Tog Fishing 10/8

[southport05]

Got a chance to go tog fishing for the first time this past Friday with my buddy Pete and a couple guys on his boat "Reel Pursuit". Went over to Cleveland Ledge in the morning and anchored up. Little bumpy out, but not bad at all on the hook. Having never fished for tog before, it was quite a new experience for me. I can't believe how good those fish are at stealing the crab off the hook!!! I had a hard time getting the technique at first. I'd get the tap-tap and immediately try to set the hook like I was cod fishing. Didn't work very well. Did finally catch some, but never felt like I got a good technique down the whole morning. We had a lot of shorts early, with a couple of keepers. Also, lot of small scup, and a couple of small monks. Then the action slowed dramatically. I started chunking the green crabs, and within a few minutes the activity picked up significantly. This lasted for about 30-40 mins, then died off. We ran out of crabs not long after that, and called it a day. Had a great time, and can't wait to do it again. Although if anyone has any tips on how I can improve on the hookset on togs, it would be greatly appreciated.

[albin 28]

generally you have to setthe hook just before they bite

[reel 'n 'easy]

I've been tog fishing for 32 years and still haven't figured them out yet! A few little tips; Be patient on the hook set. They'll pick up the crab and crunch it to break the shell then they'll come back to eat. So more often your swinging on the first crunch whe he is spitting it out. Wait for the second hit and swing away.
I dont know how you hook your bait but I cut the crab in half and the legs back at the first joint, set the hook through the last joint of the leg and through the underbody. I have less bait stolen and multiple shots at hook ups. I cant wait for our season to get going in NJ. Its only 1 fish untill Nov 15th.
Let me know if it helps

[AlloyToy]

tap
tap, tap
tap, tap, tap

WHAM!! Let em have it


Nice catch there WTG!!

[On The Edge]

tap
tap, tap
tap, tap, tap

WHAM!! Let em have it


Nice catch there WTG!!

"WHAM!! Let em have it" is my favorite part

[reel 'n 'easy]

Last years 11lber off NJ

[reel 'n 'easy]

Sorry here it is

[southport05]

Hey reel, Nice Tog! All the tips help. Plan to try them out on the next trip (whenever this friggin wind stops blowing). Yes, we were baiting our hooks the way you described, so for me I think it's more when to "let 'em have it!"

[Wayward Sun]

I've been tog fishing for 32 years and still haven't figured them out yet! A few little tips; Be patient on the hook set. They'll pick up the crab and crunch it to break the shell then they'll come back to eat. So more often your swinging on the first crunch whe he is spitting it out. Wait for the second hit and swing away.
I dont know how you hook your bait but I cut the crab in half and the legs back at the first joint, set the hook through the last joint of the leg and through the underbody. I have less bait stolen and multiple shots at hook ups. I cant wait for our season to get going in NJ. Its only 1 fish untill Nov 15th.
Let me know if it helps

I do quite well on Togs and to be honest the real big ones dont generly do Tap Tap... I found that them big ones just inhale the half crab and you just feel it start to get heavy set up and hold on.... I had 1 bust my graphite stick this week