The Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, is a migratory fish found up and down the east coast.
The bluefish is a moderately proportioned fish, with a broad, forked tail. The spiny first dorsal fin is normally folded back in a groove, as are its pectoral fins. Coloration is a grayish blue-green dorsally, fading to white on the lower sides and belly. Its single row of teeth in each jaw are uniform in size, knife-edged and sharp. Bluefish commonly range in size from seven inch “snappers” to as much as forty pounds, though fish heavier than twenty pounds (9 kg) are exceptional. The larger fish, over 10 pounds, are called “chopper blues”.
Bluefish usually travel is large schools and will attack a school of bait fish in unison driving the bait to the surface where they become easy prey of both fish and bird. Angler often look for the birds as a sign of where to fish. They have veracious appetites and very sharp teeth.
The smaller ones are used in salads and stews but the larger ones are usually too oily and strong tasting for most pallets.
Blue fish can be caught by with just about any shiny metal lure such as a diamond jig or Gotcha plug.
