Name/Relations || Range/Sizes || Habitat & Habits ||  Notes

Common Name:  Bluefish
Other Common Names:  blues, snappers, choppers, taylors
Scientific name:  Pomatomus saltatrix
Family:  Pomatomidae
Related Species:  (no close relatives, just similar looking) Cobia, several Jacks

Sizes:  Up to 45lbs, Common 2lbs-20lbs (Gulf of Mexico Blues 1lb-6lbs, Max at 15lbs)
 
 

Habitat:  Coastal Ocean-Smaller blues exist nearly year-round in bays and estruaries from the Chesapeke south to Brazil, while larger blues (3lbs+) are migatory and segregate by size.  North American Bluefish migrate from the  Florida Keys in February, up to Nova Scotia by August, and return to the keys by Late January, leaving each area when the water hits 45-50 F, while in the spring they head north as waters warm to  54-60 degrees F.  Larger fishes will enter bays during their migration and isolated large blues will remain year-round on deep Gulf Stream reefs and Gulf of Mexico reefs.  Gulf of Mexico Blues are substantially smaller than their Atlantic counterparts, and migrate in a less organized fashon, going from the Keys and Cancun north as the water warms above 65 degree F, reversing the migration as the water drops below 55 F, with numerous stragglers.

Spawning Habits:   Not alot is known about their spawning habits but likely they congragate in large spawning aggregations over deep reefs or offshore shelves in Florida, the bahamas, or the carribean in Dec-Feb and the fertilized eggs float feely until hatching, then the little blues migrate into estruaries and bays until the reach 3lbs, and for their own schools segregated by sized.

Feeding Habits:  They make pirahnas look tame when in frenzy!   They are strictly carnivourous.  Smaller blues eat mostly other fishes and squids, with some shrimp.  Larger blues eat fish and squid, especially herring, atlantic mackeral, menhaden, and mullet, but they will consume any fish they can fit into their mouths with one or two bites. They mostly feed in schools, following baitfish and forcing the baitfish onto beaches and into tight balls. They feed at any depth the bait is at, from the surface to 200 feet and more.  They also in frenzy will attack anything that moves or loosely resembles food, often eating until full, regurgitating, then eating again.  Blues, especially smaller blues, will often bite at the tail of a baitfish, first chopping off its tail, and then returning to complete the kill.
 
 

Notes:  A viscous feeder which readily attacks all manner of lures and baits,and strong, blistering fighter make this fish a favorite among anglers.  Once bluefish are located, usually by first locating its food, they are seldom picky.  They can be caught from the surf as they migrate north and caught many bite-offs for winter reef anglers in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.  Smaller bluefish are an important forage for King Mackeral and Blackin Sharks, while larger blues are forage for Bluefin Tuna, Mako Sharks, and Tiger Sharks, which often follow migrating bluefish schools.  When fishing for bluefish over 5 lbs a steel leader is a must due to their rows of extremely sharp teeth (similar to the piranha) and very strong jaws, but for blues below 5 lbs 50lb mono-30lb mono will deter most bite offs. Large blues can be caught by freelining live baits in the 6"-14" range using the party-boat flyline rig, or by trolling plugs or spoons at what ever depth the fish are hitting at.  Blues often crash into the surf during their spring and fall migrations, and a wide variety of plugs, poppers, jigs, and spoons.  Small blues are easy targets for most largemouth bass sized lures.   NOTE WELL: MANY AN ANGLER HAS SUFFERED GREVOUS INJURY BY TRYING TO REMOVE HOOKS WITHOUT A HOOK REMOVER OR PLiERS--WATCH OUT FOR THOSE TEETH!!!