Fishing for Tautog
Anglers love talking about the fun they have fishing for tautog – blackfish – and will regale you with tales about using crabs and sandworms and fighting with these strong fish from the gunwale of their boats. They are likely to tell you about their rods – bending almost in half while they fight for all they are worth to get this fish from his rocky haven. Those without a boat or access to a boat often feel that they are left out from this feisty catch. It doesn’t have to be that way, you simply need to know where to find them and how to fish for them. Unlike other shore fishing, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of information about shore bound blackfish.
If you are in an area where the shoreline waters reach the optimal temperatures of 50-65 degrees and have rocky areas, they might be the best possible locations to find tautogs. Since these fish prefer to favor cooler waters, your options are probably even better in early spring and late fall. Once the waters begin their springtime warm-up, blackfish will head towards the coastline to feed in shallow water rock piles. This is where they will begin preparing to spawn and once that process is complete they will move out to the deeper, colder waters.
In the fall, you are even more likely to find blackfish hanging around the shallower shore waters. They move into these areas in order to fill up and prepare themselves for winter. They are generally found in fairly shallow water (6 feet in some cases) and in areas where shallow rock piles can be found. They will likely be found in areas that are home to barnacles, mussels and crabs as this is what they like to eat. To land a blackfish this provides a great opportunity for shoreline fishing.
A good chart will help you locate the ideal spots for landing blackfish. If you find the right one, they will allow you to easily identify rock piles that are in the general area of beaches and jetties, which are good areas to start. If possible, the chart should also have depth contours which should help you identify the right areas. Rocky formations that extend into the water are also great places, and sometimes you’ll find them easier to spot under breaking waves as the tide changes. These areas can contain tautogs.
Your gear will have to be up to the task of taking on this feisty fish. You won’t get away with a weak rod or reel with tautogs. Since the goal of the blackfish is to separate themselves from your line by any means necessary and they have the bulky body and broomstick like tail that will allow them to do this, you have to be quick. Remember that these fish want to break your line off and they will immediately head for the nearest rock formation in their quest to do so. Make sure you have a good stout rod, and a reel that you can control well. Whether your reel is a spinner or a conventional one the secret to success with blackfish is having complete control of that reel. You are going to need to be able to stop the line from being released as quickly as possible since this fish is going to hit hard and he’s going to hit fast. Using a 10 or 11 foot rod might serve you better than the normal 8 foot rod that is preferred by most shoreline anglers. Not only will it be stronger, but it’s likely to give you the extra leverage you need to get the right upward pulling power needed for tautogs.
Braided fishing line is growing even more popular because it does not stretch and it’s very sensitive allowing anglers to feel the slightest nibble. Under great conditions, many anglers feel that braided line is the way to go. This may not be the case for tautogs because these fish are going to head for the rocks as soon as they realize they’ve been caught. The problem with braided line is that when it’s under pressure from abrasion it’s going to snap. The best option if you feel that braided line is the best option is to use a very long monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. In that instance, you’ll want a leader of between 18 inches and 24 inches and you’ll want to use a 30 to 50 pound braided line for best results. This is especially good if you are fishing in an isolated area and don’t have easy access to getting back to your tackle box for repair of a broken line.
Rocky holes are the favorite hiding spots of tautogs. These blackfish are going to head straight towards any rocky hole that is available when they find they’re attached to your line. What winds up happening is that you are quickly going to discover that your line is being dragged over every rock that is in their path – monofilament line between 17 and 30 lb weight is probably the best possible choice for blackfish.
Your rig can be a simple slider rig created from a 2-4 ounce slider sinker threaded on your line. Use caution that your barrel is sufficient to battle with this stout fish – remember he’s going to fight you tooth and nail – it should be rated for upwards of 50 pounds. Add a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader and a 2/0 octopus hook and you’ll likely have fairly good success. This type of a rig will allow you to keep your sinker along the bottom – since the blackfish will do his best to steal your bait and head for rocks, the rig will allow you to prevent the tautog from feeling the initial resistance that could make him bolt.
Typically bait for a blackfish will be clams, crabs or sandworms and you may even consider mussels. Just toss it into the rocky area and hang onto your rod. It’s not recommended that you sit your rod in a sand spike because any delay and you could lose the blackfish – they are prone to snatching up your bait and they could very well spit it out before you get a chance to hook them. Have fun landing these aggressive blackfish in the northeast waters.
When you are getting prepared for a saltwater fishing adventure, having the proper equipment is essential. Some of the most popular products on the market include van staal reels, okuma reels, and shimano spinning reel.
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