2013 Blackfish results

[MVP]

Kept a fishing log for the first time this year for tog from 11/17 until the end of the year 2013. Have fished more in 6 weeks than all of 2013 combined. The thrill of the right blackfish bite keeps you coming back for more punishment and rewards

Been a challenging year but very rewarding. When you think about it the principle and gear used in blackfishing is very simple as you can carry everything you need in a small bucket. It is all the small details that make the difference between catching and not catching especially during slow bite.

Fishing with such good fisherman there is always the opportunity to learn something that will help you improve your craft. I learned allot this year that I think has made me a better blackfisherman. I have been able to figure things out and still put fish in the box when others are struggling. Have really had to work hard to put catch together on tough days. I guess it is this challenge that keeps us coming back. Most people think we are crazy when we tell them we are leaving our warm bed and houses to go blackfishing in the middle of the winter. Enclosed is list of trips with totals.

11/17 Tagged Fish - 7 keepers. Fun trip with fellow njfishing members but slow bite
.

11/23 Mary M - 4 keepers Slow Bite

11/26 Legacy - 10 Keepers Very good bite
out of SI, NY

11/29 Legacy - 6 keepers Good bite

12/1 Mary M - 6 keepers Slow bite

12/2 Friends boat - 13 keepers Very good bite
out of AH

12/4 Friends boat - 11 keepers Slow bite for other three guys I was just in the zone with slow steady pick of quality 5-7 lb fish out of AH

12/5 Fish Tank - 1 keeper. Decent fishing as 5 out of the six guys had between 4-6 fish I just sucked. Capt Tommy fished for about 45 min through out the trip and had his limit using light fluke d rod with 20 lb test mono. Humbling to say the least

12/8 PUOSU on OE - 2 Keepers - Slow bite

12/19 Mimi - 5 keepers - Slow bite

12/26 Friends Boat out of AH = 7 Keepers. My buddy was fishing two rods. Dead stick momo rod outfished us both using braid. Very interesting lesson learned

12/27 Mary M - 5 keepers. Super slow. Only 14 keepers for 7 of us.

Total 12 trips
Average: 6.41 fish per trip

With current regs they have us brainwashed to feel that we have had a good day if we limit out. (NOT)

Curious what others thoughts are on your blackfishing results for 2013.
On all trips only kept are legal boat limit. As fishing slows in NJ I will be heading further south in search of 20 pounder.

[MVP]

Kept a fishing log for the first time this year for tog from 11/17 until the end of the year 2013. Have fished more in 6 weeks than all of 2013 combined. The thrill of the right blackfish bite keeps you coming back for more punishment and rewards

Been a challenging year but very rewarding. When you think about it the principle and gear used in blackfishing is very simple as you can carry everything you need in a small bucket. It is all the small details that make the difference between catching and not catching especially during slow bite.

Fishing with such good fisherman there is always the opportunity to learn something that will help you improve your craft. I learned allot this year that I think has made me a better blackfisherman. I have been able to figure things out and still put fish in the box when others are struggling. Have really had to work hard to put catch together on tough days. I guess it is this challenge that keeps us coming back. Most people think we are crazy when we tell them we are leaving our warm bed and houses to go blackfishing in the middle of the winter. Enclosed is list of trips with totals.

11/17 Tagged Fish - 7 keepers. Fun trip with fellow njfishing members but slow bite
.

11/23 Mary M - 4 keepers Slow Bite

11/26 Legacy - 10 Keepers Very good bite
out of SI, NY

11/29 Legacy - 6 keepers Good bite

12/1 Mary M - 6 keepers Slow bite

12/2 Friends boat - 13 keepers Very good bite
out of AH

12/4 Friends boat - 11 keepers Slow bite for other three guys I was just in the zone with slow steady pick of quality 5-7 lb fish out of AH

12/5 Fish Tank - 1 keeper. Decent fishing as 5 out of the six guys had between 4-6 fish I just sucked. Capt Tommy fished for about 45 min through out the trip and had his limit using light fluke d rod with 20 lb test mono. Humbling to say the least

12/8 PUOSU on OE - 2 Keepers - Slow bite

12/19 Mimi - 5 keepers - Slow bite

12/26 Friends Boat out of AH = 7 Keepers. My buddy was fishing two rods. Dead stick momo rod outfished us both using braid. Very interesting lesson learned

12/27 Mary M - 5 keepers. Super slow. Only 14 keepers for 7 of us.

