Trying "soft baits" for spring tautog (blackfish) underwater footage
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 เม.ย. 2022
- There's quite a strong theory out there that blackfish prefer soft baits like clam, shrimp, and sandworms in spring because their lips are soft from wintering over. Been wanting to try this for quite some time, and unfortunately, with all the wind and rain we've had this April, the water really never stayed clear enough to get good underwater footage. Apologies in advance, the water clarity is still not good and I'm just getting used to a slightly modified underwater camera setup, but I did manage a few shots of some blackfish (tog) meandering around in this structure. Water temps are above 50F so they should be ready to eat, right?
#unerwaterfishing #spring #tautog
Awesome
thanks, hope to get better footage next time
Nice
I tried, thanks for watching!
Great job, love the underwater video. Keep up the good work
Thanks 👍 Paul , still haven’t been able to get this spring but I’m hearing it’s a little slow compared to last year - you having any success out there?
@@PeterRanieriII just went for the first time a couple days ago, little slow but got 8
Nice Pete! I’m happy you were able to get some good footage, and hook up with at least one fish! I just got back into town and I’m hoping to try and give togging at least one shot before the season closes!
Thanks, yea catching that one fish on the light setup was a great reminder how fun they are to catch. Hope you get a chance on them, April went so fast
nice水中撮影😄👌🎣
thanks! appreciate it 👍
Good underwater footage! I’m probably going out at dawn tomorrow to check out the spot Brian nailed the stripers. 🤞🏻
Thanks, considering the water clarity it came out o.k. Def go there, they not stacked up in here yet
Some nice togs down there! They still seem somewhat lethargic.
They def do, lethargic or just wary. These togs are very difficult to figure out in spring. I’ve never had a great bite going in my area in spring with them.
@@PeterRanieriII did you try green crabs?
@@RafSowiOutdoors I did last year in the same area at the same time. Here’s the underwater video of that: th-cam.com/video/btEP08NCZTA/w-d-xo.html
@@RafSowiOutdoors I’ve been meaning to ask you…have you had success using “night vision” on an underwater camera? I think I remember you doing it on one of your videos
@@PeterRanieriII Yes, it works to some extent but not so great. The angle of view seems limited. It works better when there are no strong currents and the water is clear.
Interesting. I wonder if they are being that selective because there is no competition from Porgies, Seabass , sea robins and all the other small fish that we see around blackfish structure in the fall. I remember way back when I first started fishing and used a lot of sand worms in the spring for bass, a lot of black fish would come up as by catch. I’m surprised they didn’t want the worms
Could be. This is a work in progress, I def want to keep trying more experiments like this in other areas and at different tides. I know people who catch blackfish on sand worms all the time in spring so I was surprised a bit as well, but I also didn’t give it too much of an attempt, maybe for like 30-45min I had the sand worm on. Also the ones I dug up were prob smaller than what you’d buy at the store. Much more experimenting to come when I get the time!
@@PeterRanieriII The worms I used to use were all dug up as well. I feel like they are a lot juicier and fresher than the ones you buy at the bait shop most of the time .
@@nelsonfelixoutdoors6095 oh nice, yea I noticed they almost had a green hue to them as well, I don’t get sand worms very often so I really don’t know much about them
The squid have begun to show up. In another couple of weeks, they'll begin their nighttime squid trips on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. I'll fit a couple in. They love bright colored jigs like pink and yellow.
Thanks for the report Josh, I do enjoy catching squid. Would love to do one of those tog/squid combined trips up there in MA one time
@@PeterRanieriII Here in RI, the boat I go on runs their special Nighttime Adventure trip from late June through August. Starting out going for fluke and seabass until sunset, then switching over to squid. They used to do nighttime striper trips, but with all the new regulations (the 28-35 inch slot limit, and requiring circle hooks if using bait. They even slashed the bluefish limit from 15 to only 5), they instead just do squid all summer.
@@joshuariddensdale2126 That sounds like an adventure of a trip for sure. Good eats to bring home
I haven't caught one blackfish this spring, some nice stripers are around though.
have you tried low tide? maybe the warmer back bay waters will turn the bite on.
@@CP-rp7yp I should give some time to stripers then…that’s crazy man, not even one?! I haven’t heard of many people getting them either, I hope it’s not indicative of the fall season. I do like low tide in the bay actually better but it just didn’t work out for the time I could fish this go around. Glad to hear from you CP, here’s to hoping the bite starts turning on with the warmer days ahead!
I don’t believe that saying that the black fish don’t eat green crabs in the spring time because they have sensitive teeth or something I’ve seen people catching them with green crabs in the spring time
I also don't believe that they won't eat crabs because their teeth are sensitive in spring. They are just seemingly a bit pickier in spring, but I must admit that last year I had a day where I only caught one or two blackfish on clam and not any on green crab.
Peter what underwater camera are you using? How’s the side scanning working out?
I’m actually using my old GoPro hero 7 in a dive housing case attached with a fishing line mount. I’ve since modified the mount a little and replaced the lens to try some darker scenarios so we’ll see how it goes. I’m still learning how to use it, haven’t been in the sound yet which is where I think it will help the most. One thing I’ve noticed is one side of the read out is brighter than the other, have to research why that’s happening
nice, which bait did that bite on?
The clam was the winner on this one. They will hit the worm and green crab from other outings but I've found fresh clam to be the best spring bait
@@PeterRanieriII surf or cherry clams
@@trevorshao surf or “chowder” clam
Hey, Peter. When you go out next time? Can I go with you? My hobie lynx is ready!
Hey Ronnie, I’m def not opposed to it! Just very tough to be consistent when I get to go out bc of the kids and all. This day I was off bc I got covid couple days ago but typically Saturday or Sunday mornings I try and get out there
@@PeterRanieriII yeah, sure! I like to join you. Do you have email that I can contact you?
@@ronnie1697 pr2fishing@gmail.com
Haven't been spring blackfishing in years when I did go I would fish clams sandworms and bloodworms fished from shore fished rocks and structure for blackfish and casted out for winter flounder always caught both species not always keepers but all on soft baits and enough action te go by
To make day go by
Maybe I just gotta try some different areas, wish I could find winter flounder. That’s a good point you make though lots of species are feeding on soft baits in spring, even stripers and porgies too so it will catch you a variety of your in the right place. Thanks for the info!
An old timer said to use soft in the warm months and crabs in the fall. Something with their teeth. Softer maybe
@@wyattburp2395 i've heard similar things about their teeth or gums being soft and thats why they want soft baits but I just cant understand or figure out what that means, lol. I will say after this video I tried using clam again in a different area and had some success, also sandworms they were going crazy for, but the water was a little warmer on that trip