CHSP Tautog, Oct 18, 2017

[ComeOnFish]

Someone had to fish first to report tog (tautog/blackfish) fishing at the walls off CHSP (Cape Henlopen State Park, DE). The water temp was still 65 F when I prepared the day before (Oct 17). I like 62 F and below in fall at the Inner Wall (There are two walls). But Oct 18 was the only day I could fish the walls this fall.

As I expected I caught many small togs (about 20). I caught 5 conger eel and 10 oyster toadfish. I lost about 15 rigs.
Somehow I ran out of hooks that day. Running out of sinkers happened before, but I never ran out of hooks.

The day ended with 1 keeper at 15 1/4".

The water temp hasn't dropped yet. It is still 64 F today, Oct 21. But keeper togs will be ready for your baits.
Good Luck!

Fishing Log:

Joe

[tufnik]

You sure caught a lot of fish. And I think you're right. Water should be about 10 deg cooler for best tog activity. Hope to get out there soon. Thanks for the report.

[ComeOnFish]

Wee need a good cold front moves in for togs. CBBT water temp (currently 69 F) is usually higher than that of CHSP by 3-4 F.
I was confused about the water temp and the dates on the previous good tog fishing days. I double checked water temp on my good tog fishing days in fall in the past at CHSP. Regardless the date, the water temp was 56-60 F.

On the other hand, at CBBT, the water temp was 42 F - 65 F. The best water temp was 47- 59 F

But the water temps are surface water temps that are influenced by the air temp/the wind/Sun . I don't know the actual water temps on the bottoms (19'-45' at CBBT & 6'-50' at CHSP). I use my gut feeling when I picked the depth of the water.

Joe

[tufnik]

Based on some thermocline models found on the internet, it looks like we can expect a drop of a few degrees. So, for depths to 40-50', it looks like the drop is about 3-6 deg F from the surface temp.