When you want a bent rod and a lot of action, bluefish deliver. They travel in ravenous packs, they blitz bait on the surface, and they hit anything that moves, which makes them a perfect target for kids, new anglers, and anyone who just wants to catch fish around Boston and Cape Cod.
Where the fish are
Blues turn up almost anywhere bait does: Boston Harbor and its mouths, the rips and shoals of Nantucket and Vineyard Sound, Buzzards Bay, and out over open bait schools. Watch for diving birds and busting water.
When it is best
Bluefish generally arrive in late spring, feed hard all summer, and stage a strong fall run before heading south. Numbers swing year to year, but when they are around they are rarely hard to find. See the seasonal calendar.
How to catch them
Fast-moving metals, plugs and poppers all draw savage strikes, and topwater is the most fun there is. The one rule: mind the teeth, add a heavy fluorocarbon bite guard or a light wire trace, and use pliers, never your fingers, near the business end.
Tip A bluefish blitz is a great time to put a beginner on fish. The eats are aggressive and forgiving, so hand off the rod and let them feel a chopper pull, it hooks people on fishing for life.
Fish it with a guide
Bluefish are a highlight of many light-tackle trips, and a perfect target for families and first-timers. Reach out to book a trip and we will get you into the action.