Togg Fishing?

["uffah!!"]

I know this is a striper net, but, does any of you fisherman fish for Togg?
I never have, and would like to know how, and what type of equipment, and most of all, where to find these fish! I never tasted the togg and was wondering what they tasted like??
Any help will be deeply appreciated!!!!!!!

[outfished]

Taste like chicken. Seriously though I wouldn't mind knowing myself. Never tried catching or eating them.

[BrianS]

Ive tried, but not in very good places.

I think Ive caught one in my entire life.

Hopefully this is pretty educational.

[RIJIMMY]

rocky areas, jetties, crabs or seaworms as bait. They are light hitters so pay attention.
IMHO, second only to fluke, they are the best tasting fish around here.

[fishweewee]

It's best to go tog fishing with someone who's done it, as it is harder to explain on a board than show in person.

Tog inhabit rockpiles, wrecks, and mussel beds.

They dine on crustaceans, mollusks, and worms. Rarely, they will take chunk baits, but this the exception.

Bottom line - you need crabs. Green, whitechin, hermit, and blue crabs work well.

If you're fishing from a boat, a stout 7 foot conventional stick with BRAIDED line hooked up to a dropper loop rig (3/0 or 4/0 octopus hook in middle) tied to a suitable bank sinker (= just enough to hold bottom but no heavier) .

Use a piece of CUT live crab (a 1/4 piece). Pull off claws and legs with your fingers. Retract flap/tail of carapace (the "groin") and pull it off. Cut crab in half down middle (actually, easiest with a pair of shears) and then cut the half in halves.

As soon as you hit bottom with the crab, immediately tighten up any slack you might feel and wait for hits (which shouldn't take long).

Tog bites are very subtle - in my experience you have to hit them hard right after the first tap that you feel.

Tog will steal you blind and you'll lose rigs to the rocks. But they are very fun to catch and tasty fish (they eat crab and the flavor is very crabbish).

When you catch tog - don't skin them like you would a striper - cut a diagonal notch just behind the gills and use pliers to unglove the skin.

-WW

[fishaholic18]

What Wee Wee said.
I use a whole crab, rip off a couple of legs to thread the hook thru and hang on.
I got a spot that produces some big a$$ chinners, it's better later in the season though.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Use the biggest possible crab you can find..
7/0 or 8/0 hooks
Mono line (braid was OK, but didnt outfish mono for me)
Everything else I agree with

[outfished]

Is there a particular time and season for these fish? Thanks for the info guys!

[Squibby17]

Tog can be good eating although they are quite boney. I caught a couple last may on the Duxbury bridge in Duxbury Mass.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Clammer got that right... fall only... spring time = basses...
But shallow water works too, just scale back on weight a bit..
What little I;ve dont in the spring; crabs work then too.....

[likwid]

When they're on crabs, they're on em hard, always used both worms and crabs together... it works.
Any good rockpile will hold Tog, esp. around BB.

GL over by dong 9 is prolly good right now.

Fabulous chowder fish.

[RIROCKHOUND]

This is what the late fall is all about....

[outfished]

sweeeet! Gotta try to get me some of that.

[KJLane]

That's an absolute monster Tog!!!