Well, blackfish season has finally arrived, and a lot of anglers, including myself, are very happy. Once you’ve felt the thump of a hungry blackfish, or missed the subtle tap while your bait is removed from your hook, well, you’ll be hooked.
The reward of fighting one of these fish, the hard pulls causing a locked-down drag to give line, will be satisfying. Your many hours of tying, then losing, your rigs to rocks and wrecks, of learning the feel of a light bait versus that big thump, or your self-doubt after getting skunked on a trip will be forgotten. Well, in addition to those, there are other fish being caught. Let’s check things out.
Captain Stan, on the Sailor’s Delight, had his patrons on the blackfish on Sunday morning. This followed a good trip on Saturday, but the calm of Sunday led to better results.
Saturday, the opening of blackfish season, had wind and tide that were “far from ideal.” That trip saw 51 fish caught, with a total of 10 keepers. The pictures showed some nice fish that appeared to be in the 3- to 4-pound range.
Sunday’s totals increased to 105 fish being caught, with 20 being kept. Spiny dogs and oyster crackers added to the action. This was a four-hour trip that saw the anglers enjoy some much nicer conditions than the previous day.
The Sailor’s Delight is still sailing, but the trips are dwindling down quickly. Get in touch with Captain Stan at 609-827-8309. With continued good trips and nice fish coming over the rail, who knows, but maybe some more trips will be added.
The Sea Star III, with Captain Chuck checking in, was a victim of the wind. However, they were able to get their blackfish season started when the conditions allowed. With that opportunity, they were able to put together a “fair catch.” Keeper blackfish and ever-present throwbacks, plus some sea bass, made for a good day. The pool winner that day was Kevin Nelson of Atlantic City, who took the daily prize with his 4-pound blackfish.
Tomorrow, the crew of the Sea Star III will be conducting their special Thanksgiving Day trip for blackfish. It’s a six-hour trip that sails at 6 a.m. and returns at noon. You’ll be able to fish, grab a shower and still get to where you need to be to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal. Call Captain Chuck at 609-884-3421 to grab a seat because reservations are recommended.
The Miss Avalon got the blackfish season opened on the regularly scheduled day. The wind didn’t deter them, but it made for a “slow pick” that saw a steady flow of keepers throughout the day. Short fish and “bites” all during the trip gave everyone a good chance to get some keepers.
Mark Jr. and Sean shared the pool, as each weighed in fish that registered 3.1 pounds on the scale.
The full schedule of the Miss Avalon is posted online. You can buy tickets online or by calling 609-967-7455. Walk-ups and groups are welcomed to hop on and do some fishing.
The Starfish got out on opening day, in spite of the wind. The day saw plenty of short blackfish and about 25 keepers. A highlight of the day was the first-ever blackfish that Jackie caught. Also, the high-hook of the day had four keepers.
Monday’s trip again saw plenty of throwbacks, some nice keepers and a few limits scattered around the boat. The pool winner of the day was Cha Ko Han, who had some close competition, but ultimately his fish weighed more than all that came up against it.
Mike, at Sea Isle Bait and Tackle, reported that fall fishing “is really kicking into gear.” That means that the striper fishing in the back, especially with spot as bait, has been really good lately. It also means that fishing for sea bass and blackfish has been good, and the good news is the increase in the bag limit for blackfish.
Adam, Larry and B.J. went striper fishing one recent morning, and all stopped by the shop to show off their keepers. They each caught their stripers on soft plastic baits.
On Saturday, Wayne and his son did some land-based blackfishing. Between them they were able to get five nice keepers. Nice job, guys.
Captain Bob, from Full Ahead Sport Fishing, reported that his Sunday charter had a good “pile” of blackfish. It took a couple of drops before the anglers aboard got things dialed in. The steady pick that resulted was good enough to allow a couple limits to be realized.
Captain Bob also had a midweek trip for the guys from Jigging World. A young angler named Colton stood out as he caught some nice blackfish and made it look easy to catch these fish. Good job, Colton. Call Captain Bob at 609-847-2304 to see if he has any availability for his blackfish trips.
Captain Tom on the Fishin’ Fever is also running charters for various species. Earlier this month he was fishing for tuna. There’s a good chance all his openings are taken, but you can always check. Reach out to him at 609-868-6014.
For the two boats above, and for other charter boats, you may be able to get on a “short notice list” in the event a charter can’t make it, or if they are looking for someone to fill out the charter. It’s an option to keep in mind.
I’d like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving Day. Remember, Black Friday is two days away, and it’s a great day to go fishing. My son and I went many times while the ladies were shopping, and we made some great memories. If your schedule allows, get out and take advantage of the opportunity. Good luck if you get out, take care, and I’ll see you around.
Submit fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
