Snapprhead27
Well-Known Angler
It sure was! I'm letting Capt leave that report ?I hear it was pretty nice out east too!!
Post up up your 2019/2020/2021/2022 Blackfishing Pix/Reports/Adventures/Musings
- Thread starter Leprechaun
- Start date
I hear it was pretty nice out east too!!
Hmmm, I wonder who's spreading this scuttlebutt?
Here's a possible lead for your consideration.
And I'm almost positive it ain't the guy on the right
:
Chinacat
Well-Known Angler
Have you ruled out whoever it was that took the picture? ?Hmmm, I wonder who's spreading this scuttlebutt?
Here's a possible lead for your consideration.
And I'm almost positive it ain't the guy on the right
View attachment 69919
Yep, definitely NOT him. He wouldn’t know the East End grounds from a hole in the wall, as he’s from far to the West. And I mean FAR!
captmike28
Well-Known Angler
Yesterday’s charter for 3 NY Angler members was one for the record books. Anthony brought together Matt and Mitch while I added Chef Nader to fill out the 4-man crew who were blessed with not only fantastic weather but a very special day of Blackfshing.
With the nearly flat seas I headed straight to my favorite jig spot off Fishers Island for the start of the ebb tide. After assessing what direction, the boat would lay in the slight breeze and tide I dropped the anchor and perfectly positioned us right on my chosen numbers. From there we spent the entire ebb tide on this one spot enjoying a steady Tog bite for the next 6 hours!
Anthony got us started with a nice 17” keeper on his spinning rod and the Chef quickly answered with one of his own. As is common for many years now we did a great deal of sorting through the short fish but every so often a nice keeper in the 17-19” range would attack the crew’s baits. The most excitement of the day, and perhaps for a long while to come, happened about 30 minutes into the trip when the Chef, using one of his super light conventional set ups ties into what was clearly an outsized Tog. The fish put up an epic battle with many long drag stripping runs but ultimately the Chef’s skill won out. I could hardly believe my eyes when I went to slip the net under a Tog with a head so massive, I was praying my net would not fail. Fortunately, everything went according to plan and soon a huge 13.5# Tog was flopping on the deck! A special fish to be sure as it was Nader’s personal best, the largest Tog ever caught by one of my charter customers, and the second largest Tog to ever hit the deck of my boat! I did my best with the camera but none of the photos really do this enormous fish justice.
Once everyone’s excitement level calmed down a bit the crew went back to work and steadily built up the catch in the box with nice healthy keepers to 4# mixed in with many shorts just to keep things interesting. And, as is typical for these trips each crew member broke off other large Tog that were just too powerful to stop! By the time I had cleaned about half of the catch the guys had reached a full boat limit for the 4-man crew, plus my share, and even through back 2 or 3 more keepers. A truly epic day I believe we will all remember for a time. A hearty congratulations to Chef Nader for landing the Tog of a lifetime!
Capt. Mike
With the nearly flat seas I headed straight to my favorite jig spot off Fishers Island for the start of the ebb tide. After assessing what direction, the boat would lay in the slight breeze and tide I dropped the anchor and perfectly positioned us right on my chosen numbers. From there we spent the entire ebb tide on this one spot enjoying a steady Tog bite for the next 6 hours!
Anthony got us started with a nice 17” keeper on his spinning rod and the Chef quickly answered with one of his own. As is common for many years now we did a great deal of sorting through the short fish but every so often a nice keeper in the 17-19” range would attack the crew’s baits. The most excitement of the day, and perhaps for a long while to come, happened about 30 minutes into the trip when the Chef, using one of his super light conventional set ups ties into what was clearly an outsized Tog. The fish put up an epic battle with many long drag stripping runs but ultimately the Chef’s skill won out. I could hardly believe my eyes when I went to slip the net under a Tog with a head so massive, I was praying my net would not fail. Fortunately, everything went according to plan and soon a huge 13.5# Tog was flopping on the deck! A special fish to be sure as it was Nader’s personal best, the largest Tog ever caught by one of my charter customers, and the second largest Tog to ever hit the deck of my boat! I did my best with the camera but none of the photos really do this enormous fish justice.
