The spring tug of war season with Tautog began April 15. The best fishing for the species is in the late summer and fall but fish are caught in the spring too.
Tautog (or Blackfish) are a great eating fish. They are work to catch due to the maneuvering, bottom tie-ups and lost rigs that are caused as part of the process. However, their bulldog like fight is very exciting, much like a tug of war between you and the Tautog. Once the fish is hooked it will try to bulldog its way back down into rock or structure where it can cut the line or catch the sinker on a rock. So when the fish bites, it becomes the angler’s job not to let it bury itself in the structure.
Anglers have their favorite methods, baits, rigs and places to catch Tautog, here are mine:
From shore or boat
The good thing about Tautog is that they can be fished from shore or boat. The common thread is structure. From shore it is a matter of trial and error to find a hole that holds fish. Cast too close to shore and you can easily get hung up on rock. Cast too far and your line may not be close enough to feel the bite.
From a boat it is important to position the vessel over structure. Locate the structure (on sonar if you have it), estimate wind and current, then anchor up current so that as the anchor line pays out the vessel is over the structure or slightly before it. Tautog are territorial so it is important to fish all sides of the boat, even cast a bit covering as much area as you can. If still no bites, pay out a little more anchor line to reposition the boat, repeat the process, if still no bites it is time to move to another spot.
Rigs and Bait
Tautog rigs should be kept simple, one or two hooks and a sinker. I use clam worms and live green crabs for bait. Softer baits, like clam worms are used in spring. When using crabs, break off claws and legs, cut the crab in half or use the entire crab if small. Hook the crab though one leg socket and out another.
Reduce Rig Loss
Loosing rigs is a common Tautog fishing experience. To reduce rig loss consider tying the sinker on with 8 or 10 lb. test line or an elastic so if the sinker gets hung-up, the lighter line or elastic breaks first and all you loose is the sinker.
The Bite and Tug of War
Usually Tautog will hit the bait with a tap, tap. My friend Captain George Cioe believes that Tautog is positioning the bait for consumption with the taps. So it is important to have no slack in the line so you feel the taps. To set the hook lower your rod as the fish pulls. Raise the rod up firmly feeling the weight of the fish (no need to jerk the rod up hard). Once the fish is hooked, keep the rod up and pressure on so the fish is not able to run for cover.
Little Drag and Consider Braid
It is important to put little drag on the reel and apply constant pressure so the Tautog comes up and does not go down. For this reason consider using braid rather than monofilament line that may stretch and cause the fish to reach structure and cut the line or snag the sinker.
Where to fish for Tautog
From shore the rocky coastline on Jamestown (Beavertail) and Newport is good, around light houses is good too as are old bridge pilings and underwater debris. From a boat I have had good luck at Whale Rock, the Jamestown lighthouse next to the bridge and rock structure around Hope Island. Tautog also live in uncommon locations, anywhere there is debris, rock clusters, wrecks, etc. My luck has been best early in the day or late in the afternoon when there has been water moving.
Rhode Island DEM Regulations on Season Dates, Minimum Size and Catch
The Tautog season runs from April 15 to May 31 with a closure occurring June 1 through June 30. The season opens again July 1 and runs until December 15. Minimum size is 16”. The possession limit from April 15 to May 31 and July 1 to October 16 is three fish/person/day. The limit is eight fish/person/day from October 17 to December 15.
Where’s the Bite
Fresh water action was good this week. Anglers are catching fish but not their limit. Rattanna Phommabouth caught a nice Pike on Warden’s Pond casting with a Mepps Aglia from Ocean State Tackle, Craig Mancini of Continental Bait & Tackle in Cranston said that Cub Scout Pack 6 of Cranston had a good day of fishing on Meshanicut Pond, Scouts and adults did well with shiners. Artie Peltier of Erickson’s Bait & Tackele said most customers are doing better fishing ponds rather than rivers.
Tautog. Captain Billy Silvia caught six fish and two keepers in Bristol Harbor using crab. Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle in Warwick reported a customer taking a fish at Spindle Rock. I fished for Tautog with my brother-in-law Pete this weekend at the Jamestown bridge lighthouse and around Hope Island with no luck. Fish this time of year are staging for spawning so I will try again as the season progresses.
Striped Bass. Not a lot of bass reported yet. Angler Jim Malachowski fished the Providence River from Bold Point (including inside the hurricane barrier) to Save the Bay and got no bites. Angler Mike Shepard of Newport reported no squid and no striped bass in the area (and both usually arrive together). The bass are south and will be here soon. Dave Henault of Ocean State reported Bob Oberg caught 18 stripers (two keepers) from his kayak (with tube and worm) on the Thames River in Connecticut.
Fluke/Flounder. At press time DEM’s Fish & Wildlife Division was scheduled to have a public hearing on proposed recreational and commercial fishing regulation changes on Wednesday, April 22, 6 p.m. at the URI Bay Campus. Proposed summer flounder regulations were on the agenda.
Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing on Narragansett Bay for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license. Your fishing photos with captions, stories, comments and questions are welcome… there’s more than one way to catch a fish so e-mail Captain Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net .