Total 12 trips
Average: 6.41 fish per trip

With current regs they have us brainwashed to feel that we have had a good day if we limit out. (NOT)

Curious what others thoughts are on your blackfishing results for 2013.
On all trips only kept are legal boat limit. As fishing slows in NJ I will be heading further south in search of 20 pounder.

[Scotty]

Been out about the same amount, but with less fish. Here we go:

11/18 - BMH - 7 keepers to 4# on whites
11/22 - Ductworks - 5 keepers (many shorts) - had largest and most
11/30 - Private boat - 0 keeps (terrible anchoring conditions)
12/4 - BMH - 2 keepers
12/5 PUOSU (OE Belmar) - 0, lost a monster (Bait sucked)
12/13 - BMH 4 kepers + pool
12/20 - BMH - 5 keepers
12/24 - MBH - 4 keepers
12/27 - Mary M - 1 cod and 1 keeper tog
12/28 - Private boat - 0 keepers (Bait sucked)
1/1 - Ductworks =- 3 keepers (1 large)
1/5 - ?

On days I caught none or few, others did catch fish. Seems to be a little better than most years for me, as I've been eating a steady diet of tog since before Turkey day LOL

[jmurr711]

opening day monger- 3keeps 10+ shorts
12/8 puosu-3 keeps 10+ shorts
12/19 Monger- 10keeps including 10lb 15+shorts
been blown out 3times
have this sunday puosu,next sunday the 12th with Hank & am hoping to hit Va in february & oc,md if anyone invites me
have noticed this year small crabs been key except 1 drop on 12/19 when they ate soups for 6minutes

[shrimpman steve]

11 trips
They all sucked
Nuff said

[Foul Hook]

Good thread Alex. I've been out numerous times(you guys keep better records than me) and cant say I've had a great bite any day . One time I had 5 on private boat(last Sat, I got lucky )one time I had 4 Black Fri (O.E.), other wise it was 1 to 3 keepers. I've fished maybe 10 days this season to the tune of about $100 each day. I agree with the thought that the a**holes who set the limit have not one clue what is going on. I'll be keeping what I feel is sufficient from here on out, all species .Let em catch me, it's the way they want it.

[Reelron]

Just looking at some notes I made while going thru my log book. Noticed pretty much the same. If I count the Spring Tog trips, I have fished the same amount of Tog and Fluke trips. 15 Caught 10 more Tog than Fluke. My notes aren't that detailed, so I don't have it broken down to what boat on what date right now, just dates. And I don't feel like going back thru the log book.


11/16-2
11/17-2
11/19-5
11/20-8
11/23-6
11/29-5
12/1-7
12/7-6
12/8-1 ?
12/19-5
12/26-3

Probably would have been 1 or 2more tog trips but I spent a week in Costa Rica, in Feb. Not gonna happen this year. Even better I noticed a sharp increase in Ling trips! That I plan to continue!

[torchee]

Got out about 8 trips.

The current regulations really affected my season. I averaged 4-5 keepers most trips but almost always returned numerous fish that were 1/4" short.

Definitely better tog than fluke this year.

[NoWorries]

Only 6 trips this fall toggin on boats in NJ. Lost a few to weather. Trips were 1,3,5,1,0,6. My worst year ever in many years of tog fishing. Been doing this a long time. Conditions were bad on most trips and bites were hard to get. South winds, wind against tide, stormy, you name it. There were others on those trips that scored better so ......... No good trips in my book. Lots of crap weather but my log for last year showed 14 trips thru Feb with better weather and much better results even with Sandy in the mix.

[Tunarun]

That's a nice thread you started. Hopefully no one will highjack it and start saying, see, if you fish with that guy etc you catch and with that other guy you don't. I believe a Capt brings one to a spot with the hope that u and I catch, he doesn't have a Crystal ball to guarantee it. I'm rambling on, sorry, it must be the coffee or the cold. lol As for 2013 for myself, I would give it ***out of ***** since I do most of my winter tog fishing in De and Md where there is a lot less pressure which helps Tremendously with ones ability to catch the Elusive Tog and Big Tog. I probably had limits on all my trips except for maybe two but nothing larger than 11lbs. I also fished recently on the OE, I think it was 12/3 and had 9 keepers, 2 Jumbos one shy of 10 lbs and the other shy of 12 lbs, then on the MaryM 12/27, just 2 but I had my chance to catch a few more but couldn't keep them on the hook, a Very Picky bite. Dennis