Once everyone’s excitement level calmed down a bit the crew went back to work and steadily built up the catch in the box with nice healthy keepers to 4# mixed in with many shorts just to keep things interesting. And, as is typical for these trips each crew member broke off other large Tog that were just too powerful to stop! By the time I had cleaned about half of the catch the guys had reached a full boat limit for the 4-man crew, plus my share, and even through back 2 or 3 more keepers. A truly epic day I believe we will all remember for a time. A hearty congratulations to Chef Nader for landing the Tog of a lifetime!
Capt. Mike
Snapprhead27
Well-Known Angler
Thanks again for another amazing trip!! It was nice to finally meet Anthony and Mitch. Good luck on tomorrow's trip!! 
Great job Capt. Mike!
Chinacat
Well-Known Angler
Same Here Matt!! As always, Capt Mike put us right on them and took care of us all day!!Thanks again for another amazing trip!! It was nice to finally meet Anthony and Mitch. Good luck on tomorrow's trip!!
Chinacat
Well-Known Angler
The pictures DON'T even give it justice
OVERBORED
Well-Known Angler
And therin lies the beauty of blackfishing. Catching shorts and small keepers and along comes a dinosaur! After that first run your holding your breath wondering if that leader is frayed or your drag is too light.
The glory of tog fishing!
Congratulations on a great fish, great trip on a great weather day!
Doesn't get any better!!!!
The glory of tog fishing!
Congratulations on a great fish, great trip on a great weather day!
Doesn't get any better!!!!
captmike28
Well-Known Angler
Kudos to the entire crew for working hard all day at outsmarting one of the most challenging fish in our waters. I say it all the time...my customers really make me look good!
Matts
Angler
According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the large blackfish, or Tautog, measured 36 inches long and weighed 25.78 pounds. The fish was caught by Aiden Cole while he was fishing with Captain Luke Wiggins aboard the Melissa Ann, allegedly in the Thames River.
Matts
Angler
New State Catch and Release Record Blackfish: CT angler Aiden Cole reeled in the fish of a lifetime this morning. Catching and releasing a 36 inch 25.78-pound Tautog, aka "Taugzilla" amongst marine anglers. He caught this beautiful fish on board the Melissa Ann while fishing with Captain Luke Wiggins in the Thames River using a green crab for bait. Thanks to Karen Westerberg, the fish was measured and weighed at A&W Marina/Tackleshop. This gigantic Tautog was immediately released. It was an exciting time for all parties involved including all the onlookers.
Attachments
captmike28
Well-Known Angler
I had an opening in my busy charter schedule today and gladly accepted an invitation to do some South Shore Tog fishing with my good friend, Lep. Since Pete had a solid trip just two days ago, we anticipated a repeat performance. Of course, the Blackfish had other ideas!
We ran back to the drop that was so consistent for Pete on Tuesday only to find a very slow start for the first 30-40 minutes. Then came the typical light, scratchy bites but it was still hard to connect with anything other than a few small Tog and Sea Bass. I lost faith in conventional set up so I reached for my Spinning rod and sent a 2 oz. jig down next. Although I did enjoy catching a steady stream of Tog on this lighter outfit the fish sizes still did not change.
Pete did everything he could shifting around both this drop along with 2 other spots tried but the big fish just seemed to be hiding today. At about 2 p.m. we started to get another round of steady Tog bites with many short fish caught but the best we could muster today was just 2 small keepers out of a total of around 40-50 fish.
Regardless of the results it was still a nice day on the water with a fellow fisherman. We will get them next time!!
We ran back to the drop that was so consistent for Pete on Tuesday only to find a very slow start for the first 30-40 minutes. Then came the typical light, scratchy bites but it was still hard to connect with anything other than a few small Tog and Sea Bass. I lost faith in conventional set up so I reached for my Spinning rod and sent a 2 oz. jig down next. Although I did enjoy catching a steady stream of Tog on this lighter outfit the fish sizes still did not change.
Pete did everything he could shifting around both this drop along with 2 other spots tried but the big fish just seemed to be hiding today. At about 2 p.m. we started to get another round of steady Tog bites with many short fish caught but the best we could muster today was just 2 small keepers out of a total of around 40-50 fish.
Regardless of the results it was still a nice day on the water with a fellow fisherman. We will get them next time!!
captmike28
Well-Known Angler
Absolutely amazing!! Congratulations to Aiden and the Capt. who put you on this enormous Tog.
It also proves that you don't necessarily have to go to RI or MD to catch the Tog of a lifetime!!!
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