A blackfish season for the record books

[DanR]

Are blackfish getting bigger? I saw somewhere that blackfish grow to about 25 pounds.

But this season there was the 28-pounder, pending world record caught in MD. We had the angler in Jones Inlet catch the 22 pounder that is now NY state record.

Last Friday another 23 pounder was caught out of Wildwood.

And it also seems like there have been a lot 10, 15-plus blackfish have been taken in between.

Is this one of the best blackfish seasons?

http://www.app.com/story/sports/outdoors/fishing/hook-line-and-sinker/2015/02/05/blackfish-season-record-books/22944997/

[NoWorries]

Are blackfish getting bigger? I saw somewhere that blackfish grow to about 25 pounds.

But this season there was the 28-pounder, pending world record caught in MD. We had the angler in Jones Inlet catch the 22 pounder that is now NY state record.

Last Friday another 23 pounder was caught out of Wildwood.

And it also seems like there have been a lot 10, 15-plus blackfish have been taken in between.

Is this one of the best blackfish seasons?

http://www.app.com/story/sports/outdoors/fishing/hook-line-and-sinker/2015/02/05/blackfish-season-record-books/22944997/

I've been targeting blackfish/tog since the 60's and have seen how the NY/NJ and our fisheries have changed. These days winter tog fishing has become very popular. Tog over 10 lbs are unusual and over 20 very rare and special. Congratulations to this fisherman on his achievement ! But to say this has been the best blackfish season I would say " NO".

[DanR]

No Worries. Are there any years you recall that were better? I'm not really talking about quantity. I don't know how many fish have been landed this season. But size-wise? Have you seen, or recall a year with more bigger fish landed?

[NoWorries]

The new world record has raised the bar for all of us seeking the Monster tog . But once you understand how these fish live and grow then you'll only begin to get it. Every winter from when the water temps get below 45 degrees there have been opportunities. Weather and water temps. Our milder winters have made it possible to target them for longer periods. I believe there are tog over 30lbs. But to land one............. that's it !

[tautog]

Mostly big fish is not a good sign for the population. More and more it is sublegal fish and jumbos making up the population. When the happened to the stripers and the weakfish, that was not a good sign.

[torchee]

had a great season but no real big fish
most trips had great life
I start early in nyc
then hit the head boats 2x a week until end of January
averaged 4-6 keepers
good times...

[bassnbucks]

Only my 3rd. year targeting tog.This year was great, with lots of limits and a couple over 10 lbs.Once the water hit 41 degrees it was game over for us.

[sam18014]

from nov 16 14 to now had 2 /10 1/11 1/13 2/15 and april around the corner

[Foul Hook]

Mostly big fish is not a good sign for the population. More and more it is sublegal fish and jumbos making up the population. When the happened to the stripers and the weakfish, that was not a good sign.

I agree with you to some extent. I had a lot of 14.5 inch fish that were last years model that we would have kept. So maybe they are keeps next year? I don't know. But it seems like we had a good spread of fish of keepers,boxers,roasters and slobs. Not too many doubles on the trips I was on.I hope your comment doesn't come true for tog as well. Already waiting for spring!F.H.

[lingding]

I have been fishing blackfish for over nearly 45 years,and never recall fish as big as the past 3 years. Even off the shoreline of NY lower bay, we have taken fish as bg as 10llbs and plenty in the 7-8 lb range. I know these fish are slow growers. I would attributete more of these big fish being caught close to shore in as little as 7 feet of water to the very high population of asian crabs on our shoreline.

PS- years ago, you had to go to long island sound to find 10lb backfish.-now there's plenty in New Jersey

[italianfisherman]

i have been fishing blackfish for over nearly 45 years,and never recall fish as big as the past 3 years. Even off the shoreline of ny lower bay, we have taken fish as bg as 10llbs and plenty in the 7-8 lb range. I know these fish are slow growers. I would attributete more of these big fish being caught close to shore in as little as 7 feet of water to the very high population of asian crabs on our shoreline.

Ps- years ago, you had to go to long island sound to find 10lb backfish.-now there's plenty in new jersey

agree..

[Osprey]

There is a lot more pressure on blackfish than there ever has been before for many reasons, one, GPS has made finding bottom easier, two, boats are bigger and more reliable than they used to be and third, what I think is the biggest contributor, since sea bass is closed more than it is open that people are going blackfishing since there are few other options and I just hope that they can stand all the pressure that is being put on them. I would hate to see blackfish be the biggest hurt of the sea bass management nightmare

[bulletbob]

There is a lot more pressure on blackfish than there ever has been before for many reasons, one, GPS has made finding bottom easier, two, boats are bigger and more reliable than they used to be and third, what I think is the biggest contributor, since sea bass is closed more than it is open that people are going blackfishing since there are few other options and I just hope that they can stand all the pressure that is being put on them. I would hate to see blackfish be the biggest hurt of the sea bass management nightmare

Biggest problem for tog is the lack of other bottom species.. If we had Cod,Whiting and Ling during Nov-Dec-Jan like we did years ago, it would cut the pressure on tog right in half... bob