Tog season hits stride on Sound rock piles
Water temperatures are sitting in the low 60s across the Sound, with NOAA CO-OPS station 8461490 reading 62.8°F, station 8467150 at 62.4°F and station 8465705 at 60.8°F. That is prime range for blackfish to feed hard on structure. Per The Fisherman — Connecticut, J&B Tackle called opening day of tog season very good, with most keepers running 18 to 20 inches, and AW Marina says shore anglers working rocks, piers and jetties are getting in on it. Tartan II reports the action has been good enough to fill the boat limit, and they are moving most trips over to blackfish. Black Hawk also noted a few nice sea bass mixed in with the crab-baited tog.
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Expect the tog bite to hold through the week while water stays above 60°F. Crab is the bait to bring, since J&B Tackle reported shops running short after the opener, so pick yours up early. Boat anglers have more rock piles to try, but shore anglers have been producing too, so don't write off the jetties.
Tide timing is worth planning around. At New Haven the high was due about 7:09 AM, with the next low around 1:18 PM. Bridgeport runs within a few minutes of that, with high around 7:14 AM and low around 1:25 PM. Out east, New London sees low around 11:50 AM and high around 6:02 PM. Moving water on either side of those turns tends to keep tog feeding, and slack stretches are usually slower.
For striped bass, Saltwater Edge in Rhode Island describes the fall bite as incredible for weeks. The Fisherman — Rhode Island adds that fish up to 20 pounds are pushing bait close to the beaches by day, with fewer but larger fish at night on live eels. Stripers are on the move, so staying mobile pays off. The First Quarter moon gives decent evening tide movement for anyone wanting a late session.
Context
Mid to late October is typically the heart of the fall transition on Long Island Sound. Water temperatures slide through the low 60s on the way down, tautog move onto rock structure, and striped bass follow bait along the shoreline on their migration south. Readings near 62°F put this week right on schedule for the fall blackfish run rather than early or late.
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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