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

[BennyV]

Yes we have good HB history you turned me on to the Shrimp oregano from Gino’s which is my wife’s favorite dish there when we go but we haven’t been back there ever since they opened up the new Divino’s next to Crossbay B&T. They are very good if you haven’t tried yet. My recommendation there is the linguini w/ white clam and calamari and white zucchini square

We should do a group dinner sometime. Used to do them on the old site.

 

[Leprechaun]

Had a truly excellent morning's fishing today with my good friend Capt. Mike Bady of "The Captain's Table," out of Southold. We fished REALLY shallow - like in 14' and had a great bite thru the outgoing, right up until we called it quits around 11:30, with a solid full limit, to Mike's 11lb8oz beauty. Quite a few fish in the 4.5-6lb class in the catch. One fat 3lb Sea Bass made a fatal error and was happily added to the box as well. Funny seeing it in the shallows, as three weeks ago we were hitting them well in 95'.

Tried out the jigging thing for the very first time today and was immediately rewarded with our first 5lb'er of the trip - my bait wasn't down there more than 30 seconds and wham-mo! Kept at it and quickly got the hang of that bite - fishing most of the morning that way, with Magic Tails 1.5 and 2oz jig heads.

Mike's biggie came on a 1.5oz jig and lump of greenie. WHAT a battle on his little Shimano spinner and his late Dad's 30-yr old legacy fiberglass stick!

This is without a doubt the shallowest I've ever fished for quality blackfish. A great trip on a lovely blue-bird weather day!

I just wish we had this type of fishing on the South Shore - but its just not there by me. Anyway, I will give the jigs a try on my local Reefs, those times when the tide backs off, and see what happens.

First fish of the day, and my first jig-caught tog. My Daiwa Proteus "H" and Pluton got a solid workout this morning!

Mike is all smiles, with a NICE 11lb 8oz jig-caught beauty!

Not too shabby a morning's catch for a couple of neophytes, right?

 

[Flukinit]

Beautiful fish there Mike. Congrats on the DD and just an overall great trip.

 

[hartattack]

Shallow water Tog jigging is the bomb, gets difficult in the deep though. I've found that the max weight you can use is 2.5 oz. When using more than that it's just too heavy for the Tog to 'lift and shift'. The 8 pounder pictured below is my biggest using a spinner, not quite a pig on a jig and certainly not the hog of a tog my son nailed (and released) on his conventional setup. They were so thick that day in NJ we nailed 'em with Clam on the jig !

 

[Chinacat]

Nice!!!!

 

[Tigashrk]

Bad at taking pictures. Took off on Friday, my fishing partner had a family emergency with no notice. Solo fished and had my limit of tog, probably threw back a triple limit and a limit of seabass. Fished Block. Tog Parm and Tog stew. Seabass tomorrow

 

[PropellerJohnII]

Had a truly excellent morning's fishing today with my good friend Capt. Mike Bady of "The Captain's Table," out of Southold. We fished REALLY shallow - like in 14' and had a great bite thru the outgoing, right up until we called it quits around 11:30, with a solid full limit, to Mike's 11lb8oz beauty. Quite a few fish in the 4.5-6lb class in the catch. One fat 3lb Sea Bass made a fatal error and was happily added to the box as well. Funny seeing it in the shallows, as three weeks ago we were hitting them well in 95'.

Tried out the jigging thing for the very first time today and was immediately rewarded with our first 5lb'er of the trip - my bait wasn't down there more than 30 seconds and wham-mo! Kept at it and quickly got the hang of that bite - fishing most of the morning that way, with Magic Tails 1.5 and 2oz jig heads.

Mike's biggie came on a 1.5oz jig and lump of greenie. WHAT a battle on his little Shimano spinner and his late Dad's 30-yr old legacy fiberglass stick!

This is without a doubt the shallowest I've ever fished for quality blackfish. A great trip on a lovely blue-bird weather day!

I just wish we had this type of fishing on the South Shore - but its just not there by me. Anyway, I will give the jigs a try on my local Reefs, those times when the tide backs off, and see what happens.

View attachment 12107

First fish of the day, and my first jig-caught tog. My Daiwa Proteus "H" and Pluton got a solid workout this morning!

View attachment 12108

Mike is all smiles, with a NICE 11lb 8oz jig-caught beauty!

View attachment 12110

Not too shabby a morning's catch for a couple of neophytes, right?

