Deep south Tautogs 12/2/24

[jmurr711]

Came out of retirement & had an excellent trip with Capt Tom down in the cape, greens worked in am but then it was all whites until the afternoon when the tarantula chew started. Vince won best dressed and didn't hook a fish in the mouth until noon but ended up with 3 or 4 keepers which is incredible. We took home our charter limit and released a bunch more trying our best to keep more males than lasses. Had bluefin busting around us all day I'm sure Tommy loves not chasing them so I could tog 😂 I still have some skill as i was orl ++++++++

[Gerry Zagorski]

Sounds like a great trip Murr!

[Broad Bill]

If like many have suggested the blackfish bite is off because of warmer water temperatures, why would the fishing be better in Cap May which I'd think would have even warmer temps?

I know it's just one report but sounds like the OP had them biting all day.

[jmurr711]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

If like many have suggested the blackfish bite is off because of warmer water temperatures, why would the fishing be better in Cap May which I'd think would have even warmer temps?

I know it's just one report but sounds like the OP had them biting all day.

less pressure, stripers & dog fish. Those fish inshore north of barnegat have to hide until the stripers & dogfish leave

[Broad Bill]

Jmurr thanks for your reply, makes sense. So it's not necessarily the water temp itself, it's the invasion of dogfish and stripers accompanied with the water temps and in the case of stripers their annual migration. Stripers migrate north south, not sure about dogfish but I would assume for the same reason their migration will have the same impacts eventually on black fishing up and down the coast and south of us when the water temperatures drop. What's strange about that is I remember years long gone when we had fantastic black fishing and striper fishing at the same time. Dogfish on the other hand are a completely different issue and I can see any other fish "hiding" to avoid being their next meal. Dog fish are the equivalent of cormorants, protected, overabundant and destructive to all other species.

[hammer4reel]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

Jmurr thanks for your reply, makes sense. So it's not necessarily the water temp itself, it's the invasion of dogfish and stripers accompanied with the water temps and in the case of stripers their annual migration. Stripers migrate north south, not sure about dogfish but I would assume for the same reason their migration will have the same impacts eventually on black fishing up and down the coast and south of us when the water temperatures drop. What's strange about that is I remember years long gone when we had fantastic black fishing and striper fishing at the same time. Dogfish on the other hand are a completely different issue and I can see any other fish "hiding" to avoid being their next meal. Dog fish are the equivalent of cormorants, protected, overabundant and destructive to all other species.

Water temps dropped a few degrees before our Sunday trip .
Scratchy bite in AM with no dogs around .
Mid day water warmed a tad and it was insane dogfish every drop .
Fish aren’t coming out to chew unless they are solid roaster size , that dogfish aren’t bothering .

Was video taken recently on the jetty’s , Was crazy how many tog are still in super shallow water .

I hope to see a much better bite after these next two weeks of much cooler nights