"Blackfish...A
Love/Hate Relationship"
November
3 , 2000
Blackfishing
is not something that I will say I'm an expert at. It is an art
compared to all other bottom fishing. Of course when blackfish
are biting, an orangutan could catch one. But 90 percent of the
time they are sneaky, low down robbers of bait and gear. They
will suck you down into the rocks and tie a square knot around
a rock laughing at you. I swear to God there must be a mountain
of sinkers on the wrecks. I will do everything to get an advantage
over these varmits. Spectrum, gorilla line, fire line
are all great for feeling that pick-up and setting that hook.
But most of all, getting Mr. Blackfish off of the wreck or rocky
bottom quickly. That is half the battle. Short rods are useless
in this kind of fishing...6 foot is OK, but 7 foot is better to
swing him up. Line tension is so important you cannot...I repeat...CANNOT
be leaving slack in your line or he will do his job and take your
gear. If your line is tight you can feel the bottom's structure...heck
you can feel it fall off a ledge...with regular mono, you cannot
have the sensitivity at the same height because of the stretch
in the mono. This is just this fisherman's opinion.
Plus all of these additional
facts which are not from my great wisdom, but some tips that I
picked up from some of the sharpies that I fish with:
1. Don't fish on a full moon
tide unless you are planning on using a five pound bar bell for
a weight.
2. Check the tide tables and
plan your fishing trip two days after the full moon and three
days before...anything between is good.
3. Always be ready for the
first drop. The bigger fish will hit first and become wise quickly.
The smaller, more aggressive fish will hit after.
4. Don't hesitate in swinging
hard and swift in hooking fish. Wimpy swings make for lame hook
ups. Get real! Cross his eyeballs when you hook up.
5. Move around the boat if
possible (better known as "mugging"). Blackfishing is
100% about structure and where the blackfish are positioned on
it. Don't sit like a lame duck looking at a shot gun. Move. If
someone is getting hung up that is your cue to move over there
and fish that area...that is Mr. 10 Pounder's home for sure.
6. Bait. This can be frustrating...what
are they hitting today? Green crabs, callico crabs, fiddler crabs
or cheese dip?
7. Half crabs, whole crabs
with the top cracked. Small pieces. See the guys who are catching
and observe.
8. Cast around when the bite
has slowed down. Be careful. Don't go dragging your bait all around
unless you are willing to get snagged up.
9. When you do catch a good
blackfish remember where you were and go right back to the spot.
Trust me, he has a few cousins with him.
10. Blackfish don't always
hit the same way day to day. Some days they pick so this is hard
to explain. I'll give it a shot. Those tinny raps are begauls.
Those heavy taps is your bait being robbed. Swing on those heavy
taps with feeling...James Brown style!
11. Line weight. 20 pounds
don't even go there. 40 - 60 pound Spectrum is the way to go.
Your 6 foot leader line should be 40 pound. I prefer 50 pound
leader and rigging.
12. Spinning rods are useless
here. Please leave these at home. Conventional rods are the ticket.
Medium action rods, no spaghetti rods, they are useless in hooking
and having the strength to get him off the bottom.
13. Patience is golden with
this type of fishing. Blackfish sometimes warm on a spot before
they bite. Don't give up on a spot right away.
14. If you get to your honey
hole at slack tide, the blackfish will most likely have lock jaw.
As soon as the outgoing tide starts, they'll go to lunch on your
bait.
15. Big blackfish will test
you. Loose drags will lose your prize fish everytime because he
will take you right back down to the bottom. So be smart.
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Blackfishing is not something that I will say I'm an expert at. It is an art compared to all other bottom fishing. Of course when blackfish are biting, an orangutan could catch one. But 90 percent of the time they are sneaky, low down robbers of bait and gear. They will suck you down into the rocks and tie a square knot around a rock laughing at you. I swear to God there must be a mountain of sinkers on the wrecks. I will do everything to get an advantage over these varmits. Spectrum, gorilla line, fire line are all great for feeling that pick-up and setting that hook. But most of all, getting Mr. Blackfish off of the wreck or rocky bottom quickly. That is half the battle. Short rods are useless in this kind of fishing...6 foot is OK, but 7 foot is better to swing him up. Line tension is so important you cannot...I repeat...CANNOT be leaving slack in your line or he will do his job and take your gear. If your line is tight you can feel the bottom's structure...heck you can feel it fall off a ledge...with regular mono, you cannot have the sensitivity at the same height because of the stretch in the mono. This is just this fisherman's opinion.
Plus all of these additional facts which are not from my great wisdom, but some tips that I picked up from some of the sharpies that I fish with: 1. Don't fish on a full moon tide unless you are planning on using a five pound bar bell for a weight. 2. Check the tide tables and plan your fishing trip two days after the full moon and three days before...anything between is good. 3. Always be ready for the first drop. The bigger fish will hit first and become wise quickly. The smaller, more aggressive fish will hit after. 4. Don't hesitate in swinging hard and swift in hooking fish. Wimpy swings make for lame hook ups. Get real! Cross his eyeballs when you hook up. 5. Move around the boat if possible (better known as "mugging"). Blackfishing is 100% about structure and where the blackfish are positioned on it. Don't sit like a lame duck looking at a shot gun. Move. If someone is getting hung up that is your cue to move over there and fish that area...that is Mr. 10 Pounder's home for sure. 6. Bait. This can be frustrating...what
are they hitting today? Green crabs, callico crabs, fiddler crabs
or cheese dip? 7. Half crabs, whole crabs with the top cracked. Small pieces. See the guys who are catching and observe.
8. Cast around when the bite has slowed down. Be careful. Don't go dragging your bait all around unless you are willing to get snagged up. 9. When you do catch a good blackfish remember where you were and go right back to the spot. Trust me, he has a few cousins with him. 10. Blackfish don't always hit the same way day to day. Some days they pick so this is hard to explain. I'll give it a shot. Those tinny raps are begauls. Those heavy taps is your bait being robbed. Swing on those heavy taps with feeling...James Brown style! 11. Line weight. 20 pounds don't even go there. 40 - 60 pound Spectrum is the way to go. Your 6 foot leader line should be 40 pound. I prefer 50 pound leader and rigging. 12. Spinning rods are useless here. Please leave these at home. Conventional rods are the ticket. Medium action rods, no spaghetti rods, they are useless in hooking and having the strength to get him off the bottom. 13. Patience is golden with this type of fishing. Blackfish sometimes warm on a spot before they bite. Don't give up on a spot right away. 14. If you get to your honey hole at slack tide, the blackfish will most likely have lock jaw. As soon as the outgoing tide starts, they'll go to lunch on your bait. 15. Big blackfish will test you. Loose drags will lose your prize fish everytime because he will take you right back down to the bottom. So be smart. |