February is the month tautog anglers in New Jersey circle on the calendar. Water temperatures hover in the mid-to-upper 30s°F, and blackfish — stacked tight on nearshore reefs and offshore wrecks since November — are at their heaviest weight of the year. Meanwhile, the first weakfish of the season begin filtering into the southern Delaware Bay bays, and the striper community starts watching Chesapeake Bay reports for early signs of the spawn run that will kick off the year’s best inshore action in just weeks.
Inshore Fishing — February 2026
Tautog — Peak Month
There is no better month for tautog in New Jersey than February. Fish that have been building weight since October are now fully loaded — 8 to 12-pound fish are common, and fish over 15 pounds are caught every February. The key is committing to structure between 40 and 90 feet of water and using the right presentation. Green crab, fiddler crab, and Asian shore crab are the top natural baits; Berkley Gulp! Peeler Crab is a strong synthetic option that keeps its scent in cold water longer than some naturals.
Best February spots: Barnegat Ridge (NJ’s most consistent tautog reef, 18–22 miles off Barnegat Inlet), Sea Girt Reef, the IBSP reef complex, Axel Carlson Wreck, and the deepwater rock piles known locally as Cholesterol Corner. Fish the first half of the incoming tide — blackfish feed most aggressively as current begins to build over structure. A 5/0 wide-gap hook on 30–40 lb fluorocarbon leader fished on a standard high-low rig is the proven setup.
Weakfish — First Reports from the South
The leading edge of the weakfish migration arrives in the lower Delaware Bay and Mullica River system in late February during mild winters. These are not numbers fish yet — they’re scattered fish felt out by persistence and local knowledge. Chartreuse bucktails tipped with curly tail grubs and slow-rolled soft plastics in the back bay channels produce the first weakies of the year. Water temps need to break above 42°F to turn this bite on consistently.
Offshore Fishing — February 2026
Offshore cod fishing remains viable through February on the deep wrecks and structure in 80–150 feet — the Axel Carlson, the Mohawk, and Barnegat Ridge deep are the best bets. Norwegian jigs and cut sea clam on dropper loops produce the most consistent cod in February. Party boats from Belmar and Point Pleasant run regular cod trips when weather permits. Water temperatures on the offshore grounds are coldest now — fish feed heavily to maintain body temperature, so the bite can be surprisingly active despite the conditions.
Top Techniques — February
1. Tautog bait presentation: Use the smallest piece of crab that will stay on the hook — a dime-sized chunk of green crab or a single fiddler is more effective than a large offering in cold water. Tautog are deliberate biters in February; small presentations get cleaner hookups.
2. Structure fishing with a graph: February tautog fishing rewards anglers who work a spread of different reefs and wrecks to find the concentration of larger fish. Locate a school on the sounder showing marks at 3–8 feet off bottom, anchor precisely up-current, and let the rig swing back into the fish.
3. Weakfish in the back bays: Target the deepest channels in the lower Delaware Bay tributaries — fish are holding in the warmest water available. A 1/4 oz chartreuse jig head with a 3″ paddle tail grub, worked very slowly with long pauses, triggers the most strikes from cold-water weakfish.
Insider Tips — February
The February neap tide window is your best friend. Neap tides (near the quarter moons) produce slower current over the reef structure, making it easier to hold bottom with lighter sinkers and improving bait presentation. Plan your best February reef trips around the neap cycle.
Watch the 10-day forecast, not just the weekend. February can deliver flat-calm offshore conditions followed by sustained Northeast blows. When you see 3–4 consecutive calm days in the forecast, that’s your window to run deep to Cholesterol Corner or the offshore wrecks for big tautog and cod.
Looking Ahead — March
March is the transition month New Jersey anglers live for — tautog season winds down as water temperatures begin their spring climb, and the first striped bass of the year arrive at Sandy Hook and the Raritan Bay. The spring striper run is one of the great events in East Coast fishing. By late March, fish will be pushing through the Sandy Hook Rip and showing in the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers. Get your striper gear rigged and ready.
See our New Jersey Fishing Guide for full seasonal detail and top spots.