STILL TIME FOR TAUTOG:

The tautog is a daytime feeder with peak feeding periods falling at dawn and dusk. The tautog, also known as blackfish, is generally found in shallow water and identifies with structure. Depending on your location, tautog can be found in waters as deep as 150 feet. Tautog move into shallow water early with peak spring fishing occurring in April and May. Fall fishing really starts to heat up as soon as water temperatures start to drop and peaks in October and November with fish being caught into December.

Locations: Tautog inhabit shallow waters that contain an abundance of structure. They are territorial and generally establish a home ground. Tautog will only move out of their claimed territory for short periods of time to feed. Their migration is limited to moving from shallow to deep water at different times of the year. Limited numbers of smaller fish will stay in the shallows all year long. As winter arrives and tautog move offshore, they will generally inhabit bottom that contains huge boulders or numerous rockpiles.

Inshore locations include rocky areas, jetties, bridge abutments, pilings, deep cutting shorelines and mussel beds. Wrecks are another location that is popular among blackfish.

Growth and size: The tautog has a slow growth rate and requires six to ten years to achieve a weight of between two and four pounds. It’s lifespan generally spans thirty-five years. Males grow faster and live longer than females. The number of eggs deposited by the female during spawning is in direct relation to her size.

The average size tautog caught in Massachusetts is usually between two and five pounds. Fish reaching between ten and twelve pounds are surprisingly common. The Massachusetts record stands at twenty-two pounds, nine ounces.

Tackle: When it comes to selecting tackle the choice is generally a heavy rod and reel combination capable of handling twenty to forty pound test line. Conventional gear is the preferred choice of experienced tautog fishermen as spinning gear just isn’t designed to take the punishment that is part of tautog fishing.

Terminal tackle is kept to a minimum. A basic two hook bottom rig is chosen because of the harsh conditions and rocky structure that is associated with "taug" fishing. Many fishermen choose to make their own rigs using leader material up to 100 lb. test with 60 and 80 lb. the most common. Stout hooks, sharpened to a perfect point are the most important part of the tautog fishing system.

Catching them: The most productive method for catching tautog is still fishing. Anchoring above a rocky bottom, over a wreck or up current of a bridge is the first step to a successful tautog trip. When fishing rockpiles look for the sharp drop-offs and cliff like segments. Never overlook wrecks.

Feeding tautog will often hit a falling bait or as soon as it reaches the bottom. The strike is far from explosive or even hard hitting. It is best described as a gentle tap. Oftentimes it is very difficult to determine an actual "hit. In order to determine a genuine strike and execute a successful hook-up, there must be no slack in the line. Once you detect a strike hit the fish immediately with a quick and solid motion. Any hesitation will probably result in the loss of the fish.

The quick and decisive hit is not a display of macho behavior but a technique used to successfully set the hook in a mouth full of bone and to immediately gain control over the fish. This quick action will help to prevent the fish from moving back into the structure and running the line across rocks so that he will cut himself free. Once the hook is set, start your retrieve at once. It is imperative to get the fish moving off the bottom and in an upward movement. As soon as possible.

Successful fishermen must check their lines and terminal tackle often to prevent the most common cause of lost fish, equipment failure. The term can also be translated into fishermen laziness. It’s a good idea to strip a few yards of line off your reel each time a fish is brought to gaff. A fight in the rocks is sure to nick the line and weaken it substantially. Hooks should be sharpened at the start of each trip and frequently thereafter.

Try these: If one studies the coast from Marblehead to Gloucester many locations are suitable for tautog fishing. Most of the fishing is done from a boat but there are suitable locations that can be successfully fished from shore. One spot that has proven itself time and time again is the Kernwood Bridge. The Kernwood bridge is a prime location due to it’s shallow water, abundant structure and it’s closeness to clam flats. Bridge fishermen generally use sea clams, sea worms and shrimp.

The Salem/Beverly Bridge can be another location that tautog fishermen can score. The abundance of barnacles, nearby clam flats and structure make the bridge a good location. The areas around the pilings generally prove best.

Marblehead is one of the best tautog areas along the North Shore. It sports numerous ledges rockpiles and other suitable habitat for tautog. It also appear that there are limited areas suitable for spawning.

The gut between Marblehead Neck and Tinker’s Island is a prime location for tautog. The rocky bottom and huge boulders offer good hiding places and suitable habitat for tautog. Many fishermen have been successfully using crabs in this area.

Another location that has produced good numbers of tautog is Doliber Point to Fort Sewall. This area seems to be most active during the first couple of hours of daylight. Tom Moore’s Rock, better known for it’s great striper fishing is also a good location for tautog. Sea clams and shrimp prove to be among the best baits.

Many of the rocky ledges along Manchester and Magnolia will hold tautog. Clams and crabs are a good bet in this location. In Gloucester, tautog are caught along the Gloucester Breakwater and frequently taken around the rocks of Eastern Point.

So, as fall wanes and fishing for other popular species starts to slow down, look toward tautog too fill the void. Once you have fought a good sized tautog and tasted it’s delightful fillets, I am sure you will be looking forward to the next time you hook up with a blackfish.