Anybody catch any Tautog last season? I used to go out with my dad 10-12 years ago in a little Sea Craft CC and catch some big boys, tried a couple times last year in the old haunts and couldn't land a fish! Have there stocks been declining? Or do I need to find a new spot?

You have to chum alot (use fresh muscles) and use fresh quohogs for bait.

I use Pacific bass hooks, size 2/0
Check out this catch of flounder and tog.
If you only use crabs, you wont catch any flounders
go the first couple weeks in May
http://thumbs.villagephotos.com/index.asp?id_=8294348

Shallow water with sand worms--lore or not, I like the idea of soft mouths in the spring, hard in the fall.

So when do they show up again?

Little birdy told me there being caught in Buzz bay....A,,, thats what he told me.

I like crabs spring and fall.

When around the newport-jamestown area?

When you see the dandilions the Togs will be biting.I use crabs spring and fall.

Goose,

You mean like 3/21/04 you have heard people catching them in B-Bay??

Originally posted by Vectorfisher
...You mean like 3/21/04 you have heard people catching them in B-Bay??...


It's gotta be close.......last year, the winter was about the same and I was into Tog just after April Fool's day. . . . it was spotty at first, but then it picked up big-time for a couple of weeks. I didn't try for them in March <<must have been the first week of April though>>.....but I DOUBT their into serious numbers now...they could be picking one up here and there....



Tie those hooks - If your like me, I keep forgetting April is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER ...and we all know what that means...:happy:

had some in lobster pots

Vector....the info I was given is only as good as its source. IMO.....rate the source 1 to 10. abouta 7. They we're takin tog for over two weeks now(so they say).

Ya know what they say: early bird gets the worm.

Becareful if you're toggin
In RI I think the season is closed until May 1.. also these spring fish are spawning so only keep what you want to eat and leave the females... just eat the chins

Late Oct-Dec of RI is the best time for bruiser Blackfish....
Oh and crabs for bait... the biggest you can find!

To answer your question, the fishing isn't like it was 10-15 years ago. Fish stocks have declined. You just can't set over a piece of open bottom and expect to catch. You need to find a good rockpile and then chum.

I disagree, the stocks were declining but the last few years the stocks have been recovering and we have been catching very good numbers of blackfish in the fall..

Mass tog is about 4/1 maybe a few around now??
Just don't kill your self yet! Mass rec limt is Just 3 fish at 16 inches!! :(
I Like to wait a little longer so i can target some other stuff to make a nice day of it.