First, I want to thank all of my return and new clients for waiting for the state to allow us to run trips and our phone has been ringing off the hook as we have been running everyday.. The fishing has been excellent as most of our charters are picking 30 to 45 Fluke with keepers numbers ranging from 2 to 6 keepers per trip. With certain tides on the skiff, we have been adding in some Striped Bass action and filling our Striped Bass bonus tags (24-27.99 inches). The new skiff has performed amazing allowing us to hit areas that do not get pressured.
On the ocean front, the Sea Bass fishing has been excellent as reported from local captains. Our Parker Sport Cabin is back up and running as we had a slight issue which was delayed our Sea Bassing – due to the slow COVID shipping of the engine part. We will continue to run everyday (2 trips per day on weekends) and starting June 15th will begin running 2 trips per day through September. With two vessels, we can target inshore to 30 miles, backwaters to 1 foot depths, and everything in between.
If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709. As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE! It’s “no worries” fishing. Just come aboard and FISH.
I hope everybody is getting through COVID as we are in a holding pattern unable to run charters for March, April, and HOPEFULLY on a small part of May. The Tog fishing for April was absolutely outstanding as I ran Tog trips for my son, wife, and father. We released a good amount of fish over 9 pounds and tried to keep only males as the females have been busting at the seems with eggs. Striped Bass in the back, although many shorts, have been very fun to catch on light tackle.
We added a second boat for the 2020 season and beyond – this is a shallow water skiff able to go in depths of 7 inches, but offers an ultra stable platform. Special 3 hr and 4 hr trips will be offered along with a variety of pickup locations (Barnegat Light, Waretown, Ship Bottom, Barnegat). I plan on focusing mainly on artificials for Striped Bass, Fluke, Bluefish, even Weakfish and will offer evening charters.
I’m tentatively planning on running for May 15 (Sea Bass opener), but still waiting for the NJ Governor’s official “GO” for charter and headboats. Once up and running, we will be running 7 days a week from June 18 to September. May 15th to June 18th will be mostly weekends and the occasional weekday – Sea Bass, Striped Bass, Bluefish, and Fluke (when it opens) will be the main target species.
If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709. As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE! It’s “no worries” fishing. Just come aboard and FISH.
It’s been an extremely mild winter, but I still can’t wait for Spring. I did have the opportunity to use the kayak and hit some of our southern backwaters for White Perch. Grass Shrimp has been the key for strictly White Perch – Bloodworms producing less Perch, but more Striped Bass. Areas in Beach Haven West might start producing with warmer winter waters.
WINTER Maintenance: For most anglers, this is the time of the year to do REEL MAINTENANCE and I have personally used FHQ for some of my reels as they offer great workmanship and ultra-fast turnarounds for reel servicing.
WINTER HAPPENINGS – Fishing Shows and Scheduling 2020 trips.
There are some potential new happenings for 2020: We are about to pull the trigger on a 19ft Flats/Skiff boat as part of our shallow water fishing fleet and mobile charters; AND we are in the process of adding another USCG licensed captain with a center console, among other things.
If our new skinny water boat is ready, we can hit the shallows for fly-fishing and light-tackle action on Striped Bass as we will be able to run in little as 7 inches of water
2020 SPLASH DATE
Our tentative splash date will be April 1st and we will be targeting Striped Bass, Winter Flounder, Bluefish, and Blackfish (State & Federel regulations dependent).
Booking note – Early July may be a little challenging as my son has a 5-day baseball tournament, but we will roll with the tide for that. Other than that – we are running 7 days a week from June through September.
If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709. As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE! It’s “no worries” fishing. Just come aboard and FISH.
Start Catching Blackfish On Jigs! Here are some tips on how to make the transition super successful.
Catching blackfish on jigs is an absolute game changer when fishing for tautog. The lighter tackle used for this type of fishing drastically contrasts more standard methods of catching these fish. Experienced anglers who attempt catching blackfish on jigs will find there is quite the learning curve. Often, I see guys who’ve been catching blackfish for years, but on heavier equipment, finding a great deal of trouble trying to make the switch. So this often leads to folks quitting before they can master the new technique. Start catching blackfish on jigs with these helpful tips!
Here’s a few tips I’ve gathered over the years. I’m sharing because I’d like to help you catch blackfish on jigs. However first read my comprehensive fishing article, Catching Black Fish With Jigs.
Author Matt Sorrentino with a nice early fall blackfish. Matt caught this white chin on a 1.5 oz Magictail Game Changer Tog Jig.
Start with a heavier jig and work down from there.
If you’ve been blackfishing for a while, you’re most likely using at least an 8 ounce weight regularly. It’s very easy to feel the bottom because these heavier weights add more tension to your line. It is easier to decipher what type of structure you’re on because of this and easier to find the holes you want to be fishing. When you attempt to throw a 1-2 oz jig down for the first time, everything is going to feel extremely off because of the weight difference. Start with a heavier weighted jig, get used to the feel and work your way down. The ideal weight is the lightest possible which will still get down and hold bottom.
