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

[HighHook4Hire]

Headed out in NJ tomorrow with buddies for some 1 fish + C/R action! Pumped to drop some jigs. Gotta get the rust off for my 2 day trip to RI 10/17. First time togging RI so pretty excited for that! Will advise how the tog treat us tomorrow.

 

[Leprechaun]

Excellante! ???

 

[HighHook4Hire]

Headed out to the tog grounds and found them chewing aggressively. We had heard from a buddy about striper on bunker pods the day before so we kept an eye on the horizons as we set up shop. Constant action, with a few keepers mixed in with shorts. Decided not to keep any so we were feeling quite content as we spotted some bunker splashing out of the water in the distance. “We can always come back”, was uttered as we went to check the commotion. Well, that’s where it turned into a striper trip with over 50 boated, only one keeper in the mix. The rest were over 38”. Eventually tried to find the tog again but they were not as eager to play. What a great freaking day.

 

[Leprechaun]

Great early-season report!

 

[Crabman]

With bass fishing on fire, I have been amazed how many baby blackfish are being caught by guys looking to go bass fishing. I feel this is the number one threat to our tog population. Not uncommon to see 30-40 pieces of bass candy caught and stashed onboard each boat. I wish the fine imposed would be confiscation of the boat for the remainder of the season at the impound yard and a hefty fine to pay for the storage.

 

[Chinacat]

With bass fishing on fire, I have been amazed how many baby blackfish are being caught by guys looking to go bass fishing. I feel this is the number one threat to our tog population. Not uncommon to see 30-40 pieces of bass candy caught and stashed onboard each boat. I wish the fine imposed would be confiscation of the boat for the remainder of the season at the impound yard and a hefty fine to pay for the storage.

I see guys around here doing the same thing with sea bass

 

[Fishscale]

Reef treats ?

 

[longcast]

I was able to get out with two of my brother in laws for some blackfishing earlier today. Action was constant. Hard to account for how many 15 1/2 inch fish went back. Big fish eluded us although my brother in law had one overpower his light Grappler! We were able to cull our limit of over 16 inches to about 19 inches. A triggerfish fish also found our crabs to his liking. I used jigs today until the 3 oz just did not hold. The MH Skinner spinning rod was sensitive enough to feel subtle pickups, but had plenty of power to move the fish quickly out of peril. Ready to challenge a heavyweight and wrestle him up and out! Great trip with family!

 

[Chinacat]

I was able to get out with two of my brother in laws for some blackfishing earlier today. Action was constant. Hard to account for how many 15 1/2 inch fish went back. Big fish eluded us although my brother in law had one overpower his light Grappler! We were able to cull our limit of over 16 inches to about 19 inches. A triggerfish fish also found our crabs to his liking. I used jigs today until the 3 oz just did not hold. The MH Skinner spinning rod was sensitive enough to feel subtle pickups, but had plenty of power to move the fish quickly out of peril. Ready to challenge a heavyweight and wrestle him up and out! Great trip with family!

View attachment 55013View attachment 55014

Cool!
Based on the amount of fish for 3 guys Im guessing you were on south shore drops??

 

[longcast]

Cool!
Based on the amount of fish for 3 guys Im guessing you were on south shore drops??

Correct

 

[Fishscale]

Forgot to share the best part of the fishing trip ?

Trigger ceviche
New York Bronzini
Toggy

All freshly prepared at Whit’s End ?

 

[Leprechaun]

Geez, one better than the next! ?

 

[Fishscale]

Geez, one better than the next! ?

I liked the trigger the best

 

[Bucktail II]

I was able to get out Saturday morning with my usual crew to do a little inshore blackfishing. First of the incoming tide with a little SE breeze. Awesome bite on green crabs for the first 4 hours. We managed 9 keepers from 16.5" to just over 21". Threw back countless 15-almost 16" fish. Great start to the south shore Tog season.

 

[captmike28]

As my Blackfish charter season kicked off on Saturday, we were blessed with some magnificent fall weather, which also translated into a solid bite from the Tog.

Saturday’s crew had repeat customers, the Rich party from NJ, join me including his 80 y/o Dad. First drop in a favorite shallow jigging spot on the CT side produced steady action for the last 90 minutes of the ebb tide. Dozens of Tog hit the deck with 3 keepers to 4# plus a half dozen nice Sea Bass.

Next drop on a nearby reef for the end of ebb to flood change and action here again continued at a furious pace. While fishing through the short Tog we managed to box 8 more keepers including one just shy of 6# for our senior citizen, Frank, who had the hot hand. Also mixed in were 9 more keeper Sea Bass to fill out the catch. Made a couple of drops near Fishers to finish the day and picked up one more keeper Tog ad a couple of Sea Bass to complete a fine day’s fishing.

Sunday found Lanny and his 5-man crew also greeted by excellent weather and sea conditions. Right back to my favorite CT jig drop and this time the keeper ratio improved dramatically with an extra hour of ebb tide to work. After about 15-20 minutes of short action the keepers joined the party. By the time the tide was finished the guys had put 11 nice keepers in the box including Bobby’s top fish of the day which tipped the scales at just under 6#. Just a couple of Sea Bass in the shallow drop today.

Back out to the reef for the change and once again the action was solid for the next 2.5 hours. Here the boys boxed 7 more keeper Tog including Mark’s fish of just over 5# and a dozen more beautiful Sea Bass to round out the catch. So, while we missed our boat limit by 3 fish Saturday, the Sunday crew upped the game and we were right on the money for the close of a terrific opening weekend on Blackfish.

Water Temps are still pretty high with my gauge reading just over 60 degrees on the surface but I suspect as they start to come down the size of the Tog will begin to increase! All we need is some good weather and I believe we are in for another strong North Fork Tog Season.

Capt. Mike

 

[Matts]

If Nantucket fluke don't count, do RI blackfish?
This pb 10.3# fell to a green crab on a jig in 40 feet last week.
A seesaw battle until it finally got scooped into

the net.
In the rush to get this beautiful fish back in the water, I didn't get a real good picture, so here's 3/4 of the fish. lol

 

[OVERBORED]

Forgot to share the best part of the fishing trip ?

Trigger ceviche
New York Bronzini
Toggy

All freshly prepared at Whit’s End ?

Looks amazing ?

 

[Leprechaun]

Still a great pic of an impressive catch. Kudos for rushing to return it!

 

[Chinacat]

If Nantucket fluke don't count, do RI blackfish?
This pb 10.3# fell to a green crab on a jig in 40 feet last week.
A seesaw battle until it finally got scooped intoView attachment 55057 the net.
In the rush to get this beautiful fish back in the water, I didn't get a real good picture, so here's 3/4 of the fish. lol

Way cool!!
Good job sending it back to keep swimming

 

[captmike28]

If Nantucket fluke don't count, do RI blackfish?
This pb 10.3# fell to a green crab on a jig in 40 feet last week.
A seesaw battle until it finally got scooped intoView attachment 55057 the net.
In the rush to get this beautiful fish back in the water, I didn't get a real good picture, so here's 3/4 of the fish. lol

Well done and cograts on both the catch and release!