The tautog, more commonly known as the blackfish in this area, is a popular game fish that inhabits the rocky, inshore coves and bays. The fish is highly sought after along the Cape but it’s range covers South Carolina to Nova Scotia. The heaviest concentrations of blackfish are from the Cape to Delaware. During the spring, many fishermen head to the Cape to do some serious "tog" fishing. Not only does the fish provide excellent angling excitement, but the flesh has a mild flavor and is highly acclaimed as table fare. It makes an excellent chowder and is hard to beat when baked or broiled.

The best tautog fishing begins in early April and continues through May. It picks up again in early fall and continues late into the season. Depending on where you fish, tautog will inhabit waters from 30 to 150 feet. Generally, the further south one travels the deeper the tautog will be.

On the North Shore, blackfish are generally overlooked by local fishermen. I feel that this is largely due to the fact that most fishermen have not been properly introduced to this great game fish. Over the past few years, increased numbers of tautog have been brought in to the shop for identification by puzzled fishermen. With the proper background and a willingness to learn the tautog’s habits, fishermen can be introduced to a new species of fish that will provide some of the first action in the spring and the last fight in the fall.

The tautog is a fish that identifies with structure. They will be found around rock piles, deep cutting shorelines, pilings, jetties, bridge abutments and mussel beds. Wrecks are another popular home for blackfish. Try fish any one of the wrecks that are located off Nahant and the entrance to Boston Harbor. Generally, tautog prefer water depth of 60 feet or less. Tautog will also establish a home ground that they will identify with and remain within certain limits only to venture outside to feed. Tautog generally do not migrate but move into shallow waters during the spring as waters warm and offshore to deeper waters during the winter. Some of the smaller fish will remain in shallow water year round. When tautog move offshore during the winter months, they will generally inhabit water up to 150 feet and a bottom that is covered with large boulders or rock piles.

The average size blackfish caught in Massachusetts will generally fall in the 2 to 5 pound class, although fish in the 10 to 12 pound size are caught with some regularity. The largest tautog caught in Massachusetts on rod and reel weighed in at 22 lbs., 9 oz. Fish of these proportions are the exception rather than the rule.

The tautog is a rather ugly fish by most fisherman’s standards. It does not have the streamlined body of the bluefish nor does it sport the beauty of a striper. Instead it boasts a body that is more compressed, a sign of strength, it has a blunt head and a ver thick set of lips. It’s coloration is dark in most instances black with slightly lighter coloration on it’s underside. Most fishermen are a bit cautious when they find themselves looking at a set of nasty teeth the tautog displays. These teeth are a good indication of the kind of diet the tautog is used to. It takes the tautog 6 to 10 years to reach weights from 2 to 4 lbs. This slow growing fish has a relatively long lifespan at about 35 years. The males will generally live longer and grow faster than the females. The number of eggs deposited by the female during spawning is relative to the size of the female.

The tautog is a daytime feeder with peak feeding times at dawn and dusk. During the nighttime, tautog will lay almost dormant on the bottom and in their homes around rocks. They enjoy a wide and varied diet that consists of mostly shallow water invertebrates. Some of the tautog’s favorite food are mussels, clams, crabs, shrimp, small lobsters and barnacles. Fishermen generally prefer clams and crabs for attracting blackfish. If you examine the teeth of the tautog you will note that they are very suitable for a diet of this kind. Their oversized teeth and powerful jaw make small work of breaking open clam shells, crab shells and lobster.

Tautog are hard fighting and can be deadly and destructive when it comes to destroying tackle. Fishermen must be quick when setting the hook as those tuff fighters are well known for their ability to steal a small piece of bait. Their mouth is very hard and a substantial hook set is necessary to drive the point home.

One of the most successful methods of fishing for tautog is still fishing. In most cases it is far more productive to anchor your boat over structure that is suitable habitat for tautog. In general it will be an area of substantial rocks in up to 50 feet of water. Look for sharp drop-offs and cliff like shores. Those will generally indicate suitable bottom. Feeding tautog will often hit the bait on the fall or as soon as it hits the bottom. The strike is far from explosive and more in tune with a gentle tap. It is quite similar to that of a carp. It is extremely important to keep a tight line. Once you feel the gentle tap, hit the fish with a sharp and solid set. Any hesitation or timid strike will translate into a lost fish. Hooks must be sharpened and even new hooks should be "touched up". A solid strike will help to keep the fish out of the rocks. Strike the fish "hard enough to cross his eyes" and start your retrieve immediately.

Besides sharp hooks and a quick response, fishermen must pay attention to detail. Leaders must be checked frequently as nicks will weaken line and facilitate escape.

One thing that is rarely mentioned when talking about tautog is the fact that the cunner, or sea perch, is a cousin of the tautog and likes the same habitat as it’s cousin the tautog. This closely relates species is much smaller than the tautog but exhibits many of the same characteristics. Cunner are generally found in the same locations as the tautog, even during their retreat to deeper waters during the winter months. They prefer the same rocky habitat and enjoy the same diet as the tautog. Often times fishermen will divert their fishing efforts away from areas that cunner are present, when, in fact, these little "bait stealers" can lead fishermen to blackfish.

Now that we have studies some of the background and characteristics that will inevidabally lead you to tautog, let’s look at some of the locations that blackfish are caught. If one studies the coast along Salem, Marblehead, Manchester, Magnolia and Gloucester one is sure to determine that there are a number of suitable locations for some good tautog fishing. Most of the fishing is done by boat, but there are a few areas that will enable surf fishermen to catch tautog. One particular location that comes to mind is the Kernwood Bridge in Salem that crosses over the Danvers River. The bridge abutments, the barnacles and the mussel beds in the area all contribute to the possibility of good tautog fishing. Each year good numbers of tautog are brought into the shop by bridge fishermen not knowing just what they have caught. This will only come to life when fishermen make a conscious effort and target tautog. For years a few local fishermen have fished these areas with great success. It’s almost like the tautog fishery is one of the best kept fishing secrets on the North Shore.

Marblehead is one of the best locations for blackfish action. It has numerous ledges, rock piles and other suitable habitat for tautog. It also appears that some areas will support spawning activity. Some of the most popular areas in Marblehead have been along Tinker’s Island Gut, Tom Moore’s Rock and the area between Dolliber Cove and Fort Sewall. Once in a while the area around Little Pigs Rocks will provide good tautog action. As you become familiar with the area, more likely spots will become apparent to you. At times. Just drift fishing over an area will be enough to catch a fish or two.

When you are in the area and the fishing is slow for the more popular species of fish, why not bait a hook with a clam or crab and drop it to the bottom and try to catch a blackfish. Who knows, you just might discover another species of fish you will enjoy fishing for.