Tog fishing out of season

M

MessyFishing

New Angler
I saw something recently suggesting that you can target tog in the Long Island sound before the fall season opens if you're doing catch and release. I was surprised by this and based on reading the regulations, I'm not sure this I'd allowed. Thoughts?
 
That's right. And is why I no longer fish for them. Same with Springtime or out of season blackfish. Both species have enough to deal with without me further hurting them. And I certainly have the knowledge, skills, and boat to really put the boots to 'em.

We (meaning recs plus comms) have already destroyed the inshore Winter flounder and many other species. I don't wish to turn this into what my friend sees in Greece. He deploys a 100-hook trot-line (that's how they fish over there), and comes back with 100 empty hooks. Not even the trash fish are left. They've killed all of their breeding stocks. Now there's nothing left, literally.

So look, nothing against anyone else here, its really a personal choice, and this is mine.
 
People in my marina have been blackfishing for a while now . The porgy fishing has been dismal at best so a lot of people are trying tog . Are they keeping the fish? Who knows. The bait shops have been selling green crabs for weeks. It`s all about the money.
 
Leprechaun said:
That's right. And is why I no longer fish for them. Same with Springtime or out of season blackfish. Both species have enough to deal with without me further hurting them. And I certainly have the knowledge, skills, and boat to really put the boots to 'em.

We (meaning recs plus comms) have already destroyed the inshore Winter flounder and many other species. I don't wish to turn this into what my friend sees in Greece. He deploys a 100-hook trot-line (that's how they fish over there), and comes back with 100 empty hooks. Not even the trash fish are left. They've killed all of their breeding stocks. Now there's nothing left, literally.

So look, nothing against anyone else here, its really a personal choice, and this is mine.
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I appreciate your perspective. I've only been fishing for a couple of yrs and I follow the rules and like to understand common practices where there are gray areas
 
We can ask the AI helper, but as far as I know:
You are expressly permitted to target, catch and release stripers in season, but not out of season.
You cannot target blackfish out of season.
If you happen to catch a blackfish while say targeting porgies or seabass, you have to let it go.

As far as "why would you stress a fish just to let it go?" why sugar coat what we do? Isn't stressing fish the whole point of what we do? We really don't need to catch these fish to live. The costs are way more than the "free" meals we get now and then. We do it because it's so much fun. I'd rather use eels to catch over stripers and let them go, than use tactics to catch slots. I hope to catch another DD tog, but I plan to release it.

Any way, pretty sure you cannot target tog out of season.
 
Lep makes a great point and I'm sure 20years ago your mindset was different. I know mine was.

I always enjoyed fishing live bait over structure for Bass but this year I didn't try. Left the fish alone. I've never been one to leave fish alone but the last few years I've seen the writing on the wall. Change our ways or suffer the consequences.

Better late than never.
 
H
Double Trouble said:
Why would you want to stress a fish you cant keep?
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Hey Double, I love catching blackfish and hate killing them. I'm not sure why but I've always been that way. Even back in the glory days of a dd on almost every trip. With that said, it is illegal and I don't do it out of season.

Nowadays I release most of the tog I catch. But I still love catching them!
 
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