Late weekend bottomfishing report9/22-23

[gottog]

Hit the Ocean Eagle out of SHB NY on saturday.  Good crowd onboard and all had high hopes as recent porgy/seabass catches were good.

Weather man was off a bit and the fish were not all that cooperative.  Between Theresa and I we had about a dozen jumbo porgies and 7 keeper seabass.  Some searobins, fluke, bergalls, and a few stray dogfish made an appearance as well.

T had a nice 3# tog that would have won the pool but since NY's season is closed, it was released unharmed.  Her largest seabass just got edged out by another as well.  Still, plenty of fun, laughs, and an overall good time.

Sunday we picked some crabs locally(Asian Shore crabs) and hit a local pier.  T had about 10 toytogs she C&R'd, while I kept feeding the fish.  She eventually got tired of me being SAM(swing and miss) so came over by me to try and hook the fish.  I jumped in her vacated spot and as soon as my bait hit bottom I was slammed by a 15" tog.  Crowd ooohhhhh'd and aahhhh'd, but groaned when I threw it back.

Others around were catching small and medium sized snappers.  A few dunking chunks caught some jumbo searobins.  LOADS of baitfish in the water, but nothing on them.

Both days others commented that her catching had to be the pink line she uses

[IrishAyes]

Nice report gottog. 

I've seen you mentionn Asian shore crabs recently.  What are they and where can I get some?

[Hotrod]

Great Day Mike

[gottog]

Asian Shore crabs, another invasive species like the European Green crab and now the Mitten crab.

Best bet is rocky areas at low tide.  Jetties hold them as well.  I just hit some local spots at low tide and flip over rocks.  Things scurry like spiders on speed.  Flip a rock over, 6 crabs underneath and maybe grab 2   I wear gloves too as lots of nasty stuff like broken glass at the spots where I pick'em.

Most are about the size of a dime to a quarter, with some big ones about a half-dollar size.

[IrishAyes]

Thanks gottog.  I assume from the size you use them whole?

[CapBob]

Look like Fiddlers on Roids........

[gottog]

Generally just rip the claws off and hook them whole.  Seemed when the bite slowed down, the only way to get interest in them again was to rip off the top shell or smash the larger ones with your sinker.

We're using 1/0 Gami Octopus hooks with them.

They're about the same size as fiddler crabs overall.

[IrishAyes]

Cool, thanks again. 

[Luna Sea 5]

 

[ped579]

Hi All,

In reading this thread I noticed Mitten crabs were mentioned. here is a link that tells of their invasion possibility on the east coast.

http://www.serc.si.edu/labs/marine_invasions/news/CHINESE%20MITTEN%20CRAB%20ALERT%20June%202007.pdf

If you click on the link in the alert you can find out more information about them and about their invasion.

Happy Catching

Paul

[gottog]

There were a few kids fishing and some even got the whole idea of releasing these fish, especially there.  Told them that maybe one day in the future, this spot might be worthwhile to actually target tog from.

A few actually give me high hopes for our fishing future.

As to hooking them hole.  I either put the hook point through one claw socket and out the other one for the smaller crabs or on the larger ones it'll go through one claw socket and then out the lower leg socket on the same side.

Mitten crab:

[ped579]

The link above should work now 

Paul