Anglers in the northeast rave about boat fishing for blackfish. Also known as tautogs, this fish is known for putting up quite a fight and straining fishing rods so they are nearly bent in half from pulling. These fish have one goal and that is to pull your line into the rocks in the hopes of freeing themselves from captivity. For those without a boat, there is no need for you to miss out on the fun and adventure of these feisty fish. Though not often talked about, there are opportunities for shore fishing for blackfish and for those who either have no access to a boat or simply prefer shore bound fishing.
For those in the northeast who have access to shoreline waters that reach 50-65 degrees, you are in luck. If these waters contain jetties and rock piles, you will likely be able to find tautogs in these areas. Understanding the feeding and migration habits of the tautog can help you identify the right areas. When the waters start warming up in the spring, it’s not unusual to find tautogs in the shallow waters around rock piles looking for places to feed. This is the area that they prefer for not just eating but for spawning. Once the blackfish spawns, they will begin to move out of these more shallow areas and move out to colder, deeper waters.
Once fall arrives, the blackfish tend to move back towards the shore in an attempt to make sure that they are able to fatten up and prepare for the winter months that lie ahead. This is when you can find them in shallow rock piles – 6 feet in some instances. This is where they are scrounging for crabs, mussels and barnacles to fill up on. This is a great opportunity for those who are interested in shore-fishing to have a chance to land a blackfish or two.
Charts can be very useful in these areas, especially those that provide depth contours and identify rock piles that are along beaches and jetties. These are ideal fishing areas for blackfish and the right charts will help you identify them with ease. Tautogs will also be found hiding in rocky formations that can be identified when the tide starts changing – you can find those formations that extend into the water under breaking waves.
Locating the best fishing area may be the least of your concerns if you’re after blackfish. Remember these fish are fighters – they not only don’t want to be caught, but their unique shape with their broom-like tail and stout body mean that they can quickly get the upper hand on you with their strength. The tautog wastes no time at all – their entire purpose once they are on your line is to see if they can get the best of you by dragging your line to the rocks. This need not be problematic if you have the right tackle. A stout rod with a strong drag system will help you ensure that the fish doesn’t win. Your reel can be whichever you feel you have the most control over - conventional or spinning – whichever you choose make sure that you have complete control. Remember that speed matters when you are fighting a blackfish – they are going to hit and run faster than you might think. In general a 10 to 11 foot rod is the best choice for blackfish even though most surf anglers will use an 8 foot rod. The longer rod will give you the additional leverage you need for blackfish.
Line is a concern when blackfish are the game you are after. These fish will do their utmost to snap off your line at on every boulder that they encounter. While braided line is quickly becoming a favorite, because it does not stretch and because it is very sensitive to a bite, it’s problematic with tautogs. Braided line does not have the abrasion resistance that is available in monofilament and fluorocarbon line and therefore it’s likely to break if a blackfish drags it across the rocks. You can probably work around this by using a one and a half or two foot fluorocarbon or mono leader with a thirty to fifty pound braided line.
If you do elect to fish with a non braided line, your best option is probably a monofilament line in the 17-30 lb range. This will prevent the blackfish from snapping your line in the rocky holes that they will no doubt head for the minute they are on your hook.
The best bait rig for the blackfish could very well be the simple slider rig. It’s easy to create with a 2-4 ounce slider sinker which you thread onto your line. The barrel should be rated for up to 50 lbs and you can add a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader (1 ½ - 2 feet) which has an octopus hook (2/0 size). This allows your sinker to stay along the bottom because there is little doubt that the blackfish is going to do his very best to take your bait and make a run for it. This type of rig will allow your line to pass through the sinker and the blackfish will not feel the resistance.
Bait isn’t that much of a challenge if you know the dietary habit of the tautog. Crabs, clams and sandworms are all part of their diets and so are mussels. You can toss your rig complete with any of these bait choices into rocky areas to lure blackfish. Just make sure that instead of using a sand spike that you are holding onto your rod – remember, these fish are interested in not getting caught and if you don’t start reeling them in right away they are liable to take off immediately after stealing your bait. As many others have, northeast anglers will enjoy tackling these aggressive tautogs from onshore.
When you are getting prepared for a saltwater fishing adventure, having the proper equipment is essential. Some of the most popular products on the market include okuma reels and van staal fishing reels.