[hartattack]

Posting this helpful info for my partner-in-crime DALES and any other Blind Squirrels looking for that nut. The info is mostly NY-centric, forget the Montauk Rig, you wanna learn the Belmar Rig

For most of us it's old news, if not - PUOSU is not for Newbies
. . . . Enjoy !


1. SPECIES OF FISH- TOG ARE A WRASSE.
Family of bony fish, having thick lips, spiny fins, strong teeth, called tautog, blackfish, tog, bulldogs
2. FISH MIGRATION.
They range along the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to South Carolina;
There is no sustained fishery north of Massachusetts. These fish are associated With rocky bottoms where they feed on a variety of mollusks and Crustaceans (mussels, crabs, barnacles). They are normally slow swimmers With a slow growth rate and they can live for as long as 34 years (22 lb). The average fish that is caught by anglers is 6-10 years old (3-4 lb). Males Are generally bigger and they live longer than females. Older males display a Pronounce difference in their external features; the very large males have an Enlarged white chin, with white margins on the pectoral and caudal fins. Sexual maturity occurs at approximately age 3 or 4, and the males outnumber Females in older fishes. These fish do not undergo seasonal migration, but move inshore as sea temperatures rise in the spring, and they spend winter in offshore waters at Depths between 80 ft to 150 ft. They first appear in New York Bight in late March and early April, This is all according to current water temps on the bottom. Not surface temp. The water on the bottom can vary greatly from the surface temps they move inshore by the end of April each Year and remain close to shore in depths ranging from 5 ft to 25 ft. This is also the time they move in to spawn. After the spawn which is triggered by water temps the fish will move a bit deeper and some will move back to the deeper wrecks. I have seen fish in July thru Oct. staying the 40 ft range. They are more difficult to locate by July, until mid-September when they reappear. Some of the best fishing is in this second run which is late October-November, and then the fish return to deeper water. The location is all temperature related. So make sure you always know the water temps. I have taken a pool thermometer at times and dropped it down to the bottom to get a true reading.

3. location of the tog
Blackfish often share the same areas as porgies, usually rocky terrain
Including rock piles, shipwrecks and artificial reef. Blackfish instinctively
Head for deeper water once hooked, and it is necessary to turn the fish
Around to avoid the risk of having the line severed on sharp rocks or
Barnacles. Do not be scared to truly raise your rod above your head to stop the larger fish from getting back into the structure. These are very strong fighters and promise a memorable experience to the angler. Fishing for blackfish requires a more substantial outfit than what is required for porgy fluke, and other bottom dwellers. Experts recommend a stout rod about 7 to 7?6? ft in length with a long butt handle. The spool should also be strong with 30-60 lb test ?abrasive resistant? line. Braid for tog is highly recommend to increase your feel of the bite and help hold bottom with less weight in higher current areas. The terminal tackle should be equally sturdy, and the angler should be prepared to replace lost tackle often. Lures are rarely used during fishing but there are a few anglers that surprisingly land an occasional tog on a lure or jig. However, there are a wide variety of shellfish to use as bait including blue mussels, steamer clams, green fiddler and calico crabs, Hermits, Green crabs, and rock crabs, as well as the more recent Asian crab found under rocks of our local beaches.