I forgot to ask. Did Frank Jr. and SR. change the line on their reels? If you keep tangling with nice Tog like those it could be another disappointing ending!!!
Was out Wed with Capt Jay. Fished with Black Hole Thai stick with a Daiwa Tatula 70 SW. Pulled ina lot of fish including a 16" who tried to run into rocks. I was worried the soft tipped rod wasn't gonna get him out but it had no problem.
Was out Wed with Capt Jay. Fished with Black Hole Thai stick with a Daiwa Tatula 70 SW. Pulled ina lot of fish including a 16" who tried to run into rocks. I was worried the soft tipped rod wasn't gonna get him out but it had no problem. View attachment 86583
Following a few days off we were back on the Tog grounds this past weekend with 2 different and talented crews.
On Saturday I had my long-term customers John and Ricky, joined by Mitch and another veteran of my split charter crews Frank G. The brisk NW breeze heading across the Sound had me somewhat concerned about hitting my numbers with an opposing flood tide in my favorite jigging spot off CT. However, the breeze was strong enough to overcome the opposing light tidal flow in this sheltered area and as soon as we dropped the crab baits the action started. Although there was the usual stream of shorts the keepers kept coming at a slow but steady pace. Although I usually like to fish at least one deeper nearby dop here it wasn’t necessary as by the time we reached slack water the crew had already boxed 14 keepers to 6#. Frank, who is normally very deadly with the jig, put on quite the show having everyone else aboard almost watching in disbelief as he personally boated 9 of the keepers caught here. We did make one more drop in the southern region trying to take a couple more fish for that area’s limit and again, Frank topped off the catch with the final keeper Tog to make 15 total in the box!
Sunday’s trip was much more of a struggle as the light NE breeze predicted was quite a bit stronger. I had wanted to head east to Fishers but the wind made the choice for us so it was back to CT. Once in my jig area the wind vs. tide scenario made it very difficult for me to position the boat properly. While I usually have us on the desired piece on the first, or rarely, second try, I made 4 attempts to get us on the desired bottom. Each time the forces of nature conspired against me. We spent about 2 hours trying to get a bite going but only managed 3 keepers to 4# here this morning. Thankfully the nearby reef is a much bigger piece of bottom and we put ourselves on the right spot there first try. Again, a lot of sorting took place but we did manage to cull 4 more keepers to 5# from this drop before the new moon ebb tide started to scream. Finally, the wind dropped out and we were able to finish the day back in the shallows. Right on the numbers first shot and immediately the Tog started biting again. In the last hour of the trip the guys culled 3 more keepers to 6.2# a (PB for Sunday’s Frank) to run the tally up to 10 total fat Tog in the box on a very challenging day.
Hope to see better conditions this coming week as the moon starts to wane again. Only 2 weekend dates left this season if anyone wants to jump on them, Sunday 11/10, and Sunday 11/17. Water temps this weekend finally dipped into the high 50’s so the best is yet to come!
Haven't posted much because my local togging has been less than great. Abysmal is the word that comes to mind. We're catching quite well, just not many keepers at all.
On a happier note, here's wifey's take on shrimp and fresh blackfish oreganata. Really, really great!:
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity. I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction. If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
Haven't posted much because my local togging has been less than great. Abysmal is the word that comes to mind. We're catching quite well, just not many keepers at all.
On a happier note, here's wifey's take on shrimp and fresh blackfish oreganata. Really, really great!:
I had charters booked for Friday, Saturday, and Monday on this Veteran’s Day weekend, but Mother Nature had other ideas. In fact, all she allowed was a brief 6-hour window today with light winds and only 2 crew members from tomorrows trip were able to shift their plans. Boy was that a good move on their part!
With a very cold but flat calm start this morning I headed straight to my favorite jig drop by Fishers Island with long time customers Sal and Frank. Dropped the anchor once and never budged again until we pulled out at noon as the forecast breeze started to freshen. Within a minute of dropping the baits Sal’s drag starts to sing and he quickly boats a nice 17” keeper. We box that fish, Sal re-baits, a few moments later he gets a very light hit, sets the hook, and the next fish really turns on the jets! After a very spirited battle with several good runs, I slip the net under the second largest Tog of our season at a solid 81/2 #.
From there the Tog just kept chewing hard for the next 3 hours. I was so busy netting fish and cutting crabs I hardly had a chance to wet a line myself today. By the time the dust settled I had zero keepers for my small effort while Sal and Frank boated 20 keepers, ORL. At least 4 other fish were in the 4-6# range so it was a super day indeed, making the most out of a very short opportunity this weekend. One additional bonus, a surprise Albie grabbed Sal’s jig while he was in the midst of the torrid Tog bite!! The spinning reel drags were really put to the test today!
Looks like more windy weather ahead for a few days but I hope it settles down for next weekend as I have another triple play scheduled to start on Saturday. Sea conditions permitting, I know where I will be heading!