View attachment 12111

Great report LEP. I suspect it will not be your last time jigging for tog. Out on a friend's boat this past Friday in 45 to 62 feet West of Jones. At all spots 50 feet or less, 2 of us had tog on jigs between 3/4 to 1 ounce only. Anything heavier NG. McAllister is not spot burning. But we fished off NJ too and jigged there also. I will now use jigs for tog whenever i have the conditions. My first time ever jigging for tog in my life is in my report here less than 2 weeks ago. I am profoundly hooked. Cannot believe how i didn't fish this way for the longest time. What a revelation. CIAO , John.

 

[captmike28]

Hi John,
I too am relatively new to jigging for Tog (only the past 2 seasons) and I must agree it is a ton of fun. I also agree with your observation that the conditions have to be just right for this technique to work. I have watched guys trying this with much heavier jigs in deep water with swift running tides and at that point the jig is not much different than using a sinker.

I also believe you have to be darn lucky to land a really big fish on the lighter spinning gear. That tackle simply does not allow you to apply the same leverage as a conventional outfit will. Anyone who has fought Tog larger than 6# knows they are capable to taking line even on a fully locked down drag. I literally had my rod butt planted on my hip to get as much leverage as possible with that 11.8# fish taken on a jig this past Thursday.

IMHO, and based upon observation of many of my fares who love this technique, you will lose more big fish using the jig/spinning gear combo than on a conventional set up. However, I also appreciate the sense of accomplishment when you do nail a really big whitechin on essentially beefed up fresh water tackle.
Capt. Mike

 

[PropellerJohnII]

Hi John,
I too am relatively new to jigging for Tog (only the past 2 seasons) and I must agree it is a ton of fun. I also agree with your observation that the conditions have to be just right for this technique to work. I have watched guys trying this with much heavier jigs in deep water with swift running tides and at that point the jig is not much different than using a sinker.

I also believe you have to be darn lucky to land a really big fish on the lighter spinning gear. That tackle simply does not allow you to apply the same leverage as a conventional outfit will. Anyone who has fought Tog larger than 6# knows they are capable to taking line even on a fully locked down drag. I literally had my rod butt planted on my hip to get as much leverage as possible with that 11.8# fish taken on a jig this past Thursday.

IMHO, and based upon observation of many of my fares who love this technique, you will lose more big fish using the jig/spinning gear combo than on a conventional set up. However, I also appreciate the sense of accomplishment when you do nail a really big whitechin on essentially beefed up fresh water tackle.
Capt. Mike

Was amazed that 3 to 4 lb. tog easily pulled my 15 lb spinning reel braid and parked in a boulder rock and i could not get them out .( 8 to 17 foot drops) But unlike the usual deeper water drops, you just stick the rod butt in a rod holder and open bail and give lots of slack . Doing this, every time, the fish came out almost instantly and i reeled it up quickly.Never seen this blackfishing before. Awesome

 

[Stevepanther]

Great fishing way east of shinnecock last 2 Saturday’s 10/19 2 of us had over 20 keepers keeping 8 up to 10 lbs with a half dozen over 8 plus 10 sea bass. Yesterday 5 of us had an easy 50 keepers keeping 20 up to 10 with many 7-8 lb fish plus a cod and 2 blowfish and 33 sea bass

 

[Leprechaun]

How's about a dish of fresh blackfish and wild shrimp sauce, over Mafaldini?

My Scottish doggie thinks he's a Sicilian - he loves wifey's cookin'!

 

[quiknet]

North shore jig caught roaster

 

[quiknet]

South shore snafu victim

 

[quiknet]

Pete, I remember the day you caught that cod well. Seriously cold and nasty with a stiff northwest wind. Don't think we ever made it to the deep drops that day. But you shared that bacala and I turned it into some great baja style fish tacos that night

 

[PropellerJohnII]

Great fishing way east of shinnecock last 2 Saturday’s 10/19 2 of us had over 20 keepers keeping 8 up to 10 lbs with a half dozen over 8 plus 10 sea bass. Yesterday 5 of us had an easy 50 keepers keeping 20 up to 10 with many 7-8 lb fish plus a cod and 2 blowfish and 33 sea bass

Super togging with great by catches. Doesn't get any better than that. Bravo, well done brother.

 

[captmike28]

Nice fish, Russ.
Did you see the 11.8# beast I caught last week? It was taken on the same spot I took you and the guys a couple of years ago where you broke off at least 2 really good ones on the jig. Yes we lose a few with that technique but it is very exciting!

 

[quiknet]

Nice Mike. I did see it. Wonder if it's the same fish that broke me off last year...

 

[captmike28]

Could be, I thought I saw a strange jig in the corner of his mouth!!

 

[captmike28]

Iraqi Veteran and long term customer, Ricky with a fat Tog, just under 8# taken this past Saturday off Fishers I. on the Captain's Table. Way to go Rick!!

 

[Tigashrk]

Monday