Only one drop Georgie - one-stop shopping makes a trip like this even more special. Like my old friend Capt. Rick Smith told me numerous times years ago, you just gotta have faith in your drops. I normally can no longer remember what I had for breakfast, but for some reason, fishing-related conversations from 20 years ago remain laser-sharp in my mind - especially when they include those that I respect. Priorities, I guess.
Anyway, enjoy this Winter in Florida, you deserve it!
🙂
Forum/Inshore Tackle & Techniques/Post up up your 2019/2020/2021/2022 Blackfishing Pix/Reports/Adventures/Musings
Post up up your 2019/2020/2021/2022 Blackfishing Pix/Reports/Adventures/Musings
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
CaptainOriginal Crew2,216 postsSince 2018
Nice job Lep. It sure was a nice day on the water yesterday.
Commodore5,031 postsSince 2020
I hear it was pretty nice out east too!! 🤣 😎👍
Commodore5,031 postsSince 2020
I hear it was pretty nice out east too!! 🤣 😎👍
Hmmm, I wonder who's spreading this scuttlebutt?
Here's a possible lead for your consideration.
And I'm almost positive it ain't the guy on the right 😎:
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
CaptainOriginal Crew2,216 postsSince 2018
Hmmm, I wonder who's spreading this scuttlebutt?
Here's a possible lead for your consideration.
And I'm almost positive it ain't the guy on the right 😎:
View attachment 69919
At least I'm enjoyin' the ride.....
CommodoreOriginal Crew7,065 postsSince 2018
Yep, definitely NOT him. He wouldn’t know the East End grounds from a hole in the wall, as he’s from far to the West. And I mean FAR!
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
CaptainOriginal Crew2,216 postsSince 2018
Yesterday’s charter for 3 NY Angler members was one for the record books. Anthony brought together Matt and Mitch while I added Chef Nader to fill out the 4-man crew who were blessed with not only fantastic weather but a very special day of Blackfshing.
With the nearly flat seas I headed straight to my favorite jig spot off Fishers Island for the start of the ebb tide. After assessing what direction, the boat would lay in the slight breeze and tide I dropped the anchor and perfectly positioned us right on my chosen numbers. From there we spent the entire ebb tide on this one spot enjoying a steady Tog bite for the next 6 hours!
Anthony got us started with a nice 17” keeper on his spinning rod and the Chef quickly answered with one of his own. As is common for many years now we did a great deal of sorting through the short fish but every so often a nice keeper in the 17-19” range would attack the crew’s baits. The most excitement of the day, and perhaps for a long while to come, happened about 30 minutes into the trip when the Chef, using one of his super light conventional set ups ties into what was clearly an outsized Tog. The fish put up an epic battle with many long drag stripping runs but ultimately the Chef’s skill won out. I could hardly believe my eyes when I went to slip the net under a Tog with a head so massive, I was praying my net would not fail. Fortunately, everything went according to plan and soon a huge 13.5# Tog was flopping on the deck! A special fish to be sure as it was Nader’s personal best, the largest Tog ever caught by one of my charter customers, and the second largest Tog to ever hit the deck of my boat! I did my best with the camera but none of the photos really do this enormous fish justice.
Once everyone’s excitement level calmed down a bit the crew went back to work and steadily built up the catch in the box with nice healthy keepers to 4# mixed in with many shorts just to keep things interesting. And, as is typical for these trips each crew member broke off other large Tog that were just too powerful to stop! By the time I had cleaned about half of the catch the guys had reached a full boat limit for the 4-man crew, plus my share, and even through back 2 or 3 more keepers. A truly epic day I believe we will all remember for a time. A hearty congratulations to Chef Nader for landing the Tog of a lifetime!
Capt. Mike
With the nearly flat seas I headed straight to my favorite jig spot off Fishers Island for the start of the ebb tide. After assessing what direction, the boat would lay in the slight breeze and tide I dropped the anchor and perfectly positioned us right on my chosen numbers. From there we spent the entire ebb tide on this one spot enjoying a steady Tog bite for the next 6 hours!
