Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
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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
