Beaufort's Best 4-Hour Inshore Fishing Adventure

Bluefish

Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) Fish Description

Bluefish is a common game fish that is known for its delicious taste. Bluefish is a warm-water migratory species living in the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to Argentina and Spain to southern Africa. In South Africa, the Bluefish is known as Shad or Elf; in New Zealand and Australia, it is called Tailor. Bluefish are seasonal visitors to Cape Cod waters, arriving in mid-June and remaining until mid-October. They spend the winter in warmer waters from North Carolina to Florida's tip.

The Bluefish has a moderately proportioned body; one of its distinctive features is its broad and corked tail and its spiny first dorsal and pectoral fins that are usually folded back in a grove. The Bluefish is generally grayish to blue-green in its dorsal area, whereas its belly and lower sides fade to white.

It is a voracious predator with a large mouth and flat, triangular teeth that are strong, sharp, and prominent teeth.

Bluefish Diet

As aggressively strong feeders, the Bluefish have a complex menu of prey. They can chase after schools of forage fish owing to their fast swimming speed. They usually go on a feeding frenzy by attacking these schools of fish even after having satisfied their stomachs. They especially like sardine-like fish, Menhaden, Weakfish, Grunt, Anchovy, Squid, and Shrimp. In return, the Bluefish serve as food for bigger fish like Dolphin, Billfish, Sharks, and Tuna, among others.

Bluefish Size

Commonly, the Bluefish can grow up to 7 inches; they weigh up to 40 lbs. However, most of the Bluefish population reaches only up to 20 lbs.

Interesting Facts About the Bluefish 

• The Bluefish is the only remaining living species from the Pomatomidae family. It used to be grouped with Gnomefish, but the latter were separated.
• Lophar miocaenus from Southern California is an extinct relative of the Bluefish from the Late Miocene Period.
• Bluefish are reported to live up to 9 years.
• The Bluefish are cannibalistic, and they sometimes eat their own young.
• The Bluefish are known for churning water like a washing machine, attacking schools in shallow depths. This is called “Bluefish Blitz.”
• Bluefish is a common host to many parasites; in particular, it is often inhabited by the parasite named Philometra saltatrix, which is found in the ovaries of the fish.
• Despite being high in omega-3, children and adult women are warned against consuming Bluefish due to its significant mercury content.
• When properly prepared, bluefish is extremely good to eat, with mild, flaky meat, though larger fish (those weighing more than 10 pounds) have a stronger flavor than their smaller brethren.

Bluefish — Fishing Techniques

To reel in lots of Bluefish, you can use the following harvesting methods: trawls, hook and line, and gillnet. Note that you can only use a circle hook and nothing else; recreational anglers can only capture up to three pieces of Bluefish per day (no minimum size). As for artificial lures or flies, you can use only up to a maximum of two treble hooks. Be careful when handling Bluefish since they can bite you, leading to some serious wounds. Oily fish, such as eels, make excellent bait for bluefish. However, almost any type of baitfish can be used. When learning how to catch bluefish, another option is to use cut bait. Try chunks shaped like a small lure.

You can best fish for Bluefish from tidal rivers, bays, and sandy harbors during summer. In late summer, small, juvenile bluefish known as "baby blues" or "snappers" can be caught in sandy harbors, bays, and tidal rivers. This is an excellent fish for young and inexperienced anglers to catch. Bluefish are frequently caught using gillnets in the commercial bluefish fishery, but they can also be nabbed using a hook, line, or trawl gear.

A permit must be secured to catch Bluefish in commercial fisheries. Some states also impose a specific catch limit for commercial and recreational fishing.

Bluefish Habitat and Distribution

As a marine pelagic fish species, the Bluefish generally inhabit subtropical and temperate waters all around the globe. Most thrive along the continental shelves of America (except in northern South America and south Florida), Australia, and Southeast Asia. Interestingly, the Bluefish is also not found on the north side of the Pacific Ocean.

Typically, anglers find school of Bluefish in various habitats, including brackish waters, estuaries, rock headlands, surf beaches, or above the continental shelf. From time to time, the Bluefish migrate to open waters in schools.

Bluefish fishery management employs a bag limit for recreational fishing and an annual quota distributed to states for commercial fisheries to avoid overfishing.

Cobia

Cobia are bruisers that'll test your tackle and your stamina. These fish average 20-40 pounds but can top 100. We start seeing them in late spring as they migrate north, often following rays or hanging around buoys and structure. Cobia are curious fish - they'll come right up to the boat to investigate. Sight fishing for them is a rush. They hit hard and fight even harder with long, powerful runs. Live eels or large jigs work well. Cobia meat is prized for its firm texture and mild flavor. One local tip: always have a heavy rod rigged and ready - you never know when one will pop up. May through July is prime time here, with a second run in fall as they head back south.

Redfish

Redfish, or red drum, are one of our most popular inshore targets. They typically run 5-15 pounds here, but bull reds over 40 inches aren't uncommon. Look for them tailing in shallow grass flats or cruising along oyster bars and marsh edges. These fish have a distinctive black spot near their tail and put up a strong, dogged fight. Redfish will hit a variety of lures and baits, but a local favorite is a gold spoon or scented soft plastic on a jighead. They're often in very shallow water, so stealth is key. Fall is prime time as reds school up to spawn. The meat is excellent - firm and mild-flavored. One tip: when you hook up, keep your rod tip low to prevent them from jumping and throwing the hook.

Sea Trout

Sea trout, also called speckled trout, are a favorite inshore species here. Most run 1-3 pounds, but gator trout over 5 pounds aren't uncommon. You'll find them in grass flats, oyster bars, and around creek mouths, especially at first and last light. They're ambush predators, so working lures or live bait along drop-offs or structure is key. Sea trout have soft mouths, so a light touch when setting the hook helps. These fish put up a decent fight and are known for their acrobatics. They're excellent table fare too, with a delicate flavor. One local trick - try a popping cork rig with live shrimp for consistent action. Fall and spring are peak seasons when water temps are in the 60s and 70s.

Striped Bass

Striped bass are a prized catch in these parts, with fish typically in the 15-30 pound range, though 50+ pounders aren't unheard of. These powerful swimmers hang around structure like jetties, bridge pilings, and channel edges. We find them in the surf, inlets, and bays from spring through fall. Stripers put up an impressive fight and are known for their hard strikes. Live bait like eels or bunker works well, but throwing plugs or soft plastics can be a blast too. Dawn and dusk are prime feeding times. One local tip - look for diving birds to find bait schools stripers are feeding on. The meat is excellent eating, with a mild, flaky texture. Spring and fall runs offer the best action as these fish migrate along the coast.