How old are big tog???

[Joey Dah Fish]

Originally Posted by NJ Dave

Alright Joe, but I have been good all year.... well it's only been 21 days. Lol.
Just saying. I know it's "expected" anything over a 10 is a photo and release but sometimes you see picks of a lot of hogs and all everyone says is congrats. Post a 40 Lb old sperms shooting striper and you get 50 replies that you single handed have just depleted the entire future of our already declining striper fishery.

I know what you mean brother. Nice to hear from you

[lenny bent rod]

I asked this question to capt. Charlie of the charter boat Snappa out of Point Judith R. I. He is very knowledgeable about the tog fisherie and he said quote "there just isn't enough studies done on this species for a definite answer ". If anyone knows of a Web site or link on this subject please post.

[kurtisb]

From what I have read, they grow much faster down south. Several MD 20 pounders, caught on Monty's boat, have been aged in the early 20's. I read that the world record fish was 22 years old.

[Togman316]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

[hammer4reel]

The only study done really wasnt very well .I think with the amount of big tog around, they grow faster than that study said.

due to tog being pretty territorial I would think that there would be little chance that a tog could get that big without being hooked in that area for 30-40 years as that study wanted us to believe.

some guys want to believe a ten pound tog is 15 years old. I just dont see that adding up

It would be nice if guys tagging like monty had better results with fish that have been recaught.

I saw an interveiw that he had over a thousand tag returns from over 10000 that were tagged

[Osprey]

I was on montys boat when the previous Maryland record was caught by Charlie at 23lbs, which a Maryland DNR marine biologist took a gill plate to age the fish and said 17-18 years old. I brought the head to a NY DEC marine biologist who check the age by removing the otolith to age it by counting the bone layers and agreed with the Maryland scientist of around 18 years old. The same woman aged a 22lb fish caught in NY and got an age around 19 years old on that one. So depending upon where it is caught I'd surmise most fish over 20 lbs are 16-20 years old.

The problem with releasing big tog is they will usually blow up their swim bladder or rectums and most likely won't survive a release. They might swim away but will either float eventually or die from parasites or predators from exposed intestines. As much as releasing these fish would be great, they've spawned many, many times, I think they've contributed plenty to the gene pool.

[Togman316]

Thank you very much for the information

[Dino]

is it me or do all the good posts on njfishing these days turn into someone grovelling about the good old days being gone and how all the fish are going extinct .. this was an outstanding season for blackfish guys.. fish of all size classes, and plenty of large tog, all signs of a healthy population. lets remember this is njfishing.com not njwhining.com lol

[RussH]

Originally Posted by Dino

this was an outstanding season for blackfish guys.. fish of all size classes, and plenty of large tog, all signs of a healthy population. lets remember this is njfishing.com not njwhining.com lol

I agree, I went out 3 times and only skunked out once!

[Capt. Debbie]

HA! In the good old days you would have gone out Togging three times and limited out four times. That's how good it was. LOL

Originally Posted by RussH

I agree, I went out 3 times and only skunked out once!