Tog Candy?

[PeteyHD]

Are the green crab most boats supply good enough or do you guys think there's another "tog candy" that gives an angler an edge over the many greenies on everyone's rigs? White leggers, hermit, Asian, shrimp? Are these even worth the extra cash?

[NJ Dave]

That's a tough call. Some days they just want one or the other.
I find green are good early season in the warm water and white in the colder water months.
But whole asians are my # 1 bait.
46 bait n tackle in I think ft lee usually has asian crab for 10 bux a qt.
As for shrimp I use the pre cooked frozen thaw and eat. Worst case if they don't want em you have lunch.

[Ol Pedro]

I have caught all but two of my Tog on clams. Go figure.

[bigal427]

I like green crabs because the stay on the hook better then white legers. As far as clams they work better in spring caught my PS 13.7 pounds on fresh clams this year if you put a green crab down this spring they would not touch it but drop and reel on fresh calms.

[Flukenstein]

If you fish asians or hermits you better be quick. They're soft and you'll probably only get one shot. Have done well with greenies in the fall and whites in colder weather (water). I've had issues with clams attracting dogfish and shutting down the tog. Just bring some asians, hermits, green, white leggers, clams and jigs and you'll be fine.

[NJ Dave]

Hermits tog love but they will steal em quicker than an ex con. If you don't set the hook fast they are gone and at $1 per piece that's just nuts.
Save your $$$$$$

[Chrisk]

Sand eels.

[dfish28]

Re-breather and speargun!! Make you own menu... But for bait- seems most good tog I have got have been on the "green" green crabs, not the orange or red ones, still have had exceptions with that even if they are on the chew but the green seems to get more quality than red. Don't count out good mussel chunks, that's their main diet,shucked already,can't go wrong,been thinking of a rubber or plastic artificial shell for this...it's amazing how you hear the tog crushing the mussels when diving! Almost like sheepshead on barnacles but not as loud ! Come on Christmas !!! (November 16 th)

[shrimpman steve]

They don't call me shrimpman for nothing.

I also love hermits. 1/2 bushel lasted me all season last year. I'll be getting a full one this year. Last New Year's Day on the mimi I had a 10 and a twelve within two hours of each other on the little bastards.

I still love the shrimp as well. I remember when it was my "secret" bait. :D
Nobody believed me at the time. Times have changed.

[dfish28]

I was not going to suggest the magic bait shrimpy!

[mimivimate]

Everyday is diffrent

[Denlon]

For land-based Black fish fishing off the surf, jetties and sea walls, nothing beats the old standard sand bugs (Mole crabs). They're free because you dig them yourself....... I don't know any place that sells them.

Also don't be surprised when you also pick up some nice sea bass, porgies, fluke and even large king fish when you use them.

When I was a kid about 8, my first striper was caught on a sand bug while I was fishing for black fish off the old jetty in front of the Takanassee Beach Club. I think this jetty was buried long ago by the beach sand replenishment projects. Even if it wasn't, I sure that these days they would not allow you to cross their land to fish the jetty anyway.

Denny

[Ismellfishy]

agree with the above, greenies when its warmer and whites when it gets colder, although that does not by any means mean that greens wont work when its cold. I think the softer bait can "get them goin"g occasionally when its cold then they stay for the meal. If.they are chewing a hermit might result in an instabite but you do have to be very quick. Also there are certain times that certain colored or species crab will be exceptionally better than another. I think everyone will agree that everyday is different and you will need to experiment to figure out what is best be if green or white, whole or half, legs or no legs, shell or no shell, small whole, large whole, shell cracked or not, etc.

There was one.day last feb I was on the mimi and would only get bites with half greens with legs on. I was having a tough day, as were most. I eventually had to count down each leg till I knew the fish was on the hook, and got a nice 5-6#. Like I said every day it changes u just have to try and solve the puzzle.

That being said both my largest, a 10 & 12, came on whites.

[shucker]

Blue Claws.!

