Tips to Catch Big Tautog

In the fitting arms, and with the correct deal with, jigs are a lethal technique to catch large tautog. The creator caught this 11-pound-plus feminine tog on a day when over ten double-digit fish had been taken on jigs.

As the autumn climate settles in, anglers throughout the Northeast are wanting to get on the water and bend a rod earlier than winter arrives. Fall presents a plethora of fishing choices from each land and boat, however when that morning chill is within the air, there’s just one factor on my thoughts… it’s time to catch large tautog!

Whether or not you name them tautog, white chins, crab-wreckers, or blackfish, the commonality we share as Northeast toggers is easy: “The Tug is the Drug.” That delicate but distinct really feel of a biting tautog may drive the fish’s cult following insane, however it nonetheless is the happiest time of the fishing 12 months.

Step one to catching a double-digit tautog this fall is thru preparation and a focus to element. Listed below are some tips about baits and rigging to help in dominating the elusive blackish.

15-pound-plus “white chin” tautog - how to catch big tautog — The creator with a 15-pound-plus “white chin” tog caught on a jig.

Varieties of Bait

Whereas the phrase above could possibly be related to any Northeast species, it particularly applies to tautog. The variety of variables that have an effect on the result of a trophy blackfish hunt can get worrisome – issues akin to anchoring, boat positioning, water depth, water temperature, and fishing strain, to call just a few. Nonetheless, one merchandise you may management is bait. Within the early fall, tog typically hunt within the shallows on the lookout for straightforward meals, and they’re more likely to discover two of our extra widespread crab species.

Some fishermen have the mindset, “bigger bait, bigger fish,” however this isn’t at all times the case, particularly when tog are within the shallows early within the fall. There, they’re foraging on smaller baits that inhabit a shallow water rock pile or mussel mattress, and when fishing these areas, Asian shore crabs could be a deadly possibility.

asian shore crab — Asian shore crabs are straightforward to seek out if you understand the place to look.

Due to its small profile, the Asian crab makes an incredible possibility for a stealthy presentation. You’ll be able to add a number of crabs on a hook and have a number of alternatives at connecting on these typically irritating strikes. Asian crabs are equally efficient when paired with the fitting tog jig.

As a child, we used to go to the shore on low tide and flip rocks to get our personal Asian crabs to make use of for togging. They’re not often accessible in deal with retailers, so catching them your self is usually the one technique to get them for bait.

rigged white-legger crab — Massive, complete crabs, like this shedder white-legger, are greatest fished on two-hook rigs just like the slider or V-rig.

The following possibility is the preferred bait utilized by tog fishermen from Massachusetts all the way down to Virginia: the inexperienced crab. Its vigorous profile, straightforward availability, and effectiveness is what makes it standard amongst fishermen all alongside the coast. Though inexperienced crabs will not be native to our waters (they hitched a experience throughout the Atlantic from Europe on picket ships within the early nineteenth century), they’ve discovered a house right here and have turn into a daily forage for crustation eaters akin to sea bass, scup, tog, and fluke.

The inexperienced crab is oily and smelly. As soon as minimize or cracked open, its essence permeates the water, creating an attractive chum slick that lures within the tog.

Inexperienced crabs are available at most bait and deal with retailers due to their abundance and hardiness. Placing them in a private bait pen for long-term storage is an possibility for diehard toggers who want bait at a second’s discover. These crabs will be as massive as 4 inches throughout, turning into a big, whole-bait possibility to enhance the quarter-sized “snack” inexperienced crabs.

Whereas it takes some additional effort and expense to safe white-legger crabs, the elevated potential of hooking a double-digit tog is properly value it.

Then there may be the key weapon, the sport changer, the cheat code, the white legger (a.ok.a. white crab). These massive crabs aren’t available at bait retailers as a result of they want cooler water temperatures so as to dwell, and discovering them within the shallows or below shoreline rocks isn’t widespread. Bait retailers don’t normally carry whites as a result of they take a bit extra work to maintain alive and have low nearshore numbers, which makes trapping them harder. Solely a choose few retailers carry whites (and normally for a restricted time), so after they do, you’ll pay a premium value for this “joker in your hand” bait.

White crabs are a major meals supply for a lot of species in deeper water. When fishing Nantucket shoals or Montauk early within the season, sea bass, fluke, scup, and juvenile striped bass are loaded with white crabs. Although not as widespread near shore, these crabs are considerable at midshore and offshore construction. I as soon as dropped a GoPro down on a wreck in 50 ft of water off Lengthy Island and noticed that it was lined with white crabs.

Among the many PhishPhinders Neighborhood, which is comprised of many devoted tog fishermen, we frequently say, “The white crab could not get as many fish all through the day, however it’ll discover the bigger fish.” Time and time once more, this has held true. These anglers have caught quite a lot of 15- to 21-pound tog, and each was caught on a white legger.

Alonzo Weir tog on a V-rig - how to catch big tautog — Alonzo Weir of PhishPhinders caught this double-digit tog on a V-rig.

Rigs vs Jigs

I dwell by the “Okay.I.S.S.” methodology (Hold It Easy, Silly). Nonetheless, with that simplicity comes some very meticulous consideration to element—and the main points are necessary if you need to catch large tautog!

The “old skool” but very efficient technique to goal these Northeast reef donkeys is to make use of rigs, and there are various methods to fish them. My dad used to tie a snelled Virginia-style hook on a double-hook rig for me after I was a toddler, and we caught tons of tog. Though we live in a really technologically inclined world with main developments in fishing gear, the Okay.I.S.S. methodology nonetheless holds true.

One of the crucial necessary items of rigging for tautog is the leader-to-braid knot; I choose the improved Alberto knot. I exploit 10 to 14 ft of topshot, a regular that gives abrasion safety when a tog tries to get again into construction. Personally, I like fluorocarbon. I’ve engaged in lots of debates over whether or not fluorocarbon is actually mandatory for tog fishing, and on the finish of the day, the catching tells the story.

My normal chief is 50-pound check as a result of that dimension lets me to place strain on a big fish in areas with construction and never fear about breaking off. When circumstances or nastier construction name for it, I am going to 60-pound-test chief with no hesitation, although 80-pound check is my ceiling.

My most popular rig is the slider rig, which permits me to get two hooks in a single crab by the leg sockets or two hooks in a single minimize crab. A two-hook rig may be very standard since you miss fewer sneaky bait-stealers, however a 1-hook rig provides you your greatest presentation and fewer resistance in stronger present.

The extra pure the presentation, the higher. Anybody can catch tog when the fish are chewing, however adjusting to the circumstances would be the distinction in who will get hosed and who will get the fitting bites.

Different two hook rigs embody the legendary “Brooklyn Snafu” and the V-Rig.

One of many newer and hottest methods to focus on our favourite gamefish is jigging. The tog-jigging craze has swept the Northeast for a handful of years, and it’s a completely totally different fashion than the old-school means; nevertheless, it could possibly produce not solely amount however main high quality.

V-Rig diagram — V-Rig1) Take a 24” to 30” size of chief materials and snell a hook to every finish.2) With the chief folded in half, tie a triple surgeon’s loop, leaving 4” to every hook. The consequence ought to be a V-shape with a hook at every finish.3) Make a loop in the primary chief, connect the hooks with a loop-to-loopconnection, after which tie a double overhand knot in the primary chief to safe it.

Let’s be very clear, not all toggers can jig successfully! Jigging has a really particular fudge issue that some both don’t like or can’t choose up on. I’ve watched a number of the greatest tog fishermen I do know strike out with the jig as a result of they merely don’t know methods to fish it.

To be efficient at jigging, first be sure your setup matches the invoice. A 2000- to 4000-size reel with a high-end drag, 15- to 20-pound-test braided line, and a rod with a lightweight tip and agency spine will assist greatest current a jig to a tog.

The jig is all about presentation and a lighter chief optimizes that. Keep on with the identical 10 to 14 ft of topshot. I tie a full fluorocarbon topshot when fishing a jig versus the monofilament topshot I exploit when fishing rigs.

The jig dimension and coloration could make a serious distinction, particularly in shallower water. Many fishermen say jig coloration and dimension doesn’t matter, however I disagree as a result of tog are extraordinarily inquisitive. In stained or murky water circumstances, loud colours like chartreuse, orange, and glow draw extra consideration than calm colours. Nonetheless, there are additionally occasions when water readability is nice and it’s best to tone down the colours.

tog jig colors — Colour will be necessary on tog jigs. Having a spread readily available to regulate to the water readability could assist get extra bites from greater blackfish.

My favourite colours are white crab, glow, and black. I exploit solely 1-, 1.5-, and 2-ounce jigs. Something heavier creates an unnatural presentation, which defeats the aim of jig fishing.

There are a plethora of fantastic jig makers to select from, although my favorites are Salvo’s Customized Lures Boxer Jig and MagicTail Outfitters Sport Changer Jig. The easiest way to fish these is just burying the hook within the crab’s leg socket with the purpose uncovered. I typically see fishermen utilizing jigs with the hook factors not uncovered, they usually are inclined to miss extra fish.

Whereas this text provides a wide range of tips about our favourite goal species, there’s no higher trainer than trial and error by yourself. Get on the market and take a look at some totally different strategies and see what works for you. And, please attain out with any breakthrough functions that you could be come across. “Semper Paratus,” means All the time Ready. Within the togging sport, poor preparation produces poor efficiency. So, keep properly ready, and if you catch, be sure you catch and launch the females and all bigger tog. Allow them to go and develop to maintain this fishery sturdy.

Captain Garrett Weir is the founding father of PhishPhinders, a fishing group supposed to deliver anglers collectively to expertise the camaraderie and pleasure of fishing within the Northeast. Observe them on Instagram: @PhishPhinders