Tautog season ramps up as stripers and albies feed on bay bait

What's biting

What's next

Expect the shoreline bite to stay tied to bait movement. Breachways and beaches that held bait this week are the places to start, and the small size of the bait argues for light tackle and small profiles. Snug Harbor Marina noted weakfish catches along the south shore this past week, so keep an eye out for them mixed in with the bass.

Tautog should keep building. Booked Off Charters said October into November is prime time for tautog in Rhode Island and that some of the best fishing of the year is still to come. Charter operators are shifting from black sea bass to tautog trips over the coming weeks. Water in the mid-60s is still above where the tog bite typically peaks, so the better numbers should arrive as the bay cools.

The moon is a waxing crescent, so the evening hours are darker than around the full moon. Dawn and dusk are good windows for the bass, while albies and bonito are typically worth chasing when birds mark bait on the surface. Check tide tables locally for timing, since predicted tide times were not available at the stations.

Context

Mid-October is the heart of the fall run in southern New England. Striped bass, bluefish and false albacore follow bait out of the salt ponds and along the beaches, while tautog move onto structure as the water cools. Black sea bass remain around but many are short of legal size, per Quonnie Bait and Tackle. Check current state regulations on sizes and limits before keeping any fish.