Tautog: season, lures and limits

Showing the fish for Delaware, Maryland and Virginia ocean coast.

Fishing region

Season in Delmarva

Peak months: Apr, Oct, Nov.

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Ocean City jetties: tautog late fall and early winter on sand fleas or green crabs (FishTalk). Indian River Inlet and Massey's Landing pier tog in mid-October 2026 (DNREC). DNREC: common, 13 to 20 in. ASMFC spring and fall landings. (Our inference)

Season by region

Long Island	JFMAMJJASOND
Maine	JFMAMJJASOND
North Shore MA	JFMAMJJASOND
Cape Cod	JFMAMJJASOND
Rhode Island	JFMAMJJASOND
Connecticut	JFMAMJJASOND
North Jersey	JFMAMJJASOND
South Jersey	JFMAMJJASOND
Delmarva	JFMAMJJASOND
Virginia Beach	JFMAMJJASOND

Where to find them

Ocean City north jetty tip and south jetty outside wall, Indian River Inlet rocks, the Massey's Landing pier; green crabs or sand fleas on 1/0 to 2/0 short-shank hooks.

Tight to rocks, wrecks, reefs and mussel beds on the bottom.

What to look for

Hard structure with mussels and crabs; high spots and holes in a boulder field.

What to throw

Tautog jig tipped with crab1/2 to 2 (up to 5 in deep or fast water) oz, Flat-sitting ball, football, banana or boxer head on a stout hook. Drop to the bottom and hold it still; if nothing bites, move to another part of the structure. Set hard when the line goes light or moves off.

Bait

Green crabs, Asian shore or white-legger crabs, Green fiddler and calico crabs, Blue mussels, Steamer clams. Stout single-hook bottom rig, or a 1/2 to 2 oz tog jig tipped with crab; use the lightest jig that holds bottom..

Leader

NY Sea Grant: stout rod about 8 ft, 20 to 30 lb abrasion-resistant line. On The Water jig setup: 20 to 30 lb braid with about 10 ft of 30 to 40 lb fluorocarbon.

Common mistakes

Letting a hooked fish turn back into the rocks (turn its head right away)
Using a jig heavier than needed to hold bottom
Striking on the first tap instead of when the line moves off or goes light

Landing

Net it; keep pressure on to pull it away from the rocks.

Handling

Very slippery mucus-covered skin
Strong crushing teeth

Grip with a towel; keep fingers out of the mouth; unhook with pliers.

Keep or release

Excellent eating. Delaware and Maryland close tautog part of the year; check the state you are in.

Recipes for tautog

Typical: 13 to 20 in (2 to 6 lb). Large: unknown. Maryland and world record 28 lb 8 oz, off Ocean City (2015).

Limits

FishOS has not checked the DE and MD and VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Delaware DNREC Fish and Wildlife before you keep a fish.

Sources

FishTalk Magazine: fishing the Ocean City, MD inlet hotspots (Angler knowledge)
DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife weekly fishing report (Oct 15 2026) (Official source)
DNREC Delaware Fish and Shellfish Facts: Tautog (Official source)
ASMFC: Tautog (Official source)
NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NE-118: Tautog life history and habitat requirements (Steimle and Shaheen, 1999) (Official source)
New York Sea Grant fish profile: Blackfish (tautog) (Cornell, 2001) (Official source)
Maryland DNR Fish Facts: Tautog (Official source)

All the fish of Delmarva

Tautog