Tog season hits stride as fall run builds in the Sound
The fall tautog season is the story this week, with The Fisherman — Connecticut reporting that the blackfish bite started strong for anglers who put in the time. AW Marina noted boaters getting limits near the mouth of the Thames River while shore anglers scratched out a few keepers. J&B Tackle also mentioned albies working back into the Sound and bonito in very good numbers, though they are fast and sporadic. Water is sitting in the low to mid 60s across the three CO-OPS stations, at 63.3°F, 63.9°F and 64.6°F, a comfortable range for the fall migration.
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Expect the tautog bite to hold and improve as water cools further, which is the usual trend this time of year. The Fisherman — Rhode Island sources point to October into November as prime tog time, with more keeper-sized fish showing up from shore and boat.
Striped bass remain part of the mix. The Fisherman (Northeast) described feast or famine inshore action across southern New England, with a lot of the feeding happening in daylight on rough water days. Tartan II expects bottom fishing to stay strong, with black sea bass offering a mix of sizes and plenty of keepers for the fish box. Watch for albie and bonito pushes on calmer mornings, and carry an ounce-and-a-half epoxy jig, which J&B Tackle said works best.
Tide timing today, converted from UTC to local time: the eastern station (8461490) shows low around 7:11 AM and high around 1:19 PM. The western stations (8465705 and 8467150) show high near 2:50 AM, low near 8:47 AM and 8:51 AM. Moving water around those turns is the window to plan around. The moon is a waxing crescent, so expect darker evenings.
Context
Mid-October is right on schedule for Long Island Sound. The tautog season is open and fish move tight to structure as water cools. Bottom species like scup and black sea bass are still available while the fall striper and false albacore pushes continue. Always check state regulations before harvesting, 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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