Spring Tog
 

This will be my first year spring tog fishing. When do these guys usually start showing up around here?

You want to watch the water temps they start showing up around 50 degrees with the mid to upper 50 degree range being the best.
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Legal season won't start in Rhody until April 15 - before that it is all C&R. That said, with the warmer than normal water temps this season you could probably find some takers earlier. Before there were legal "tog seasons" guys would routinely start targeting them during late March in upper bay areas such as Tiverton Basin, Warren River, Rumstick. Sandworms were the better bait UNTIL the cunners got active - then we switched to crabs. Hardest part if you're trying to push the season will be getting bait.

Once the season gets underway consider releasing all the larger females and males and keeping the 16-20 inch slot fish.

Good luck.

Perfect thanks.

Last fall we did really well out front. Is the Spring bite more up inside the bay?

MA waters open season on tog year round!

If you would like some really valuable information about tog Google.... Tautog(tautog onitus)Life history and habitat.
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What he said. these fish are headed up the bay to do the dance with no pants. treat them nice so we have more to catch in the future!

You guys are lucky to still have a spring season, ours in ct was cancelled. The DEP wants to cut the recreational harvest by 53% this year. Guess ill be taking some trips to MA and RI this year

The way RI has gotten hammered the last 5 years, I expect something similar down the road for RI (speaking from my gut, I have no RIMFC news or anything).

They are arguably, the easiest species for us (being rec's) to overfish pretty quickly....

Soon very,very soon.

I can see why. couldnt believe the scene at a local ramp last fall. 4 boats came in 3 were busted for poaching. As the officer boarded my boat said he got a guy last week with over 40 tog on his boat, 30 being short. Couldnt imagine how many dont get caught.

Tons.
When we had the r/v up the bay the stories I heard of the rampany poaching were enough to make me sick.

Think pretty far up the bay, Ohio, etc... definetly call DEM if you observe anything shady.

It used to be a handful of boats later in the season... pressure has increased MARKEDLY in the last 10 years. Easily the highest we've observed locally based on the collective years of the Valhalla crew.