| Bluefish (Potatomus salatrix) is a tenacious | | | | lure that resembles a baitfish, including |
| saltwater fish that provides some of the best | | | | metal spoons, jigs, and tube baits. Wooden |
| angling thrills on light tackle. They are | | | | baits are not popular because of the |
| mainly thought of as an Eastern United States | | | | bluefish's powerful teeth, which will quickly |
| fish, although they are found in most | | | | destroy wooden plugs. |
| temperate waters throughout the world, except | | | | |
| in the cooler waters of the northern Pacific. | | | | Casting into a school of fish requires the |
| | | | use of moderately heavy tackle and wire |
| Bluefish are schooling fish built for speed | | | | leaders. It is important that black wire |
| and power. They are a blue green shade along | | | | leaders and swivels are used, as the fish |
| the top of the body near the dorsal fins, and | | | | will often strike shiny leaders, weakening |
| have silvery sides and a whitish / silver | | | | and in some cases severing them. Anglers |
| underbelly. They have relatively large heads | | | | casting into a frenzied school of bluefish |
| that feature powerful jaws and rows of very | | | | can often catch a fish on every cast. |
| sharp teeth. Their tapered bodies end in | | | | Therefore, it is important to retie lures and |
| deeply forked tails that allow them to be | | | | leaders often, because they will undoubtedly |
| powerful swimmers and fighters. | | | | become frayed. The best results are found by |
| | | | casting along the outer edges of the school, |
| The average fish weighs between 4 and 10 | | | | decreasing the chances of spooking any fish, |
| pounds, with any fish over 20 pounds being | | | | and also preventing line breakages. Feeding |
| considered a real quality fish. The | | | | bluefish have been known to even attack each |
| recognized IGFA record is 31 pounds, 12 ounce | | | | other; it is not uncommon for a four-pounder |
| fish caught off the coast of North Carolina | | | | on the line to be cut in half by a twenty |
| in 1972. Unconfirmed monster fish have | | | | pound blue. |
| reportedly been caught in the 40-pound range. | | | | |
| | | | Bluefish can also be caught from the surf at |
| Population numbers of bluefish have been | | | | certain times of the year. Shiny spoons such |
| documented to follow cycles lasting about | | | | as the Hopkins brand are consistent favorites |
| forty years. A recent disappearance occurred | | | | for fishing in surf due to their visibility |
| during the 1920s, and anglers are still | | | | and enticing action. |
| enjoying a high for the fish which began in | | | | |
| the 1970s. They are migratory fish, following | | | | Anglers that use live or cut bait, such as |
| schools of baitfish such as menhaden shad and | | | | eels or fish, often catch blues from the surf |
| mullet, heading north from Florida in spring, | | | | or from piers simply by letting the bait sit |
| all the way to Maine by the end of the | | | | and waiting for a strike. This method can be |
| summer. | | | | useful when there are no apparent schools of |
| | | | bluefish biting. |
| When fishing for blues, anglers should | | | | |
| remember they are primarily schooling fish. | | | | Flyfishing for blues has become more and more |
| Schools the size of football fields have been | | | | popular in recent years. Many of the same |
| witnessed, with the fish creating a feeding | | | | techniques and lures used for striped bass |
| frenzy of roiling water and leaping fish. | | | | can be applied to bluefish. Bluefish of |
| Many anglers often troll for the fish, as | | | | course require an extra-strong leader and |
| this is one of the most consistent methods of | | | | mostly strikes larger flies which closely |
| catching bluefish. Once a fish is caught by | | | | resemble the most popular regional baitfish. |
| trolling, anglers should stop the boat and | | | | |
| throw out casts to try to locate the school. | | | | Fly anglers often catch blues incidentally |
| Putting a lure at the proper depth in areas | | | | while fishing for stripers, but some fly and |
| where bluefish schools are hanging will | | | | light tackle anglers target blues |
| usually result in large catches. Fish can | | | | specifically, especially when stripers are |
| often be caught on any type of fast-moving | | | | absent. |