Legendary Tog Trip

[ytuna]

I was fortunate to be invited to fish with some friends on a NS six pack out of Delaware (usually docked in OC, MD).

Little did I know this would be a trip of a lifetime.

During the course of the day we caught and released 23 tog over ten pounds.

Three of them hit the scale between 13 and 13.5 pounds.

Everyone of my fellow anglers including Alex MVP and Captain Amanda Peterson of the Osprey are incredible toggers. The captain stated that in all his years of captaining (both six packs and party boats) and working deck on party boats he had never seen so many over ten on one trip.

Captain and mate did an unbelievable job. The weather was awesome, fishing in shirtsleeves in December is a delight.

Christmas came early for me this year.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Nice!! Definitely a trip of a lifetime.

[jlrotary]

I saw the pics, great job!
Fished the same boat 12/13 and we had 8 over 10 and thought we had a great trip. You guys really had a trip of a lifetime. Congrats on a trip of a lifetime!

[Joey Dah Fish]

Dang !!!!!! That's a trio of 3 life times. You fish all your life for a day like that. Most never get one. Congrats to all lucky enough to be aboard. Fishing friends for life !!!

[Tunarun]

Congrats on an Epic trip! When one thinks it can't get ant better, it can. I was with Jimmy and others on 12/13. Like Jimmy said we released 8 at least over 10. My only Togzilla release that day, I like calling the Big ones that was released about 7 seconds into the battle. lol Another fellow released 2 more the same way. I'm wondering if you were using 30 fluro to get bitten? Just kidding. I know for a fact that 60 was being busted or shaved off so some folks went to 80! I too use 60 all the time even in N.J., Delaware n Md. but will re-tie with 80 when I go back again in Jan n Feb. The memories of your trip probably made your longgg car ride home fly by.
Dennis

[ytuna]

I used 40# most of the the day with a slider rig and was high hook on the over 10s. I did bust off two fish, one of which felt like the bigger than any other I have ever hooked. The 40# was getting more bites than those with 80# snafus.

Tough tradeoff. Lighter yields more hookups and you can land big fish. Heavier increases the chance of landing pigs but may cut down the chances of hooking a pig in the first place.

A really smooth drag helps if you go light. I was using a talica 10 with 65# braid.

[Chrisper4694]

when i click on "legendary tog trip" i expect to see some pictures!!!

haha, sounds like a nice day!

[ytuna]

Pictures on facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/kevin.twilley.7/posts/1082074035156295?pnref=story

[jigemup]

Bill, You deserve all the accolades, you put in more than enough time to have a "Legendary Tog Trip".

[ytuna]

Thanks Henry. Too bad it was not jiggable. We ere using 10 to 12 oz. I did drop a jig and was reward with a doggie. The jig dropped so slowly that the doggies got them on the way down.

[hammer4reel]

link to pics doesnt work

[dakota560]

Wow congratulations on as JDF said the trip of three lifetimes. That's absolutely insane! Convinced lighter leaders make a huge difference with blackish, which goes against conventional logic that black fish are not leader shy. Proof is in the pudding. 23 DD's on one trip might be one that stands the test of time for quite some time. Congratulations to the anglers involved in the trip. Like Hammer said, the link doesn't work, would love to see pics if they can be posted.

[kurtisb]

The link works for me. You probably have to be a FB friend of Kevin Twilley, the mate.

[kurtisb]

Here is one of Bill. More coming from MVP.

[Mike S.]

Congrats on a trip that you can't even dream up

[Joey Dah Fish]

92777

[Joey Dah Fish]

92778

[Gerry Zagorski]

More pics

[Tony Cav]

Marone a me

[MVP]

Finally got a chance to get on a computer to download pics rather than sending from iphone. As Bill mentioned this was a trip that you dream about. It is really nice to be part of the story rather than reading about it on the computer most of the time. I have been togging for about 30 years and have never seen or heard of a report of 23 legit DD fish on one trip. Still hard to believe that we were two fish short of having a limit of 10+ lb fish for five anglers on one trip. I believe 22 of the 23 10+ pound fish were released and will be waiting for the next anglers to come by and have a chance to catch them once again. Most all big fish were females as there were only a few big males mixed in. We also released conservetly another 25-30 fish that were mostly 7 pounds or better. All of the 5 anglers on the trip had fish over 10 pounds with Bill (ytuna) leading the way with 8. I picked him as the MVP of this trip as he was high hook with total fish and High hook with double digit fish. I followed with 5 Double digits and the rest had 4,4 and 2. We all had are hearts broken by getting busted off and thinking i wonder how big that one must have been based on what we were seeing come up. . Must have happened at least 10 times over the trip for the 5 of us. After my 3rd breakoff on 60 lb leader i jump everything up to 80lbs which helped me put another 3 DD on the scale. A word of Advice for those who will be heading down south in search of Togzilla. If you are looking for that trophy fish leave the light stuff home as like Dennis (Tunarun) said earlier you will have a 7 second fight on your hand and be contacting me to walk you off the Ledge. Going forward i will not fish anything lighter than 80 lb topshot and leader. People have asked me about who is the girl on the trip. Her name is Capt Amanda and her and her husband JP run a Boat called the Osprey out of LI and are now berthed in AC targeting blackfish. They run a great operation that cater to their customers and are top notch people. Do not let her blonde hair and blue eyes fool you as she has been fishing since she was 8 years old and is a stone cold killer. Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as i enjoyed being on the trip. The smile on Bill's face holding a 13 + lb tog says it all as you know you are having a good day when you are swinging 12 tog into the boat.

[Blackfish Doug]

A great trip that I wish I was on trip of a lifetime that's for sure.

[emptypockets10]

MVP
Could you P/M me the name of the boat & info you guys were on.
You know I'm a Togaholic :D:D:D

Thanks

[MVP]

Hi Chuck
Best to give me a call directly so i can give you the different options you have and what Capts are the good ones to fish with when down in DE and MD.

Alex
201-741-1823