Bluefish

LOCATIONS

BODIES OF WATER

STRUCTURE/HABITAT

Shoreline Structure, Rocks, Bridges, Docks, Look for Birds, Look for Bait, Shipping Channel edges, Drop-offs, Reefs, Inlets, openings into larger bodies of water, Points and drop-offs around River openings.
Moving tides are usually more productive. Areas with currents. Use a fish finder and depth charts. Where would bait fish group up depending on the tide, current, and water structure?
Feed in schools searching for bait, Shipping Channel Ledges, Drop-offs, Birds, Surface Bait, Jetties, Rock piles, Use a fish finder and charts. where would bait fish group up depending on the tide, current, and water structure?

PATTERNS

SPRING

The run begins sometime in late April into May along the mid-Atlantic ocean. Monitor your local beaches and ocean inlets for reports when runs are beginning. Spawning April/May.

SUMMER

Fish are schooling up, Larger fish have moved from bays into the ocean.
Fish are schooled up in the ocean and have moved into the southern portions of the Chesapeake bay and Deleware bay.

FALL

Early-mid fall topwater fishing early morning/late evening. Fish are chasing bait into rivers.
All methods of fishing are productive. Late fall fish begin to move toward deeper water.

WINTER

Trolling

How: Trolling fast in the 6-8 knot range is most productive for bluefish.
Gear: Rods: 20-40lb class conventional. Reels: 20 wide. Lures: Swimming plugs, metal spoons, and feathered lures.

Chunking

How: Locate bluefish by looking for diving birds or feeding frenzies near the surface. Anchor the boat and chum the water with ground-up baitfish to attract the bluefish. Use a hook baited with a chunk of fresh baitfish and cast it into the chum slick.
Gear: Rods: 15-30 lb class conventional or medium-heavy spinning rods. Reels: 20 Wide conventional reel, 3000-6000 spinning reels. Hooks: 4/0 or 5/0 bait hooks.

Live Bait:

How: Locate bluefish by looking for diving birds or feeding frenzies near the surface. Use a sabiki rig to catch live baitfish such as anchovies, sardines, or mackerel. Hook the live baitfish through the lips or back and cast it into the feeding frenzy.
Gear: Rods: 15-30 lb class conventional or medium-heavy spinning rods. Reels: 20 Wide conventional reel, 6000-8000 spinning reels. Hooks: 4/0 or 5/0 bait hooks.

Jigging/Casting

How: Cast metal jigs or bucktail jigs into feeding frenzies or around underwater structure where bluefish are known to feed. Jig the lure up and down quickly to imitate a fleeing baitfish.
Gear: Rods: Medium-heavy to heavy spinning or conventional rods. Reels: Conventional reels with line capacity of 300-500 yds of 30-50 lb test. Leaders: 20-40lb fluorocarbon. Lures: Metal jigs, bucktail jigs, soft plastic baits in blue or silver color patterns.

Fly Fishing

How: Locate bluefish in shallow water flats, estuaries, or near shore rocky structures. Cast large baitfish imitating flies or poppers in blue or silver color patterns and strip them quickly to entice the bluefish to strike.
Gear: Rods: 8-10 wt fly rod. Reels: Reel to match size fly rod. Line: Floating or intermediate fly line. Leaders: 20-30lb fluorocarbon. Flies: Deceiver flies, clouser minnows, poppers in blue or silver color patterns.