FISH SPECIES BIO: Blackfish (Tautoga onitis)

Photo by Mike Kroessig (http://www.marinecreations.com/)

By Peter J. Park

The Blackfish or Tautog (Tautoga onitis) is a member of the Family Labridae (The Wrasses). Other wrasses that are targeted by recreational anglers include the bergall (Tautogolabrus adspersus), Napoleonfish (Cheilinus undulates) and California Sheepshead (Semicossyphus pulcher). Wrasses belong to the suborder Labroidei (e.g., Parrotfishes, Rainbowfishes, and Wrasses) which contains six families, totaling over 2,200 species. Five of these families are popular among fish-keeping hobbyists: Cichlidae (the cichlids, 1300 species), Embiotocidae (the surfperches, 23 species), Pomacentridae (the damselfishes, 315 species), and Scaridae (the parrotfishes, 80 species).

Tautog occur in structured habitat (e.g., rock piles, wrecks, or reefs) from Nova Scotia to South Carolina. They are most common from Cape Cod to Delaware.

Tautog are specialized benthic predators. They have deep, muscular bodies, which enable them to maneuver easily through structured terrain (This is in contrast to pelagic predators like sailfish which are long-bodied and poor at maneuvering within short distances). Underneath their thick rubbery lips are powerful jaws with molar-like teeth that are used to crush a variety of hard-shelled (e.g., mussels, clams, crabs, barnacles) and soft-shelled (e.g., worms) invertebrate prey. Tautog also have teeth in the back of their throat, called pharyngeal teeth, which enable them to pulverize and sort hard food items.

Tautog teeth.

The following video was filmed at Stony Brook University. Watch as this tautog feeds on two crabs.

Here are some behaviors worth nothing:


Time                                     Observation
0:20                                       When the crab has claws, the tautog goes for the claw first and neutralizes it.
0:25                                       Then, the tautog pulls off the legs.
0:33 and 0:53                         The tautog crushes the crab meal with its rear throat (pharyngeal) teeth.
0:59, 1:05, 1:40, and 1:44       ?????
2:03                                       When given a choice, the tautog prefers active prey despite having already worked on the bigger, dismembered crab.


The tautog is a slow-growing fish. They may grow as old as 35-40 years of age (about 25lbs). However, the average-sized tautog is only about 6-10 years old (2-4lbs). Sex can easily be distinguished in tautog by facial morphology and body coloration. Males tend to have a robust black-colored chin and gray dorsal/black ventral body coloration. In contrast, the chin of females is less extreme and their bodies usually are mottled and brown in color. Males usually grow faster than females. Thus, larger sized fish tend to be males. Tautog are believed to grow faster in the more southern parts of their native range possibly due to more favorable conditions such as higher annual water temperature and prey diversity.

From http://www.jcaa.org/jcnl9508/9508TAUT.htm:  
"- In northern portions of their range, breeding happens April-August, which occurs during the NY no fishing season. 
- Tautog likely become maturity between 2-4 years of age (approx. 12”). 
- A mature female contains over 600,000 eggs. During the Spring when water temperatures reach about 50ºF, adults migrate inshore and spawn in brackish water or coastal marine regions. Spawning peaks in June and usually lasts throughout the summer. 
- Tautog typically mate in pairs, but group mating occurs under certain conditions. After a long courtship display, which involves nuzzling and rubbing, the spawning fish quickly swim up the water column and release their gametes (males release sperm; females release eggs). 
- Fertilized eggs are bouyant and hatch in about two days. After three weeks, the larvae metamorphose into juveniles which settle to the bottom and begin a life around bottom structure. 
- Juveniles that seek protection in sea grass beds are usually olive-green in color, but those in rocky habitat are mottled and dark brown. After a few years, all young fish will turn black in color and settle into rocky environments."

Based on conversations that I've had with experienced tautog anglers, the popularity of tautog fishing seems to be a recent phenomena. Reasons vary, but increased fishing pressure and stricter regulations on other species (e.g., striped bass, flounder) may be contributors. Once considered a "junk" fish, the tautog is now highly touted. The number of theories and tactics that exist for catching tautog seems endless. Some anglers even believe that fishing for tautog is the most difficult type of fishing around.

Tautog are a very strong and tough fighting fish. Famous for being extremely challenging to hook, catching trophy-sized (10+lb) tautog is a feat that few anglers have accomplished. Once hooked, a large tautog will dive down into or through structure intentionally to try to hang up and break the fishing line. And, the tautog fishing season is typically open during the coldest months of the year (Spring and Winter) - thus, making it one of the all-around most physically and mentally grueling types of fishing that an angler can try.

#1 BIGGEST TAUTOG:  NEW WORLD RECORD TAUTOG!

On January 2, 2015, a 28.8lb tautog was caught by Kenneth Westerfeld. Mr. Westerfeld writes: “Well I can only thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ for bringing me this bite, and Capt. Kane Bounds for putting me on this wreck. And ALL of the people who gave me the experience, all the gear that held up in the fight, and my wife for letting me go fish in MD and chase my dream and putting up with my fishing over the years.”

This most epic fish was caught on a black crab, hooked to a snafu rig, at a depth of 85ft. Mr. Westerfeld was using a Shimano Torium 14 reel, Calstar custom 7-foot, 2-inch L blank rod, and 50-pound Power Pro line. Some estimate that this fish may be 50 years old, if not older! Read the full story of Mr. Westerfeld's amazing catch here: http://www.onthewater.com/photos-story-28-pound-world-record-tautog/.

(We thank Mr. Westerfeld for corresponding with us and for providing us feedback on this blog post.)

#2 BIGGEST TAUTOG: On January 20, 1998, Anthony R. Monica caught this giant tautog of 25lbs. This fish had been the previous world record tautog. Mr. Monica was fishing on the North Star party boat out of Ocean City, NJ when he caught this amazing specimen. This fish was caught on a 64 1/2" Custom rod with a Penn Model 501 spooled with Ande Pink 30 lb. test monofilament line.

Photo from: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/rectaut.htm

BIG TAUTOG CAUGHT ON VIDEO: Big tautog are a rarity. I was fortunate back in 2007 to have filmed a 19lb tautog aboard the Captain Collet Party Boat, out of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Truly, an amazing specimen:

Economic Value and Historical Impact

From http://www.mi.nmfs.gov/tautog.html:  
"- A dramatic decline of traditional 'firm, black-meat' species such as cod, haddock, and flounder stocks may have resulted in increased fishing pressure on tautog.

- Slow growth in the wild and the relatively late age to maturity put tautog populations at risk. Currently, a substantial increase in fishing pressure on tautog has resulted in stock declines, which may be slow to recover. 

- Size-limit restrictions are heavily enforced on the tautog fishery, with the live-trade market being restricted to relatively larger-sized fish."

References and Further Reading:

Maryland Dept. Natural Resources: http://dnr2.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx 
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries website: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/recreatio...tautog.htm

New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife website: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/rectaut.htm

National Marine Fisheries Service Milford Laboratory website: http://www.mi.nmfs.gov/tautog.html

Jersey Coast Angler’s Association website: http://www.jcaa.org/jcnl9508/9508TAUT.htm



NOTE: Italicized text are from source indicated.