[Capt. Lou]

Everyday is diffrent

Accurate & very true ! They had to twist my arm to use clam last winter but hell if guys all around hauling them in. & UR standing wit UR rod in hand , zero hits it's an easy decesion !
That goes for any bait , switch & catch that day , tomorrow may be entirely different. !

[Ol Pedro]

No one has mentioned Gulp.

[HDMarc]

No one has mentioned Gulp.

Was just about to say that while fishing Ocean Explorer in February, Pink Avet Girl had a small green grub on while trying to catch ling and got her first keeper blackfish on it. Even Quinn was surprised that the Gulp bait worked but like they say, the tog like the softer baits in the colder weather.

[PeteyHD]

For land-based Black fish fishing off the surf, jetties and sea walls, nothing beats the old standard sand bugs (Mole crabs). They're free because you dig them yourself....... I don't know any place that sells them.

Also don't be surprised when you also pick up some nice sea bass, porgies, fluke and even large king fish when you use them.

When I was a kid about 8, my first striper was caught on a sand bug while I was fishing for black fish off the old jetty in front of the Takanassee Beach Club. I think this jetty was buried long ago by the beach sand replenishment projects. Even if it wasn't, I sure that these days they would not allow you to cross their land to fish the jetty anyway.

Denny

I use these all the time when I am in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. I have a buddy who welded me a nice sand flea rake that works perfectly once you find the ripples in the sand MOTHERLOAD! Caught Seabass on wrecks, blackfish off of a bulkhead, and croakers off of the surf. Its like candy down south. Brought about 3 gallons left over from what I dug up on the beach and had no luck up north with them at all. Even sandy hook has em on the beaches. Weird!

[Denlon]

I use these all the time when I am in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. I have a buddy who welded me a nice sand flea rake that works perfectly once you find the ripples in the sand MOTHERLOAD! Caught Seabass on wrecks, blackfish off of a bulkhead, and croakers off of the surf. Its like candy down south. Brought about 3 gallons left over from what I dug up on the beach and had no luck up north with them at all. Even sandy hook has em on the beaches. Weird!

Three Gallons!!! WOW
You probably only need about 50 per person (about a quart) for a day's fishing. As far as I know you can keep them in moist sand for a day or so..Maybe. After that they die and they stink!!! I imagine that this is what happened to the ones you brought back from Delaware. I have personally used these (Mostly for blackfish) from Sandy HooK to Cape May and they have never failed me when fishing from land.
On several occasions I tried them when fishing from a boat (Big Mohawk) and they didn't work at all. I believe that the bugs don't naturally occur in the deep water, so the Tog know that something is suspicious. That's why my original post specifically said "Land-based" fishing.

Denny

[PeteyHD]

Three Gallons!!! WOW
You probably only need about 50 per person for a day's fishing. As far as I know you can keep them in moist sand for a day or so..Maybe. After that they die and they stink!!! I imagine that this is what happened to the ones you brought back from Delaware. I have personally used these (Mostly for blackfish) from Sandy HooK to Cape May and they have never failed me when fishing from land.
On several occasions I tried them when fishing from a boat (Big Mohawk) and they didn't work at all. I believe that the bugs don't naturally occur in the deep water, so the Tog know that something is suspicious. That's why my original post specifically said "Land-based" fishing.

Denny

I use them live for 1-3 days after I catch them and just keep em in a container in the fridge and cooler and they stay lively and fresh without sand. When I brought them to jersey I failed to mention I froze them. Maybe that's why there were not productive. I also tried to use them live on sandy hook surf after digging them up there with no success. I feel like the moles are better down south.

[Denlon]

I use them live for 1-3 days after I catch them and just keep em in a container in the fridge and cooler and they stay lively and fresh without sand. When I brought them to jersey I failed to mention I froze them. Maybe that's why there were not productive. I also tried to use them live on sandy hook surf after digging them up there with no success. I feel like the moles are better down south.

Yeah...I forgot to mention that I also tried freezing them once, and had no success except for skates and sand sharks.
Denny