No Fluke

Capt. Charlie Donilon shares tautog tips, calmer seas promise good action

Captain Dave Monti
Posted 10/8/15

Tautog (or black fish) have a delicious white colored flesh and are commonly caught in Rhode Island in the fall (there is a short spring season as well). Two weeks ago an 18.9 pound tautog was caught …

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No Fluke

Capt. Charlie Donilon shares tautog tips, calmer seas promise good action

Posted

Tautog (or black fish) have a delicious white colored flesh and are commonly caught in Rhode Island in the fall (there is a short spring season as well). Two weeks ago an 18.9 pound tautog was caught by Joe Bleczinski of Narragansett and since then we had a series of big storms. At press time the water was still turbid… with a log of sand and silt kicked up by big winds and sea. However, we are at the end of the week, the weather has cleared, the seas are settling down and all signs point to an enhanced tautog bite.

Tautog reminds me of grouper but are much smaller. They live near or in rocks and are not often sold in fish markets because they are difficult to harvest commercially compared to other species. Tautog baits include crabs of all types, tautog jigs and some anglers use clam worms in the spring.

The minimum legal size in Rhode Island is 16” with a three fish/person/day limit until October 17th. On October 18th the limit jumps to six fish. However, a ten fish per boat limit applies for both periods (does not apply to charter boats).

If you want to land tautog here are five tips from Capt. Charlie Donilon of Snappa Charters, Pt. Judith who spoke about tautog fishing last week at a Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) seminar.

Fishing rod and line. Capt. Donilon said “I suggest a longer rod for tautog, ideally something at least seven feet with a little bit of backbone. The longer rod allows you to raise the rod a greater distance from the water while setting the hook… pulling that fish away from structure. Braid line allows you a more direct contact with the fish to feel the bite and will not stretch like monofilament line allowing the fish to go back into structure.”

Chumming is important. “If I am bringing five gallons of crabs on a charter trip, one of them will be used for chum.” Charlie’s chumming technique is not fancy. He cuts the legs off green crabs (he uses Asian crabs too) with cutting shears, cuts crabs in half and then throws them in the water throughout the fishing area.

Anchoring over structure. “I have a heavy anchor for my boat, 20 pounds with 20 feet of chain that allows me to get away with less scope and more accurately position the boat over structure.” His scope ratio is more like three to one rather than the seven to one or ten to one ratio commonly recommended based on conditions.

Sharp hooks. Tautog have tough lips so sharp hooks are necessary. Capt. Donilon said, “Anglers spend so much time and money to fish so why skimp when it comes to hooks. I use ‘Lazar Sharp’ hooks.”

Finesse the rod as you ride the swells. “When the boat is rising and falling due to ocean swells you have to finesse the rod making every effort to keep that bait on the bottom in the strike zone.” said Capt. Donilon. So when the boat rises you need to lower your rod to stay on the bottom and when the boat falls you need to raise the rod to take up the slack so you can feel the bite when it occurs.

Lean about fly fishing Labrador City and Northern Quebec

On Wednesday, October 28, 6:30 pm the Narragansett Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU225) will host Rick Little, owner of Shadcreek Flies, Hampstead, NH. The meeting will take place at the Coventry/West Greenwich Elks Lodge, 42 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich.

Rick enjoys adapting some of his freshwater techniques and approaches to the salt and that passion has influenced the types of flies that he uses and how he fishes them. Members and guest will learn about the “Adventure Trip to Labrador City and Northern Quebec, open for both anglers and guest non-anglers.

Contact Ron Marafioti at (401) 463-6162 with questions.

Where’s the bite

Striped bass fishing has remained strong even during recent storms. Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle said, “Saturday Chung Nguyen of Providence caught a 35” striped bass off the Charlestown Breachway using one of Strike Pro’s 2 3/4 ounces Surf Pro round bottom pencils.”

Tautog fishing is improving as water conditions calm down. Last week Gisele and Rich Golembeski fished the Narragansett area for tautog. Gisele said, “Launched from Wilson Park dock in Wickford searching for tautog (before the storms). Fished on some rock piles off Narragansett Beach. Final tally 9 keeper sea bass (lots of shorts) at least 6 short t-tog, and one surprise 19 1/2” cod!! Never thought there were cod that close to shore!!! Too bad it wasn’t a keeper!! All caught on crabs.” Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle, Warwick said, “A few anglers fished Sunday where they could find a stop out of the wind. They fished Johnson’s Ledge and around Hope Island hooking up with a few fish but nothing spectacular due well due to rough conditions.” John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle, Riverside said, “Tautog are being caught at the Wharf Tavern on an eight to one keeper ratio. Anglers are also catching a lot of oyster toadfish in the process. More than in other years.”

Bluefish were being caught even after the storm in the Conimicut Light to Barrington Beach area.” said John Littlefield of Archie’s Bait & Tackle. Ken Ferrara of Ray’s Bait & Tackle said, “We have had a good bluefish bite the past few weeks, even after the storm this Sunday bluefish in the 6 to 9 pound range were being caught in Greenwich Cove and Bay.”

Skipjacks continue to be around everywhere in coves and harbors and along the coastline of Providence and East Providence,” said John Littlefield.Cod fishing before the storms was good. Capt. Frank Blount of the Frances fleet said, “Monday was a good day. Many of the fishers aboard had four to seven nice cod apiece to take home. There were some bigger fish well into the teens with the best threatening the 20-pound mark. Both bait and jigs were producing well.”

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Visit Captain Dave’s No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him with your fishing news and photos at dmontifish@verizon.net.

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