When the blackfish bite suddenly stops, get ready! Tautog fishing in heavy structure

[@josephmunch724]

Nice work! Credit for pulling them out without a net. The big ones usually give that one last hard run, that’s when many are lost. Pretty sure I know this spot...😊

[@PeterRanieriII]

haha its true so many times they give a second run at the boat - lol yeah this spot is very local to me

[@williamfris3835]

I love it when they hit, you hook, and they make a bee line for structure. Sometimes you win sometimes they win. Lot of fun!

[@PeterRanieriII]

same! its those little taps and tugs that keeps your heart rate up the whole time, haha - yep, sometimes they just get the upper hand on the first run, always a blast no matter which way it goes, lol

[@TalkFishTVHawaiianDan]

Great stuff Pete! Question, how do I tagging gear? Is there a program? Thanks in advance!

[@PeterRanieriII]

Dan! How you been man?! You can get a small fish starter kit here: grayfishtagresearch.org/order-tag-kits/ let me know if you have any other questions about it!

[@anewlookatlurestopwaterpop5466]

Good job great action

[@PeterRanieriII]

thanks man! oooo yeee 🤙

[@MrTcal4404]

lot of fish for a quick session, nice work. So much fun building a good tog bite. I feel like the wreck-boss tog comes out after you've done battle with all the smaller ones...

[@PeterRanieriII]

the bite was surprisingly fast and furious that morning before the storm. I completely agree, the boss fish of the area typically watches from a distance at first until he/she's had enough of watching the smaller ones feed. Its such a waiting game with these fish but the whole time its very exciting

[@allseasonfishing4030]

nice ones bro

[@PeterRanieriII]

Thanks brudda, you been getting some nice stripers lately!

[@allseasonfishing4030]

@@PeterRanieriII hell yea bro . Its Insane here . Hope u will get some blitz there as well 🙌🙌🎣🎣

[@steverazzano]

It was a very brief morning on the water before getting drenched. I tried my best to do some tog on Saturday, but my scissors fell into the water just as I anchored up so I was cutting crab with my pliers with very mixed, messy results. A few shorts and that's it. It was just way too hot I think. But this Saturday should be perfect conditions to work a few unmarked rocks I have been looking forward to trying.

[@PeterRanieriII]

Ah man, its so hard to blackfish without scissors! Yea i didnt have much success either on saturday for the blackfish, you think its the heat or maybe it was the stronger tides? I really hope this upcoming saturday stays good, unmarked rocks are the way to go!

[@steverazzano]

@@PeterRanieriII it was probably a combination of those things for sure. The currents this upcoming Saturday look slower than normal with temps of low 60s. I think it should be better

[@jasinc19]

Sounds like a dragon breathing behind u

[@PeterRanieriII]

So many times I’m thinking the same thing, and I’m surprised more people don’t call me out on it

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

Over the weekend, when it was 80 degrees out, that was probably the reason why the tog bite was very slow that day. But people have been reporting that the bite is just as good on Asian and spider crabs as green crabs. For some reason, they don't run the cod boat on Thursdays, and starting this week, the waters south of Block Island become a federal whale migration zone for the winter. All vessels over 65 feet are required to slow to 10 knots. So the boats simply stay around the east side of Block and the wind farm instead of taking the long ride out to Cox's.

[@PeterRanieriII]

Hey Josh, I had a slow-ish tog day this past saturday as well. I think it was the stronger than usual tides also. Been wanting to try spider crabs for bait...thanks for the Block Island report, always enjoy hearing from you

[@foxfai1]

Do you tag them for research?

[@PeterRanieriII]

yes, its for research purposes (tracking migration, and growth rates mostly)

[@erockscott1184]

Never heard of a "black fish"...what state are you in?.

[@PeterRanieriII]

This is New York. They are also called tautog

[@francus7227]

3:58 They're TOAD-ally delicious..... IDK how they taste. I just like saying toad-ally delicious.

[@PeterRanieriII]

Haha they actually are delicious, I did try one last year. Just not easy to filet and the yield is small but they are toad-ally delicious!

[@joshreelie4107]

I once saw a guy catch a 10 lb. blackfish off Frank M Flowers dock just inside the creek. Big ones do inhabit those waters!

[@PeterRanieriII]

I believe it Josh! you think its possible they are still coming in that size or is that history?

[@joshreelie4107]

History, sad to say.@@PeterRanieriII