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My blackfish season has finally come to an end on the Northfork. It was a spectacular season, having limited out on six of seven trips and only losing one trip to the weather. Our next to last trip was a bust due to full moon tides and the fish having lockjaw for the entire Northfork fleet.
Our last trip of the year on Monday, November 29th was a great way to end the season. We fished on the Nancy Ann with a group of my closest fishing buddies and the fishing god blessed the trip. ScreamingReel Dave, you should have been there since Saint Peter was on the boat. We left Orient Point at 7 AM with light southwest winds and an overcast sky. The temperature was in the mid thirties and there was a definite winter chill in the air. As we headed into the Sound bound for one of the captain's and my favorite wrecks, we hoped that we would be able to at least get the morning in before the weather conditions started to deteriorate when the tide changed about 11 AM. Guess what, that's what happened. We had perfect conditions for about three hours. But, when the tide turned, the wind came up and it was impossible to stay on the wreck. You were floating 20-ounce sinkers in the running tide.
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From about 8 AM to 11 AM we had an incredible bite with the fish literally trying to pull the rod right out of your hands. At the beginning, the tide was very strong requiring 20 ounces of lead. Those fishing mono had a difficult time feeling the bites. However, those fishing Spiderwire or Fireline were really doing a number on the fish. Cut green crab or green crab fished whole worked equally as well. The fish didn't care. They really had the feedbag on. However, it seemed that if you fished with cut bait you received more bites but smaller fish. Whole crab fished with a cracked shell was producing larger fish. Lorry Mangan proved that by consistently bringing up larger fish all morning and then taking the pool with an eight pound fish.
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When the tied finally slowed down around 10 AM, we were fishing straight up and down. You had to drop your bait, slow it down just before it hit bottom and not let the reel over run. If you had to take slack out of the line you missed the bite because it happened instantly as the bait touched down on the bottom. The fish were really thumping on the bait. It was the classic blackfish bite, first a slight tap and then the distinctive tug signaling you to drive home the hook and reel like crazy to move the fish off the wreck. If you werenÕt fast enough either you lost your bait or the fish took you into the wreck and it was bye, bye fish. Big Bob had a bulldog drag him into the wreck. But Bob was lucky, gave him plenty of slack and eventually the fish swam out of the wreck. Bob was then able to wrestle him to the surface and a nice 7.5 pound bulldog lay flopping in the net.
As fast as the tide slowed down it picked up again and by 11 AM it was raging. We couldn't stay on the wreck and with a freshening wind against the tide the waves quickly built to 3-4 feet and it was time to go home. We had all limited out and the mate had lots of fish to clean.
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I still have two more trips scheduled for December, one in Montauk and a trip to Seventeen Fathoms. Even if these last two trips get weathered out or the fishing is poor, it still was a great season. It was the first season in several years when there was consistency to the fishing. There were a good number of large fish as well as many, many shorts. The regulations on blackfish appear to have had a positive impact on the fishery and should be continued to protect the resource.
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Thanks to Captains Rich and Robby, and mates Ricky and Peter for a great season. We all have lots of memories of great trips this year to get us through the long winter. |
