Tautog ????

[Brian L]

Originally Posted by moosh

Has anyone fished for Tog lately ,I want to try to catch some this year never fished for them before , I hear it can be tricky ??? Any suggestions would be appreciated ??? I know u use green crabs and they hang around rocks..

Moosh- Though we've caught them at all times of the tide, they seem to bite best around slack and just before and after slack. I know plenty of people that spearfish for them and they've told me that they definitely get out of their lairs in the rocks and move around to feed more during slower water. The gnarlier the rocks, the better. If you're not losing gear, you're probably not in the right place! Green Crabs work well, of course. Fiddler Crab are absolutely automatic and Seaworms work well. If there's a lot of Cunners, Scup, and Seabass around, they usually beat the 'Tog to the worms, however. You'll get a better worm bite this time of year since the reefs aren't as heavily populated with other fish yet.

[bloocrab]

Originally Posted by Brian L

Moosh- Though we've caught them at all times of the tide, they seem to bite best around slack and just before and after slack. I know plenty of people that spearfish for them and they've told me that they definitely get out of their lairs in the rocks and move around to feed more during slower water. The gnarlier the rocks, the better. If you're not losing gear, you're probably not in the right place! Green Crabs work well, of course. Fiddler Crab are absolutely automatic and Seaworms work well. If there's a lot of Cunners, Scup, and Seabass around, they usually beat the 'Tog to the worms, however. You'll get a better worm bite this time of year since the reefs aren't as heavily populated with other fish yet.

Brian NICE fish!!!, I agree with your post too. Another good idea when fishing those nasty areas is to pre-tie your weights. I'll use a couple of inches of 15# mono attached to the sinker and then tie that to my main line which will be at least double that in #'age. The thought process being if you get hung up and attempt to 'snap' your line, it should break off at the sinker allowing you to free up the fish that may be pulling on the hook, as well as keep your running line where it belongs, on your spool and not floating around the rocky bottoms.