Couple of Visitors from NJ

[Captain Rich]

With all the wind and cool weather we are having down here I think these big blues are going to stick around for a while. All of a sudden diamond jigs have become a hot item !

[Gerry Zagorski]

A few months ago we caught some blues fishing a reef off the coast of Sanibel on the Gulf side. My buddy has been fishing there for several years and said it was the first one he's every caught down there.

[Captain Rich]

I know a Miami charter boat that caught them also, now I'm wondering where these fish came from ?? From the Carolinas? NJ ? How far do they migrate in the winter due to cold water ??

[dales529]

Originally Posted by Captain Rich

I know a Miami charter boat that caught them also, now I'm wondering where these fish came from ?? From the Carolinas? NJ ? How far do they migrate in the winter due to cold water ??

Interesting question for sure but I don't think they mind cold waters at all or we wouldn't have had years of Nov / Dec even Jan fishery here in NJ back in the good ole days.

[Ol Pedro]

Originally Posted by dales529

Interesting question for sure but I don't think they mind cold waters at all or we wouldn't have had years of Nov / Dec even Jan fishery here in NJ back in the good ole days.

We have been catching them on the mid shore wrecks fishing for Seabass in December for a few years . I don't think our fish migrate far South but I do think they move offshore.

[Broad Bill]

Originally Posted by Ol Pedro

We have been catching them on the mid shore wrecks fishing for Seabass in December for a few years . I don't think our fish migrate far South but I do think they move offshore.

I've experienced the same. Bluefish have developed a very similar migration pattern as the big weakfish we're seeing offshore in the fall and trends for that matter in the spring / summer. Migrating further offshore could be caused by any number of things but if it's water temp related it would suggest both species are seeking warmer water in deeper depths in the fall as opposed to colder temperatures in shallower inshore waters. Fish don't have to go north in the summer to find water temps condusive to their liking as long as there's ample forage available in deeper cooler local waters.

[dales529]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

I've experienced the same. Bluefish have developed a very similar migration pattern as the big weakfish we're seeing offshore in the fall and trends for that matter in the spring / summer. Migrating further offshore could be caused by any number of things but if it's water temp related it would suggest both species are seeking warmer water in deeper depths in the fall as opposed to colder temperatures in shallower inshore waters. Fish don't have to go north in the summer to find water temps condusive to their liking as long as there's ample forage available as well.

OK but I am going to need for my feeble mind a better explanation on this?
We know that offshore Seabass wreck trips are producing bluefish and sometimes weakfish. This is COLD water fishing in the lower water column for seabass , fish come up cold, bait comes up cold and sinkers come up cold.
Are you saying weakfish and bluefish hit these baits in elevated water column temps that vary by a few degrees in Nov / Dec?
How are they searching for warmer water in deeper depths off shore in this timeframe?
Again I am naive to this but would appreciate more info,
Thanks