Blackfish bite is on as Sound water cools into fall
Water in the Sound is sitting in the low 60s this morning, with NOAA CO-OPS stations 8461490, 8465705 and 8467150 reading 63.1, 62.8 and 63.5°F. That is cool enough to keep the fall migration moving and warm enough that bait stays active. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, AW Marina said the fall tog season kicked off with a bang, with fish taken in and around the mouth of the Thames River. Boaters were reportedly getting limits while shore anglers scratched out some keepers. J&B Tackle called the blackfish start strong, with good catches for anyone who put in the time. Tartan II expects tautog to join the scup and sea bass already filling fish boxes.
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Expect tautog to stay the main story through the week. Boat anglers have the edge, and J&B Tackle's report suggests the effort-rewarded pattern will hold, so plan on putting in real time on structure rather than hopping around.
Tide windows today: the nearest station (8461490) shows a low at about 9:59 AM local and a high at about 4:10 PM. The two western stations run later, with highs near 5:36 PM and lows near 11:23 AM. Slack periods around those turns are the usual times to keep a bait on the bottom.
The First Quarter moon means moderate tidal movement, so currents should be manageable. Striped bass remain in the mix per The Fisherman — Connecticut, and bonito were reported around Milestone Point to the Thames mouth, though J&B Tackle described them as fast and sporadic. An ounce-and-a-half epoxy jig was the lure that worked best. Albies were also reported making their way back into the Sound.
Context
Mid-October is the usual handoff in the Sound, when the bottom fishing for scup and sea bass shares the stage with the start of tautog and the last of the pelagic visitors. Water in the low 60s is typical for this point in the season, and a bonito and albie presence this late is a welcome bonus rather than a surprise. Check state regulations before harvesting tautog or sea bass, since seasons and limits change.
Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.
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