help with tog

[Jackie O]

I have never fished for and have no idea how to fish for tog.
If you would send me in the rite direction I would appreciate it. Is it a bottom fish ? Is it good eating ? what sizes do they run ? what equipment do you use. I fish Buzz Bay mostly the flats and mouth of canal from small boat. What bottom do they like ? Please help me. Thanks Jackie O

[bloocrab]

Tautog (Tautoga onitis) or "Tog" as they're known on the web..... are territorial fish found in hard-bottom reefs and rocky environments from Nova Scotia to South Carolina, most commonly from Cape Cod to Delaware. The species frequents rock piles, bridge pilings, artificial reefs and they can also be found around wrecks and structure to depths of about 100 feet. . They feed on a variety of mollusks and crustaceans such as mussels, barnacles and crabs, which the fish crushes in its strong molars. A cold water fish, tautog migrate seasonally inshore and offshore. They are year-round residents of the Chesapeake Bay , entering the Bay when the water temperature reaches about 40 degrees F. When the water is below 40 degrees it is difficult to catch tog, above 44 degrees is best.

Spawning occurs from late April to early August in the lower Bay and offshore.
The young are planktonic for about three weeks and then take up residence in the camouflaged safety of green sea grass beds.
The young fish lose their bright green coloring as they mature–usually in three to four years–and become uniformly black.
A mature young tautog is approximately 13 inches long, and maximum adult size is 3.1 feet... ..thats a biggin'

The largest recorded tautog, caught off Wachapreague, Virginia in 1987, weighed 24 pounds....

A slow-growing fish, the tautog can live for more than 30 years. In older fish, the sex ratio is known to be skewed toward males. Older males have a white chin resembling a "beard". Older females resemble young fish, retaining their uniform black coloring.

Tautog is a delicious food fish; the flesh is off-white and firm-textured. The flavor is mild, but distinctive -- often compared to red snapper.


Ok, now to some specifics on landing these hogs....


Tackle should be on the heavy side, unless your boat-fishing....you should use a minimum of 30# test. Some anglers use a shocker of 40 or 50 and tie it to some new braid or lighter monos...like 20. I prefer the "heavy side"...a quick "burr" anywhere on your line decreases strength drastically. I use 30, and even now have 40# on there for Wednesday.. I fish some nasty waters...The key is to be able to hoist the fish away from the structure before it can make it back to its hole. As it smells your bait it ventures out from its hole ..snatches it, and dives back down for cover. If you do get hung up, you may get free by bouncing your sinker up and down. If you have a fish on, you can try giving it slack, and sometimes, it will swim out of its hole for you. If nothing else works, pull hard until something gives. I am usually patient if there was any action prior to getting hung up. If nothing happens (like a bite, tug or wiggle), its time to break...make sure you help your reel by taking some strain off of it while you back up...DON'T WRAP THE LINE AROUND YOUR HAND!!..if necessary, use an object to wrap your line around a few times and use that as your "backing"..You don't wan't to use your reel as your "rock".

...YOU WILL LOSE GEAR WHEN TOG FISHING....

...I repeat....YOU WILL LOSE GEAR WHEN TOG FISHING....be prepared.

The preferred hook size(s) are 4/0 and 5/0...I will use anything from 1/0 to 4/0..depending on the size of my bait. Sinker size depends on the current and the depth of the water. ....I've also tried the three-way swivel method, and I like it but....I look at it this way...if one hook is to get stuck..then the break-off point, if it happens to be before the swivel will cause you to lose the entire rig, including a possible fish. If you tie the hooks on indivdually, and you get a fish on one...and the other hook snags or the weight gets caught, possibilities are that you may still land that 10lber. My favorite bait is crab (green)...LEAVE US BLOO ONES OUT OF THIS GAME!!.. ..Some anglers use clams, seaworms and even squid when they're aggressive, but any type of crab will work. If your using large crabs, cut them in half....if they're 3/4 of an inch or less, put them on whole...

....I haven't boat fished for them much, but I'm sure some other members will help out in that area...I've always heard of GREAT rock piles down at the opening of the Canal, that hold tog as we type!!...so don't be afraid to locate some rockpiles on your fishfinder....and Go Get Em'!!!...

...I would imagine, on a boat....a shocker leader with some lighter mono would suffice...

[bloocrab]

.....Jackie, I hope I didn't bore you.....


...I had posted a picture of how I rig my crabs, but after doing an endless search.....I couldn't find it. I forgot what it was under...maybe John can help....

[Jackie O]

Bloocrab, You said a mouthfull. Thanks for the info, I think you answered all my questions . You write very well. clear concise and to the point. Thank you very much. On another fishing board we were talking this winter about catching 30 dif. kinds of fish. Fresh and salt water fish count. I think it will be hard to do but with some good help from you, I should be able to add this fish to my list. Its hard for me to fish for things other than may favs (smallmouth,bluefish,and stripers),but Being able to fish for multi species at there prime time is smart and fun to do. Thanks for answering me back. Jackie O

[AnthonyN]

I just got a couple things to add Bloo pretty much summed it up. As far as a rod I suggest a heavy action stiff rod to help set the hook ( tog got some tough lips!) Besides that you are gonna need that stiffness to get the togs head up they will head straight down!!! I use an Ugly Stick Tiger spinning rod which is meant more for tuna fishing heh. with a Diawa Black Gold 60 spooled with 30lb mono. I also like to use the 1/0 Gami octopus hooks they seem to be the best for penatrating the togs lips. A cheaper alternative far as a hook would be a mustad 4011E. I would also suggest tighting your drag allmost al the way down as tog are not a fish to play in you have to horse em! I also suggest holding the rod while you fish as tog bites can be hard to sense they have a knack of picking bait off your hook without taking the hook!


Good luck!!!

[Fish_Eye]

Jackie O,

You have already gotten some great tog fishin' advice...let me just add a few of my observations/techniques. Boat position is vital! If you find good structure -- edge of a reef's drop off, top of a reef where it forms a rocky plateau, tight to a bridge or old wharf -- you need to hold directly over the concentration of fish. Many savvy toggers will use a second anchor to stay directly over the herd -- they are a schooling fish that don't roam very much.

Try 50 pound PowerPro line, it's extremely sensitive, no stretch and thin diameter.

Wait until you feel a second 'nibble' on your bait before you strike. Tog will first crunch you crab with their front teeth as the grab the bait. If you strike immediately, you'll pull the offering out of their rubbery lips. By waiting till you feel the second tug (within just a second or so after the first hit) the tog will have passed the bait down to its second set of grinding teeth...this will give you far more hook ups and a lot less "swing and a miss" situations.

Try fishing the reefs off of Westport with "Hens and Chickens" being a great place to find big tog.



Mike Laptew

[AnthonyN]

One more thing! Since were talking about boat tog fishing (i fish from shore) use a chum pot!!! Grind up somne crabs throw em in the pot and drop them right on the structure than fish right next to your chum pot

[bloocrab]

...AnthonyN...Its amazing how well chum pots work.....even for flounder!!....

...another great ingredient for the chum pot is mussels!!!.....



...Fish_Eye.....Not many people are aware of the second set of dentures on a Tog...They're amazing, aren't they??....

....And Fish_Eye is 100% correct on that......they do the initial cracking with their buck teeth, then send the particles down to their "grinders" to finish up chomping...who'd know better than an underwater dentist!!..eh Mike! ....I'll post a picture of them "grinders" from my next battle!!..

...Fish_Eye, is a champion togger with numerous monsters under his belt....and of course it does help, when your looking thru a "Fishes_Eye"......