I do all my fishing for tautog from shore. Over the years you find certain hot spots for tog fishing. Since your from Conn I wouldn't be able to tell you any spots for Tog but, I can tell you what to look for in a spot. Here are a couple tips to help you find a decent spot. Tog like rocky places thats there home they love rocks its provides them shelter and food. 2) Togs also like some current if there no current it doesn't mean there is no tog there but if there is current togs like that more speaking of moving water don't expect to catch a tog on a slack tide hence the moving water, they like moving water even if its from the tide. 3) Tog like mussel and oyster beds so if you see these there may be tog there. 4) Look for a pier drop your rig straight down next to the pier if you can get under the pier throw your rig under the pier. The togs like picking at the barnacles and mussels and stuff that grow on the pylons. Its the same with bridges drop your rig next to the supports that holds up the bridge in the water the engineers usually shore up the supports with lots and lots of rocks.
So that is pretty much it look for piers, jettys, rock piles, Mussel/Oyster beds, if there is a nice current or outflow even better if not no big deal just make sure the tide is running.
Now as far a what you will need for gear. I use a stout 7ft rod with 30lb test with my drag tightened almost all the way. For rigs i suggest you start out with ones you can buy that are already rigged and ready to go make sure the leaders are 50 or 60# with 3/0 tog hooks. I also use bank sinkers as they are less likely to get stuck 2 or 3oz are fine. For bait I love to use green crabs grab some scissors cut the crab in half and cut the legs off if you want i don't though it adds extra nibbles. Tautog bite with fast small bites you can miss them easily so i always hold my rod i never put it down. Don't set the hook untill you feel the fish on there so when you feel the bites take up just a bit of slack get ready to feel the weight of the fish once you do pull up real hard and reel reel reel they will not swim outwards but straight down!!! so you gotta try to get there heads up and not let them get to the rocks or its game over!!!!!
I hope i helped a bit and i wish you the best of luck on your tog trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S Check your local laws on legal sizes and bag limits of TOG AKA Blackfish
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