Big Tog Tactics

[Gerry Zagorski]

So what separates the people who catch big Togs regularly from the people who catch regularly catch, but usually not anything big?

I have my opinions. I’d like to hear some others....

[Gremlin2009]

Maybe the tackle or bait they use. Also could be the location of the wreck

[hartattack]

I can't figure it out. I was having a great day on the Jig with Greenies but Brian's monster below (released :)) was caught on a high-low Clam rig :eek: The bite that day was so suicidal I even caught 'em with Clam on the Jig. Snafus, sliders, Jonah crabs, white-leggers, I've tried 'em all. Maybe the Sea Bass rig is the answer - NOT !

[dales529]

Well its not who Mom likes best or who is the more handsome brother thats for sure :p

[Gerry Zagorski]

Well its not who Mom likes best or who is the more handsome brother thats for sure :p

Or the thousand dollar set ups some people have :rolleyes:

Hell, I've seen guys fishing out of windows with mono on a Penn Squidder and a Penn Slammer out fish most everyone...

[Gerry Zagorski]

I can't figure it out. I was having a great day on the Jig with Greenies but Brian's monster below (released :)) was caught on a high-low Clam rig :eek: The bite that day was so suicidal I even caught 'em with Clam on the Jig. Snafus, sliders, Jonah crabs, white-leggers, I've tried 'em all. Maybe the Sea Bass rig is the answer - NOT !

There is some luck involved for sure Larry.... Brother Joe is the perfect example :D

All kidding aside, putting in your time and knowing what to do when you get that bite of a lifetime makes a big difference as does your gear. So does the piece your fishing and how the fish are biting that day...

I've also witnessed times where the captain says.... We're going to a big fish spot and you only get one shot at these fish... As soon as someone breaks one off we're moving. Sure as shit someone breaks a big fish off and that's it, the whole bite shuts down...

[Adrenalinerush]

Or the thousand dollar set ups some people have :rolleyes:

Hell, I've seen guys fishing out of windows with mono on a Penn Squidder and a Penn Slammer out fish most everyone...

Fishing out a window? Were you on The Gaffer?

[reason162]

So what separates the people who catch big Togs regularly from the people who catch regularly catch, but usually not anything big?

I have my opinions. I’d like to hear some others....

In my limited experience...the biggest tog seem to go for the lightest pickups. They almost always slack up your jig. The most violent tugs and runs seem to always be smaller fish...whereas the most subtle "up bites" end up being tanks.

I think a lot of people simply miss those bites. And being in the "ready" position to swing and hold a big fish all day, people tend to lose focus too. I end up with migraines on the water I'm focusing on my jig so much lol.

[porgylber]

Tog are strange creatures. A few years back, I was on a charter having an epic day catching them. It was so good, the boat ran out of bait. The guy next to me whipped out a sandwich and removed the pepperoni. He says, watch this...and proceeds to catch back to back 8 lb plus fish.
No idea on whether salami or ham works.

[hammer4reel]

In my limited experience...the biggest tog seem to go for the lightest pickups. They almost always slack up your jig. The most violent tugs and runs seem to always be smaller fish...whereas the most subtle "up bites" end up being tanks.

I think a lot of people simply miss those bites. And being in the "ready" position to swing and hold a big fish all day, people tend to lose focus too. I end up with migraines on the water I'm focusing on my jig so much lol.


I feel,it’s the same bite on a normal,rig also.
Big fish swim up and just munch down, feels like static on your line.
I get that kind of bite I swing and reel hard,

[hammer4reel]

When it comes to big tog IMO. Most guys aren’t prepared for it,
They have their drags cranked down ,and big blackfish wreck havic on their rigs.
Lots of guys fishing sliders get burned off, knots not perfect and the fish wins.

Also believe big fish can’t know they are in a fight.
The slower and easier you lead them to the boat the better your chance you have of landing them.’once they know they are in a fight they win 95% of the time

[Chrisper4694]

not to oversimplify it, but as with pretty much all other fish imo... location location location!

[Blind Archer]

Years back, there was a fellow named Richie Wang , cudos to ya if you're still kickin, his pole was held together with duct tape and fished an old penn with mono. He would take the pool on party boats probably 70 percent of the time. It wasn't the tackle, just him.
I had been trying too hard. Caught a lot of smaller tog. Lesson learned... a moving sinker chases bigger fish.

[reason162]

I feel,it’s the same bite on a normal,rig also.
Big fish swim up and just munch down, feels like static on your line.
I get that kind of bite I swing and reel hard,

Yeah that subtle slack bite...I think a big tog 1) can fit the whole crab/jig in its mouth and 2) ain't worried about food competition. They tip nose down, slurp in your jig, and just level out like a boss.

Smaller fish tug and jerk to break the crab into pieces, and/or grab and run to keep their meal from other fish.

That's what I picture in my head anyway!

[Gerry Zagorski]

Some great observations here... And yes, location does make a difference but location aside, what is it??

