Printer Friendly Version - Winners of the 31st Annual Veterans Memorial ’Tog Tourney Announced

The winners of the 31st annual Veterans Memorial ‘Tog Tourney were (clockwise from top left) Steve Higgs, John Davis, Steve Barron, and Ted Burdacki. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan

As the fall season launched, battling the weather proved more challenging than jousting with the tough-skinned blackfish (tautog). Not only were double-digits hard to come by, but the road to them was riddled with shorts and small fish. When weather conditions did not hinder setting an anchor, vessels and yaks littered the Sound, virtually squeezing into a space by a jetty or on a reef.

‘Toggers understand. They know the difference that a foot can make when it comes to catching a fish or not. So, when ‘tog pullers are successfully hooking into white chins, their treasured spot seemingly becomes a magnet. The same holds true when on board. How often has someone fishing the port side consistently scored hits while those on starboard just looked on? This is the nature of fishing for ‘togs.

Leading into the weekend, wind gusts topped 50 knots, tearing apart boat canvasses, dragging moorings, and beaching vessels. Churned waters made fishing difficult even on what would have appeared to be a lee side. Fortunately, the ‘Tog Tourney still ran for a week, so losing some fishing time to the bomb cyclone was just more of an annoyance than anything else.

Looking over the weigh-ins, 45 percent of all ‘togs logged were less than five pounds, lending credence to the current condition of the fishery. After a challenging week of hitting the walls, reefs, and rock piles, the winner of the 31st annual Veterans Memorial Blackfish Tournament was Steve Higgs of Stratford with a combined weight of two fish for 15.40 pounds. Second place went to John Davis of Milford with a weight of 13.33 pounds. Third place was won by Steve Barron of Norwich with a weight of 12.34 pounds. The winner of the Calcutta was Ted Burdacki of Meriden, who weighed in the heaviest ‘tog that wasn’t in the top prize money at 7.20 pounds. The tourney concluded with the awards banquet that featured plenty of delicious entrées, appetizers, and desserts. A hearty thank you goes out to Guilford’s VFW and crew for their fantastic buffet and hospitality, as well as to everyone who helped make this year’s event another successful one. Here’s looking to the 32nd year!

Long Island Sound inshore water temperatures are down to 60 degrees and gradually falling. That bodes well for some fall species, while others are thinking that the time has come. Realizing that these temps are above normal, fishers are taking advantage of this phenomenon and reaping some good results. Recently, it has been a guessing game with reasonably calm seas to gale warnings and anything in between. Do I unleash the dock lines? Do I stay inshore and paddle? Or do I cast from shore? However, after the bomb cyclone passed, air temps tanked from above normal conditions to anywhere from 10- to 20 degrees below normal—cool for October.

Nevertheless, it’s ‘tog season and ‘toggers have been out in force when conditions permit. Those days saw the walls, reefs, and rock piles jammed packed with vessels as ‘toggers soaked crabs and clams. After finally having a few palatable days, the latest interruption presented fishers more challenges. Storm warnings and 50 knot gusts basically put a damper on plans for the days immediately preceding and following those conditions. There were plenty of shorts and ‘togs less than three pounds that were caught, while other ones approaching double digits were earned.

Albie days were limited, but there were still good catches in the eastern part of the Sound and on the New York side when timed right. Action was also experienced in the western section in and around the islands and the New York rips. Bonito action continued as both speedsters were chasing anchovies and other rain baits.

Striped bass catches remain steady, but have been interrupted by the October blows. Lately, more smaller fish have been caught inshore and in the lower tidal rivers than out on the reefs. Lures diving to about eight feet, a few surface plugs, and both live and chunk baits have scored multiple catches. Notably, though, nighttime surf casters have been connecting with 40-inchers on live eels.

However, some reefs have been producing larger fish this time around when live-lining menhaden or drifting eels, chunks, and bucktails. Deep trolling has produced a mix of bass to 28 pounds and a few sizable blues, but overall, most of the blues caught have been harbors. Fishing closer to the bottom with a bucktail and squid or worm can prompt a weakfish into taking a bite.

Black sea bass action remains good without much change in their distribution. The inshore ones are barely keepers, three-pounders are being caught while fishing 40- to 70 foot depths, and four- to five-pound catches are being reeled in at depths more than 100 feet. Slab porgies (scup) are still mixed in and competing with them for food. Squid remains the bait of choice, in addition to clams. Fishing the incoming tide has produced hits from skate, sand sharks, and sea robins. White perch have been biting in many of their tidal river haunts.

Trout rivers and streams needed time to settle from the rains before the recently stocked fish became more active. Check out your local Trout Management Areas, trout parks, and other rivers that received fall fish. Meanwhile, carp, catfish, pickerel, perch, and sunnies have shunned the stormy weather. The bass action has been variable, but mostly good.

Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and international fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.

For all things fishy including rod repairs, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

Timing is everything. This catch and release was a little late for blackfish (tautog) fisher Mitch Staschke of Guilford during the weigh-in at the recent ‘Tog Tourney. Photo illustration courtesy of Captain Morgan