Bluefish insane this year in comparison to other years why?

[dales529]

Title says it all but if I am correct older posts had blues virtually gone as early as last year. What changed?

[AndyS]

November used to be lights out for monster bluefish, below them were all the striped bass.

[dales529]

November used to be lights out for monster bluefish, below them were all the striped bass.

Coming to a theater near you! Although our Oct trip last year was ALL Stripers 30+Lbs close to home

[bulletbob]

I dunno... Yeah some pretty good reports lately I guess, but years ago, we didn't even need to go on a headboat for blues.. We caught them from April to November right off the beach in Raritan bay, all day every day.. Same in the rivers, off the surf and jetties as well.. While Fluking in the bay or along the beach from May into October they would cause chaos grabbing the rigs as you were drifting, and would pull the rod overboard if you weren't careful. They were everywhere and alwys hungry..Headboats went bluefish chumming EVERY night, not just weekends, and it was nothing to catch 10-15 pounders all night until you just couldn't do it anymore as your arms and back would ache.. They stayed well into November most years too.. yeah, some better reports lately, but no its not like the old days by any means.... bob

[Ol Pedro]

Title says it all but if I am correct older posts had blues virtually gone as early as last year. What changed?

A couple good spawns and good forage conditions . there were plenty of blue fish midshore in December the last couple years. It's not the old days but it is showing promise. We will see if they will be around with the Stripes in November/December.

[jbigtime]

The size of the blues in the pics posted on the reports are what I considered the summer jigging fish back in the 90’s. This time of year was lights out for the big 10-18 pounders. Compared to last year this is a bonanza but nothing compares to the old days. Maybe someday it’ll come back but if the fall bass run is 1/3 of last year I don’t think anyone’s going to complain. I mean beating your personal best striper every trip for 2 months was pretty sweet!

[bulletbob]

. You guys also must remember-The "good old days" of Bluefish were the days when a single striper caught would make all the local fishing reports.. However, the Blues and abundant Weaks made up for it.. now that Stripers are back Weaks are more or less MIA during the fall... Years ago, it was Weakfish under the rampaging Bluefish in fall.. now its Stripers... bob

[Pauls1976]

When I was a kid, used to do the Magic Hour trips on the Fisherman for Blues and Weaks. Tiger Tailing the channels for the Tide Runners. Miss those days!

[AndyS]

It was a shame to see full burlap bags of 12 lb bluefish left behind after all the fares departed the boat.

[1captainron]

When I was a kid, used to do the Magic Hour trips on the Fisherman for Blues and Weaks. Tiger Tailing the channels for the Tide Runners. Miss those days!

Dam, you're showing your age...that was early 80's, seems like yesterday! :)

[Duffman]

I don’t see the uptick in bluefish at all. The spring skinny long runners we used to see every year have been non existent.

The 1 pounders crushing spearing in late Aug into Sept were also sparse.


All these reports of “blues to 12 pounds” are nonsense. I haven’t seen a pic of a blue over 6-7 pounds in a long time.

[reelgood]

Whole month of May we had 30 to 36 inch bluefish on the beaches of LBI almost everyday on bunker chunks meant for bass….A few days we got them good at the Barnegat inlet on the biggest plugs you could find in your bag..haven’t seen that since I’ve lived down here. Once summer came they were gone now it’s been all 2 to 4lb blues in same spots

[AndyS]

Not sure you can base any theories on "this year" 2024 because the upwelling was insane ! Not that I spend a lot of time at the beach over the last few years but since I retired I did spend a lot of time at the beach this year. Day after day greeted by heavy fog and frigid, and I mean obnoxiously cold water. Many families that vacation at the Jersey shore are throwing in the towel and not coming back, they are going to Virginia and North Carolina where they can at least swim in the ocean.

[Lard Almighty]

Many families that vacation at the Jersey shore are throwing in the towel and not coming back, they are going to Virginia and North Carolina where they can at least swim in the ocean.As someone who commutes through Belmar every day, I am in full support of their decision.

[bunker dunker]

nordic eels,tiger tales came later{lol}those were the days

[Skolmann]

Yes there was a good run of #1-3 bluefish this summer that continues to today. However, I remember that from late September thru Thanksgiving there be massive amounts of bluefish over #8 caught daily from the beach and by boat. I don't see that anymore (except a day here & a day there).

Although the past few springs I've had good action with bluefish from #4-12 in the rivers and inlets-I don't hear much about big blues in Raritan Bay in the spring anymore. Used hammer them on both chunks and bunker spoons while bass fishing.

Anyone else recall the Bingle Banana as being the must have bluefish lure ?