All things being equal, I think it comes down to being prepared, being patient and what you need to do differently when specifically targeting larger fish...

Use heavier weight then is need to hold bottom.. I say this because big fish don’t like a bouncing sinker and with a heavier weight your more likely to stay still on bottom. You may not feel the bites as well as if you were fishing a lighter sinker but you’re going to feel the ones that count.

For the same reasons above, don’t fish tight to your sinker you always want a bow in your line to give you some cushion especially when the boat moves up and down in the seas. If you’re fishing a jig, yes but a rig, no....

Increase the size of your leaders to least 60 pounds... I’ve even seen some use 80... As Dan mentioned a lot of these fish are lost because they live in the gnarliest locations and they take you back into the wreck and shave you off....

Don’t swing at just anything. First fish to usually move in are the Bergals and smaller blackfish and they'll fight over your bait. Be patient and wait out the ticks, rubs and scratches and wait for the thump.

A few observations others made here were not in my initial thoughts but the more I thought about them the more I remember hearing them from others who caught big fish...

Watch your line...Sometimes you’re not going to feel a bite, what you might feel is no weight at all or you’ll see the line move. Big fish will often times pick up your bait and run with it. When you see or feel any of this don’t just lift your pole to try and figure out what’s going on, SET THE HOOK WITH AUTHORITY!! If it wasn’t a bite, so what, if it was, you just set your hook firmly into what is likely to be a bigger fish...

Dan mentioned people loosing bigger fish because they had their drags practically locked down...These fish are strong, I’ve seen them bend hooks, break perfectly good knots and take advantage of any weakness. Yes I do think a locked down drag is going to increase the chances of something breaking, but I’d rather err on the tighter side than the lighter side so I have a better chance of keeping that fish from going back into the wreck. Having said that, I think there are many times it doesn't matter what you do, it’s where that fish decides to swim once he knows he’s hooked..... If it’s back into the wreck and there’s something sharp stuff down there, you’re done.

[the directa]

Read Joe Murray’s book

[Gerry Zagorski]

Yeah that subtle slack bite...I think a big tog 1) can fit the whole crab/jig in its mouth and 2) ain't worried about food competition. They tip nose down, slurp in your jig, and just level out like a boss.

Smaller fish tug and jerk to break the crab into pieces, and/or grab and run to keep their meal from other fish.

That's what I picture in my head anyway!

Agreed. Makes a lot of sense...

[PeteyHD]

Some great observations here... And yes, location does make a difference but location aside, what is it??

All things being equal, I think it comes down to being prepared, being patient and what you need to do differently when specifically targeting larger fish...

Use heavier weight then is need to hold bottom.. I say this because big fish don’t like a bouncing sinker and with a heavier weight your more likely to stay still on bottom. You may not feel the bites as well as if you were fishing a lighter sinker but you’re going to feel the ones that count.

For the same reasons above, don’t fish tight to your sinker you always want a bow in your line to give you some cushion especially when the boat moves up and down in the seas. If you’re fishing a jig, yes but a rig, no....

Increase the size of your leaders to least 60 pounds... I’ve even seen some use 80... As Dan mentioned a lot of these fish are lost because they live in the gnarliest locations and they take you back into the wreck and shave you off....

Don’t swing at just anything. First fish to usually move in are the Bergals and smaller blackfish and they'll fight over your bait. Be patient and wait out the ticks, rubs and scratches and wait for the thump.

A few observations others made here were not in my initial thoughts but the more I thought about them the more I remember hearing them from others who caught big fish...

Watch your line...Sometimes you’re not going to feel a bite, what you might feel is no weight at all or you’ll see the line move. Big fish will often times pick up your bait and run with it. When you see or feel any of this don’t just lift your pole to try and figure out what’s going on, SET THE HOOK WITH AUTHORITY!! If it wasn’t a bite, so what, if it was, you just set your hook firmly into what is likely to be a bigger fish...

Dan mentioned people loosing bigger fish because they had their drags practically locked down...These fish are strong, I’ve seen them bend hooks, break perfectly good knots and take advantage of any weakness. Yes I do think a locked down drag is going to increase the chances of something breaking, but I’d rather err on the tighter side than the lighter side so I have a better chance of keeping that fish from going back into the wreck. Having said that, I think there are many times it doesn't matter what you do, it’s where that fish decides to swim once he knows he’s hooked..... If it’s back into the wreck and there’s something sharp stuff down there, you’re done.

Well said Gerry!

[Detour66]

The big tog usually take a long time to really bite the bait. They will just peck at it until they are ready to eat. But when they do get ready. I have caught a few over 13 lbs and each one was a waiting game. Just my 2 cents. Tight lines.

[jmurr711]

Tip #!: Bow down to your queen
tip #2: Watch your queen & learn
tip#3: Do the opposite of all zagorski's

[Gerry Zagorski]

tip #!: Bow down to your queen
tip #2: Watch your queen & learn
tip#3: Do the opposite of all zagorski's
bwaaah!!!