Light Braided Line Is A Must
You’re fishing a light jig and anything that helps the jig get to the bottom faster and stay there is going to maximize your opportunities. Do you know the difference in abrasion resistance between 50# braid and 40# braid? How about 30-20 or 15-10#? Me neither! But I can promise you it’s insignificant. What is significant is the ability of the thinner lines to through providing the least water resistance. I use 15# Cortland Master Braid on my tog jigging fishing reels. The line is super strong and allows me to fish a locked up drag which is needed to hoist out and up double digit blackfish.
Please understand, my abrasion concern is countered by fishing extra long fluorocarbon leaders (commonly 5-8′ of 30/40/50# either Seaguar Blue Label Fluoro or Ande Leader). Using an FG Knot the line to line connection is super strong and the knot has a very thing profile. This system is proven and I highly suggest you rig up this way too.
Don’t Swing!
Here’s where it’s going to get tough for seasoned vets. You’ve been dialed in for years. You know what the right bite feels like and you know when to swing. Well, now that you have a jig on, you’re wrong. Fishing tog jigs is a different game than rigs. You’ll need to re-learn the feel, the best advice I can give you is to let your first few baits get completely stolen. Let them eat it, just try to dial in the feel for the different type of bites. Everything is more sensitive now. This is the reason catching blackfish on jigs is so effective!
In the end, rely on what you know.
It’s still important when catching blackfish on jigs to fish in a similar fashion. You want the bait on the bottom. Don’t jig it! Ideally you’ll find piece of hard structure, ledges, caves, rock/concrete piles, wooden debris and obviously shipwrecks. Keep the bait still. When you get the right bite, or when your line goes slack (sometimes the fish will just pick up your jig and swim away) swing for the fences! Cross his eyes, reel quickly and get that fish up and away from that structure. It is crucial you react quickly here. If you fail to move the fish quickly I can assure you a broken heart and a few minutes in the penalty box retying.
If you’d like to learn more and Start Catching Blackfish on Jigs…
I invite you to join me on a fishing trip. I frequently set up charters on New Jersey’s top boats at the season’s best dates. On the trips you will learn from myself and other experts in the field, the different tactics employed to catch blackfish on jigs. The all inclusive trip includes your fare and gratuity and some even have a rod and reel demos as well as free gifts and giveaways. For more info stay tuned to my Instagram Page better yet give me a follow and send a direct message introducing yourself.
Yesterday Wednesday January 2, 2018 Magictail’s Dante Soriente stopped in with TOGZILLA. Here’s his report from the day…
Big Blackfish Love Magictail Tog Jigs
What a day! I’ve been on the hunt for a 15 pound tog on one of my jigs. I caught ten double digit blackfish this year (2018) but nothing over the 13 pound mark. I can’t believe it finally happened today!
Dante and Magictails set out to make The Best Tog Jigs that would outfish all competition based on superior design elements. It’s safe to claim they hit a home run!
More tog and the biggest tog in the past two years have been caught on Magictail Tog Jigs than any other tog jig on the market.
On 1/2/2019 I fished with Paul Haertel aboard his boat the Angler. We got into some really good fishing. It all started off when I caught a really good fish. On my Boga Grip 15 it pulled down and almost bottomed out. This fish which was about 14.5-15 pounds. It was photographed and released. Then a few minutes later another double digit fish hit the deck. This 12 pound tog was also released. An hour went by and Paul caught a 11.5 pound tog on the jig.
About two hours later I hooked a big fish on a baited Magictail Tog Jig, 2oz Glow White Legger. This fish actually pulled drag and took me deep twice. What An Epic Battle! Shocking all of us it bottomed out my Boga Grip 15. Fortunately Paul had a Boga Grip 60 onboard. It weighed in between 20-21 pounds. I was going to release it but Paul wouldn’t let me. He said, “It’s a true giant!”
Once back on land I stopped in at Fishermans Headquarters and got a certified weight, 20.96 pounds. Just a few pounds shy of the state record. I’m so happy to have smashed the 15 pound mark. I’m in shock that I broke the 20 pound mark. Best of all I did it on my Magictail Jig… Mission Complete!
That’s a smile only a 20+ pound tog can produce! 20.96 to be exact. Congrats Big D on a fish of a lifetime! With all the time and dedication, you earned it!
Tog Jigs are very effective and at times outproduce. For those blackfish anglers looking to add to their arsenal and learn more about targeting tog with specialty jigs, we published a fishing blog article just for you. But first…
Here’s Paul Haertel with a large blackfish that fell for a Magictail Tog Jig.
Here’s a testimonial from ace anglers Paul Haertel, “I’m sold on using Magictail Jigs! Up until a week or so ago I was more of a rig fisherman. Today I caught my limit plus, all on jigs. With a new boat record and all of these double digit catches they proved their value to me.”
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