How old are big tog???

[Togman316]

This is a question for anyone who might know more about aging a tog than I do. Would anyone be able to estimate how old a 15lb tog would be? Is a fish that size older if it is caught in NJ vs MD due to the water temp? I've heard they grow very slowly so I was just curious if anyone would know. Also, the two jumbos that were caught on the osprey , think how old those fish were!

[bulletbob]

A tog that big would be well past 20.. perhaps 25.. the very biggest tog over 20 pounds are in the 30 year + range... The average fish we catch say between 15- 18 inches are between 6 and 10 years old.. Personally, I am not sure they can withstand the pressure they are under... Nothing else to fish for in winter these days, puts the heat right on the broad shoulders of tog.. Also the fact that the live market for sushi/sashemi for them is relentless.. I fear hard times ahead in the blackfish population... I hope I am dead wrong... bob


http://www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/marinefish/pdfs/Blackfish.pdf

[Togman316]

Thank you for your information. I guess they only good thing is they are difficult to catch and the nj/ny area has so much natural bottom unlike the maryland fishery.

[bulletbob]

Thank you for your information. I guess they only good thing is they are difficult to catch and the nj/ny area has so much natural bottom unlike the maryland fishery.
We do have a lot of good bottom.. Problem is, we also have a LOT of boats, and a real lot of very good fishermen with a lot of time to fish... Years ago, winter tog fishing was a very small part of the rec fishery.. Today, its the only decent winter fishery.. The best thing that could happen for tautog is a strong resurgence in the numbers of Cod, Ling, and dare I say it, Whiting,,, The rec boats need other targets beside tog.. They simply don't grow fast enough, and I fear too many are being taken and eaten.. I applaud those that have been letting big ones go.... I personally would like to see "gamefish status" on Tog, but thats a pipe dream.. A more likely scenario would be potters and pinhookers getting the lions share, and paying the states or feds big money for the priviledge, while recs get a limit of 1 or 2.. I hope the stocks stay at a reasonable level.. If not, head and charter boat fishing will no longer be a year round business.... At least until we get a viable winter rec fishery back .. bob

[NJ Dave]

With all that said, the slow growing process and all, why is it never publicly complained about when someone kills a big tog BUT....... the time someone poses with two big stripers ALL hell breaks loose with how you shouldn't kill those big breeders and the declining striper fishery.
Just saying

[Joey Dah Fish]

With all that said, the slow growing process and all, why is it never publicly complained about when someone kills a big tog BUT....... the time someone poses with two big stripers ALL hell breaks loose with how you shouldn't kill those big breeders and the declining striper fishery.
Just saying

You trying to start trouble Whisperer? Don't make me come up there. Here's what happens some can be released and quite a few are. Others it's obvious that they will not survive so they are taken.

[NJ Dave]

Alright Joe, but I have been good all year.... well it's only been 21 days. Lol.
Just saying. I know it's "expected" anything over a 10 is a photo and release but sometimes you see picks of a lot of hogs and all everyone says is congrats. Post a 40 Lb old sperms shooting striper and you get 50 replies that you single handed have just depleted the entire future of our already declining striper fishery.

[Joey Dah Fish]

Alright Joe, but I have been good all year.... well it's only been 21 days. Lol.
Just saying. I know it's "expected" anything over a 10 is a photo and release but sometimes you see picks of a lot of hogs and all everyone says is congrats. Post a 40 Lb old sperms shooting striper and you get 50 replies that you single handed have just depleted the entire future of our already declining striper fishery.

I know what you mean brother. Nice to hear from you :D

[lenny bent rod]

I asked this question to capt. Charlie of the charter boat Snappa out of Point Judith R. I. He is very knowledgeable about the tog fisherie and he said quote "there just isn't enough studies done on this species for a definite answer ". If anyone knows of a Web site or link on this subject please post.

[kurtisb]

From what I have read, they grow much faster down south. Several MD 20 pounders, caught on Monty's boat, have been aged in the early 20's. I read that the world record fish was 22 years old.

[Togman316]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

[hammer4reel]

The only study done really wasnt very well .I think with the amount of big tog around, they grow faster than that study said.

due to tog being pretty territorial I would think that there would be little chance that a tog could get that big without being hooked in that area for 30-40 years as that study wanted us to believe.

some guys want to believe a ten pound tog is 15 years old. I just dont see that adding up

It would be nice if guys tagging like monty had better results with fish that have been recaught.

I saw an interveiw that he had over a thousand tag returns from over 10000 that were tagged

[Osprey]

I was on montys boat when the previous Maryland record was caught by Charlie at 23lbs, which a Maryland DNR marine biologist took a gill plate to age the fish and said 17-18 years old. I brought the head to a NY DEC marine biologist who check the age by removing the otolith to age it by counting the bone layers and agreed with the Maryland scientist of around 18 years old. The same woman aged a 22lb fish caught in NY and got an age around 19 years old on that one. So depending upon where it is caught I'd surmise most fish over 20 lbs are 16-20 years old.

The problem with releasing big tog is they will usually blow up their swim bladder or rectums and most likely won't survive a release. They might swim away but will either float eventually or die from parasites or predators from exposed intestines. As much as releasing these fish would be great, they've spawned many, many times, I think they've contributed plenty to the gene pool.

[Togman316]

Thank you very much for the information

[Dino]

is it me or do all the good posts on njfishing these days turn into someone grovelling about the good old days being gone and how all the fish are going extinct .. this was an outstanding season for blackfish guys.. fish of all size classes, and plenty of large tog, all signs of a healthy population. lets remember this is njfishing.com not njwhining.com lol

[RussH]

this was an outstanding season for blackfish guys.. fish of all size classes, and plenty of large tog, all signs of a healthy population. lets remember this is njfishing.com not njwhining.com lol

I agree, I went out 3 times and only skunked out once! :D

[Capt. Debbie]

HA! In the good old days you would have gone out Togging three times and limited out four times. That's how good it was. LOL


I agree, I went out 3 times and only skunked out once! :D

[bulletbob]

is it me or do all the good posts on njfishing these days turn into someone grovelling about the good old days being gone and how all the fish are going extinct .. this was an outstanding season for blackfish guys.. fish of all size classes, and plenty of large tog, all signs of a healthy population. lets remember this is njfishing.com not njwhining.com lol


glad you had a great year. lots of guys i talked to on the boats didn't do as well..Blackfish populations are down 40% from what they were.. There are dozens of population studies.. If you can't find them I would be happy to provide links... They are under high pressure compared to what they were under historically.... bob

[jmurr711]

any size, any age, they are delicious

[NoLimit]

There were no limits

[bulletbob]

any size, any age, they are delicious

They are, thats the problem.. Years ago, no one wanted them, and the headboats that sailed for them had 10 maybe 15 guys, and the whiting boats were railed day and night... Times have changed