Jamaica II - 14 Hour

[Capt Joe]

Pretty good trip today - some Big Pollock, a few Cod, decent mess of Ling and a few big Taug.
Current was annoying most of the day 12 oz plus was in order but the fish still bit.
Wes Shourt Manahawkin, NJ --25 pound Pollock 14 Ling and 2 Taug
Ron Safer Piscataway, NJ--- won the pool with a 30 lb Pollock plus 20 Ling
Erik Weber Colts Neck--- 1 Cod, an 18 pound Pollock and 23 Ling
Tim Keebler Riegalsville, Pa--- 19 lb Cod and 14 Ling

Pics to follow

Capt Steve

[Capt Joe]

Photos

[SaltLife1980]

Nice work!! Some big fish there!!

[Capt Joe]

Yup, Wes(orange pants) looks happy with his Pollock...then again Wes is usually just as happy when he doesn't get a bite...just enjoys the day out.:)

Capt Ryan

[bulletbob]

A serious question.. Do Cod and Pollack take some special skill when fishing in areas where there aren't a real lot of them say off the NJ coast . In other words, when a NJ party boat fishes this time of year shorter range, they are targeting mostly Ling, maybe some blackfish, and whatever Cod an Pollock they can get.. Does a guy that doesn't fish all the time get a real shot at these fish while soaking clams or a whole squid, or do most of them go to the skilled guys with big jigs that are specifically targeting the Cod and Pollack??.. Just wondering...bob

[Harpoon]

I don't think many people are jigging for cod/pollock in NJ this time of year. You really need schools of fish under the boat to be successful in jigging up those types of fish. The sea bass guys are having great luck right now with the jigs since the sea bass are very thick.

As for the question does a guy who doesn't fish all the time get a real shot? The answer is yes....a clam on a hook on the ocean floor will get you a variety of creatures. From garbage fish to cod/pollock. The pool winner on the J2 yesterday didn't even know what it was when he pulled up the pool cod yesterday!!!!

I would just say don't use a black fish rig and expect to nail a cod/pollock as the hook might be a tad small. Ling will bite on a large hook as well so you get a chance at multiple prized winter species.

Good luck out there.

[tautog]

So is Wes' new nickname happy pants now? I'll have to use it if I see him on Weds.

[bulletbob]

I don't think many people are jigging for cod/pollock in NJ this time of year. You really need schools of fish under the boat to be successful in jigging up those types of fish. The sea bass guys are having great luck right now with the jigs since the sea bass are very thick.

As for the question does a guy who doesn't fish all the time get a real shot? The answer is yes....a clam on a hook on the ocean floor will get you a variety of creatures. From garbage fish to cod/pollock. The pool winner on the J2 yesterday didn't even know what it was when he pulled up the pool cod yesterday!!!!

I would just say don't use a black fish rig and expect to nail a cod/pollock as the hook might be a tad small. Ling will bite on a large hook as well so you get a chance at multiple prized winter species.

Good luck out there.

Thanks.. I am an old time clam dunker, like everyone else, but thought maybe it was the "sharpies" that always caught the cod on these "mixed bag" type of trips.. I have a feeling a whole squid would be a good Cod bait as well... bob

[rusty scupper]

Thanks.. I am an old time clam dunker, like everyone else, but thought maybe it was the "sharpies" that always caught the cod on these "mixed bag" type of trips.. I have a feeling a whole squid would be a good Cod bait as well... bob
The squid is likely to bring on the dogs as does a high hook with a big skirt or some other sort of jewelry. just fish low with a regular size piece of clam and don't swing too soon. Once a codfish starts slurping your bait he's definatly going to swallow. It so long as you don't yank it away from him . Then they usually go to the guy next to you.

[tautog]

Mostly fish a hi lo rig with clam. A 5 ft hi hook is usually best for pollack, but it carries a risk of doggies and the skunk given that pollack are not very plentiful on most drops.

[bulletbob]

So what you guys are really saying is that Cod and Pollock on these NJ inshore wreck trips are really just "luck of the draw", and its really being on the right piece of the wreck at the right time, as opposed to some big secret "mojo" that few understand?..
I know that jigging is great in some spots where the Cod are pretty thick,[Block Island].. I guess I thought thats how the guys here were catching them..
I would have thought the high hook would be more productive for pollack, with maybe a belly strip, but I guess on any given wreck in this area, the horn dogs would outnumber the Pollock 100 to 1.. or better..... thanks to all for the good advice... bob

[tautog]

Had a 4lb pollack today on a hook right above the sinker on clam. Then I tried a 6 foot high hook with a bigger bait for 10 mins after that, nothing.