Photo by Milt Rosko.

“This one’s a big one!” said Sue Pavel excitedly as her rod was pulled down to the rail. Bundled in several layers of clothes and a bright orange foul-weather suit, she persevered, gradually gaining line.

Moments later, she brought a big blackfish to the surface. In a flash it was netted and brought aboard the party boat Voyager, which sails from the Fisherman’s Supply dock in Point Pleasant Beach.

“Bet I win the pool with this one!” she beamed, adding her fourth and final blackfish of the day to her cooler. “These are all big, beautiful fish that are just great on the dinner table. They’re a wintertime seafood treat second to none!”

The only lady on board, Sue didn’t profess to be a gourmet cook. She just loved fresh blackfish prepared with a lot of old family recipes, plain and simple.

Capt. Jeff Gutman’s spacious party packet was anchored on a rocky patch a few miles southeast of Manasquan Inlet, with Capt. Kenny Namowitz at the helm. Located in 50- to 60-foot depths, the blackfish will take up winter residence on this and similar patches, where there’s an abundance of crabs, lobsters and other forage to satisfy their appetites. It’s the kind of spot where a skipper can anchor, and then periodically adjust the anchor line to position the boat over different sections of the bottom.

There were fewer than a dozen of us on board. Most of us were veterans at this midwinter pastime, as was evident by the proper clothing we wore and the gear we employed. Nothing fancy, just our favorite rod and reel, and the same outfits we used to target fluke while wearing shorts during the summer.

Most of us spooled with braided line, and a single No. 3 Virginia-style hook snelled to 12 inches of leader material, with 3 or 4 ounces of sinker weight -- just enough to hold bottom.

These were not tourists, out to enjoy the sun. These anglers stood at the rail, ever intent to catch big blackfish or annoying bergalls (cunners), which were after the single green crab bait. Indeed, some of those bergalls measured only 3 or 4 inches, yet they were pecking away at a piece of crab half their size. Tolerate them the party-boat veterans did, for they recognized that patience is the key.

And while a bergall may be working on the bait, a big blackfish may suddenly cruise by and decide to have the green crab for lunch.

The Weather Channel had predicted calm seas with a light northwest wind, which was pretty much the same as the prior two days. It was just what I’d been waiting for. During the winter months, the cold can be tolerated, but wind and a rough ocean can be uncomfortable.

When I boarded the Voyager, I wasn’t surprised to find so few anglers on board. This is typical of mid-winter fishing, which makes for plenty of room to fish.

At most of the major party-boat ports, from Atlantic Highlands to Cape May, some captains take their craft to Florida for the winter, while others just take a respite from the fishing and don’t begin again until the spring’s winter flounder run.

Throughout the winter months, providing the ports aren’t locked in from ice, you’ll find boats sailing regularly ranging from Atlantic Highlands to Belmar, Brielle and Point Pleasant, Barnegat Light, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Sea Isle City and Cape May.

By now, most blackfish have moved offshore into the 50- to 75-foot depths, with some tautogs down 100 feet or more. This makes for a rather short ride to the fishing grounds, and provides ample time for anglers to work towards bagging a limit of four tautogs measuring 14 inches or larger, during the Jan. 1 through May 31, 2008 season. (Continued)

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS
During winter, inshore temperatures plummet as a result of the cold water emptying into the ocean from the Hudson and Raritan rivers. Along the North Jersey coast, blackfish often move offshore to 17 Fathoms Bank. This renowned patch of broken, irregular bottom becomes home to a sizeable blackfish population, which feed on the abundant crabs, lobsters and other forage that inhabit this rugged bottom area.