Sand/Bloodworms for Blackfish?

[bulletbob]

I know that most guys prefer soft baits for very early tog[April]. Many years ago I used to catch a lot of tog on the jettys on plain old pieces of sandworms in spring and early summer as well .. They sure liked them years ago, and I was wondering if anyone has success with them in more recent years..Only thing that might be a problem is that tog 2 or 3 miles offshore might never see marine worms, and may pass them by.. I know that sand bugs were good around the jettys, but several guys told me they didn't work offshore.. Not sure I even tried them from a boat.

Blackish never see a big glob of shucked clam either, and eat those ok it seems. .. Is it worth while carrying a dozen seaworms when going early spring blackfishing? how about mussels? anyone ever give them a try? Tog eat lots of mussels, it would seem they should be a pretty good soft bait, but I have never heard of anyone using them.. Bergals would be headache with them I suppose... bob

[Jigman13]

Caught one of my biggest tog on a sandworm in early may on an East End beach. Close to 9 lbs!

[HighHook94]

Considering sand worms are like $10 per dozen, you'd be spending a lot of money for a day of fishing. I've caught blackfish on night crawlers in the back of RB, so worms do work, but I've always done best on crabs by far. But it doesn't hurt to try different things.

[torchee]

Caught many a blackfish on bloods all year long off barnegat inlet.

A box of bloodworms isa great way to make a bottomf ishing trip a bit more interesting.

I think everything likes worms....
Once saw a guy killing a few keeper fluke dragging whole sand worms....off a jetty no less...

[bulletbob]

Caught many a blackfish on bloods all year long off barnegat inlet.

A box of bloodworms isa great way to make a bottomf ishing trip a bit more interesting.

I think everything likes worms....
Once saw a guy killing a few keeper fluke dragging whole sand worms....off a jetty no less...


Years ago, when sandworms were like $2 or less a dozen, I used to drift sand worms for weaks in RB all the time.. We would catch weaks with them of course, but also were forever catching big fluke with them as well as lots of Bluefish, Sea Robins of course, and once caught a giant winter flounder near the ammo pier in the middle of summer on a weakfish rig.. I love using sandworms, but man the prices have gotten out of hand... bob

[jigmup]

shrimp@$7.95 lb

[Blackfish Doug]

Yes they do work back bay nightcrawlers do work as well but don't leave the nightcrawlers on too long they wash out & die pretty quickly in salt water. I have caught blackfish on many different baits even gulp as well. I also have caught some big Blackfish on big clam baits intended for Cod as well. I noticed somebody mentioned smaller baits yes they do work better on average & do keep your costs down. So if they are on the feed almost anything will work. When I was a young boy we did use Mussels in the spring time by the Coney Island pier & yes they loved them.In new York while targeting Flounder using mussels I caught many a blackfish on mussels early season. The further off the beach you get the less likely you are to get the Blackfish on Sea Worms,Sand bugs & mussels it's more of a bay water thing. I have seen people bring Asian crabs I noticed they don't work so well offshore either.

[torchee]

mussels are primarily what blackfish eat......
the second set of teeth in the throat is to help grind them...
the little black spots in the meat is from eating too many mussel shells and not spitting them out
the shells have black dye...
its too bad mussels are hard to keep on a hook it would be the ultimate blackfish bait

[shrimpman steve]

Shrimp:D

[bulletbob]

problem with shrimp is that today you get mostly farm raised fresh water shrimp, unles you want to pay $25 for Gulf jumbos.. Are those awful farm raised things ok?

Never used shrimp, and have not personally seen any one use them, but i know some guys here do use them.. I heard you are supposed to cook the damn things and take the shell off.. Could that be true?.. Also heard they are great if you want a lot of shorts. I have no idea myself what the truth is.. I would appreciate some thoughts from guys that have used them and had success... Just trying to find a few alternative soft baits that have a chance at working... bob

[bulletbob]

mussels are primarily what blackfish eat......
the second set of teeth in the throat is to help grind them...
the little black spots in the meat is from eating too many mussel shells and not spitting them out
the shells have black dye...
its too bad mussels are hard to keep on a hook it would be the ultimate blackfish bait


Correct.. A LOT of guys don't realize that fact it seems.. Everyone thinks tog like to attack big crabs, but many many years ago, when I would fish for blacks in unpressured areas in my own boat, all you ever saw in their guts was mussel shells, and little else, once in a while a tiny crab of some sort, but mostly mussles, barnacles, etc, small stuff.. Only time I used to find crabs in the guts was on party boats, and the pieces were big and fresh, and often just legs.. Showed me we were actually chumming them with the crab bait on our hooks,, Times have changed...

I am not a marine biologist of course, but in looking at a togs mouth and teeth, it looks more designed for nipping small stuff from rocks, and then processing it, instead of attacking a large crab from above .. Of course, we all know they are capable of dispatching and dismembering a big crab, but I wonder if that's really their preferred method of feeding.. bob

[shrimpman steve]

problem with shrimp is that today you get mostly farm raised fresh water shrimp, unles you want to pay $25 for Gulf jumbos.. Are those awful farm raised things ok?

Never used shrimp, and have not personally seen any one use them, but i know some guys here do use them.. I heard you are supposed to cook the damn things and take the shell off.. Could that be true?.. Also heard they are great if you want a lot of shorts. I have no idea myself what the truth is.. I would appreciate some thoughts from guys that have used them and had success... Just trying to find a few alternative soft baits that have a chance at working... bob

Buy them cooked. I've caught fish to nine pounds on shrimp.

[Joey Dah Fish]

buy them cooked. I've caught fish to nine pounds on shrimp.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[Man Workin]

I noticed a lot of sea urchin in last years spring tog, also you can make a mussels wrap. Its exactly what it sounds like a bunch of mussel's formed into a roll and cut pieces. It did seem like a lot of work but Chris did try it one year with many hits but no bigins.

[Delawareriver]

My biggest Blackfish came out of the Indian River inlet on an eel meant for striper. Think they are pretty optimistic in general

[bulletbob]

My biggest Blackfish came out of the Indian River inlet on an eel meant for striper. Think they are pretty optimistic in general

wow that is weird... I have seen them caught on bunker or mackerel chunks while whiting/ling fishing many years ago, but they sure aren't built to be fish eaters,, However, if its right in front of them, I guess they'll eat whatever looks/smells good to them.... bob

[Delawareriver]

wow that is weird... I have seen them caught on bunker or mackerel chunks while whiting/ling fishing many years ago, but they sure aren't built to be fish eaters,, However, if its right in front of them, I guess they'll eat whatever looks/smells good to them.... bob

Yeah we thought so as well, last thing we expected to see come up. No clue maybe blue fish bit it into chunks and the black fish got the head with the hook, idk but was a 12" plus live eel when it went down and came back up with a 10lb black fish

[Ling Slinger]

Nothing will pass up a sandworm. Problem is you'll get killed by perch