BlackFish

Blackfish (Tautog)

Blackfish (Tautago onitis), commonly referred to as “tautog” or just “tog”, used to be a criminally underrated species. Fifty or so years ago, many shore anglers would throw tautog back in disgust, regarding them as a trash fish. In more recent times (thanks to the help of the internet and social media), blackfish have exploded in popularity, becoming one of the most sought after species in all of Rhode Island.

Tautog are bottom fish and as the name implies, they spend their entire life feeding and breeding on the ocean floor. You won’t find a tog blitzing on the surface like bluefish and stripers do, instead they spend their life down below chasing after all sorts of crustaceans such as green crabs, asian crabs, oysters, barnacles, and lobsters. Although given the opportunity they will happily eat other baits like squid and sandworms.

One of the most noticeable characteristics of these fish are their crooked human-like teeth, which are perfect for crushing up the hard shells of their prey. These teeth are tucked behind thick rubbery lips that can be difficult to get a hook through, and their lifeless bulgy eyes give them a rather unique look. To are smooth to the touch and are relatively easy to handle, but they do have some small spikes on their dorsal fin.

Females are typically smaller in size and will have a darker camouflage-like pattern. Males on the other hands sport a very noticeable white chin and have a long white stripe that runs down the entire underside of their body. Big males are often referred to as “white cinners” or just “chinners” and they are the ones that grow to trophy size.

The Rhode Island state record weighs in at a whopping 21 lbs 9 oz with a length of 33 inches, caught on a boat in Newport by a man named P. Newman. That must have been one heck of a fight. From the shore, anything over 10 pounds will definitely earn you some respect amongst bottom fisherman.