Went out today. Water still very cold due to run off from the snows. Water temps in the high 30's/low 40's. Zero Cod or Ling caught today anywhere. Very spotty Blackfishing as well. I won't be going out again until the water temps top 50F for several consecutive weeks. Electric reel worked great. No problem at all in depths up to 50m. Watched as my fellow fishermen were crankin up 10oz sinkers repeatedly every 3-5 mins due to hungry bergals. They watched me press a button. I will be using this reel although with a lighter rod as the one I used today was for Cod/tilefish and was too heavy for what was biting today. Dogfish, Conger Eels and the like will no longer pose a problem. Depth will determine when I use the reel. Electrics in shallow inshore waters (<30m) are overkill. The fishing was so slow that Capt. decided to go for Mackeral. At one point I had 3 on and the Tanacom didn't break a sweat bringing them up from 60ft. (20m) Hopefully my cats like Macks as I have no use for them whatsoever. I will vacuum and freeze several for the Jumbo Porgy run this fall. The rest either to the cats or my mulch beds. I've been told that they are good smoked. Fish On!
Update: I decided to use some of the Mackeral for Cod bait next month. Cleaned, cut and froze them for use on a offshore trip I'm planning.
You're more hardcore than me! but yeah, macks go on the the smoker (with a good overnight brine first)..... but down here, the grouper and big snaps love those boston mackerel!
Seems that every fish loves Mackeral. I should have loaded up on them as I've seen them work on everything from Cod to Jumbo Porgies to SeaBass to Blues and Stripers. Cut Mackeral is damned near the universal bait.
Tried to watch it..I'd rather watch YouTube vids of folks catching Cod and deep dropping for Grouper and Tilefish.
Yep for grouper and big snaps, we just cut a big boston mack in half and send it down.... theyre so oily, they make their own chum slick
On my last Jumbo Porgy run, the guy next to me cut up some macks and next thing yanno, he's hauling up jumbos every drop. I'll have a few in the cooler come Spring cut and ready.
Classic Hi-Lo rig! Damn thing should be in the Saltwater Fishing HOF... I have about 30 pre-tied. 4ft long with dual loops (florocarbon/40lb test). 1st loop 8in above the sinker, 2nd loop 24in above the first. I always tie a "break knot" (overhand knot) roughly 1/2" above the sinker knot. That way, when the rig gets caught in the structure or rocks, it breaks at the knot and I can just tie another sinker knot. Makes for a quick repair and gets me back in the game inside of 5mins. Time is crucial on a party boat. So is being prepared for just about anything.
Water temps here rising. 42F offshore in the Hudson Canyon. Cod starting to wake up off New Jersey while Blackfishing is just about over. Won't be long now.. Sidebar: Key West has officially been added to my bucket list along with another FL trip. If not Key West, I'll be headed either back to Ft. Lauderdale or St. Agustine! Yay!!
Springtime would be best up here..... inshore and offshore.... and for the weather too.... and before the summer tourist crowds kick in April
not sure I need this, but the price is tempting https://www.tackledirect.com/daiwa-...0H+Saltist+-+Black+Gold&utm_campaign=PR_SW222
but if you dont have one of these: https://www.tackledirect.com/c-h-tournament-fish-bag-medium-white.html
Stinky that is an itty bitty bag to be putting all the fish that you and Cman are gonna catch,,,u guys need like a 55 gallon hefty bag
it's 2' x 65" long.... I have one and have put some decent sized fish in there but yeah, my buddy has the much bigger one for when we're bottom fishing on his boat. We cant lift it when it's full
Water still in the low 40's. Cod finally starting to show up but not very active. Hi hooks in the single digits and the boats are in 100-150' offshore. Looking like April for the second trip of the years. I will probably go on a offshore boat Big Jamaica out of Brielle, NJ. Knocking another item off the old bucket list! Tight Lines!
@stinkyB , making my annual trip to jville, was thinking of hitting up one of the party boats for a day offshore. any advice?
Not too sure..... I think Mayport Princess is still the headboat of choice up there. My buddy who I fish with in JAX is out of town for awhile I will say dont waste your time on a halfday. Full day, or just do an inshore charter.
Stinky is right. Factor in the travel time to and from the fishing grounds and you're actually fishing only 2-3hrs max. Might as well go full day.
