Blue Fishing Techniques and Tips

Many a fishing report includes a geographic play of where the stripers are, sadly followed by the reports that, the stripers are at the bottom if you can get through the blues. While I love me some stripers, my adrenaline pumps for the fight of a blue. Soon the blues will be filling up our waterways until the fall. Read on, reader, to find out how to catch a bluefish.

First, a little blue-ology. Bluefish are a bottomless pit of burning hunger, consuming up to twice their weight in baitfish every day. They are the only member of the Pomatomidae family, the Pomatomus saltatrix, or bluefish, has a reputation for being the hardest fighter of any fish its size. The word ‘saltatrix’ means ‘leaper.’ And – they l-e-a-p, leap. A bluefish may dive into the depths, speedily wiz across a sand flat or jump clear out of the surface. It is strong enough to shake its head hard enough to throw a 6-ounce lead jig right back at the angler. Head’s up!

Bluefish often feed in large pods that gorge on schools of bait. When in a feeding frenzy, these voracious choppers will bite anything in their path, including floating soda cans and their own young. When a “blitz,” as this frenzy is know, occurs, a blue will hit almost anything. A soda can, a silver spoon, a sparkly diamond on a woman’s hand … On some occasions, they have even attacked swimmers. Here is the first of some valuable info on catching a blue: Make sure to use a heavy mono or wire leader. These fish have razor sharp teeth that will make cole slaw out of 10 – 15 lb mono or – your hand. Cuidado when getting the hook out of the fish. (It’s best to use pliers or some type of hook remover.)

On to bluefish fishing methods …
1. Chum, chum, chum, chum, CHUM! Chumming from an anchored boat is the most time honored way to fish for blues. Pay out bunker chum to attract fish while dropping pieces of cut bunker on your hook.
2. What’s my m*&%er f@#$ing name? Jigg-ah! Jigging for blues is most effective when there is a large body of fish concentrated in one specific area. Diamond jigs tipped with surgical tubes are dropped to the bottom and reeled up quickly. They can be bounced off the bottom as well. Find out at what depth the blues are picking up the jigs and concentrate your jigging at that depth. Larger fish will be underneath the smaller ones or at the very edge of the school.

3. More on jigging tactics … Some anglers tie 40 inches of 80-pound-test monofilament abrasion leader to their jigs. This setup handles the bluefish on the hook as well as other fish that graze the leader while swiping at the lure. When fishing diamond jigs, it helps to change treble hooks to singles to make unhooking blues simpler and safer, for your hand and the fish’s life. (I often will use a circle hook.) The rod types recommended are medium to medium-heavy action, fast taper, 6-foot graphite boat rods fitted with a medium conventional levelwind reel. The reels should be loaded with 30-pound-test superbraid.

5. Trolling. Trolling tubes, jigs, bunker spoons, plugs and umbrella rigs work fine. This is a highly effective method for locating the blues. Some anglers will first, troll to locate the fish and then anchor or drift in the area with bait. To keep your trolling lures down at the right depth it is necessary to troll with heavy drail sinkers and wire line. Wire line trolling is the most effective. Some anglers also use down riggers.Pick your poison; I gave you lots of methods. You want more? You want to score the big blue? Get out there and fish. 

 

Here are some spots around Ocean City reported to be good for catching bluefish:

-The Route 50 bridge into Ocean City, Md.

-Homer Gudelsky Park