Abundance
Not Overfished
Fishing Mortality
Overfishing Not Occuring
Perhaps my favorite DelMarVa fish, Bluefish are famous for vicious strikes, fierce fights, and razor-sharp teeth. When a school of feeding bluefish moves within casting range of the beach, surf fishing can go from quiet to chaotic in a matter of minutes. Birds diving, baitfish spraying from the water, and bluefish slashing through schools of menhaden or mullet are unmistakable signs that one of the most aggressive predators in the Mid-Atlantic has arrived.
Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) are seasonal visitors to the DelMarVa surf zone, generally appearing as coastal waters warm in the spring and remaining available into the fall. Their size can vary tremendously. Small bluefish, commonly called snappers or tailor blues, may weigh only a pound or two, while the large fish traditionally known as chopper blues can exceed 15 pounds. Regardless of size, bluefish are powerful swimmers that strike aggressively and fight hard, often making fast runs and violent changes of direction after being hooked.
The Bluefish has a streamlined, muscular body built for speed and pursuit. Its coloration typically ranges from bluish-green or gray along the back to silvery sides and a lighter belly. The deeply forked tail provides the propulsion needed to chase fast-moving prey. Its most distinctive feature, however, may be its mouth. Bluefish possess a single row of extremely sharp, closely spaced teeth capable of quickly cutting through baitfish—and fishing leaders. Those teeth are one reason wire or heavy abrasion-resistant leaders are commonly used when targeting them.
Bluefish are highly mobile schooling predators whose movements along the DelMarVa coast are strongly influenced by water temperature and the availability of prey. Schools migrate northward along the Atlantic Coast during the spring and generally move south again as coastal waters cool in the fall. Along Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia beaches, their movements often coincide with concentrations of Atlantic menhaden, mullet, bay anchovies, silversides, and other schooling baitfish. When those forage species move close to shore, bluefish may follow them directly into the surf zone, sometimes feeding only yards from the beach.
Fishing Seasons
The months when Bluefish are active in the Delaware surf are closely tied to water temperature, migration patterns, and the movement of baitfish. In the spring, Bluefish generally begin appearing as coastal waters warm, with April through June providing increasing opportunities as schools move north along the Atlantic Coast and into Delaware Bay. Their numbers and size can vary considerably from year to year, with some springs producing runs of large “chopper” Bluefish close to the beach. During the summer, smaller Bluefish often remain available around the surf, inlets, and bays, while many larger fish move into cooler coastal waters farther north. Bluefish activity increases again from September through November as cooling water and the fall migration of baitfish bring schools south along the coast. Mullet, Bunker, Spot, Silversides, and other forage fish can draw aggressively feeding Bluefish directly into the surf zone. For the surf angler, finding the bait is often the key—diving birds, baitfish breaking the surface, and sudden feeding activity close to the beach can signal that a school of Bluefish is nearby.
Surf fishing has a long history in Delaware, with the world record Black Drum being caught from the surf at Cape Henlopen in 1975. Bluefish have also long been one of Delaware’s most exciting surf catches, with schools of these aggressive predators following migrating baitfish along the coast during the spring and fall. At times, feeding Bluefish move remarkably close to shore, giving surf anglers opportunities to experience their vicious strikes and hard-fighting runs directly from the beach. Delaware allows permitted over-sand vehicles in designated surf fishing areas, providing anglers access to miles of coastline and some of the best Bluefish surf fishing opportunities on the DelMarVa Peninsula..
Recreational fishing for Bluefish is regulated in Delaware so make sure to review the state fishing regulations for seasons, creel and size limits before you head out.
The months when Bluefish are active in the Assateague Island, MD surf are closely tied to water temperature, migration patterns, and the movement of baitfish. In the spring, Bluefish generally begin appearing in April and become increasingly common through May and June as warming coastal waters bring schools north along the Atlantic Coast. Some years produce excellent spring runs of large chopper Bluefish, while other years the larger fish may remain farther offshore. During the summer, smaller Bluefish often remain around Assateague’s surf, inlets, and coastal bays, while many larger fish continue north toward cooler waters. Bluefish activity increases again from September through November as cooling water and migrating baitfish bring schools south along the beach. The timing and intensity of these runs can vary considerably from year to year, making water temperature and the presence of bait important indicators of Bluefish activity. For the surf angler, finding the bait is often the key, with Mullet, Bunker, Spot, Silversides, and other forage fish capable of bringing aggressively feeding Bluefish within casting distance of the beach.
