Feeding Frenzy

It’s open season. The bluefish are here, and if you want to know how to catch’em, you’ve come to the right place.

Bluefish are amazing. They’re great fighters, but surprisingly easy to catch. Not to mention, they also make for fine table fare if you know how to prepare them.

Spring and fall are the best seasons to find the big ones, they can weigh 10 pounds and more. Schools of bluefish are plentiful, and make for hours of intense fishing action. So what should you bring to the fight?

What you need is a 7 to 9-foot spinning rod (medium action) along with a 5000-size reel. Load the reel with 15-pound test monofilament. This is perfect if you are casting from a boat or shore. In addition, keep a few surface poppers handy. Add some wire leaders and long-nose pliers, and you’re good to go!
Bluefish tackle

Since the bluefish have really sharp teeth, the wire leaders keep your lure safe from being cut off. Do ensure that your leaders are black, with smaller snaps and swivels. The light hardware will not hinder the action of the lure.

As far as poppers are concerned, 1.5 ounces would do. Color is not important; blues strike poppers of all shades. Just skip and splash repeatedly on the surface when retrieving your lure. That’s not necessary with shiny jigs, as these work well when retrieved below the surface.

The reason for using long-nosed pliers is that they prevent your fingers from bites, or being stuck with the hooks when you are handling the slipper fish.

Finally, while blues are hard, they can provide for excellent seafood if cared for and prepared properly. Bluefish tend to die quickly after being caught, which spoils their meat. So they need to be iced down immediately after they are caught. And before putting a bluefish in the cooler, make sure that they are  gutted or at least bled. This results in a mild-tasting fish.

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