Spent a few days fishing in Rhode Island on the Bad Influence. Had some great fishing with quality and quantity. Caught them on the jigs and rigs or anyway you wanted to fish for them. We had whites and mud crabs which helped improve the average size of the tog. The picture is the best one I could manage at 11.2 lbs. Released the big male to make another angler happy some day. Used a Accurate Valiant 300 paired with a CTS BSM 703 and a single 5/0 Owner octopuss hook with a whole 1/2 dollar size mud crab...
I had charters booked for Friday, Saturday, and Monday on this Veteran’s Day weekend, but Mother Nature had other ideas. In fact, all she allowed was a brief 6-hour window today with light winds and only 2 crew members from tomorrows trip were able to shift their plans. Boy was that a good move on their part!
With a very cold but flat calm start this morning I headed straight to my favorite jig drop by Fishers Island with long time customers Sal and Frank. Dropped the anchor once and never budged again until we pulled out at noon as the forecast breeze started to freshen. Within a minute of dropping the baits Sal’s drag starts to sing and he quickly boats a nice 17” keeper. We box that fish, Sal re-baits, a few moments later he gets a very light hit, sets the hook, and the next fish really turns on the jets! After a very spirited battle with several good runs, I slip the net under the second largest Tog of our season at a solid 81/2 #.
From there the Tog just kept chewing hard for the next 3 hours. I was so busy netting fish and cutting crabs I hardly had a chance to wet a line myself today. By the time the dust settled I had zero keepers for my small effort while Sal and Frank boated 20 keepers, ORL. At least 4 other fish were in the 4-6# range so it was a super day indeed, making the most out of a very short opportunity this weekend. One additional bonus, a surprise Albie grabbed Sal’s jig while he was in the midst of the torrid Tog bite!! The spinning reel drags were really put to the test today!
Looks like more windy weather ahead for a few days but I hope it settles down for next weekend as I have another triple play scheduled to start on Saturday. Sea conditions permitting, I know where I will be heading!
Spent a few days fishing in Rhode Island on the Bad Influence. Had some great fishing with quality and quantity. Caught them on the jigs and rigs or anyway you wanted to fish for them. We had whites and mud crabs which helped improve the average size of the tog. The picture is the best one I could manage at 11.2 lbs. Released the big male to make another angler happy some day. Used a Accurate Valiant 300 paired with a CTS BSM 703 and a single 5/0 Owner octopuss hook with a whole 1/2 dollar size mud crab...
nice job. FYI, that's a bonito, not an albie. I hope you ate it!
I do stand corrected about this particular fish, Matts I don't really concentrate on any of the pelagics and the differences can be fairly small. Sorry for the error.
I do stand corrected about this particular fish, Matts I don't really concentrate on any of the pelagics and the differences can be fairly small. Sorry for the error.
Stripes on top - like a bonnet - is a bonita.
George R. Scocca george@nyangler.com www.nyangler.com - Your Secret Spot Online !
"Luck" is when preparation meets opportunity. I prefer fishing evolution to fishing extinction. If ya want to clean up the water, ya gotta get the pigs out of the creek.
Thanks to all my fellow anglers for the education!
Dodging the windy days is now a fact of life if you want to fish Tog in the eastern Sound! After missing Saturday, on Sunday I had Joe, his son Roland, and friend John join me for another crack at the Blackfish.
With plenty of left over NW breeze and a super strong full moon flood tide the ride through Plum Gut was very nautical, to say the least! Still a rather bumpy crossing to CT but once on my favorite jig spot we were good to go for the rest of the trip.
With the wind vs. tide scenario, we kept swinging on and off the best bottom but slowly the bite took hold and keepers began to find the box. John struck first with a nice 4# fish followed by another 17” keeper. Then Roland got on the board with a 17” fish of his own. As the tide began to come in synch with the wind the boat steadied and the bite was a bit more consistent.
Joe struggled a bit through the early morning hours but eventually made a few nice contributions of his own to the catch. Roland led the way being both high hook with 5 keepers of his own in addition to the days top fish, just under 6#. So, with just one drop on a challenging day, we finished strong with 11 keepers for the 3-man crew and a bag of tasty filet for some happy anglers.
Made my last 2 trips up to Newport RI last weekend. We had solid fishing but you had to work at it to catch your fish. Best I could manage was this 10.5 fat female tog Sunday on the Bad Influence. I released her for someone else to catch, she went right back to the bottom where she belongs.
The tog took a 1.5 oz backwater bait glow football jig with a medium size shelled white crab. I have 1 trip in Montauk left and then I will spend December and early January in Maryland chasing trophy tog.
Nice work, Mike. I was on one of the well known boats out of Orient Sunday, and we struggled all day, hopping from place to place, but never really got a bite going. And nothing close to 6lb. Too much super moon current to try jigs where we were anchored.
