Fishing for Tautog
Anglers in the northeast rave about boat fishing for blackfish. Also known as tautogs, this fish is known for putting up quite a fight and straining fishing rods so they are nearly bent in half from pulling. These fish have one goal and that is to pull your line into the rocks in the hopes of freeing themselves from captivity. For those without a boat, there is no need for you to miss out on the fun and adventure of these feisty fish. Though not often talked about, there are opportunities for shore fishing for blackfish and for those who either have no access to a boat or simply prefer shore bound fishing.
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.
After you’ve identified the right fishing area, it’s time to verify that your gear is up for the task. Just remember, these fish are fighters every step of the way and their goal is to separate your line from your reel. You can get the upper hand easily by making sure that you have the right rod, reel and line. Keep in mind the shape of these fish – they have a stout body and a tail that resembles a broom. They waste no time at all trying to break off your line by dragging it into the rocks. Not only will you need a stout rod, but you want to make sure that you have a good drag system that will stand up to the abuse this fish will put upon you. In the case of reels you may elect for either a spinning or conventional style, depending on which one you feel offers the most control. You need to be able to stop this quickly as these fish are going to hit fast and attempt to flee even faster. Most surf anglers generally prefer an 8 foot rod, but in the case of blackfish, you might be better off with a 10 or 11 foot rod as it will allow you more upward pulling power and far more leverage.
More and more anglers are turning to braided line for their fishing because this line offers unparallel sensitivity allowing you to feel the slightest nibble and the lines don’t stretch. The problem with a braided line is they are not very good under conditions that create any type of abrasion. Make no mistake about it, braided line is probably not your best option for blackfish angling. While they are strong in comparison to their diameter, a few quick drags on a rock and your line is history. You may want to think about using a leader – a couple of feet should do the trick if you use it with a 30-50 pound braided line – this will work fairly well if you are fishing in an isolated area and using a good monofilament fluorocarbon leader of the proper length.
Rocky structures allow the blackfish to not only fight with you, but they are likely to head straight for any rocky hole that is available to them. This exercise will result in your line being dragged over the rocks and therefore, you may find that a monofilament line that is of substantial weight (17-30 lb) might be a better choice of line.
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.
Bait isn’t that much of a challenge if you know the dietary habit of the tautog. Crabs, clams and sandworms are all part of their diets and so are mussels. You can toss your rig complete with any of these bait choices into rocky areas to lure blackfish. Just make sure that instead of using a sand spike that you are holding onto your rod – remember, these fish are interested in not getting caught and if you don’t start reeling them in right away they are liable to take off immediately after stealing your bait. As many others have, northeast anglers will enjoy tackling these aggressive tautogs from onshore.
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 fishing reels, okuma fishing reel, and shimano spinning reel.
