Do It Yourself

between the eyes of the crab. Run a hook through the 2nd leg socket and allow it to come out of the top of the shell. Once you do this, you will notice the strong smell of the crap permeate and this will be amplified when it is dropped between rocks. For smaller crabs, there is no need to split them – simply remove the legs and hook them. Do make sure that you make use of a lead sinker to crack the shell before you do this.

Now that you’re ready to begin fishing, you’ll want to search out shallow water. It is highly recommended you use a depth finder to avoid issues with high rocks in shallow water, especially critical if you are fishing during low tide times. Once you’ve determined which way the current is running, you can move up current and find an appropriate rock shelf for fishing as this is where blackfish tend to hide. Make sure you let out anchor enough until you see the rock pile in your depth finder. Tie your anchor off and start fishing one side of the rocks. If you discover that it’s not a good location, you can simply pick up, anchor and move.

You should not need a weight of more than three ounces to get your bait into proper position and to engage your reel. Make sure that your line is tight but mimicking balancing your sinker. This will help you maintain the right tension on your line and also prevent losing your sinkers in the rocks. As the fish begin to capture the scent of the bait, they will begin moving towards it. You are likely to run into some popular thieves like porgies and cunner – so make sure that you know the difference between the types of bites that these fish will display. Blackfish strike in a two step like ka-thunk whereas the popular bait thieves tend to be quicker and respective. It’s more like ‘tap-tap-tap’.

Once you are certain you have a strike you must set your hook quickly. Remember, the fish is going to try to head back to the rocks for self preservation. It’s your job to ensure that he does not make it. If you lean back on your rod a bit, you’ll lessen the drag available to the fish. You’ll likely feel this pulling in every muscle in your arms and shoulders, these blackfish do not give up that easily. You can wear him out by getting him away from the rocks and letting him fight the side of your boat until he wears out a bit and then grab him with a net. If local regulations allow, add a couple to your catch of the day as they make a wonderful meal.

These tips will help you get started and may even cause you a bit of trouble. You’ll soon find that you are looking forward to your next black-fishing expedition, because they are fun to wrestle and your fishing trips are likely to be very productive. It’s even better if you can bring them home as they make for great eating also.

When you are out saltwater fishing it is important to make sure you have the right supplies. Some of the most popular brands include Shimano Reels, Penn Reels, and Team Daiwa Reels.