Blackfish Addiction

[Gerry Zagorski]

Why is it grown men leave the comfort of their homes, get out of bed at 0' dark thirty and brave the winter cold and winds to fish for Blackfish? Seems to me that Blackfishermen are a special bunch and they loose their minds once the cold sets in, myself included.

These are some of the same people that won't fish in the summer if it's a little too cold, windy or raining... But there they are dressed up like Eskimos, shivering at the rail in howling winds, driving rain and snow and they're grinning from ear to ear.

For me, I guess it's a few things:
- The challenge these fish are to catch compared to all others
- The camaraderie of fishing a select group of people who are as nuts as I am
- An excuse to get out of the house and fish into the winter

What is it that makes you so addicted to Blackfishing?

For those of you new to Blackfishing, check out this article for some tips http://www.njfishing.com/NJ_Blackfish_Fishing.php

[hartattack]

PULLAGE. Nuthin' in our in-shore waters can pull like a Tog. Gettin' 'em out of the rocks and keeping them out is gratifying

My son Brian (Tog Newbie) joined us a few weeks ago for some North Jersey toggin' and couldn't believe how hard a 15" fish pulls. Today he is in Montauk with some other Generation-X'ers going for that DD. When they arrived at my place last night to grab some tackle it looked like they were going on a Ski Trip. Every one of his buds were stoked about nailing their personal bests. Hopefully they get to feed the addiction today so that they will join us on the Osprey in 3 weeks. . . .

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by hartattack

PULLAGE. Nuthin' in our in-shore waters can pull like a Tog. Gettin' 'em out of the rocks and keeping them out is gratifying

My son Brian (Tog Newbie) joined us a few weeks ago for some North Jersey toggin' and couldn't believe how hard a 15" fish pulls. Today he is in Montauk with some other Generation-X'ers going for that DD. When they arrived at my place last night to grab some tackle it looked like they were going on a Ski Trip. Every one of his buds were stoked about nailing their personal bests. Hopefully they get to feed the addiction today so that they will join us on the Osprey in 3 weeks. . . .

Very true about how hard they pull Larry, the Smallmouth of the ocean.

Are you joining us on the Osprey on 12/30? If so I didn't see your RSVP, did I miss it?

[260SEAVEE]

Sssshhhhhh don’t let anyone else know keep it to ourselves

[dales529]

Plain ole stupidity! You forgot to mention the $5000.00 in tackle. Roaster Rod / Pig Rod/ maybe both Rod/ LH Reel / RH Reel/ Sidewinder Reel/ Fly rod for
Fast Eddie / Snafu Rigs/ Slider rigs/ Rigs for "scratchy bite" / Plain old rigs? Rusty Rigs. Oh and 500 lbs of assorted lead.
Rods and reels for "scratchy bite"
And thats for beginners

Also I will keep going until I prove there is NO such thing as a "scratchy bite"
All that means is your Jig or weight is hitting rocks with on a dead no fish zone

Gotta love it and see you on the Osprey

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by dales529

Plain ole stupidity! You forgot to mention the $5000.00 in tackle. Roaster Rod / Pig Rod/ maybe both Rod/ LH Reel / RH Reel/ Sidewinder Reel/ Fly rod for
Fast Eddie / Snafu Rigs/ Slider rigs/ Rigs for "scratchy bite" / Plain old rigs? Rusty Rigs. Oh and 500 lbs of assorted lead.
Rods and reels for "scratchy bite"
And thats for beginners

Also I will keep going until I prove there is NO such thing as a "scratchy bite"
All that means is your Jig or weight is hitting rocks with on a dead no fish zone

Gotta love it and see you on the Osprey

Yeah, now that you mention it, Tog are the only fish I have 3 different rods and a separate tackle bucket for. It is an expensive habit...Floro, extra $trong $harp hook$, jig$ and weight$ of all $izes...

And, not to mention the bait...
- Who's got crabs, any White Leggers??
- They're too big, they're too small, "They're dead Jim"
- So and so is cherry picking crabs, so and so is using my crabs not the boat crabs, these are my crabs.
- The top secret crab guy who name is never mentioned ...You need crabs and so and so says "I got a crab guy and Ill check" but never tells you his name. Come to find out, his crab guy is your crab guy.
- Legs on or Legs off. Shell on or shell off?

You'd think were on a top secret mission to mars or something....

All that attention to detail and some rookie hangs the biggest fish of the day on a rental rod he left sitting in the pole holder while he went to piss

You can't make this stuff up

[reason162]

Originally Posted by hartattack

PULLAGE. Nuthin' in our in-shore waters can pull like a Tog. Gettin' 'em out of the rocks and keeping them out is gratifying

Those few seconds right after a hard hookset, keeping max pressure trying not to lose an inch of ground...nothing like it! By far our most unique fishery...

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Why is it grown men leave the comfort of their homes, get out of bed at 0' dark thirty and brave the winter cold and winds to fish for Blackfish? Seems to me that Blackfishermen are a special bunch and they loose their minds once the cold sets in, myself included.

These are some of the same people that won't fish in the summer if it's a little too cold, windy or raining... But there they are dressed up like Eskimos, shivering at the rail in howling winds, driving rain and snow and they're grinning from ear to ear.

For me, I guess it's a few things:
- The challenge these fish are to catch compared to all others
- The camaraderie of fishing a select group of people who are as nuts as I am
- An excuse to get out of the house and fish into the winter

What is it that makes you so addicted to Blackfishing?

Interesting question. Black fishing might be the one fishery you can stand right next to someone slamming them and you can't buy a hit. Usually I'm the later. It literally drives people crazy. Many times he's on structure and you're not, but just as many times it one of the other 100 variables others have mentioned. The challenge trying to figure the bite out (which seems to change every day) is what gets most people addicted to the fishery and Xanax! There's guys who have figured it out and dare say mastered it, and then there's everyone else who wants that designation. It's probably the most humbling fishery you'll ever experience and attempt figuring out. I think what mostly gets people addicted is their determination trying to convince themselves they ultimately will even though most of us know we won't. All in addition to the fact they're a great fighting fish and great table fare.