Bluefish Feeding Frenzy

[Gerry Zagorski]

Yes they are

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by DEEP POCKETS

Thanks for the report Gerry, it's amazing how many bluefish are around now. I have to get my boys out to experience the fun👍🏻

You need to do that Deep!! So does everyone else who wants their kids to have a lifetime of memories.

[O'Connor]

Bluefish are a wonderful gamefish. I used to curse them on occasion if I hooked a big one while plugging the surf as they were murder to get off trebles on a bomber plug, pencil popper etc. I can tell you one thing there is nothing out here in California which is so widely available as blues. They fight hard, get fairly big and are east to catch most days. NJ fisherman are truly blessed to have them. I wish I appreciated them more when I lived back east.

[tombanjo]

Thinking about the difference in the fight.

Stripers are elegant fighters, they play by the "rules." The big ones try to win by using their sheer weight & power against you until they give up, surface and come along peacefully.

Bluefish? Heh. Well, you've seen those UFC cage matches, right? They'll do anything to win and that includes in and out of the water on the deck.

[Sharkyispy]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Just a quick word of caution for you first time Blue Fisherman...

These fish have razor sharp teeth so you want to be really careful when you go to get them off the hook. They also see pretty well out of the water and like to trash around.

A pair of long nose pliers or a hook remover is your best bet.

And one more thing..... Please just keep what your are going to use and leave the rest to fight another day. If you are keeping them for the table, they taste better if you bleed them as soon as they are caught and keep them on ice.

First real trip out into ocean here in NJ in the 80's, took my younger brother out fishing and found a boat driving into Point Pleasant. Happened to also be the Cock Robin. Growing up and Fishing in upstate NY for Bass, Pike, Musky, etc and Huge Trout on the lakes, really had no idea about the fishery in Atlantic other than a trip to Cape Cod as a kid. Rented rods, got out to the spot where the boat set up and we get into a flurry of these fish called Bluefish. It was an all out blitz, drop a chunk, let it drop, wait for the bait to disappear in the clear water and fish on. Real up the fish, get it over the rail and go to take the hook out.....First time blue fisherman here now mind you.........the seasoned gentleman next to us screeeeems at me! What the F%#@ are you doing??? Don't you know those fish have teeth and will rip your finger off???? I said dumbly " no".....he handed us a pair of pliers to use for the day and we made a friend. Still have his picture in the background and saw him some years later.... Anyway, Gerry, great advice that some may not know and especially for the kids.....Not really a bluefish person but fun to catch and heading out today to mess around with them until we can find some bass to toy with! Sounds like the current blitz is a good one, especially considering last year when we had to scrounge to find them at one point!