Is togging slow bc water is warm or fishing sux?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by togzilla

Truer words could not have been stated!
I have been bottom fishing for the last 35 years off Northern NJ utilizing a two anchor system. Takes time to get it right in certain conditions and other conditions can get on a small piece real quick. However, constantly have to re-position when wind and tide change can be a pain in the ass. Switched to a trolling motor 3 years ago and it is a GAME CHANGER PERIOD END OF STORY!!!! Can set up on a piece in seconds and never have to change regardless of changing wind or tide. If the piece isn’t productive I have no issues running to a new spot as a quick set up allows me to spend more time finding productive pieces and fishing than dealing with anchoring and changing wind/ride conditions. Maintenance is zero!!! Just have to make sure your battery is charged. I run a 3 bank charging system for my boat/housing motors and lithium battery. I can fish all day in 2-4 ft seas and still have more than a 50% charge at the end of the day. I run a 26 ft center console and will be upgrading to a 32 center console and will not put that boat in the water without a trolling motor. Trying to compare anchoring to a spot lock is like saying the automobile is a fad and I’ll stick to a horse and buggy. Having bottom fished in NJ for 35+ years both anchoring and spot lock I can say this with 100% confidence.

I guess I'm going to have to start a go fund me for spot lock

All kidding aside, what do you think it would cost including installation and batteries for a 28 foot express?? And as far as the batteries, I assume the lithium's and battery charger capable of charging lithium. I assume these get wired separately from the house and starting batteries and they get charged at the dock when on shore power?

[Togfather2530]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

I guess I'm going to have to start a go fund me for spot lock

All kidding aside, what do you think it would cost including installation and batteries for a 28 foot express?? And as far as the batteries, I assume the lithium's and battery charger capable of charging lithium. I assume these get wired separately from the house and starting batteries and they get charged at the dock when on shore power?

I’ll wait for the answers lol. 5-10k? Don’t spend too much Gerry bc if you guys are right about all this and I guess u are then the fishery will be shit in 10 years anyway.

[Togfather2530]

All I’m saying is most people are not anchoring on a little dinky piece anyway.
Even the professional captains fish the expansive rock areas mostly. A little movement on the anchor never bothered me that much. What the hell everyone wants to cast tog jigs around today anyway on the hook lol. A little movement just allows me to cover the piece more. Like I said most people are not on very small pieces and many times it’s just in there head that they are over the “best” spot lol.

[Togfather2530]

I do see the benefits of it saving time for sure

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Togfather2530

I do see the benefits of it saving time for sure

Saves a lot of time .

For me it’s also a huge Safty aspect .
Being retired I fish alone quite a bit , many times in conditions others don’t want to be out .
Dropping and retrieving anchor and rode in snotty conditions alone may not be the smartest thing to have been doing .

Now I hit a button , the trolling motor stows and I’m off safely.

Want to slide over to a different section of the piece , just tap the jog button

As said by another poster , there isn’t really any maintenance, EXCEPT I wipe the shaft down with water based silicone after it’s been rinsed .
That minute that takes allows the motor to work much smoother helping to not have other issues .

While they are twice the weight of lithiums I’m using AGM batteries .
Lithium batteries unless having an internal heater can be finicky under 40 degrees .
And many issues trolling motor circuit boards have are because lithiums run on the hot side with voltages higher than standard batteries . AGM batteries seem to not cause those issues .

I can run the motor all day , and haven’t gone below 50% even on the worst days .
Plug in the 3 bank charger after every trip keeps them ready to go the next day .

[Togfather2530]

Originally Posted by togzilla

Truer words could not have been stated!
I have been bottom fishing for the last 35 years off Northern NJ utilizing a two anchor system. Takes time to get it right in certain conditions and other conditions can get on a small piece real quick. However, constantly have to re-position when wind and tide change can be a pain in the ass. Switched to a trolling motor 3 years ago and it is a GAME CHANGER PERIOD END OF STORY!!!! Can set up on a piece in seconds and never have to change regardless of changing wind or tide. If the piece isn’t productive I have no issues running to a new spot as a quick set up allows me to spend more time finding productive pieces and fishing than dealing with anchoring and changing wind/ride conditions. Maintenance is zero!!! Just have to make sure your battery is charged. I run a 3 bank charging system for my boat/housing motors and lithium battery. I can fish all day in 2-4 ft seas and still have more than a 50% charge at the end of the day. I run a 26 ft center console and will be upgrading to a 32 center console and will not put that boat in the water without a trolling motor. Trying to compare anchoring to a spot lock is like saying the automobile is a fad and I’ll stick to a horse and buggy. Having bottom fished in NJ for 35+ years both anchoring and spot lock I can say this with 100% confidence.

Maintenance being “zero” is definitely not the case with anything electrical on a saltwater boat. I’m just curious on the lifespan of it all. Batteries motor etc. Everything is expensive. Also what is the best rated saltwater model that’s going to last. I presume like Gerry said I would have to install a new charger for everything bc the existing won’t work. Let’s hear some advice on equipment so I can assess the damage lol. Boat is about 7500# maybe.

[Tuna Tales]

As I said, NJ should approve the same size and bag regulations as RI. This would help the NJ fishery overall.

NJ black fishing will improve as the water temperatures lower.

We had a good day wreck fishing on Sunday - just shy of a 3 man limit to 10 lbs. (just touched the 10 lb mark on the Boga). About 25 shorts.

15 lb PowerPro V2 with 40 lb top shot. 2 oz jig. 80 feet.


Joe T.

[Duffman]

I know it sounds vane as hell and a most could care less but.......that spot lock stowed in the bow really kills the looks of a good looking hull.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Duffman

I know it sounds vane as hell and a most could care less but.......that spot lock stowed in the bow really kills the looks of a good looking hull.

Not if there's a bow bunny laying next to it

[togzilla]

I opted for the Minn Kota Riptide Instinct which has an auto deploy so I am not getting up on my bow manually releasing and lifting the motor. Motor was around $6,100, Abyss Lithium battery $2,800, 3 bank charger $700 plus installation from Octopus Marine in Wall Twp. Again, not cheap at all but what about saltwater boating is cheap? Looked into Rhodan but from what I gathered their service for issues was not as good as Minn Kota and I just felt the Garmin Kraken was too new with no history behind it.
Some added benefits of the trolling motor is also fluke fishing. How many times have you been drifting with a good bite and then the wind and tide die and you have no drift? With the trolling motor I can create my own drift and use GPS locations to get on the exact drift prior to losing wind and tide. Also, I know some guys that are spot locking 50 ft from lobster pots and working them for Mahi. I boat out of Barnegat Light and we do not have any of the rock structure that you have up north like the Shrewsbury rocks, Rattlesnake etc. so a trolling motor really comes in handy when you are only working with wrecks. I have had the motor for 2 years with zero issues and basically the only maintenance is washing it down after every fishing trip. I would never have a boat without a trolling motor going forward. However, I agree that this is not good news for the Blackfish as every yahoo can now install a motor and get on the small pieces which use to be an art using two anchors.