The RI Tog Classic is a one-day tournament that was pioneered by former Crafty One Customs owner, Ralph Craft. It quickly grew from a localized shop tournament to a juggernaut that attracted toggers from all over the country! At the center of the event was the Crafty One crew and their dedication to raising money for an amazing charity, The Three Angles Fund that helps families who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis. (Since I lost my dad to cancer when I was in high school, this charity is close to my heart.) In 2024 the crew behind the Angler Catch App took over and, as most participants surely remember, the 2025 Classic was cancelled due to weather. I am hopeful, as many readers surely are, that we’ll be back at the Classic in 2026!
I am primarily a kayak fisherman, but I am absolutely in love with tog fishing. The only fishing tournament I had ever participated in prior was The Fisherman’s Coastal Kayak Clash. But in 2023, an ad in this very magazine caught my attention and ultimately lead me to sign up. I was able to ‘pre-fish’ a few days before the event and found some nice fish up to 8 pounds. But the weather was not looking friendly for the day of the event, SW winds 10-15 and gusting to 25! My spot was exposed to a southwest wind, but I made the drive.
At the launch, a few other kayakers were milling around as we all stood looking out at the howling wind. The group started throwing ideas around on how to get out of the wind. Just before sunrise, the wind dropped out just enough to launch, but the ride out was slow with waves coming over the bow. I felt confident that, if I could get to my pre-fish spot, I’d have a good shot at placing. I arrived safely at 6:50 a.m. and began cutting crabs while I waited for my phone reminder to signal ‘lines in’.
As the bite began to build, the fish got bigger, my first fish was a scrappy 18-incher, then a 23.5-incher… it went on with fish in this class for 30 minutes. Then I hooked one that stopped the rod dead on the set! After a short pause, whatever I had hooked, took off running, not down into the rocks but out and away! I assumed I had snagged the fish and set to winching it in, but this thing wasn’t quitting. Two more long runs and I started to think, “Man, if this fish is hooked in the mouth, it might be a good one!”
Every time I’d get her close, she’d take off running again, this happened three times before I got her close enough to see color. Then I saw the fish, all I could say was, “Oh my God!” I wasn’t prepared for a fish of that magnitude, I clamored for the net and successfully lifted the beast from the water. She was 27 inches on my measuring board and I knew she was a contender, maybe even for first place in the kayak division! I was able to fish for another 30 minutes, landing a few more, including an 8-pounder that I released. But the wind was really howling and the chop was getting big, you never want to see green water in a kayak! It killed me to leave such a great bite but I was off the water by 9 a.m.
The scales didn’t open until 12 p.m., so I had to burn some time, I tried to take a nap in a CVS parking lot, but I was too amped after the great fishing. Noon finally came and I hung my fish on the official scale, 10.6 pounds and comfortably in the lead, for now.
Then came the hardest part: waiting. I passed the time talking to other anglers showing up to weigh fish and took full advantage of the food ticket that came with a tourney registration. The food was awesome, prepared by local food trucks, some real pit BBQ with all the fixin’s, but as soon as I saw those lobster rolls, I knew what would keep my mind off the stress for a bit!
Then the moment of truth came, the weigh-in closed and my 10.6-pound personal best blackfish was still standing at the top of the kayak division! I won the cash prize, a Jigging World rod and reel combo and a ceramic tautog trophy that looks great on the wall. I even managed to win one of the raffle prizes put up by tournament sponsor Humminbird, the Helix 9 was icing on the cake!
I took a big chance fishing an area that I knew I wouldn’t get much time to fish on. Fortunately, this ‘go big or go home’ move worked out! I had an amazing time fishing my first in-person tournament and spending time with friends, new and old. Best of all, the massive raffle and entry fees went to an amazing cause. Hopefully we’ll see another awesome RI Tog Classic in 2026 and I hope to see you there!
