The late season for stripers and tog is late October into November. Cold mornings, gloves on, and half the moorings empty. The run has gone by, and what's left is close to home: schoolies in the estuaries on small bait, tog back on the rock in Buzzards Bay as the water drops through the 50s, shallow first and deeper as it cools. And in recent years the bonito hang on longest of the hardtails. The good days are the calm, bright ones after a front, and the last calm day is the last trip.
Most people put the boat away when the run thins. The Late Season Holdout knows it's the quiet end of the season, and these five are what I'd have aboard for it.
A cold-weather angler who keeps fishing schoolies, tog and the last bonito after the crowd quits. Late October into November, they take short cold trips on the good days: a few hours in the back bays, a morning anchored on a rock pile, a run to see if the bonito are still around. Gloves, layers, and a close eye on the forecast.
They'd rather fish a calm, bright day in November than a crowded one in September. If their boat is the last one still in the water, or they're checking the water temperature at Thanksgiving, this is your angler.
The full set is $61.75 MSRP. One of each covers the cold trips, from estuary schoolies to the deep tog rock and the last bonito.
Already has some? Buy them anyway. Tog rock eats jigs, and nobody fishing in November has a spare.
Want to keep it small? The Biki Jig and the Squinnow cover fall tog shallow and deep. Add a dozen green crabs from the bait shop.
Giving the full set? Print the guide and tuck it in the box.
THE LINEUP
1 Protail Paddle “The 7-Iron”
WHEN Late October into November in the estuaries and back bays: the drains, harbor mouths and channel edges. The bait left is small, and the cold has slowed the fish down.
FISH IT Cast across the seam from down-current and swim it slow, barely faster than the water. Fishing it at summer speed is the mistake. Nothing on the seam? Crawl it along the channel edge.
WHY THEY'LL LOVE IT Small enough to match what's left, and the 1 oz reaches the far seam from the boat or the bank. It comes pre-rigged, so there's nothing to tie with cold fingers.
“This paddle tail got plenty of attention from the stripers and the lure was also very durable.” David P.
Add to cart | MSRP $7.95See details ›
2 Peanut 'Chovy Jig “The Back-Bay Jig”
WHEN Bright, calm days after a front, when the estuary schoolies get picky on silversides and small peanuts and won't touch anything bigger.
FISH IT Slow and steady; let the wobble work. Fish under the bait: let it sink, lift, let it fall. Followed and refused? Go to a lighter fluorocarbon leader so it hangs right.
WHY THEY'LL LOVE IT It's the downsize. Fished vertically it falls in a tight flutter, painted like the bait, for the days they look at everything and eat nothing.
“fish love em when on bay anchovies, juvie silversides and small peanuts” Will P.
Add to cart | MSRP $9.95See details ›
3 Groundfish Biki Jig “The Tog Go-To”
WHEN Mid-October into November, tog back in close on the shallow rock, 5 to 25 feet, as the water cools through the 50s. Bluebird days at slack tide.
FISH IT Anchor tight over the rock; twenty feet off produces nothing. Green crab on, slow lift, short thump, let it sit. Taps and no fish? Slack on the tap, let them take it, then lift.
WHY THEY'LL LOVE IT In shallow water a light jig is how they feel the tap, and the flat head keeps a heavy-duty VMC Barbarian hook riding upright in the rocks where tog feed.
“I have fished a variety of Tautog jig/bottom fish jigs. This one ticks all the boxes.” Capt. Ray J.
Add to cart | MSRP $10.95See details ›
4 Squinnow Jig “The Finesse Tool”
WHEN November, when the tog slide off the shallow rock to the deeper ledges and boulders, 30 to 60 feet, and a 1 oz jig won't hold bottom in the current.
FISH IT Green crab on the assist hook, then straight down off the anchor and stay in contact: tap bottom, small lift, settle. Line angling off? Go heavier before lighter. Same slack on the tap as the Biki.
WHY THEY'LL LOVE IT When the tog move deeper, they don't need a new system, just weight that reaches bottom. Six and a half ounces holds in the current, the Olive Crab paint looks like what tog eat, and the assist hook carries the crab.
“These are great for deep water Black Sea bass.” Clifford K.
Add to cart | MSRP $18.95See details ›
5 Epoxy Jig “The Every Day”
WHEN Late October, after the albies thin out. In recent years the bonito are the last hardtail to leave, hanging on along the lower Buzzards Bay and the Rhode Island edge.
FISH IT Long cast, fast and steady; don't let them study it. Fish showing but not eating? Let it sink 3 to 8 feet under them and burn it back. Calm and clear: longer, lighter leader.
WHY THEY'LL LOVE IT Late bonito are spooky and keyed on small bait. That's the fish the OG epoxy was built for. The 5/8 casts far enough not to spook them and is small enough to get eaten. And bonito are the good-eating hardtail.
“great lure for false albacore and bonito” Scott B.
Add to cart | MSRP $13.95See details ›WHICH ONE, WHEN
| WHEN YOU SEE THIS | TIE ON |
|---|---|
| Schoolies on the drains and harbor mouths, cold water | 1 Protail Paddle |
| Bright day after a front, schoolies picky on small bait | 2 'Chovy Jig |
| Tog in close on the shallow rock, slack tide | 3 Biki Jig |
| Tog moved deeper and a light jig won't hold bottom | 4 Squinnow Jig |
| Bonito still showing late in the season | 5 Epoxy Jig |
A 7-foot medium spinning rod handles the 5/8 oz jigs, the 1 oz paddle and the Biki Jig. The 6.5 oz Squinnow goes on a 7-foot medium-heavy.
Estuaries: 15 to 20 lb braid and a long, light fluorocarbon leader; the bait is small and the water is thin. Tog: 30 lb fluorocarbon tied direct to the jig.
Anything going back goes back fast. Unhook it at the rail, keep it in the water, and let it swim down.
More from Hogy: bottom thumping for tog with the Biki Jig and my fall groundfish crate.
QUESTIONS ANGLERS ASK
What are the best lures for late season stripers and tog?
Small lures for the schoolies and a jig for each tog depth. In the estuaries I swim the 1 oz Protail Paddle slow, then go to the 5/8 oz Peanut 'Chovy Jig when fish get picky after a front. Tog on the shallow rock get the 1 oz Groundfish Biki Jig, and the 6.5 oz Squinnow reaches the deeper ledges. The 5/8 oz Epoxy Jig covers the last bonito.
How late in the year can you fish for stripers and tog?
Into November. Schoolies hang on small bait in the estuaries, drains and back bays from late October into November, and tog come back to the Buzzards Bay rock as the water drops through the 50s, shallow first and deeper as it cools. The good days are the calm, bright ones after a front, and the last calm day is the last trip.
What size jig should I use for fall tog?
Match the weight to the depth. Mid-October into November the tog are in close on the shallow rock, 5 to 25 feet, and the 1 oz Groundfish Biki Jig lets you feel the tap. When they slide off to the deeper ledges and boulders, 30 to 60 feet, and a 1 oz jig won't hold bottom in the current, go to the 6.5 oz Squinnow. Go heavier before lighter.
