14.3 lb Blackfish Swims to live another day

[MVP]

Headed out on friends boat out of Shark River at 7:00 am. I have not been out since Jersey went to a 6 tblackfish limit. I was really looking forward to getting out as I really enjoy fishing on his boat and weather looked like it would be mint. First stop was in shallow water right off the beach on some great bottom. Only gave it about 15 minutes as we had no takers. Next stop was about 2 miles run (Long Branch area) in 40 ft of water. Started building some life and started to put a slow pick together. That is how most of the day went as fish would mouth the bait but not commit. If you did not swing on that first few taps fish would come back and sometimes give you something worth swinging at if you remained patient.

Highlight of the trip came about 2 hours into the trip when I get a nice tug and then nothing. I few minutes later fish would come back. That was how the bite was for me most of the day. I proceed to put a 5 pounder in the boat and thought to myself hopefully the bigger boys will start to come out and chew. We proceed to put a few more in the box when I get the same type of hit, wait him out and he decides to come back to finish what he had started. I swing for the fences and the Christmas tree Rod doubles over once again, however this time fish starts taking drag. When fish takes drag on my setup I know I have at least an 8 pounder working. Got him off the bottom and started working him upward, but he had other plans. I would gain 10 ft and he would take back five. This dance went on about 4 times before I see color. Fish seems too long to be a blackfish and the ball busting starts. (You got a Dogfish) I tell them FU; no way is this a dogfish. Get a couple more cranks on him and call for the Net. I try to swim him in but he decides to make one last attempt for escape and comes in broad side. Ryan proceeds to get him in the net and drops him on the deck.
"Holy shit that is one Monster Tog". I proceed to give the Capt a big hug and high fives all around. Ended up keeping fish alive so we could release him at the end of the day after taking some pictures and weighing him in.
Enough of the suspense. Fished taped out at 27 inches and weighed in at 14.3 lbs a new personal best. Hopefully the TOG GODS will look down upon me and bless me with a 20 pounder one day for my good deed.

Total count for the day was 16 keepers for 4 of us with Capt. barely fishing as he was working to keep us on great bottom all day. Even though the #'s were not what we were use to it will be a trip and fish that I will not soon forget. Many thanks to Capt and friends Tom and Ryan for a great day on the water.


MVP

Area: Long Branch Area
Depth: 40 ft
Tackle: Custom Australian Blank w/ Avet SX spooled with 50 lb. power pro.
Rig: Slider Rig w/ medium size whole green crab.

[bigfishtale]

NICE slob tog Alex!!!

Kudos on the release. Wish I could have made the trip.

[Garone Custom Rods]

Alex congrats on that horse of a fish.

[SplitShot]

Nice going on a Great Looking Fish!!! and great job putting him back to swim!!

[AJFISH13]

Ryan pmed me about it, helluva tog. I would have gotten him about a foot off of the bottom on a good day .

[Topeka Boy]

Congratulations on your personal best. Real nice tog. And kudos for throwing him back in. great job.

[Scoundrel]

Awesome day on the Scoundrel.
Limits for the anglers.
Released 1 that looked too goddam happy to be a part of my fish-fry.

[Scoundrel]

came home all fired up.

Just two of us. We were culling by 11.

my apologies as I sounded like a dick.

will not happen again.

[izinator]

awesome job on the release, that fish has been alive much longer than any of us

[fishingmortgageman]

Great job Alex!! I wish more people were like you with the black fish and stripers. The big ones are too valuable to kill. Way to go.