Help me out with tautog fishing

[fmoore]

Usually tautog don't go much farther north than Cape Cod Bay. I am on a mission (hopefully with Shoe - he hasn't read my PM yet) to catch tog up here in NH. I'd like a favor from some of you guys who tog fish.

Now, I know I am asking waaay too much here, so please don't feel like you have to give a long answer. Any little bit helps as I try to learn how to find tog and fish for them.

Just gunna list a bunch of things, please help out any way you can.

Finding the fish:
Where do tog like to hang out? Rocks, correct?
What water temps?
What depth?
Do they like structure? Wrecks, humps, trenches, etc?

Fishing:
What type of bait? Will artificials work?
What rigs? High/Low or fishfinder? I have read to use either.
Weight? What size lead should I be prepared with?
Tackle? Have a couple nice combos, 3/0 senators, 50 pound braid on rods that can handle up to 12 ounces. I think a bit overkill, but it should work.

Anything else noteworthy that you would like to mention?



Like I said, anything helps, even if you just say 20-50 FOW or whatever.

I have a feeling this thread will fall flat on its face. Please prove me wrong

Thanks guys
Fintan

[sportfishingusa]

Blackfish tend to like colder waters and sometime shallower waters depending on the time and season.. They can be caught anywhere from inshore rocks 20ft out to 100ft of water and all over inbetween and ever further offshore they are all around.

they tend to hang out in rocky areas and also wreck areas...

When we inshore fish i like to us egg weights and a single hook.. this allows to bait to hang on the bottom..

I would not really hang with artificials and move more towards real bait like clams/ green crabs, or white crabs aka the calico crab.. They all work well..

The hardest part about blackfishing is hooking them.. With their big lips and their big teeth they chew fast! you normally get a one shot deal and when you sink the hook make sure it is a good hit and make sure you reel like heck to get them away from the rocks.wreck because that is the first place they will go.. they normally come out, hit, and run right back inside their little nesting hole.

Shoe will hook you up and you will find them man!!


good luck!

[Five4Fighting]

Finding the fish:
Where do tog like to hang out? Rocks, correct? Rocks, wrecks, reefs... What water temps? Cold... I would guess around 50-60°What depth? Any... I have caught them in 20' and 60'Do they like structure? Wrecks, humps, trenches, etc? Yes
Fishing:
What type of bait? Will artificials work? Green Crabs, Sand Flea, Salted Clams... Never used artificials.What rigs? High/Low or fishfinder? I have read to use either. EitherWeight? What size lead should I be prepared with? Enough the hold the line striaght up and down with the current.Tackle? Have a couple nice combos, 3/0 senators, 50 pound braid on rods that can handle up to 12 ounces. I think a bit overkill, but it should work. Will work... I have fished with 16oz. already but it is tough.

[giantfan]

I agree with everything said above.

Use the braid to get them off of the structure ASAP.

Any kind of small crab will work. They actually love hermit crabs if you cant get any greenies

[Ebbs]

Watch your size and limits as well. The number of tog you can take changes here in NJ. Only allowed one tog per man right now. Keep it simple... one hook, one greenie and pull like hell when you hook them.

[Tuna Meltdown]

Usually tautog don't go much farther north than Cape Cod Bay. I am on a mission (hopefully with Shoe - he hasn't read my PM yet) to catch tog up here in NH. I'd like a favor from some of you guys who tog fish.

Now, I know I am asking waaay too much here, so please don't feel like you have to give a long answer. Any little bit helps as I try to learn how to find tog and fish for them.

Just gunna list a bunch of things, please help out any way you can.

Finding the fish:
Where do tog like to hang out? Rocks, correct? Fintan Structure is key to tog fishing. You want to find the most rocks you can find.
What water temps? I fish for them alot in Buzzards Bay and do very well in the spring and again in the fall when water temps are in the low to mid fifties.
What depth? Any depth works I have caught them in less than 20' of water and have heard of them being caught in alot deeper. Most of my fish came on a small boulder pile just off Wings neck in 12 to 25 feet of water.
Do they like structure? Wrecks, humps, trenches, etc? The more structure the better. Use Power pro to avoid cut offs and to detect strikes.

