Record Tautog Caught Off Rhode Island

Vlad Vaynshten proudly holds his potential record setting tautog. Photo/Tall Tailz Charters.

Capt. Connor MacCleod, with Vlad Vayshten holding the taugtog caught off the coast of Rhode Island. Photo/Tall Tailz Charters.

Rhode Island likely has a new state record for tautog.

On Sunday, November 9, Vlad Vaynshten—an angler fishing aboard a Tall Tailz Charters vessel captained by Connor MacLeod—reeled in a ‘tog off the coast of Rhode Island that is a pending state record.

According to a post on the Tall Tailz Charters Instagram page, they brought the fish to shore to get an official weight at Quaker Lane Bait and Tackle in North Kingston. They said the fish was 23.94 pounds and had a length of 33 inches.

If approved, that would beat the previous record set in October of last year. That ‘tog—caught by Vinny Simms Jr. aboard Captain Rob Taylor’s Reel E-Z charter boat—was just over 22 pounds. That fish was also weighed at Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle.

Tautog, also known as blackfish, are a popular target for anglers come fall. They migrate to rocky, shallower areas as the temperatures dip and are known for putting up a good fight. You can learn more about fall fishing for tautog in New England here.