This post was originally published on April 23rd, 2019
Captain Cullen Lundholm
Winters can be grueling here on Cape Cod. We sometimes experience record snowfalls and epic Arctic cold spells. Like me, I am sure many of you cannot wait to get out on the water and wet a line.
Right now, fishing from your boat may still feel like a long ways off. However, it won't be too much longer until the saltwater fishing turns on.
During this time of the year, water temps throughout most of Cape Cod are a chilly 48 or so degrees. The good news is that the fishing (especially tautog fishing) ought to take a turn for the better as soon as water temps warm up.
50 Degrees Is The
"Magic Number" for Cape Cod Tautog
Water temps during the spring on Cape Cod are not necessarily dictated by a cold winter. The speed at which our local waters warm, will depend upon the weather patterns we encounter in April.
Over the next few days we should all be praying for warm southwest winds combined with warm rains. This will help get keeper-size tautog like the one pictured below, on the move towards Cape Cod.
Looking at today's forecast, I can already see some positive things happening, with 60 degree daytime temps and predictions of rain in the coming days.
When air temps on Cape Cod reach 60 degrees things start to happen very quickly and it won't take long for the saltwater fishing world to come back to life.
Here's 2 items to consider when planning tautog trips this month:
Based on what Ryan has shared with me, many of you who may be reading this post, do not typically target tautog. Striped bass seem to be the main focus among "My Fishing Cape Codders".
However, I want you all to know that tautog are ferocious fish and are definitely worth targeting. Tautog are incredible fighters which can put a serious bend in the rod.
In my opinion, tautog are the most challenging fish to target in our waters and be successful - day in and day out. Maybe even more so than striped bass.
How To Zone-In On Big Cape Cod Tautog
The best time to target the largest tautog of the season happens when surface water temperatures first hit 50 degrees. This is when I usually encounter nice fish like the ones pictured below.
These tautog were caught onboard my boat during this My Fishing Cape Cod group trip which happened on May 4th, 2018.
The best window for catching the largest tog of the season is definitely when that surface temp first hits 50. The next best window for big fish is when water temps drop again during late fall.
As our waters continue to warm up in the spring, the fish become smaller and smaller, until it becomes difficult to hook keeper-size fish without shorts jumping all over your bait.
Getting in on a good bite early in the season with drag-screaming tog can be very rewarding. When the bite is on it's possible to fill a tote very quickly.
Remember, these fish cling to structures such as rock piles and pilings, so you want to fish right off the edge of these structures to be successful.
A few feet in either direction can be the difference between filling your coolers for a nice tautog dinner or not catching a thing.
Remember that you need precise boat positioning and experienced anglers to get the job done with these early season fish.
Learn More About Tautog Fishing
on Cape Cod
Members of My Fishing Cape Cod can learn more about the general locations, best tackle, baits and techniques that work on Cape for targeting tautog, in this 10 minute tautog video tutorial
Cullen is a PRO.
Oh and great video!!
1st day on the water will be May 16th – will they still be around? I assume I can pick up crabs at Falmouth Bait and Tackle?
Love Togs!
I was very fortunate last fall with them, almost sweet as lobster meet…
Thank you for the tips!
Not true this year, the lawn is yellow with dandelions and ive been out 3 times in buzzards bay and not even a bite
Green crabs are the most popular. Most guys cut them in half before placing them on the hook.
In addition to cutting crab in half I like to remove legs & “thread” the hook through one leg socket & out the other stays on the hook longer
Great read, The Lundholms are the “Tautog Kings”
Got that right Dylan. We always seem to do well when fishing with Cape Star Charters. ?
Steve,
I would say your best bet would be from Jetties on the south side with deep water around them. I have also heard the MASS Maritime docks are very good!
Cullen
Brian,
When waters temps get into the mid 50’s you can catch them fairly well on jigs 3 ounces and less. It seems like they jump on the jigs a little better down in Vineyard sound for some reason. The problem with targeting them using jigs is that you lose a lot of jigs fishing around that structure.
Cullen
R. James,
That is the old proven way of when to start fishing Tog! Really though when dandilions start to pop, the water temps still can be a tad chilly. I always start running trips when that water temp hits 50, but the fish are here long before that. You can usually go out and pick at a few when water temps are in the upper 40’s but it is hard to be consistent when temps are so low.
As for the bay side, they don’t show up there until later and I really do not target them in the bay. I have caught them accidentally when fishing for Seabass in the rocks off Manomet and also on Scortons Ledge. I usually only target them in Buzzards Bay, as well as some old wrecks in the sound.
Thanks for the reply Cullen, water temp this morning was 38, cover is still on the boat but not for long!