Blackfish Mugging Etiquette

[Gerry Zagorski]

As well all know, blackfishing on a boat can be very sectional... Sometimes certain sections of the boat can have a bite while others are cold as ice.... This is where the art and etiquette of mugging comes into play. This is especially true when all the private boats and people you are used to fishing with put their boats up for the winter and have to get used to fishing with others you may or might not know.

There are several types of muggers and muggees and if you blackfished enough you've likely run across them all...Just in case you are new to blackfishing let me educate you.

Muggers come in all varieties:
- The casual mugger who is close to someone getting a bite but casually lifts his sinker up and eventually works it over to where you caught your last fish.
- The sneaky mugger will see you have a bite and without saying anything will take your spot at the rail the minute you have to leave it to tie another rig or put a new crab on...
- The entitled mugger who sees you've had bites that your'e not connecting with and wants to show you he can dig a fish out of the spot you've been wasting.
- The skating mugger that travels light with crabs, rigs and sinkers in his pocket that constantly moves around looking for where the net went down last.
- And finally the it's all about me mugger who will drop a crab down right over your shoulder if you have a good bite going...

So mugging etiquette, in other words if you want to mug someone, how should it be done??
- The friendly way... Hey Gerry I see you have a bite going here. Mind if I drop down here next to you....
- The schmooze way... Hey Gerry just stopped by to see how you're doing... How's the family and next thing you know he drops down a crab right next to you...
- The buds muggers is someone you know well enough to make the "all about me mugger move" without him punching you in the face...

Now lets talk about Muggies
- You have your quiet ones who tend to fish the same spot all trip... These are the wild cards and you need to be careful with this type unless you know them. Some don't care what people around them are doing. They'll just go about their business and stick to their plan and not say a word.... Then you have others who when violated will lite you up and rip your head off if you get anywhere near them.
- The territorial muggie usually stays in the same spot most of the trip but will overtly announce and aggressively defend his zone. This type should be given a very wide birth around them and are the types who will tell you "GTF out of my space” if you happen to even look at their spot.
- The tolerant muggie who's just glad to be out on the water and or is new to this fishery and wonders why there's a crowd gathering around him...

Hope those of you who blackfish regularly over the winter can relate. For those of you who are new to this fishery please be forewarned but don't let that stop you from trying this great fishery... It's not as intimating as I've made it out to be... A lot of great dedicated people out there this time of year and the experience and comradery you'll find this time of year is 2nd to none....

Have a great winter season everyone and hope to see you at the rail on one of our sponsor boats... A great escape from the house and all the trappings of the winter and you'll meet some great people.

[Rocky]

I never knew what mugging was until recently. I fished one spot on the boat and I did not catch a single keeper while others did. Yes I was envious, but I stayed in my place hoping for a bite that never came until the last drop. BAM I catch 3 big keepers while there is no other bite going on, and then all of the sudden the 5 other guys on the 6 pack charter want to have a rotation for my spot. :eek:
You got to love it. I moved to the other side and was happy with my 3 keepers and called it a day.

[Solemate]

The only time I move is if the Captain or other fisherman ask me to. My opinion is that you will get your turn and try to make the most of it. Some days if I suck I will actually ask others to get in on my bite. You know there is such a thing as being courteous to others and in my opinion it does not get left at the dock. Mugging is not acceptable and to promote it is like telling someone it is ok to pick fruit from your garden.

[TerriMc223]

Really good posting Gerry. As I read it the underlying message is to be aware that moving from spot to spot on a boat while blackfishing is a part of the sport but above all do it with good humor and respect for others. But, just like changing lanes in a traffic jam can backfire, so can changing spots while blackfishing when someone picks a hog right in the spot I just abandoned for greener pastures. :)

[shrimpman steve]

I’ve tried them all. I remember Gerry watching me saddle up to someone may have been MVP. I asked how his family was doing as I dropped my line. As he started to answer I pleasantly said “I really don’t care, I just wanted this spot’. Gerry almost wet his pants

[Man Workin]

Gerry, that’s a good read best thing I have seen online about blackfishing in awhile.

[bulletbob]

Thats why I don't go blackfishing as much these days... The bite will too often be along one 8 foot section of the rail, and you have 10 guys trying to fish it.. Thats ok if you are on a 6 pack, but when there are 40 guys, its pretty frustrating.. Not often but i have been the one in the " strike zone" a few times , and I won't even move to take a leak, because I might never get back there.. Its a good idea to go blackfishing on a rough as hell, cold, rainy monday.. That way you can move around without having to push someone out of the way to try and get a few bites... Mugging was not near the problem 25 years ago as it is today.. There were more fish, and at this time of year, fewer fishermen, and they seemed somewhat more courteous than they are today... bob

[FISHFORLIFE]

Great one Gerry - Don't hate the player hate the game. Agree.. good humor and respect for others always comes first.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Steve - That move is a classic, especially when it's used on someone who is not familiar with it.

Manworkin - Thanks, I was in on group text about an upcoming trip that inspired it when guys were talking about how bad they were going to mug one and other.. With our group it's expected, although there are a few who are overly "sensitive" about it..:rolleyes:

TerriMc - Yes I've seen it happen. You move on and next thing you know your spot gets hot.. I've also seen some really stubborn people stick it out in their dead zone, pout and talk to themselves the whole trip...Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Bullet - For me, mugging and being mugged is all part of the experience and makes a trip more edgy as long as it's done respectfully. I also love to fish party boats this time of year since it's usually the die hards that show up. Love hearing others salty stories, seeing how they tie rigs, meeting new people and most importantly getting out of the house... Some of my favorite and most anticipated trips of the year, but that's me...

[FlukeYourself]

HO MEN You forgot one MUGGER THAT PUERTO RICAN Mugger He takes all your fish right out of your buckets

[Chrisper4694]

I can't imagine doing that to someone i don't know haha...but if someone i know pulls up a tog, as soon as they get it out of the water, it becomes the 'move down' mad hatter tea party scene from alice in wonderland hahaha

ROTATE!!!

[bender]

I'm with Solemate.
Some people are overly aggressive, and I will "play defense" with them, but those that are courteous or obviously in a dead zone and not bothering anyone, get the subtle motion to "come over here". To me, those that are overly competitive take away from the trip morale. There are always a few on the PB's.

[sbalewitz74]

Boomerang snips clipped to my suspenders. Need I say more?

[bulletbob]

Bullet - For me, mugging and being mugged is all part of the experience and makes a trip more edgy as long as it's done respectfully. I also love to fish party boats this time of year since it's usually the die hards that show up. Love hearing others salty stories, seeing how they tie rigs, meeting new people and most importantly getting out of the house... Some of my favorite and most anticipated trips of the year, but that's me...[/QUOTE]


It didn't bother me years ago, when I lived at the shore, and there was always tomorrow or maybe next week to go again.. I suppose its because its a 225 mile drive one way to Atlantic highlands, and 240 to belmar, and i might only go once or twice a year.. If its a picky bite, and you must be "in the zone" or go hitless, its a long and frustrating trip.. I try and make buddies as well, and you can tell when you've made one, when they motion to you with a glance and a look toward the water-"hey, I'm getting hits here, drop down next to me".. that makes it worthwhile.. I have just found in recent years, too many very aggressive fishermen, that will practically rest the rod on your shoulder they are so close.. they aren't the majority, I'll say that, but it doesn't take many to make it a less enjoyable day.. If I get mugged too bad, I just take my bait,, and move to where there's more room, hits or not.. bob