Fishing:
What type of bait? Will artificials work? In this order: Green Crabs, Seaworms, Clams, Squid.
What rigs? High/Low or fishfinder? I have read to use either. Hi Low works for me. We got a lot of scup down here and other bait stealers so you got to optimize your time in the water.
Weight? What size lead should I be prepared with? 2 to 5 ounces worked well in the depths/current I fish.
Tackle? Have a couple nice combos, 3/0 senators, 50 pound braid on rods that can handle up to 12 ounces. I think a bit overkill, but it should work. I use lighter stuff. Calcutta 700's on lighter bait sticks. They nibble your bait and are very hard to detect strikes most of the time.

Anything else noteworthy that you would like to mention?
They taste great and make one of the best fish chowders imaginable.
I have not heard of very many of them caught north of Boston Harbor. Your time may be better spent Giant Bluefin fishing.

Like I said, anything helps, even if you just say 20-50 FOW or whatever.

I have a feeling this thread will fall flat on its face. Please prove me wrong

Thanks guys
Fintan

Good luck and let us know how you make out.
Fintan I answered your questions in the Quote they should have been highlighted in red but I suck at using computers. Read throught the quote and my answers are there.

[fmoore]

Weight? What size lead should I be prepared with? Enough the hold the line striaght up and down with the current.

hahaha. That one got me I don't think that was meant to be funny but it was hilarious. At least to me

Thanks for all the help guys. Seems like its not too hard once you find them. Kinda like cod fishing with bait. Not much you can do but wait.

Anyone else?

Thanks Dan and I'll be sure to post up a report after we go



Oh, and one more thing...tides. How much do the tides effect them?

Thanks
Fintan

[livetofishnj]

I'd agree with most all that was already offered, but may have a slightly different take on things.

As for finding them, as said...Rocks, wrecks, the stickier the better. If you're not getting hung up and losing some rigs then find a stickier spot to sit on.

For rigs I use a dediacted tog rig, take a 3-foot length of mono, tie a 6-inch dropper or so, right in the middle. At one of the tag ends attach the swivel, at the other tie and overhand loop for the sinker. Snip one side of the dropper close to the knot and snell a 3/0 hook to the now free end. I usually use 50-pound mono.

For bait, stick with the crabs, clams or worms as all will catch. You can usually find some crabs hanging around the rocks along the bayshores, just flip the rocks over and grab, you'll end up with a mix of green crabs and usually a few asians if they're in that area.
I've also used Gulp! crabs with some success, but only when out on a trip targeting something else.

I can;t say for NH, but to the south the tog migrate inshore and offshore. During the sumer you can find them in some really shallow spots but as the water cools, they move offshore. Every couple of weeks they seem to go about ten feet deeper. by the winter they'll be in 120 feet here and once the water gets too cold they go into a manner of hibernation and just sit around the deep wrecks. Usually we fish until the water starts to hit 40, but you'd figure it's a little deeper at bottom.

Hope this helps, I know that they are in good numbers around the tip of Cape Cod so I can;t see why NH would be too much of a stretch

[stimmy]

I'll let you in on a little secret I learned from my Tog days.
You need to set the hook just before they bite. Assuming you're in good tog territory, with the line taut (sinker on the bottom), test your line every half minute or so. If you feel any resistance, set the hook. The little b tards will eat your crab right off your hook without ever pulling on the line. I learned that after losing many green crabs to togs.
I caught a 13 lb tog once, but it's flesh was very oily and fishy. The 3 to 5 lb togs can't be beat on the table even if they stink (like someone cut the cheese) while you fillet them.

[fmoore]

Well, this has turned into a state record attempt. I just checked and the records only 3 pounds 12 oz Hopefully we'll break that.