Blues,blues,blues!!!!!!!!!

[Clam Strings]

WELLL THIER BACK....i got my first bite off yesterday wile flounderfishing in the TR.....flounder bite was a little sluggish but the bass and blues kept me active....got word from a local netter he had a dozen in his net to 11lbs all skinny racers and tons of bunker....all released....thier a little erly this year about two weeks....all good signs...later sean

[Fin Rot]

Excellent news, we havent seen any inside down our way or at graveling point

[SharkHart]

How many Blues did you actually land?




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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlLBXHSFQ80

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee7IAgeRM6g

[Reel Class]

wow very early for bluefish, surprising since the water is so cold

[Leif]

I believe it...Caught them this time last year by the Oceanic Bridge.

[Chris G]

ironic that this was posted on 4/1???? :confused:

[Clam Strings]

2 blues 5 bass and few bite offs....all bloodworms on flounder rigs....



sean

[shresearchdude]

were they the big blues???
Usually as soon as I hear of the big blues, that means that the mackeral are near.

[Clam Strings]

most 4-5 lbers....all racers....the net guys are getting some largers ones also..



sean

[Luna Sea 3]

this time a year you can get the HUGE breeders up the Navisink River. They will come in for a few weeks, spawn, then head to the big water.

[Chris G]

I thought blues spawned offshore in the middle of July?? :confused:

[shresearchdude]

they do spawn offshore. my theory is the big fish come in to fatten up and then bail back into the ocean to spawn.

Actually I'll be able to tell you exactly how long the big fish stay in the navesink. Someone is analyzing all that data still, and probably making it very complicated(scientists can be that way)...

[CAPT RALPH]

THEY seam early i would think the water is still a little cold but if so those flounder will be moving fast.

[Luna Sea 3]

Bluefish spawn twice a year. There first spawn is up river. When the adult females move up river, the flounder move out quick. Bluefish spawn for the second time in the open water.. This is there life pattern. The snappers blues you see in the bay in September are the ones that are spawned up river from April/May. They become snapper blue size in Aug/Sept. The racer blues in the 5 lbs range you see in the bay or at the hook this time of year, are the ones that were born in the open water from Mid summer before. They spawn in summer and move out for the winter months and when they come back to our coast, they are at the size you see breaking the water. The spawn in the spring, are spawned up river and become snapper blues in the fall.

[technologist]

Where is TR?

[shresearchdude]

toms river

[FEGO DEL MAR]

Nice info,
I never take fish home, that's why i don't mind fighting those guys all day long
They are lots of fun.

[Tony Cav]

Bluefish spawn offshore in mid summer, as far as I know. Perhaps I stand corrected.

[Luna Sea 3]

They do spawn off shore in mid summer, but they ALSO spawn in April/May. Twice a season.

[Reel Class]

They do spawn off shore in mid summer, but they ALSO spawn in April/May. Twice a season.

never heard this one before... I of course am not a biologist, but if true I never knew that... Where does this spring spawn occur?

[shresearchdude]

Bluefish spawn at least 2X - in spring and late summer. There are additional events of spawning, sometimes you can find the tiny guys from an additional event late into August.
As they are coming up from NC? waters there is spawning going on in the South Atlantic Bight and then it happens in the North Atlantic bight in mid-summer. There is only some evidence of tiny bluefish in the rivers(up by River Plaza), but there are no eggs found anywhere else but offshore NJ waters. You need the eggs to prove where it happened, after they hatch they get swept into our systems.

[Luna Sea 3]

Then I need to ask, why are the 10-15 lbs female breeder bluefish up the Navisink and Shrewsbury river for 2 week or so in April or early May.