Fishing Blackfish
Sunday, July 4th, 2010It is important to keep in mind that any information that you receive from this article represents only one method and opinion. While these methods and opinions are based on traditional methods, they are still proven to produce fish. If you are interested in pursuing blackfish, there is little doubt that you will soon develop your own method and your own decisions on rigs.
If you’re fishing from a boat, there’s a pretty good chance you are using a conventional rod and reel which has stiff action. You likely picked this gear for its flexibility since it allows you to present baits with heavy lead (upwards of 6 oz) and still give you control of stopping. Keep in mind that since blackfish love the rocks, you will likely need all the stopping power you can muster. You will be best outfitting your reel with monofilament or braided line in the 30 – 50lb grade. This will provide you with a great rig that won’t break much since you’ll be using a leader for landing blackfish.
For many, they prefer the three-way rig. This involves a three-way swivel using at least 50 pound test. Take a 2 foot length of floral carbon leader material in 50 pound weight, and tie on a 2/0 octopus hook. Using a snap or dropper loop in the second eye will connect your sinker to your rig. The final eye of your swivel will be to attach your main line
When deciding on bait, if you understand the feeding habits of blackfish, you’ll most likely select crabs. These tend to be more durable than soft baits such as clams and sandworms and will hold up better under attacks from porgies. You should also be aware that a usual fishing trip with one angler will require about two dozen crabs. Don’t forget to bring along a serrated knife, typically found in all homes.
You can prepare the crabs for fishing depending on size. The larger the crab, the more preparation that will be needed. For larger crabs, start the splitting process from the top, between the eyes. Using a heavy motion simply cut the crab in half and remove the legs from one side. Use a 2/0 octopus hook through the leg socket and the shell to secure the crab. You’ll notice the scent it emits and this is what will attract the blackfish. For smaller crabs (those silver dollar sized) you can use them whole by merely removing the legs and hooking them as described above. Crack the shell with a lead sinker to release the scent.
Rock piles in shallow water are a good place to start looking for blackfish. You should start off in twenty feet or less of water, and that should help you with anchoring over rock piles as well. Depth finders may aid your success. Once you have determined the direction of the tide, you’ll be able to locate the best place up current for fishing. Once you identify the right location, use your depth finder to determine just how far your anchor needs to be dropped. Tie your anchor off as soon as you see rocks. This allows you to start fishing on one side and if needed you can move easily to the next spot.
You should not need a weight of more than three ounces to get your bait into proper position and to engage your reel. Make sure that your line is tight but mimicking balancing your sinker. This will help you maintain the right tension on your line and also prevent losing your sinkers in the rocks. As the fish begin to capture the scent of the bait, they will begin moving towards it. You are likely to run into some popular thieves like porgies and cunner – so make sure that you know the difference between the types of bites that these fish will display. Blackfish strike in a two step like ka-thunk whereas the popular bait thieves tend to be quicker and respective. It’s more like ‘tap-tap-tap’.
It will be important as you feel your strike that you are prepared to set your hook. Remember, the fish has one goal – to get away – it’s your job to keep him from doing that. Pull back with your rod lessening the drag. You will get a workout with this fish, as he will try very hard to pull the line back towards the rocks where he feels safe. Once you are clear of the rocky outlays, it shouldn’t be too difficult to wear the fish down before snagging him with a net. If local regulations do not restrict you to catch and release, these fish make great eating.
These tips will help you get started and may even cause you a bit of trouble. You’ll soon find that you are looking forward to your next black-fishing expedition, because they are fun to wrestle and your fishing trips are likely to be very productive. It’s even better if you can bring them home as they make for great eating also.
When you are out saltwater fishing it is important to make sure you have the right supplies. Some of the most popular brands include Shimano Fishing Reels, Penn Saltwater Reels, and Daiwa Saltwater Reels.