Blackfish Tautog Snafu Rig – 60 lb Fluorocarbon Leader

You're gearing up for serious tog season, and your searches for the Blackfish Snafu Rig and jig techniques say it all: you're all in on chasing keeper-sized blackfish this year. The UMT Blackfish Snafu Rig is built exactly for that mission, designed for tautog, also called tog or white chin, a hard-fighting saltwater fish that holds close to rocky structure, jetties, and wrecks. Blackfish are known for their powerful bite and their habit of diving back into cover, so this hand-tied rig pairs a strong leader with sharp hooks made for crab baits.

Perfect for your fishing style

• Hand-tied premium quality: Expertly constructed with 3/0 BKK hooks and 60 lb fluorocarbon to handle the rigors of rocky structure fishing.
• Snafu rig design: Two hooks at different depths mean better bait presentation and higher hook-up odds on keeper-sized tog.

Why this rig works

• Two-hook dropper-loop design: Presents bait at different depths, giving you more than one baiting option around rocky structure.
• 60 lb fluorocarbon leader: Built for abrasion resistance near rocks, mussel beds, barnacles, and pilings.
• Hooks sized for crab: Two 3/0 black offset BKK Baitholder hooks for green crab, Asian shore crab, and other tog baits.
• Hand-tied by UMT: Each rig is tied and checked by Northeast anglers.
• Heavy-duty components: Includes an 80 lb ball-bearing power swivel, a strong sinker loop, and an approximately 36-inch leader.
• Pack options: Choose 1, 5, or 10 rigs for the season. Fishing around structure can mean replacing lost rigs.

About blackfish

Blackfish are commonly called tog or white chin. Many weigh around 2–8 lb, and keeper-sized fish are often about 15–17 inches, but size limits vary by location and can change. Check current local regulations before keeping a fish.

How to connect it

The Snafu Rig comes pre-tied with a dropper loop already built into the center, so there's nothing to attach on the rig itself. Connect it to your main line one of two ways:

Loop-to-loop connection (easiest):

1. Tie a perfection loop at the bottom of your main leader, the line attached to your sinker and running line.
2. Tie another dropper loop slightly above it on your main leader.
3. Thread the Snafu rig's center dropper loop through the upper dropper loop on your main line.
4. Pull tight. You now have a two-point attachment at different depths.

Alternative: handshake knot. Tie the Snafu's center dropper loop directly to your main leader using a handshake knot, a loop-to-loop variation.

Pro tips: Keep the two hooks hanging at different depths for the best bait presentation. Attach your sinker to the bottom perfection loop on your main leader. This setup keeps the upper hook higher and the lower hook near bottom, increasing your hook-up odds.

How to fish it

Tie the rig to your main line, clip a bank sinker heavy enough to hold bottom in the current to the sinker loop, and bait the hooks. Drop straight onto wrecks, jetties, rock piles, or bridge pilings. Keep a tight line, wait for the fish to load up, then set firmly and crank to pull it away from the structure.

Best baits

• Green crab: Halved, with legs and claws removed.
• Asian shore crab: Fished whole.
• Clam: A useful backup when crabs are scarce.

What tog anglers are saying

“Worth the money — great quality, very impressed.”

“Caught my very first one using your rigs! Will definitely be buying more for next season.”

“Great product and great setup for blackfish.”

Pairs well with UMT Tenacious Tog Jig Heads when the current slows and you want to jig the same structure.