Rig Fishing for Blackfish

[Gerry Zagorski]

We talked about Jigging for Blackfish a few days ago to now lets talk about Rig fishing....

My favorite rig to use is the Belmar Rig. It's effective, easy to tie and no additional hardware to loose, like swivels, 3 ways or sinker snaps when you get stuck on the bottom.

Join your braided line to your mono top shot using a Uni to Uni or Alberto knot. I prefer the Alberto knot... Easier to tie and it has a lower profile than the uni so it goes through the rod eyes easier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J56O3CZVu7M . I'm using 65 pound braid and a 40 or 50 lb mono or floro top shot. Blackfish are not line shy so no need to use light leaders.

I like to make the mono leader longer then I need, usually around 7 to 8 feet so if I break off, I can use the remaining leader to tie another rig.

- Take the last foot or so of your top shot and double it up with a double overhand knot at the top. Put your sinker on that loop.

- Make a loop in the doubled line 3 inches or so above your sinker. Thread a pre snelled hook with a pre tied loop on to that loop. Now take your sinker and the line and tie a double overhand knot around your hook loop to keep it in place.

I like using a stiff leader for the hook leader since it helps keep the hook line away from your main line and tangling back up on it. I like to pre tie hooks and leaders so when I do break off it's one less thing I have to tie. I snell the hook and a tie a surgeons loop for the loop end. Make the leader 7 to 8 inches long.


Now on to fishing.....

First rule of thumb is keep your sinker on the bottom and as still as possible... Although these fish are not line shy they are skittish and almost never hit a moving bait. For this reason you want to use a sinker that is going to keep you on the bottom and add another ounce or 2 for good measure... If you can hold bottom with 4 ounces, use 6 etc...

Next, if you are in rough seas and the boat is bouncing around, you need to raise and lower your rod tip with the heave to try and keep your sinker from moving around.

Now that you have that down, on to the next tip.... You don't want to be fishing a tight line and swinging at every little tick.... You're not waiting for a bite, you're waiting for the right bite... Best way to describe the feel is a thump, not a tick... If you are fishing tight to your sinker, you're going to feel every little tick... If you have a wee bit of slack in your line not only will it keep your sinker from moving around, you'll feel the thump, and that's what you want to set your hook on, not the ticks...

Hope this helps some of you new to Blackfishing and feel free to pile on here.

A little eye candy for yah... Brother Joe's personal best at 21 pounds and change caught on the Fish Monger here in NJ. I photo shopped in the jig just to mess with him and Captain Jerry. The fish was actually caught on a Belmar rig