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Written by BFTC
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Wednesday, 12 January 2011 05:05 |
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BFTC FORUM ARCHIVE: Tips on blackfishing
Posted 11-30-2009, 03:24 PM
On Sunday November 22, on went on my first blackfish trip to Rhode Island. I was able to hook two fish but only one keeper. Was not sure when I should set the hook. Any suggestions as to when to reel them in. I know they tend to bite then come around for another bite. I'm not sure when to set the hook. Would appreciate any suggestions from you experienced black fish fisherman on how to have better luck next time I go for blackfish.
Comment 1:
I hope that you enjoyed your first blackfish trip. It takes time to develop the feel of when to set the hook on blackfish. Generally, i will set the hook when i feel a solid TUG and wait out the TAP..TAP...TAP (my humble opinion). but it varies day by day. Follow the general guideline and develop your own feeling and confidence on when to set the hook.
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Comment 2:
I think that your question is simple. but the answer is not. As bftc pointed out it is a good idea to ignore the little taps and wait for a tug. This is much easier said than done. The type of bite will influence when and if you set the hook as well. I have seen some of the best Tog fishermen do a slow lift and not a swing to set the hook. If the bite is "picky" then patience is the key. If the bit is agressive then it will be much easier to hook fish. The best advice is to keep going on boats and then you will eventualy figure out the nuances of this very challengeing type of fishing. good luck!
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Comment 3:
"> I filmed this clip at my university. This pet blackfish could teach us a thing or two about being a better blackfish fisherman. Notice: 0:20 When the crab has claws, the tautog goes for the claw first and neutralizes it. 0:25 Then, the tautog pulls off the legs. 0:33 and 0:53 The tautog crushes the crab bits with its rear throat (pharyngeal) teeth. 0:59, 1:05, 1:40, and 1:44 ????? 2:03 When given the choice, the tautog prefers active prey despite having already working on the bigger, dismembered crab. Detecting a tautog bite is probably the trickiest form of fishing around. I still have lots of trouble known when to set the hook. In the past, I set the hook hard, but now I find myself slow lifting once I feel weight on the other end. Either way, I'm still confused about it all.
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Comment 4:
In my (limited) experience, the bite changes constantly. I tend to over think it, by fiddling with my rigs, setup and bait presentation, but on the other hand have had people say that it's not "rocket science" either.
What works for me, is to see what the bite is like that day, and it can even vary from drop to drop. Some drops will have small picky fish. Other drops can have huge fish commiting suicide on your rigs. Pay attention to what you're feeling but also watch what's going on aroudn you, are you seeing big fish come up? small fish? lots of swings and misses? What did the last guy catch his fish on? Are certain areas of the boat getting all of the hits?
To give a much simpler answer, don't set the hook on the taps, you're likely to just pull the bait out of their mouths. Wait till you get the solid tugs, basically when the fish has got the bait (and hook) inside their mouths. Change your bait often, they can come by and suck out all the goodies, and you'll have nothing but and empty shell for them.
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Comment 5:
Ever wonder: How do bergalls pick clean baited crabs without ever getting hooked? Do blackfish come back to the bait? What exactly is the blackfish doing when its tapping vs. tugging? Well, here is a video I found that may answer our questions: "> All, I can say is: WOW.
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Comment 6:
in my limited experience as well...
big fish don't tap or tug. if you ever feel your line go slack... swing for the fences, pray you land him and beware of muggers.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 12 January 2011 13:24 |
