Spring tautog season in full
swing
The spring tautog season in Massachusetts and Rhode Island opened
April 1 with a 16” minimum size, only one fish may be greater than 21. The season runs through May 31 with a three
fish/person/day limit and a ten fish per boat limit (does not apply to charter
boats).
In Massachusetts the limit reduces to one fish from June 1 to July 31. In Rhode Island the season closes in during peak spawning and reopens once again with a three fish/person/day limit on August 1 along with Massachusetts. Some of my favorite tautog fishing tips learned from the experts.
·
Keep rig simple to reduce tie ups, I prefer an egg sinker rig
with one hook extended below the sinker on a swivel, or a one hook conventional
rig with a dropper loop and sinker. Today
the most popular rig for anglers are jigs of all sizes and colors.
·
Anchor over or near structure, and fish the entire boat or
area if on land, even casting a bit as tautog are territorial, a few feet make
a difference, also let anchor line in and out to change position unless you
have and electric motor.
·
Be prepared to chum as needed, I use a mixture of cut-up sea
clams and crushed crabs
·
I use 30 to 40 pound braid
line with a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader of equal value to enhance a
direct connection to the fish and the line does not stretch when the fish tries
to run back into structure, my fishing rod is a medium action rod.
·
Your rig should be on the bottom, be patient particularly in
the spring as the bites are not as frequent.
·
Be prepared to fish different types of rigs and bait
presentations depending on conditions and what fish want i.e. conventional
rigs, jigs and various baits (green
crabs, Asian crabs, clam bellies).
New cod and haddock regulation
areas
The Massachusetts Division of
Marine Fisheries (DMF) has filed final regulations which will go into effect on
May 9, 2025 concerning cod and haddock as well as other groundfish. Federal
rules apply to all fishing activity in federal waters and Massachusetts
accommodates the possession and landing of groundfish lawfully taken in federal
waters that do not conform to state rules. For information on the new interim
federal emergency rules visit NOAA
Fisheries Implements an Emergency Action to Ensure the Northeast Multispecies
Fishery Continues Uninterrupted.
New cod management area: Massachusetts
has implemented its management areas for codfish consistent with pending
changes to the federal stock boundary delineations. All state waters north of
Cape Cod and those waters down the backside of Cape Cod and east of Nantucket
west of the 70th meridian are now considered Western Gulf of
Maine; all other state waters are now Southern New England. Effectively, this designates
that band of waters east of Cape Cod and Nantucket south of 42° 00’ north
latitude from Southern New England into the Western Gulf of Maine.
Moratorium on Southern New
England Codfish: DMF has also
adopted a moratorium on the harvest and possession of cod by commercial and
recreational fishers within the Southern New England cod management areas.
While there is little cod catch occurring in these state waters, this action is
designed to backstop anticipated federal rules.
Recreational Limits for Gulf of
Maine Haddock and Western Gulf of Maine Cod: At this time, the recreational
fishing limits for haddock and Western Gulf of Maine cod remain status quo,
consistent with federal regulations. For Gulf of Maine haddock the open fishing
season is April 1 – February 28 with a 18” minimum size and 15-fish bag limit
and for Western Gulf of Maine cod, the open season is September 1 – October 31
with a 1-fish bag limit and 23” minimum size.
Massachusetts extends Small
Vessel Speed Restriction
During a partial aerial survey on
April 29, the Center for Coastal Studies documented 52 right whales in Cape Cod
Bay, including three mother/calf pairs, all of which were skim feeding at the
surface or just below the surface. This feeding behavior makes them highly
susceptible to vessel collision. Acoustic detections of right whales on a near
real-time monitoring buoy in Cape Cod Bay also shows a continued strong
presence.
As a result of the ongoing presence
of right whales, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is extending the small
vessel speed restriction in Cape Cod Bay through May 15, 2025. Small vessels
(less than 65’) are required to travel at speeds no greater than 10 knots in
this area. Right whales are highly susceptible to injury and death due to vessel
collision. A complementary federal speed restriction in the same area applies
to vessels 65’ and greater.
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass fishing
for holdover striped bass (fish that did not migrate south) continues to be
very good with anglers catching keeper striped bass 28” to < 31”. East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal
fishing expert and author, said, “Rob Fishsticks’ Pesa is on the board with his
first striped bass of the season, a holdover caught in the Taunton River that
fell for a small green mack Savage Sand Eel and “Hammerin’ Jack” Barton has
been doing well in the same area for the past two weeks with Savages &
FishLabs.” Tom Olson of Ponaug Bait
& Tackle said, “Still no action in Apponaug Cove and Greenwich Bay area, no
birds feeding and not much bait in the water, things should break open soon as
the water warms.”
Tautog. Angler Richard Reich of Narragansett and his
fishing partner caught eleven tautog in 20 feet of water off Narragansett last
Thursday. Their largest fish was 24” and
7.24 pounds caught on jigs with Asian crabs. “Shore
anglers fishing the jetties have not been doing as well as those anglers
fishing the reefs off Watch Hill. The
bait of choice that seems to be working best are white crabs if you can get
them,” said Paker Mandes of Watch Hill Outfitters, Westerly. Dustin Stevens of
Rhode Island Kayak Adventures, said, “It was windy and cold but I can’t complain
about a successful opening day for Tautog! Two keepers, two shorts, not too
shabby.” Justin was fishing in 15-31 feet
of water and his average time from drop to bite was about ten minutes. “I like to use half of a green crab with legs
off in the spring as the fish seem to like softer baits.”
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