Tatoug - 2007

[Sean]

I Love black fishin! SO instead of boring you who don't, and starting a new thread every time we go, we can just update this thread ;D
Today was a BLAST, beside the fact the the wind was howling out of the West with gust to about 30knots. No contest winning fish, but we had 5 fish over 6lbs and one that was a litle over 9lbs (why do I have the feeling I will be stuck @ 9lbs for ever :P)
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k159/sreilly_2006/IMG_0034-1.jpg
My two fish, 9lb & 7ish ;D
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k159/sreilly_2006/IMG_0035.jpg

[Blue_Runner]

Jealousy abounds here in mid-NC :o

Nice jeans BTW ;D

[whale]

Sean.....I need to go Toggin' with you. ;) I went out yesterday and did not do well. With 4 guys we had 5 keepers but nothing with any real size. I did manage to get a picture of me with one this time though...

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s106/whalenkm/PICT4560.jpg

[Sean]

BLue, those are my "lucky" jeans ;D At one time they were nice with insallation ::)
Whale, let me know when, and we can go ;)
I actually just picked up crabbs for Wednesday after noon if you are free..

[whale]

BLue, those are my "lucky" jeans ;D At one time they were nice with insallation ::)
Whale, let me know when, and we can go ;)
I actually just picked up crabbs for Wednesday after noon if you are free..

Wednesday I have to take my oldest to baseball practice. * :( *

I got my hands on an old trap that was not being used.....it was covered in slime and all kinds of nasty's....after a power wash and some repairs with zip ties it is looking good and after a 20 hour soak Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning we had several dozen green crabs. *Emptied it out and during the time we were out fishing we had 13 more. *I loaded it with some blackfish and bluefish parts.....I am hoping she is busting at the seems by the weekend!

Damn those are big fish! *I can't believe the big one is only 9 lbs. *It looks like a solid 12!!

[Sean]

Nice find Whale, Crab trap come in handy, I have a few converted buckets I mad into green crab traps. I use all the greenies to chum with, and fish with the redish ones (green ones have a softer shell the the redish ones so they crush better and fall apart on the hook more)
I'm lucky being friends with the guy who owns the Bait Shop I go to, and basicly get to hand pick all of my crabs (usally get over two gallons, so thats alott of picking ;D)
I wish she was 12lbs, thats the boat record (held by Worse Mate) from last year. And I'm determined to top it this year ;D ;D

[whale]

Nice find Whale, Crab trap come in handy, I have a few converted buckets I mad into green crab traps. I use all the greenies to chum with, and fish with the redish ones

OK...you have peaked my interest...tell me about the chumming.....and the bucket traps while we are at it.

[Sean]

;D Some people like to chum with a lowered bucket drilled full of holes, or steel pot full of mashed up crabs, but all I do is fill the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket, and go to town with the butt end of a 2x4 until the crabs are smashed into litle pieces and toss it over. I usually wait until we get atleast 1 or two fish in the boat, so you know that they are there (no need chumming a empty sea floor :P) Then will do it every 1/2 to 1 hour dempending on the bite.
Black fish are not to migratory yet, but if the sence food on the other side of the reef, they will come and check it out ;D You will notice the longer you fish a spot, the more fish come over the rail. even if you are not chumming, all those claws you are tossing over, and chunks falling off are atrackting fish. Next time check the stomach of the last black fish you keep, I bet it has a few of the claws you tossed over in it ;D
Bucket traps are easy, prefabley a squared 5 gallon bucket, drill it full of holes. On one end I put either a piece of PVC bigg enough for the crab to fit in (or a plastic cup with the bottom cut off) and the other end I zip tie a 3lb weight to keep it flat and from rolling over. Green crabs can not swim, so I rap the bucket either with netting, or some rope so they can climb up and in. Put a chunk of what ever in it, drop it in a shallow rocky area and wala, 1 hour later you have crabs! (sounds like a date I had in High School :P ;D)

[whale]

;D Some people like to chum with a lowered bucket drilled full of holes, or steel pot full of mashed up crabs, but all I do is fill the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket, and go to town with the butt end of a 2x4 until the crabs are smashed into litle pieces and toss it over. *I usually wait until we get atleast 1 or two fish in the boat, so you know that they are there (no need chumming a empty sea floor :P) Then will do it every 1/2 to 1 hour dempending on the bite.
Black fish are not to migratory yet, but if the sence food on the other side of the reef, they will come and check it out ;D *You will notice the longer you fish a spot, the more fish come over the rail. even if you are not chumming, all those claws you are tossing over, and chunks falling off are atrackting fish. Next time check the stomach of the last *black fish you keep, *I bet it has a few of the claws you tossed over in it ;D
Bucket traps are easy, prefabley a squared 5 gallon bucket, drill it full of holes. On one end I put either a piece of PVC bigg enough for the crab to fit in (or a plastic cup with the bottom cut off) and the other end I zip tie a 3lb weight to keep it flat and from rolling over. Green crabs can not swim, so I rap the bucket either with netting, or some rope so they can climb up and in. Put a chunk of what ever in it, drop it in a shallow rocky area and wala, 1 hour later you have crabs! (sounds like a date I had in High School :P ;D)



Snap me a picture of that bucket next time you go (tomorrow?)....

