Bluefish are one of
the most popular
saltwater fish. They
are beloved by
anglers because they
are easily accessible and they provide some excellent
action. Bluefish are mostly an inshore fish which means
they can be reached easily by charter, party and private
boats. Some people say that bluefish will eat anything
that swims and that can’t eat it first. They can be found in
great numbers near Canada’s Maritime Provinces during
the summer and the bluefish is also found along the
entire length of the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico.
Catching Bluefish
Large schools of bluefish are constantly on the move
looking for bait fish. They feed so violently that if you see
them feeding on a school of bait fish, you can actually
see the water turn red. They have sharp teeth that cut
through the smaller bait fish in one bite.
Trolling and chumming are both proven techniques.
When trolling, make sure to use your fishfinder so you
can find the bait fish and also see what depth the bluefish
are feeding. If they are close to the surface, you don’t
need a trolling sinker. They will hit the lure a couple of
inches below the surface. If they are feeding well below
the surface, make sure to use a trolling sinker to get you
down to the correct depth. Some good trolling lures are
spoons, feathers, leadhead jigs and swimming plugs.
When chumming, you can use your fishfinder to located
schools of bait fish or you can set up at an established
location that holds fish. Once you are in a good area,
start chumming with ground up menhaden. It will form a
heavily scented slick when you pour it into the water. Just
chum enough to get the fish in the area. Natural baits
such as a piece of menhaden will definitely catch fish.
Bluefish are very good for eating, but they must be bled
and immediately placed on ice to maintain their freshness.
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