CBBT Tautog (Nov 28, 2015)

[ComeOnFish]

There were about 10 kayakers. We didn't do well. I think Efrin and I were the only ones with a keeper tog each. I caught 5 small togs. I also tried for stripers when I see some fish on the FF. No stripers. I caught two big toadfish, 16" and 17". I didn't take a pic of the 17 incher, but later I took a Pic of the 16 incher.

Before the launch I found that the rudder steering handle was missing (on Hobie Outback). Luckily the handle was somehow on the truck bed. Though I needed a torx screw driver. Lucky again, one of the local kayakers (I knew all of them because we fished together in the past) happened had the torx screw driver. SO I will be carrying the torx screw driver in my tackle bag.

One of Dave's Black Drum:


16 inch Toadfish (I don't have a pic of a 17 incher:


One of Joe's Black Drum:


19" Tautog from Santa (I've been good):


Joe

[tufnik]

I used green crab and caught only toads. I talked to three other yakers, and nobody caught togs. One yaker was on the water over 11 hrs and came up empty handed. I watched the several yakers and boaters at the 1st island, and I saw only one yaker pull up a bsb and a boater pull up a short tog. Yeah, it was a tough day.

So, you did well on a nice tog, Joe. And it's gift wrapped!

I did see Santa Claus, but he wasn't passing out tog presents to everyone. Just good cheer. Every time I heard passing vehicles honk their horns on the bridge above, I knew they were saying "Hi" to Joe on the water below.

And yes, it was a very good day to yak fish. Partly cloudy, calm waters, and low breeze. Water was 55 deg, ideal for tog.

[rwh]

It was good to meet you guys out there. I was at the island as the sun came up and spent all day out there and didn't catch any tog, just oyster toads and a 14" black drum which was a first for me. The weather was great but the current was brutal at times. I learned that I will need to bring more than 4 oz weights when fishing there so close to a full moon.

[mytmouse]

LOL Santa Joe! I can't stop chuckling at the Santa suit. Nice Tog too! I might have to get myself a Santa hat for my next trip out! I'm surprised you guys didn't crush em! Everything looked so perfect. But I guess that's the allure of Tog fishing!

I had planned on getting out yesterday as well and woke up to a cold. UGGH. I was eyeing the winds all week and sadly couldn't take advantage.

[tufnik]

rwh,
You sure put in long hours. Were you the one loading the yak in a pick-up with a topper? BTW, just a heads-up. The no-parking sign at the telephone pole pointed to the corner. So, I think you were in that zone.

MM,
Along with the suit, don't forget the little Christmas tree. Or maybe you could wait until Easter and get that bunny suit...lol.

[HokieDJ]

I should of listened to Santa and stick around longer at the spot. I gave up after catching 6 or so black drum hoping for the keeper.

On a related note, I decided to exercise the demons that have plagued my hooks looking for flounders and togs. I kept an oyster toad that Tufnik had caught. Amazingly, the fish was still alive in the morning after a trip home in the ice box (though he was reacting slowly when I was showing it to my kids). In fact, his mouth still moved after beheading him 10 minutes after. I wanted to keep the skin on but when I was cleaning it, it felt tougher that I thought and kept only the tail sans the skin. I found the the fish to be mushy (just as it feels when it was alive) with a slight fishy taste. Needless to say, I won't be eating another one but at least i tried it and now am confident the toads will avoid my hooks.

[rwh]

Tufnik, that was me with the pickup. After looking at street view, you are right. I don't know how I didn't see that sign. Thanks for the heads up. I'm glad my truck was still there when I got back!

[ComeOnFish]

Efrin,
On the way back, during the strong out-going tide, I tried the piling you suggested me fish a week ago. You said togs were biting 4-5' away from the last pillar of the piling. 5-25' away from the last pillar, I had two good tog bites and set the hook both time. I couldn't bring the fish out from cracks. I believe they were nice togs. I verified that there was a large structure. If the current isn't that strong, I certainly will drop the rig on the structure.

Joe

[tufnik]

HokieDJ,
How did you prepare it? When I tried it, I had it flour-coated and pan-fried. It tasted pretty good and was not mushy. The cooked fish has a fishier taste on the second day. Also, it sounds like a snakehead; the thing survived out of water a while...lol.

ComeOnFish,
Sometimes I fish up to 10 yds from the piling, but I don't know what piling to do that. Too many pilings...lol. So, if the wx is good next weekend, do you think it's time for CHSP?

[ComeOnFish]

Efrin,
To me, the inner wall at CHSP won't produce in December. The outer wall is also tough in December.
I think CBBT will be better from now on.

I am working on both weekend (Dec 5 and 12). I am planning to fish CBBT on Jan 2 next year

joe

[HokieDJ]

Maybe deep fried is better but this way, you cook the fish in the sauce. It's the texture that I didn't like. soft and mushy like it feels when you hold them and toss them back.

HokieDJ,
How did you prepare it? When I tried it, I had it flour-coated and pan-fried. It tasted pretty good and was not mushy. The cooked fish has a fishier taste on the second day. Also, it sounds like a snakehead; the thing survived out of water a while...lol.

ComeOnFish,
Sometimes I fish up to 10 yds from the piling, but I don't know what piling to do that. Too many pilings...lol. So, if the wx is good next weekend, do you think it's time for CHSP?

[Brian69535]

Hey Joe this is Brian that has the pro angler that curious what bait you caught the tog on

[HokieDJ]

He was using Shrimp

[ComeOnFish]

Belated Fishing Log: