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
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