Bluefish

LOCATIONS

BODIES OF WATER

Bluefish, known for their aggressive feeding habits and hard-fighting nature, can be found in selected saltwater locations along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. While they are not commonly found in the Gulf region, they are a popular target along the Atlantic coast.
Alabama: Gulf of Mexico, Mobile Bay, Perdido Pass.
Louisiana: Gulf of Mexico, Chandeleur Islands, Calcasieu Lake.
Mississippi: Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi Sound, Bay St. Louis.
Texas: Gulf of Mexico, Galveston Bay, Sabine Lake.

STRUCTURE/HABITAT

Bluefish are highly adaptable and can be found in various habitats, including nearshore and offshore areas. They prefer areas with abundant baitfish, such as mackerel, menhaden, and anchovies. Bluefish are known for their aggressive feeding behavior and will often attack schools of baitfish near the surface.
Look for bluefish near inlets, jetties, sandbars, and areas where baitfish are concentrated. They are opportunistic predators and can be found in both calm and turbulent waters. Bluefish often exhibit schooling behavior, so when you find one, there's a good chance that more are nearby.

PATTERNS

SPRING

During the spring, bluefish migrate northward along the Atlantic coast. They can be found near inlets, beaches, and estuaries as they feed on migrating baitfish. Casting or trolling with lures that resemble baitfish can be effective in attracting strikes. Pay attention to bird activity and areas with swirling or splashing water, as these indicate feeding bluefish.

SUMMER

In the summer months, bluefish can be found in nearshore and offshore waters along the Atlantic coast. They may move farther offshore in search of cooler waters or stay close to beaches and inlets where baitfish are abundant. Casting or trolling with lures, such as spoons, plugs, or topwater poppers, can be effective in enticing strikes. Focus on areas with active baitfish activity and target early morning or late afternoon when bluefish are more active.

FALL

As fall arrives, bluefish remain active and continue to feed voraciously. They may migrate southward along the Atlantic coast, providing anglers with excellent opportunities to catch them. Casting or trolling with lures, such as metal jigs, swimbaits, or surface plugs, can yield success. Look for diving birds, breaking water, or baitfish schools to locate feeding bluefish.

WINTER

During the winter months, bluefish migrate southward to warmer waters or may move offshore to deeper areas. While they can still be caught, targeting them during this season may require venturing to deeper offshore waters. Trolling with deep-diving lures or using live bait near offshore structures or areas with good current flow can increase your chances of encountering bluefish during the winter.

Bluefish are voracious predators and will strike a variety of baits and lures. Common bait options for bluefish fishing include live baitfish such as mullet, menhaden, or anchovies. Artificial lures such as spoons, plugs, soft plastic swimbaits, and topwater poppers can also be effective in imitating the appearance and movement of baitfish.

Trolling

How: Trolling fast in the 6-8 knot range is most productive for bluefish. Use medium to heavy trolling rods and reels. Attach wire leaders to your mainline to prevent bite-offs from their sharp teeth. Use a variety of trolling lures such as spoons, plugs, or feathered jigs. Pay attention to areas with active feeding or diving birds, as they often indicate the presence of bluefish.
Gear: Rods: Medium to heavy trolling rods, 20-40lb class. Reels: Conventional reels in the 20 wide size range. Line: Monofilament or braided line with a test rating of 20-40lb. Leaders: Wire leaders with a strength of 30-50lb. Lures: Spoons, plugs, feathered jigs.

Chunking

How: Locate areas where bluefish are actively feeding, such as around schools of baitfish or near structure. Cut fresh baitfish, such as mackerel or bunker, into chunks and create a scent trail by consistently throwing them overboard. Use heavy spinning or conventional rods and reels to handle the powerful strikes. Fish larger chunks of bait on sturdy hooks to attract bigger bluefish.
Gear: Rods: Medium to heavy spinning rods, 15-30lb class conventional rods. Reels: Conventional reels in the 20 wide size range or 6000-8000 spinning reels. Line: Monofilament or braided line with a test rating of 15-30lb. Leaders: Monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders with a test rating of 20-40lb. Hooks: Size 1 bait hooks.

Live Bait

How: Bluefish readily take live bait, such as anchovies, sardines, or mackerel. Locate areas where bluefish are actively feeding and set up your fishing rig. Keep your reel in freespool or low gear, allowing the bluefish to take the bait before setting the hook. Use medium to heavy spinning or conventional rods and reels to handle the strong runs and fights.
Gear: Rods: Medium to heavy spinning rods, 15-30lb class conventional rods. Reels: Conventional reels in the 20 wide size range or 6000-8000 spinning reels. Line: Monofilament or braided line with a test rating of 15-30lb. Leaders: Monofilament or fluorocarbon leaders with a test rating of 20-40lb. Hooks: Size 1 bait hooks.

Jigging/Casting

How: Jigging or casting is an exciting way to target bluefish. Use a variety of lures such as jigs, spoons, soft plastics, or topwater plugs. Cast or jig around structure, rocky areas, or along shorelines where bluefish are known to be present. Vary your retrieve speed and technique to entice strikes. Bluefish are known for their aggressive nature and will often chase down fast-moving lures.
Gear: Rods: Medium to medium-heavy spinning or conventional rods. Reels: Spinning or conventional reels with a line capacity of 300-500 yards of 30-50lb test. Line: Braided line with a test rating of 30-50lb. Leaders: Fluorocarbon leaders with a test rating of 20-40lb. Lures: Butterfly jigs, diamond jigs, epoxy jigs, jig heads with soft plastics, metal jigs, topwater plugs.