At 1915 on 23 October, "Angler" made radar contact with the main Japanese force steaming to contest the Allied invasion of Leyte. "Angler" tracked the task force until 0240 the following morning, and her contact reports proved of inestimable value to the American forces off Leyte. Ironically, "Angler" had just made the only worthwhile contact with the only worthwhile convoy of her entire patrol. Although the maneuvers to clear the convoy took her astern of the task force, "Angler" forsook the convoy of civilian ships for the military task force. On 1 November, "Angler" rendezvoused with , and received onboard Commander Fred E. Bakutis, a pilot from Fighting Squadron 20 (VF-20) who had been rescued by "Hardhead" a short time before. "Angler" returned to Fremantle on 9 November.