[Sean]

Like I said, its a pretty simple concept. Here is one I made the other day..
outside
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k159/sreilly_2006/IMG_0038.jpg
inside
http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k159/sreilly_2006/IMG_0039.jpg
Wala, a green crab trap ;D

[whale]

Looks good.....I guess you put the lid on and lay it with the weight side down.....

Where'd you find the square bucket?

I am bumming because my next 2 weekends are booked. I will be hard pressed to get out again soon. >:(

[Sean]

My buddy gets them somewere, I'll ask
This weekend is pretty shot for me to, my wife has school both Sat. and Sunday :-/, but hopefully I can butter her up and let me get a quick session in Sun afternoon ;D

[whale]

My buddy gets them somewere, I'll ask
This weekend is pretty shot for me to, my wife has school both Sat. and Sunday :-/, but hopefully I can butter her up and let me get a quick session in Sun afternoon ;D

We are still talking about fishing, right? ;)

[lumberslinger178]

we get kitty litter in the square buckets .... ;)

[macojoe]

I just use a minow trap with the hloes cut bigger and flaten out, I can soak over night and have dozens of crabs!!

I also have like 15 square bucets at home right now ;D

Now if I just could go fishing :'( I am in my third hour of a 17 hour shift right now :-/

[Sean]

;D only 10 hours left MJ, tic, toc, tic, toc, tic, toc ;D

[Blue_Runner]

Sweet trap!

I am bumming because my next 2 weekends are booked. *I will be hard pressed to get out again soon. *
*I've been going through the same thing Whale.
:'( >:(

[randlemanboater]

I watched a fishing show the other day, thats as close as I have been to wetting a line in months. :'(

[Blue_Runner]

Randle are there any tog to be caught off NC that you know of?

[Sean]

Whale, this weeks fisherman has a 17+lb Black fish cought out front. With all the dirty water and swell, the next window to go, should be a good one. The blacks have not been eatin and there has been litle to no preasure on them.... This Sunday with the NW may be just htat window ;)

[whale]

Whale, this weeks fisherman has a 17+lb Black fish cought out front. With all the dirty water and swell, the next window to go, should be a good one. The blacks have not been eatin and there has been litle to no preasure on them.... This Sunday with the NW may be just htat window ;)

I heard about that 17lber....it was weighed at Capt Don's in Charlestown where my fishing buddy works part time. I can't go this weekend. We have company with lots of plans including Patriots game in Foxboro Sunday.... I did go out this morning with my neighbor Carl.......we caught some cunner, several short tog and 2 keepers. Better than working.....

[Sean]

Way better then workin ;D

[Carl]

The blackfish was 17.9 # as reported in this weeks Fisherman Magazine. There was also an article about toggin and it mentioned using a soft bait like squid on the top hook and traditional crabs on the bottom. The soft bait can pick up seabass if they are in the area.


Carl

[randlemanboater]

Randle are there any tog to be caught off NC that you know of? *

If there are they would be way up at the northern tip.

[Sean]

We have a nice NW sea breeze today, going to trailer :-/ her out and do some Black Fishing for the first time in over a week :P ;D

[phester]

gonna try today as well, wind is still up.....so is the enclosure. ;)....there have been decent bass/blue reports for the L.I. sound, hopefully I'll get out ::)

[whale]

I went out this morning with some guys looking for stripers. It was damn cold but I had 5 layers on. The others wimped out after a couple hours and just 2 schoolies.......so, I head to my boat and head out looking for tog (alone). I managed my limit (CT limit is just 4) and threw a few keepers back. Couldn't convince anyone to go with me. At my first spot when I was pulling anchor, I got it in to the chain and then couldn't get any more. Peering over the bow, I see a rope tangled on my anchor. With a little effort I finally manged to get free of it! Had some nice blackfish for dinner.

I am thinking of making a soup/stew/chowder with some of it so any recipe idea are welcome!

[Sean]

Nice Whale, Glad you got into them. WE did alright, managed to fill the cooler, but nothing to big. I need to get some receipes myself, usually just either, grill or fry.

[whale]

Nice Whale, Glad you got into them. WE did alright, managed to fill the cooler, but nothing to big. I need to get some receipes myself, usually just either, grill or fry.


I am annoyed that our limit is soooo much less in CT than RI. At least with fluke they are close but your limit is more than twice mine now with that split season in RI. I could have kept going as the bite had just gotten hot after a slow start. I did some crab smashing also based on your chum technique.

I read that ENCON arrested a charter captain for possessing more than the boats limit for tog (reacting to a tip) plus a guy for taking lobster without a license and having lobster with eggs.

[Sean]

The short limit does hurt you, as it seems the bite picks up the longer you are there. All the activity and stray crab leggs must bring in the fish from the sorounding rock piles.
That just means one thing, you are going to need to make a trip up to RI ;D