[dales529]

Ok as this was a bet with a buddy that any statement even on a good fishery would have conflicting opinions that's settled.:p

No where was it said it was as good as the old days or were poundage per fish mentioned in my original post. it was more about last few years most had bluefish written off completely even with a July spawn NG and this year it has been pretty steady offshore and inshore so it was just a why?

Ole Pedro had the best answer.

[bulletbob]

Ok as this was a bet with a buddy that any statement even on a good fishery would have conflicting opinions that's settled.:p

No where was it said it was as good as the old days or were poundage per fish mentioned in my original post. it was more about last few years most had bluefish written off completely even with a July spawn NG and this year it has been pretty steady offshore and inshore so it was just a why?

Ole Pedro had the best answer.

Yes, I get it, but somewhat better than pretty bad is still not too good. Bluefish numbers are far below the historical norm.

[dales529]

[QUOTE=bulletbob;585618]Yes, I get it, but somewhat better than pretty bad is still not too good. Bluefish numbers are far below the historical norm.

Thanks Bob, agree but again not what the post was about.

[NJ219bands]

Yes there was a good run of #1-3 bluefish this summer that continues to today. However, I remember that from late September thru Thanksgiving there be massive amounts of bluefish over #8 caught daily from the beach and by boat. I don't see that anymore (except a day here & a day there).

Although the past few springs I've had good action with bluefish from #4-12 in the rivers and inlets-I don't hear much about big blues in Raritan Bay in the spring anymore. Used hammer them on both chunks and bunker spoons while bass fishing.

Anyone else recall the Bingle Banana as being the must have bluefish lure ?

Yes 👍 I still have some.

[bunker dunker]

baiting other fisher peeps,when will it end???.there is talk about peeps not getting involved,maybe its because of things like this.ok,maybe someone answers the thread and thinking its a lagit thread to find out it is not??.

[dales529]

baiting other fisher peeps,when will it end???.there is talk about peeps not getting involved,maybe its because of things like this.ok,maybe someone answers the thread and thinking its a lagit thread to find out it is not??.

OK Ed, MY bad and to be honest its still a legit thread as I am curious on why the blues are more abundant this year and the feedback is honest and informative. My apologies leading into the other BS. just my nature to be an a-s I guess. ;)

[bunker dunker]

Dales i really could care less what folks say,i am who i am.all i'm saying is practice what ya preach.

[dales529]

Dales i really could care less what folks say,i am who i am.all i'm saying is practice what ya preach.

All good although confused a little by your response and I believe that I do practice what I say ( I dont preach) as I have been trying to make a difference since I joined this site and still trying. Always spent a lot of time trying to better not only for recs but for the resource.

Stay well and best of luck jigging seabass!

[bunker dunker]

do what you think is right.i just think posting bait is bs,just my opinion.

[dales529]

do what you think is right.i just think posting bait is bs,just my opinion.

OK I extended an apology as well as explaining the post was legit , you obviously want to continue along your path so it is what it is, nothing new in today's lets do everything not to get along society, Be well and fish on

[bunker dunker]

agreed

[Duffman]

This post got odd as hell? What am I missing? Whats going on?

[dales529]

This post got odd as hell? What am I missing? Whats going on?

Nothing to worry about, You starting a new hockey thread soon? Also offer still stands for stripers / sebass Oct 22??

[Duffman]

Nothing to worry about, You starting a new hockey thread soon? Also offer still stands for stripers / sebass Oct 22??

Nothing about this place worries me :D

Can’t do the 10/22. After all the work time I missed lately I’ve got no time off left.

Nah no hockey thread. It’s basically a Bruins and Rangers thread 3 of us post on. Thought there would be more onboard the thread but the Non Fishing section is where threads go to die.

[Brewlugger]

I remember reading long ago about Bluefish disappearing and cyclical abundance. After reading this thread did an internet search and found some interesting articles on the subject referring to a decades long disappearance in the 1700s and again in the 1800s into the early 1900s. Apparently it's an unsolved mystery.

[dales529]

I remember reading long ago about Bluefish disappearing and cyclical abundance. After reading this thread did an internet search and found some interesting articles on the subject referring to a decades long disappearance in the 1700s and again in the 1800s into the early 1900s. Apparently it's an unsolved mystery.

Please send some links to your research online if possible. Many captains I fish with concur about cyclical abundance and agree its still a mystery as far as bluefish. Thanks

[Brewlugger]

Please send some links to your research online if possible. Many captains I fish with concur about cyclical abundance and agree its still a mystery as far as bluefish. Thanks

Article from Marthas Vinyard magazine titled o bluefish where art thou.