If the early spring was any indicator, this yr goes to be one for bluefish. Stories of high quality fish from New Jersey to southern New England are often an indication of what’s to return for the summer time, and I believe we’ll see extra blues this yr than final yr. Their numbers have positively elevated over the previous couple of years, particularly for these of us who dwell north of Cape Cod.
Fishing round Boston, it has been evident that bluefish had been scarce. Twenty years in the past, there was a predictable chunk beginning round July 4 and lasting by way of the summer time. Tossing plastics for stripers was a dangerous endeavor—most nights, one or two tails had been neatly chopped off. Final fall was the primary in a very long time when plastics had been commonly minimize off, however it didn’t occur on a nightly foundation.
All through New England, blues have at all times been an area chunk. In some areas, they present up early within the season chasing squid; in different areas, they observe faculties of bunker into the bays and harbors. Additionally they fluctuate in dimension from jumbos chasing bunker to the snappers focusing on spearing. Over the past couple of seasons, evidently larger fish are making a comeback, however it’s nonetheless enjoyable to catch blues of any dimension.
Bluefish have a popularity as being simple to catch, however since I’ve been working facet imaging on my kayak, I’ve realized that they’re usually close by, however not biting. Recognizing that they’re round is useful for dialing in on the fish. Blues often look very completely different from stripers on side-scanning and down-scanning sonar. They’re usually on the transfer and better within the water column than striped bass. Bluefish often present as elongated streaks on side-scanning sonar as a result of they’re swimming by way of the water slightly than slowly hovering as bass usually do.
Blues on the flats are at all times essentially the most thrilling to catch. They’ll generally be noticed cruising, and sight-casting at all times will get my coronary heart pumping. Plus, when these fish transfer in to the shallows, they’re often going to feed as a result of they’re actively chasing baitfish. Poppers and walk-the-dog-style lures are particularly enjoyable to fish in shallow as a result of the hits will be spectacular. An ultra-high-speed retrieve will often end in fewer bites, however could convey some loopy hits with fish launching themselves out of the water. When the fish are choosy, an extra-slow retrieve will produce when nothing else does.
Final yr, I discovered bluefish in deep water. I used to be jigging for cod in 60 toes and began selecting blues off the underside. It didn’t take lengthy to understand that I may watch the side-scan for fish and yo-yo jigs for them. It was a extremely good probability to interrupt out some heavy West Coast-style jigs and get bites on the quick crank. There’s nothing just like the thud of a fish in your jig if you rip it by way of the water column.
Blues actually prefer to chase mackerel, so in case you have some favourite mack spots, it’s price checking them because the season strikes on.
Trolling is an effective way to seek out bluefish near shore, the place they usually cruise and transfer rapidly. Trolling helps you stumble upon these faculties and establish the place the fish are. All kinds of lures work on the troll, however one in every of my go-to baits is the SP Minnow. Blues love the flash and vibration of lipped baits, and plastic-body minnows maintain up properly to their enamel. I don’t often use a wire chief, however a Tactical Angler clip on the entrance will assist forestall some bite-offs, particularly if I take away the entrance hook.
A tube and worm can also be trolling bait for blues, with an added good thing about catching an occasional massive striper. When you don’t have worms when chasing blues, a Fats Cow strip, particularly in white, is all you want. The strips are actually sturdy and can stand as much as a number of fish. One other benefit of the tube is that you just received’t get bitten off since a through-wired tube could be very sturdy. The one means they are going to be capable of chunk it off is that if a second fish hits the entrance of the tube.
Bluefish are typically considered daytime fish, however they are often focused at evening. Final yr, I discovered some huge faculties in deeper water alongside the seashores. It was a extremely enjoyable chunk as a result of the blues weren’t mixing in with the stripers. I may go after stripers near shore, then transfer to deeper water for blues. I discovered the fish by utilizing side-scan and caught essentially the most fish on sub-surface lures like swimmers. These fish persistently frolicked in the identical areas at evening. Within the morning, they moved alongside the seashore chasing baitfish.
Eradicating the entrance hook on lures permits you to use it as a deal with for touchdown a fish. Blues are at all times difficult to deal with, particularly getting a big one into the kayak. I’ve seen multiple kayaker damage his favourite fluke web with an enormous bluefish. As a substitute, I tail-grab the fish and drag it into the kayak with its enamel and the lure going through away from me. Greater than as soon as, I’ve had a blue leap into the kayak because it was leaping boatside. That’s at all times a bit unnerving!
With the elevated variety of massive blues, hold your eyes open for alternatives this season. Bluefish will be caught from July to October in each New England state. Additionally it is a chance to make use of a few of these beat-up striper lures that you just don’t thoughts shedding. I at all times hold one thing in my sort out field simply in case they present up and it actually paid off final yr.
Associated Content material
The Mysterious Lives of Bluefish
Bluefish: Surfcasting’s Wildcards
Important Plugs for Topwater Bluefish
