Porgies and Tog Back on the Menu

And don’t forget to pull the triggers!

This past Tuesday, porgies (scup) and tog (blackfish) once again became legal quarry, and while it might be a week or so before the first rush of porgies arrives, and the fact that the tog limit is a measly one fish at a 15-inch minimum, it still is something to look forward to, especially if dropping baits from a party boat.

The daily limit for the scup is a far more reasonable 30, at a 10-inch minimum; however, it’s still a 20-fish reduction from last year. In addition, the season will conclude December 31 (same as sea bass) and is a hit to those party boats who depend on porgies, which have migrated offshore, for their winter business.

The tog limit will remain at one fish until November 16, when the number bumps to five with the same 15-inch minimum length. It ends on December 31 but will reopen on January 1 with a reduction to a four-fish limit with a 15-inch minimum.

All aside, both will add to the summertime ocean menu of fluke (limit 3), sea bass (limit 1), and equally delectable (if no more so) triggerfish that bears no length or bag limit.

Fantastic eats all around.

Enthuses Capt. Willie Egerter III from the Dauntless party boat based in Point Pleasant, “Porgies are a fun fish that are easy to catch, like sea bass, and they make a great fried fish sandwich and disappear from a platter real quickly! My customers can’t wait for August, and we can expect the porgies to show in numbers any day. We’ve already been catching some, but when they’re here, it can be crazy fishing!”

A simple high/low rig, with anywhere from #6 to 1/0 hooks baited with fresh or salted clam, squid, a piece of Gulp! or Fishbites, a sinker heavy enough to get to the bottom quickly, and BOOM! it’s porgy time. Just pack extra rigs and sinkers, as porgies, like sea bass and triggers, love hanging around snag-infested structures.