Anthony got us started with a nice 17” keeper on his spinning rod and the Chef quickly answered with one of his own. As is common for many years now we did a great deal of sorting through the short fish but every so often a nice keeper in the 17-19” range would attack the crew’s baits. The most excitement of the day, and perhaps for a long while to come, happened about 30 minutes into the trip when the Chef, using one of his super light conventional set ups ties into what was clearly an outsized Tog. The fish put up an epic battle with many long drag stripping runs but ultimately the Chef’s skill won out. I could hardly believe my eyes when I went to slip the net under a Tog with a head so massive, I was praying my net would not fail. Fortunately, everything went according to plan and soon a huge 13.5# Tog was flopping on the deck! A special fish to be sure as it was Nader’s personal best, the largest Tog ever caught by one of my charter customers, and the second largest Tog to ever hit the deck of my boat! I did my best with the camera but none of the photos really do this enormous fish justice.
Once everyone’s excitement level calmed down a bit the crew went back to work and steadily built up the catch in the box with nice healthy keepers to 4# mixed in with many shorts just to keep things interesting. And, as is typical for these trips each crew member broke off other large Tog that were just too powerful to stop! By the time I had cleaned about half of the catch the guys had reached a full boat limit for the 4-man crew, plus my share, and even through back 2 or 3 more keepers. A truly epic day I believe we will all remember for a time. A hearty congratulations to Chef Nader for landing the Tog of a lifetime!
Capt. Mike
CaptainOriginal Crew1,853 postsSince 2018
Thanks again for another amazing trip!! It was nice to finally meet Anthony and Mitch. Good luck on tomorrow's trip!! 😉
Commodore5,031 postsSince 2020
Great job Capt. Mike!
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction.
If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
CaptainOriginal Crew2,216 postsSince 2018
Thanks again for another amazing trip!! It was nice to finally meet Anthony and Mitch. Good luck on tomorrow's trip!! 😉
At least I'm enjoyin' the ride.....
CommodoreOriginal Crew7,065 postsSince 2018
And therin lies the beauty of blackfishing. Catching shorts and small keepers and along comes a dinosaur! After that first run your holding your breath wondering if that leader is frayed or your drag is too light.
The glory of tog fishing!
Congratulations on a great fish, great trip on a great weather day!
Doesn't get any better!!!!
The glory of tog fishing!
Congratulations on a great fish, great trip on a great weather day!
Doesn't get any better!!!!
"Chance only favors the prepared mind" - Pasteur
Captain4,161 postsSince 2021
And therin lies the beauty of blackfishing. Catching shorts and small keepers and along comes a dinosaur! After that first run your holding your breath wondering if that leader is frayed or your drag is too light.
The glory of tog fishing!
Congratulations on a great fish, great trip on a great weather day!
Doesn't get any better!!!!
CaptainOriginal Crew1,853 postsSince 2018
According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the large blackfish, or Tautog, measured 36 inches long and weighed 25.78 pounds. The fish was caught by Aiden Cole while he was fishing with Captain Luke Wiggins aboard the Melissa Ann, allegedly in the Thames River.
First MateOriginal Crew693 postsSince 2019
New State Catch and Release Record Blackfish: CT angler Aiden Cole reeled in the fish of a lifetime this morning. Catching and releasing a 36 inch 25.78-pound Tautog, aka "Taugzilla" amongst marine anglers. He caught this beautiful fish on board the Melissa Ann while fishing with Captain Luke Wiggins in the Thames River using a green crab for bait. Thanks to Karen Westerberg, the fish was measured and weighed at A&W Marina/Tackleshop. This gigantic Tautog was immediately released. It was an exciting time for all parties involved including all the onlookers.
First MateOriginal Crew693 postsSince 2019
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Post up up your 2019/2020/2021/2022 Blackfishing Pix/Reports/Adventures/Musings