I am a new member to the forum. I'm a school teacher that loves the outdoors and fishing is one passion of mine, both fresh and saltwater. Is anyone catching any Tautog at the islands of the CBBT? If so, where can I find some fresh bait at this time of year? Thanks.

theres been a few togs caught, but they havent moved in to spawn yet - it wont be too much longer if we can get some decent weather. u can get bait at most any tackle shop. long bay pointe has good clams usually.

they migrate to shallow water to spawn - u will catch them all day long in 15 feet or less in a month. they are migrating along the same structure - i.e. from deeper in the rocks. try catching them now in 15 feet or less at the islands and u will have a long day.

Thanks to all of you. I will wait a couple of weeks and give it a try around the 3rd and 4th islands.

Bird Man

oceanseast reports good taug action along cbbt. hope toget after um this friday......have to keep a eye on the sky ..... rats TEXAS just lost to LSU

Sorry sir but I beg to differ. When i worked on the Sally-T we caught a tagged tog that came from NJ. Before that I was almost positve that tog didn't really migrate but slightly relocate to accomadate their ideal water temp.

And the tog bite has been pretty good for me whenever I have been able to get out. The Bigger fish have come on hermits but nice ones (5-7lbs) have been devouring the fiddlers. I did go out last thursday and say a few guys killing them on clams tipped with a little piece of or leg of a hard crab. just my $0 .02

[quote=KICKNBASS,Mar 26 2006, 11:11 PM][quote=GIGOLOT,Mar 25 2006, 04:05 PM]LBP has clams, fiddler crabs hard crabs and sometimes they have green crabs and hermeit crabs. Tog are resident fish who DO NOT venture far from where they live. They DO NOT migrate.
[/quote]


Sorry sir but I beg to differ. When i worked on the Sally-T we caught a tagged tog that came from NJ. Before that I was almost positve that tog didn't really migrate but slightly relocate to accomadate their ideal water temp.

And the tog bite has been pretty good for me whenever I have been able to get out. The Bigger fish have come on hermits but nice ones (5-7lbs) have been devouring the fiddlers. I did go out last thursday and say a few guys killing them on clams tipped with a little piece of or leg of a hard crab. just my $0 .02

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I've tagged a lot of Tog in NJ. Cape May and MD.

You find some of the smaller Tog migrate North And South from their areas but mostly they move East/West, wintering in deeper waters in the ocean coming
in shore when the water warms and spawning.
The tog in bays tend to remain in the bay as long as it doesn't freeze.
There is also a population of Tog that have been
found to remain and spawn in deep water.
The one you got wasn't this one was it?
I tagged her and released her last year

Click to view attachment

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/Info/tautog.cfm

Here's a website

Thanks again to all that have replied. I appreciate it. It seems that I have started a debate concerning Tautog migration. I have lived in Virginia since 1976. Before that , I lived in Connecticut. I am quite sure that the NorthEastrn Tog do a lateral migration that is dependant on water temperatures. Basically, they would swim to deeper waters in Winter, returning in early spring to shallower waters. Either way, I want to be out there as soon as possible. My spring break is coming up in April and I've had my gear ready for a month. Bird Man

[quote=sam843,Mar 28 2006, 01:25 AM]



And the tog bite has been pretty good for me whenever I have been able to get out. The Bigger fish have come on hermits but nice ones (5-7lbs) have been devouring the fiddlers. I did go out last thursday and say a few guys killing them on clams tipped with a little piece of or leg of a hard crab. just my $0 .02

[/quote]

I've tagged a lot of Tog in NJ. Cape May and MD.

You find some of the smaller Tog migrate North And South from their areas but mostly they move East/West, wintering in deeper waters in the ocean coming
in shore when the water warms and spawning.
The tog in bays tend to remain in the bay as long as it doesn't freeze.
There is also a population of Tog that have been
found to remain and spawn in deep water.
The one you got wasn't this one was it?
I tagged her and released her last year

Click to view attachment

[/quote]


No we caught it early last year. Definately not the same fish.

actually all the virginia tagging data has proved that as a general rule our local population doesnt migrate like the the northern populations do. out of all the data only i believe 3 togs have showed any real movement. for this reason our tog populations are treated differently than the ones in our northern states. they will move locally however on the same piece of structure or to adjacent ones for various reasons.