trip on Mike's boat yesterday - fishing off Conn. and Fisher's Island on a breezy East End day.

First did the deeper thing for a bunch of keepers, and then over to the shallow jigging ground off Fisher's for more quality fishing. PLENTY of short action and a full boat limit for the four of us to 5lbs, plus the largest sea bass I've caught in at least 10 years - didn't weight him, but trust me, it was a monster. Now gutted and scaled, its waiting for Turkey Day festivities to end, so I can use the Asian steamed whole sea bass recipe from the "On The Water" website once again - it'll be a great switch-up from leftover turkey, believe me.

So that's it for Mike - his boat comes out next week after another successful charter season - and now we shift operations to my boat, heading West instead of East. Gotta say a weather prayer for some decent NY Bight sailing weather. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend everybody!

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