Fall blackfish (tautog) techniques.

Blackfish — tautog (Tautoga onitis), "tog" — are the Long Island Sound's fall specialty. Delicious, hard-fighting, and requiring more technique than most bottom species, they've become one of the most-requested trips at Captain Skippy Charters. Here's how we target them on our Fall Blackfish trip (Oct 11 – Nov 30, $700 / boat, 6 hours).

Where blackfish live

Blackfish are structure fish — they live around rock piles, wrecks, mussel beds, and hard-bottom ledges. In the central Long Island Sound that means the rocky bottoms east of Mount Sinai from Rocky Point out to Shoreham and Wading River, the Middle Grounds, and the deep wrecks on the Connecticut side when weather allows. If it's rocky and holds current, blackfish are usually there.

Bait: fresh green crabs, always

Green crabs are the standard. On charter we come out with a fresh supply — halved or quartered depending on size, threaded on a custom rig. Sometimes we'll try Asian shore crabs or fiddlers as an alternative, but green crabs are the workhorse. Fish get suspicious of stale bait — we replenish often.

Rigs and jigs

Custom blackfish rig: a short two-hook dropper rig with heavy-gauge hooks (Owner, VMC, or Gamakatsu) and a snell just long enough to sit inches off the bottom. Sinker on the bottom, hooks up. Weight varies with depth and current — 3 to 8 oz is common.

Jigs: blackfish jigs are increasingly popular — a fixed-hook lead jig with a crab bait threaded through. Great for feeling the bite and for fish that spit a rig. On the Christina M II we run both, and switch based on how the fish are eating.

Reading the bite

Blackfish don't hit like stripers — they nibble, then commit. The classic bite: tap-tap-tap, then a slow pull-down. Set on the pull, not the taps. Set too early and you miss; wait too long and the fish is in the rocks and you're pulling for line. Feel it, don't watch it.

Anchoring vs. holding on the trolling motor

The Minn Kota trolling motor on the Christina M II is a real advantage for blackfishing. Anchoring on rocky structure means you often lose an anchor to the rocks. With the trolling motor we hold position quietly directly over the fish, adjust as they move, and reposition without hauling anchor. On a tough current day, that's the difference between fishing and drifting.

NY State regs (2026 season)

Tautog season in New York State for the central Sound is October 11 – December 22, 4 fish/day at 16" (verify current regs at NY DEC before you book). Captain Skippy keeps only legal fish and safely releases the rest.

What we provide, what to bring

We provide the rods, reels, sinkers, hooks, custom rigs, jigs, fresh green crabs, and the heated cabin between drops. You bring warm layers, closed-toed shoes, snacks, and a soft cooler for your catch. Weather can turn quickly in November — dress warmer than you think.

Book a fall blackfish trip or call/text 631-252-6536.