Tautog

Tautog
Tautog
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Suborder: Labroidei
Family: Labridae
Genus: Tautoga
Species: T. onitis
Binomial name
Tautoga onitis
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The tautog or blackfish also known as the "poor-man's lobster" (tô'tôg', -tŏg', tô-tôg', -tŏg'), Tautoga onitis, is a fish of the wrasse family found in salt water from Nova Scotia to Georgia. It lives along the bottom, in and amongst rocks, wrecks, mussel beds, bridge pilings or other bottom features.

Barlett (1848) wrote "[Tautaug] is an Indian word, and may be found in Roger Williams' Key to the Indian Language." The name is from the Narragansett language, originally tautauog (pl. of taut). It is also called a "black porgy" (cf. Japanese black porgy), "chub" (cf. the freshwater chub) , "oyster-fish" (in North Carolina) or "blackfish" (in New York/New Jersey, New England).

Contents

Description

Tautog are brown and dark olive, with white blotches, and have plump elongated bodies. They have an average weight of 1 to 3 lb (0.45 to 1.4 kg) and reach a maximum size of 3 ft (0.91 m), 25 pounds (11 kg).

Tautog have many adaptations to life in and around rocky areas. They have thick rubbery lips and powerful jaws. The backs of their throats contain a set of teeth resembling molars. Together these are used to pick and crush prey such as mollusks and crustaceans. Their skin also has a rubbery quality with a heavy slime covering, which helps to protect them when swimming among rocks.

Cuisine

Goode (1884) said "The tautog has always been a favorite table fish, especially in New York, its flesh being white, dry, and of a delicate flavor."

Davidson recommends grilling, baking, and using it in fish chowder.

Sports fishing

Popular among fishermen, tautog have a reputation for being a particularly tricky fish to catch. Part of this is because of their tendency to live among rocks and other structures that can cause a fisherman’s line to get snagged. The favorite baits for tautog include: green crabs, fiddler crabs, clams, shrimp, mussels, sandworms and lobsters. Tautog fishing may also be tricky because most fishermen try to set the hook as soon as they feel a hit. You have to wait for the tautog to swallow the crab or whatever bait you're using. When tautog fishing, try to use rigs with minimal beads, swivels and hooks as they may cause you to get caught in the rocks, reefs or wrecks.

Because they are often found in wrecks, they are often seen by scuba divers. They are also popular with spearfishermen, as they are remarkably calm in the presence of divers and are relatively easy to spear.

Life cycle

  • Spawning occurs offshore, in late spring to early summer
  • The eggs hatch and develop while drifting. The young take residence in shallow protected waters and live and hide in seaweed, sea lettuce or eelgrass beds for protection, and are green in color in order to camouflage themselves.
  • During the late fall, they move offshore and winter in a state of reduced activity.

Management

Tautog populations are at low levels, and their slow reproduction and growth make them more vulnerable to overfishing. The species is managed by focusing on reducing fishing mortality rates, as well as restrictions on gear, size limits, possession limits, and limited fishing seasons. Around 1920, 750 tons were harvested annually off the New England coast.

In popular culture

The Tautog was the "secret ingredient" in the "Battle Blackfish" episode of Iron Chef America, which aired in July 2008.

See also

References

  • McClane, A.J., McClane's Field Guide to Saltwater Fishes of North America, 1978, ISBN 0-8050-0733-4
  • Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2005). "Tautoga onitis" in FishBase. May 2005 version.
  • Alan Davidson, North Atlantic Seafood, 1979, ISBN 0-670-51524-8.
  • G. Brown Goode, et al., The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States, 1884-7, quoted in Davidson, 1979.
  • John Russell Barlett, Dictionary of Americanisms: A Glossary of Words and Phrases, Usually Regarded as Peculiar to the United States, 1848, ISBN 0-471-22877-X
  • Wikisource-logo.svg "Tautog". Encyclopedia Americana. 1920. 

External links


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Synonyms:
(Labrus Americanus)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tautog — Tau*tog , n. [The pl. of taut, the American Indian name, translated by Roger Williams sheep s heads, and written by him tauta[ u]og.] (Zo[ o]l.) An edible labroid fish ({Haitula onitis}, or {Tautoga onitis}) of the Atlantic coast of the United… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tautog — (n.) edible marine fish of the Atlantic coast of North America, 1643, from Narragansett tautauog, plural of taut …   Etymology dictionary

  • tautog — ☆ tautog [tô täg′ ] n. [Narragansett tautaũog, pl. of taut] an edible, black and greenish wrasse fish (Tautoga onitis) of the Atlantic coast of the U.S …   English World dictionary

  • tautog — Chub Chub, n. [This word seems to signify a large or thick fish. Cf. Sw. kubb a short and thick piece of wood, and perh. F. chabot chub.] (Zo[ o]l.) A species to fresh water fish of the {Cyprinid[ae]} or Carp family. The common European species… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tautog — /ˈtɔtɒg/ (say tawtog) noun (plural tautog or tautogs) a black labroid fish, Tautoga onitis, of the North Atlantic coast of the US. {Algonquian tautauog (sheep heads, plural of tau, tautau)} Usage: For variation in the plural inflection, see note… …  

  • tautog — tautoga statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Tautoga onitis angl. oysterfish; smooth blackfish; tautog rus. губан таутога; таутога ryšiai: platesnis terminas – tautogos …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • tautog — noun Etymology: Narragansett tautaũog, plural Date: 1643 an edible fish (Tautoga onitis) of the wrasse family found along the Atlantic coast of the United States and adjacent Canada called also blackfish …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tautog — /taw tog , tawg /, n. a black food and game fish, Tautoga onitis, inhabiting waters along the North Atlantic coast of the U.S. [1635 45, Amer.; < Narragansett (E sp.) tautauog, pl. of taut] * * *       fish of the western Atlantic, a large,… …   Universalium

  • tautog — noun A fish of the wrasse family found in salt water off of eastern North America from Nova Scotia to South Carolina. Syn: blackfish, black porgy, oyster fish …   Wiktionary

  • tautog — [tɔ: tɒg] noun a greyish olive edible wrasse (fish) found off the Atlantic coast of North America. [Tautoga onitis.] Origin C17: from Narragansett tautauog, plural of taut …   English new terms dictionary

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