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It's cold, but it's also time for big blackfish. I fish in the NY tri-state area, mostly the 17 Fathoms area this time of year. I want to drill one of thos whopping 12-pound plus bulldogs I see in the magazines every now and then. Anyone else fish this area? Also, I've heard that some really big blackfish are taken each winter on head boats out of Virginia. Is it worth driving down there from NY? Just wondering...

yo merman we have been jackn the blacks. 17 is good but it has been hammerd better off headed a little farther out like shark river reef biggest this winter 13.7 came from 160ft and dug for bottom the whole way up!!

Are you guys using green crabs? (That's the favored bait down here off MD, but I have a freezer full of peelers and I'm thinking they have to be just about as good!)

Hi Ultangler,

I'm sure the peelers will get you plenty of bites, but you better hit those fish fast. Like when fishing with hermit crabs, one tap and your bait is gone. Also, it's a long way to the bottom this time of year, 100 - 140 feet down. Just keeping a soft bait on during the descent can be challanging. I'd go with the hard stuff for now and save those softies for when the blackfish come into the shallows next spring.

In the New York/Long Island area and 17 Fathoms we mostly use green crabs. Most guys remove the top shell and then cut the body in half but I like to use whole greenies, about the size of a quarter. Leaving the shell on helps defeat the bergalls and smaller fish, and gives me a better shot at catching something that will contend for the pool.

Some guys use white crabs (Jonah) when they can get them. Those work great when the water gets really cold. Good luck.

Caught 7 keepers off the piers this month love toggin

ya...i am a big fan...I caught the black off a rockpile at the mouth of the Thames River last Friday using a 1/2 green crab. 24" and approximately 10#....my PB blackfish !