specie profile: bluefish

[hareball]

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION

 The bluefish has a nearly worldwide range in temperate and tropical waters around continental shelves and estuaries.  It is absent only from the northern and central Pacific Ocean.  In the Western Atlantic, it occurs from Nova Scotia south through Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, including Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and northern Cuba (Oliver et al. 1989; Pottern et al. 1989)


Age, Size, Lifespan:

Pomatomus saltatrix grows to a maximum size of 130 cm TL (4.3 feet) (Randall 1995), and a maximum weight of 14.4 kg (31.7 pounds) (Intl. Game Fish Assoc. 1991).   They live approximately 9 - 11 years.  Males and females grow at approximately the same rates (Richards 1976)

Two distinct stocks of bluefish occur along the Atlantic coast of the U.S.  One stock spawns in late summer in the waters of the continental shelf between Cape Cod and Cape Hatteras, NC.  The other spawns in early spring along the edge of the Gulf Stream between North Carolina and northern Florida.  The stocks are physically distinguished using multivariate morphometric analyses and by differences in growth patterns on the scales.  (Lassiter 1962;  Kendall and Walford 1979).  Yearlings of the spring-spawning group, when compared to the summer-spawning group, were shown to have somewhat larger heads, eyes, pectoral fins and longer maxillae; and relatively shorter dorsal, anal, and ventral fins (Wilk 1977).  There is also a Gulf of Mexico stock that is apparently somewhat less migratory than those that occur along the eastern seaboard.  However, genetic analysis revealed that Gulf of Mexico bluefish mix at least occasionally with those in south Florida such that they can be considered as one stock (Graves et al. 1993)
Bluefish travel offshore in large schools following schools of baitfishes and other smaller prey species.  Juveniles also school in large numbers, but tend to remain in shallow coastal waters or in estuaries.  They later migrate in fall and winter to join adults offshore for migration to Florida waters.


Reproduction Size: Pomatomus saltatrix mature sexually during the second year upon reaching approximately 35 - 45 cm (1.15 – 1.48 feet) fork length (FL), with males maturing somewhat earlier than females (Wilk 1977).  Fecundity of 3-4 year old females ranged from 0.6 – 1.4 million eggs (Lippson and Moran 1974).


Habitats:
Bluefish are a migratory, pelagic species that are dependent on both continental shelf waters and estuaries for spawning and nursery areas respectively.  Adults are found at depths of 2 – 200m (6.6 – 219 feet).  In inshore areas, they tend to be most common along high energy beaches, but can also be common in estuaries and, sometimes, in brackish water areas.  Small fish are common in shallow coastal waters where depths exceed 2m (6.6 feet).

REFRENCE: http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLSpec/Pomatom_saltat.htm




please share your tricks and tips for rigs and baits.

[IrishAyes]

Man, I gotta get me a dictionary. They got some big words in there. 

Nice post hareball.  You gotta know your target to hit it.  Gather all the information you can and use it to your advantage.

Wire leaders, sturdy tackle for the big uns and hold on tight.

[ped579]

Great article hareball, thanks for sharing.

Paul

[hareball]

happy to help out when on dry land! I know info like this is very helpful in the aquarium hobby for keeping fish so it's gotta be worth something for hunting them down

[NJetty]

specie profile: bluefish

God's gift to fishermen! 

[Ruger314]

They can always save a bad day of bass fishing?? Always a blasts on lite tackle..

[hareball]

 

[Luna Sea 5]

 

[ped579]

  raise ya 

[CAPT. JOHN K.]

My life's dream is to latch on to a 50# blue fish just to experience the fight. I know they don't grow that big, but, I can dream can't I. Pound for pound they have to be the hardest fighting fish we're able to encounter in this area on a daily basis. Is tomorrow the day my dream comes true? Hmmmmm!
             
                   Capt. John K.

[Luna Sea 5]

Bluefish are always good to catch, especially when they are 10 lbs and over... 

[hareball]

non stop action and great fights

[Kick your bASS]

My life's dream is to latch on to a 50# blue fish just to experience the fight. I know they don't grow that big, but, I can dream can't I. Pound for pound they have to be the hardest fighting fish we're able to encounter in this area on a daily basis. Is tomorrow the day my dream comes true? Hmmmmm!
             
                   Capt. John K.

50#'s could be possible, The profile is at 31.7 pounds but that only b/c you haven't caught yours yet to prove them wrong. Keep you line wet, your day may come. At one point in time I am sure giant squid were just folklore.

They only