Tautog (or Blackfish) are a great eating fish. They are work to catch due to the maneuvering, bottom tie-ups and lost rigs that are caused as part of the process. However, their bulldog like fight is very exciting, much like a tug of war between you and the Tautog. Once the fish is hooked it will try to bulldog its way back down into rock or structure where it can cut the line or catch the sinker on a rock. So when the fish bites, it becomes the angler’s job not to let it bury itself in the structure.
Anglers have their favorite methods, baits, rigs and places to catch Tautog, here are mine:
From shore or boat
The good thing about Tautog is that they can be fished from shore or boat. The common thread is structure. From shore it is a matter of trial and error to find a hole that holds fish. Cast too close to shore and you can easily get hung up on rock. Cast too far and your line may not be close enough to feel the bite.
From a boat it is important to position the vessel over structure. Locate the structure (on sonar if you have it), estimate wind and current, then anchor up current so that as the anchor line pays out the vessel is over the structure or slightly before it. Tautog are territorial so it is important to fish all sides of the boat, even cast a bit covering as much area as you can. If still no bites, pay out a little more anchor line to reposition the boat, repeat the process, if still no bites it is time to move to another spot.
Rigs and Bait
Tautog rigs should be kept simple, one or two hooks and a sinker. I use clam worms and live green crabs for bait. Softer baits, like clam worms are used in spring. When using crabs, break off claws and legs, cut the crab in half or use the entire crab if small. Hook the crab though one leg socket and out another.
Reduce Rig Loss
Loosing rigs is a common Tautog fishing experience. To reduce rig loss consider tying the sinker on with 8 or 10 lb. test line or an elastic so if the sinker gets hung-up, the lighter line or elastic breaks first and all you loose is the sinker.
The Bite and Tug of War
Usually Tautog will hit the bait with a tap, tap. My friend Captain George Cioe believes that Tautog is positioning the bait for consumption with the taps. So it is important to have no slack in the line so you feel the taps. To set the hook lower your rod as the fish pulls. Raise the rod up firmly feeling the weight of the fish (no need to jerk the rod up hard). Once the fish is hooked, keep the rod up and pressure on so the fish is not able to run for cover.
Little Drag and Consider Braid
It is important to put little drag on the reel and apply constant pressure so the Tautog comes up and does not go down. For this reason consider using braid rather than monofilament line that may stretch and cause the fish to reach structure and cut the line or snag the sinker.
Where to fish for Tautog
From shore the rocky coastline on Jamestown (Beavertail) and Newport is good, around light houses is good too as are old bridge pilings and underwater debris. From a boat I have had good luck at Whale Rock, the Jamestown lighthouse next to the bridge and rock structure around Hope Island. Tautog also live in uncommon locations, anywhere there is debris, rock clusters, wrecks, etc. My luck has been best early in the day or late in the afternoon when there has been water moving.
Rhode Island DEM Regulations on Season Dates, Minimum Size and Catch
The Tautog season runs from April 15 to May 31 with a closure occurring June 1 through June 30. The season opens again July 1 and runs until December 15. Minimum size is 16”. The possession limit from April 15 to May 31 and July 1 to October 16 is three fish/person/day. The limit is eight fish/person/day from October 17 to December 15.
Where’s the Bite
Fresh water action was good this week. Anglers are catching fish but not their limit. Rattanna Phommabouth caught a nice Pike on Warden’s Pond casting with a Mepps Aglia from Ocean State Tackle, Craig Mancini of Continental Bait & Tackle in Cranston said that Cub Scout Pack 6 of Cranston had a good day of fishing on Meshanicut Pond, Scouts and adults did well with shiners. Artie Peltier of Erickson’s Bait & Tackele said most customers are doing better fishing ponds rather than rivers.
Tautog. Captain Billy Silvia caught six fish and two keepers in Bristol Harbor using crab. Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle in Warwick reported a customer taking a fish at Spindle Rock. I fished for Tautog with my brother-in-law Pete this weekend at the Jamestown bridge lighthouse and around Hope Island with no luck. Fish this time of year are staging for spawning so I will try again as the season progresses.
Striped Bass. Not a lot of bass reported yet. Angler Jim Malachowski fished the Providence River from Bold Point (including inside the hurricane barrier) to Save the Bay and got no bites. Angler Mike Shepard of Newport reported no squid and no striped bass in the area (and both usually arrive together). The bass are south and will be here soon. Dave Henault of Ocean State reported Bob Oberg caught 18 stripers (two keepers) from his kayak (with tube and worm) on the Thames River in Connecticut.
Fluke/Flounder. At press time DEM’s Fish & Wildlife Division was scheduled to have a public hearing on proposed recreational and commercial fishing regulation changes on Wednesday, April 22, 6 p.m. at the URI Bay Campus. Proposed summer flounder regulations were on the agenda.
Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing on Narragansett Bay for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license. Your fishing photos with captions, stories, comments and questions are welcome… there’s more than one way to catch a fish so e-mail Captain Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net .
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