blackfish question - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

bassnbucks · #1 01-17-2013, 08:56 PM

Do blackfish migrate deeper or become dormant as the water cools ?If they migrate , how deep do they go ? Its been a great season, but the last 2 trips have been terrible.

TDaly25 · #2 01-17-2013, 09:03 PM

I've been told that barring a big snow or significant freeze the tog will continue to bite till the close of the season at end February.

shrimpman steve · #3 01-17-2013, 09:35 PM

As the water cools they will move further offshore. If it gets too cold they stop biting. Low 40's is my guess.

tautog · #4 01-17-2013, 09:55 PM

A lot of them do not move out and go dormant inshore. Some go further off and keep feeding until around 40 degrees.

PaBeerGuy · #5 01-17-2013, 10:12 PM

Yep, the bigger kids move offshore and feed because they have to maintain that girth, just like SMS. lol

Cuz · #6 01-17-2013, 11:34 PM

I use to fish with one of the best, Capt. Gary Fagan. He once told me 39 degrees is the death number to end the bite. He should know. He had thousands of trips in his lifetime.

Fishfish · #7 01-17-2013, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassnbucks

Do blackfish migrate deeper or become dormant as the water cools ?If they migrate , how deep do they go ? Its been a great season, but the last 2 trips have been terrible.

Good question and I agree they move offshore as the water cools, but I believe it hasn't cooled much if any.Still fishing in 60 to 70 ft. I know many are busy offshore sea bassin, but there have been very few reports lately of tog. I have not been a week and a half now and curious when you made your last two bad trips and where. I have doing real well out of Manasquan. I dont think they are offshore since the Mudhole boats report no tog.

SaltLife1980 · #8 01-18-2013, 12:04 AM

Below 40 degrees they turn off big time.. Move out deeper as the water gets colder

bassnbucks · #9 01-18-2013, 11:22 AM

Fishfish I fished last friday and yesterday.We caught 3 keepers in those 2 trips.The trip before these my best 4 fish totalled 37lbs.We had been catching them very good.Water was still 45 degrees.

italianfisherman · #10 01-18-2013, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tautog

A lot of them do not move out and go dormant inshore. Some go further off and keep feeding until around 40 degrees.

AGREE.. i have fished them inshore in the dead of winter, water temps around 42-45* in 45ft-50 of water..