Locating Bluefish

• Look for bluefish feeding on the surface.
  • There may be an oily slick with a distinct smell of fresh chopped cucumber. There may be bait showers of frantic bait fish. With pieces of bait fish scattered about, terns and gulls may be circling and diving for the easy meal. Birds do not dive below the surface when bluefish are on a feeding frenzy. They are very apt to be attacked.
• Bluefish hold near turbulent water either tide rips or other contrasting flows of water. Bluefish are most often down current waiting for food to wash to them.
• Bluefish are usually in deep water during hot weather. Try fishing varying depths to locate the school.
• Snapper Bluefish may be found at Florida inlets and estuaries during the winter months.

• Minimum size limit: 12" to fork of tail.
• Closed season: None
• Daily Bag Limit: 10 per person per day.

Bluefish Food
The bluefish diet consists of fish. In northern climes, menhaden, sand lance eels, and silversides are the bulk of the diet while in the South, mullet, shrimp and other small fry fill the bill. While in deep water during migration, crabs may be an important food source.

Bluefish Flies

Logically, flies for bluefish should suggest their natural food; Fish. Most any fly will work when bluefish are on a feeding rampage. For snapper bluefish, minnow patterns on size 1 - 2 hooks work best. For large bluefish 2/0 - 3/0 is recommended.
Proven colors are: red and white, green, yellow and blue in combimations imitating naturals. Silver flash gets the attention of marauding bluefish.
See Flyshop for productive bluefish fly patterns.

Bluefish Tackle

Flyrod

The one flyrod size to have for saltwater fly fishing is generally considered to be a 9 foot, 9 weight fast action graphite. This rod can be rigged for a wide range of game fish. It has enough back bone to fight large fish and is able to cast larger fly patterns well in windy conditions.
The smaller snapper bluefish encountered in the inshore areas may be effectively taken on a 7 weight rod.

Reels

Reels must be of quality construction, corrosion proof for the saltwater environment, a strong smooth drag system, sufficient capacity to hold the fly line plus 200-300 yards of backing and be sized to match the fly rod. Single action reels are the standard for saltwater fly fishing.

Backing:

250 yards of 30 pound micron or mono.

Line:

Floating weight forward for near surface feeding activity. Sinking level line for casting to chummed fish or for trolling deep. Floating weight forward for trolling the surface.

Leader:

8-9 feet of 17 lb mono. When bluefish are particularly finicky and hard to find, use very fine mono leader. Use plenty of action and prepare to lose flies.

Shock Tippet:

Wire tippet is essential for bluefish because of their sharp teeth. Use the smallest possible wire to lessen the chance of detection by the sometimes leader shy bluefish. Attach the hook to the wire with a haywire twist and use the albright knot to attach the wire to the leader. Heavy mono shock tippet (60 lb) may be used although it will soon fray and break.

Bluefish Methods
During bluefish feeding binges any method will produce catches of bluefish. Fly fishing can be especially effective. When bluefish are being finicky however, patience and experimentation (fishing) is necessary. Stealth is also mandatory as bluefish may be spooked by a fly being dragged across the school.
When fishing from a boat, move up to the feeding activity quietly and work the edges rather than cast to the middle. When the direction of travel is determined, move the boat ahead of the school and let the action overtake you.
When working a tide rip, also keep the boat away from the bluefish as much as possible. Only the fly should reach the school.
Five to eight knots is a good trolling speed for bluefish. Allow the fly to trail the boat by about 100-150 feet.
Chumming while drift fishing is an exceptionally effective method for producing bluefish action. Menhaden is regarded as the chum of choice because of its oily composition which is much preferred by the piscivorus bluefish. Fish the fly in the chum slick.
Drift fishing without chum may also be used to find bluefish by frequently varying the fly, the depth and the retrieve action.
Fly Action
Whatever the method, keep in mind this thought: Keep the fly moving! Bluefish attack bait fish that are fleeing in panic and this action should be imitated. Sometimes the fly should be retrieved quickly upon hitting the water or sometimes allowing it to sink before beginning the retrieve. Repeated casts to the same area may be required to raise the interest of the bluefish.

Bluefish action is best during the low light level of early morning or evening hours as bait fish move to the shallower water.

Bluefish are very adapt at throwing the fly. Get them on the reel quickly as possible, keep a tight line and regain line continuously.

Handling Bluefish
Bluefish have sharp teeth and use them aggressively whether for feeding or attacking careless fisherman. Bluefish will lunge purposely to bite. For this reason, never grab a bluefish by the head. Restrain them solidly and remove the hook with long nose pliers.

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