Assateague Island, Maryland, is located just south of the Ocean City Inlet and is famous for its wild horses. Renowned for its surf fishing since the 1930s, the island provides excellent opportunities for Bluefish as they migrate along the Atlantic Coast during the spring and fall. Schools of Bluefish follow Mullet, Bunker, Spot, Silversides, and other baitfish along Assateague’s miles of undeveloped shoreline, sometimes driving them directly into the surf and creating fast-paced action within casting range of the beach. Smaller Bluefish may also be caught throughout the warmer months, particularly when bait is abundant. The island is remote and largely undeveloped, allows permitted over-sand vehicles in designated areas, and remains one of the premier surf fishing destinations on the DelMarVa Peninsula.
Recreational fishing for Bluefish is regulated in Maryland, make sure to review the state fishing regulations for seasons, creel and size limits before you head out.
The months when Bluefish are active in the Assateague Virginia surf are closely tied to water temperature, migration patterns, and the movement of baitfish. In the spring, Bluefish generally begin appearing in April and become increasingly common through May and June as warming coastal waters bring schools north along the Atlantic Coast. Some years can produce excellent runs of large chopper Bluefish, particularly when concentrations of bait move close to the beach. During the summer, smaller Bluefish often remain around Assateague’s surf, inlets, and coastal bays, while many larger fish continue north toward cooler waters. Bluefish activity increases again from September through November as cooling water and migrating baitfish bring schools south along the coast. The timing and intensity of these runs can vary considerably from year to year, making water temperature and the presence of bait important indicators of Bluefish activity. For the surf angler, finding the bait is often the key, with Mullet, Bunker, Spot, Silversides, and other forage fish capable of bringing aggressively feeding Bluefish within casting distance of the beach.
Assateague Island, Virginia, is located east of Chincoteague Island, famous for its annual Pony Penning, and has been known for its surf fishing since the 1920s, when large Red Drum helped establish the island’s reputation among surf anglers. Today, Bluefish are a popular catch along its undeveloped Atlantic shoreline, particularly during the spring and fall migrations when schools follow Bunker, Mullet, Spot, Silversides, and other baitfish along the coast. At times, feeding Bluefish push bait directly into the surf, creating exciting opportunities for anglers fishing from the beach. Smaller Bluefish may also provide action throughout the warmer months. The island allows permitted over-sand vehicles in designated areas, providing access to miles of undeveloped shoreline and some of the best surf fishing on the DelMarVa Peninsula.
Recreational fishing for Bluefish is regulated in Virginia, make sure to review the state fishing regulations for seasons, creel and size limits before you head out.
The months when Bluefish are active in the Back Bay, Virginia, surf are closely tied to water temperature, migration patterns, and the movement of baitfish. In the spring, Bluefish begin moving north along the Virginia coast as coastal waters warm, with April through June providing opportunities as schools follow concentrations of baitfish along the beach. Some years can produce excellent spring runs of large chopper Bluefish, particularly when Bunker and other forage move close to shore. During the summer, smaller Bluefish may remain along the Virginia coast, while many larger fish continue north toward cooler waters. The fall migration brings another opportunity as cooling water temperatures and migrating baitfish draw Bluefish south along the coast, with September through November generally providing the best fall action from the Back Bay surf. The timing and intensity of these runs vary from year to year, making water temperature and the presence of bait important indicators of Bluefish activity. For the surf angler, finding the bait is often the key, with Mullet, Bunker, Spot, Silversides, and other forage fish capable of bringing aggressively feeding Bluefish within casting distance of the beach.
Located just south of Sandbridge, a quiet coastal neighborhood in the southern part of Virginia Beach, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge includes miles of fishable Atlantic beach extending toward the North Carolina border. Its remote, undeveloped shoreline provides opportunities for Bluefish during their spring and fall migrations, particularly when schools of Mullet, Bunker, Spot, and other baitfish move along the beach. Feeding Bluefish can sometimes push these baitfish directly into the surf, putting fast-moving schools within casting range of shore anglers. Back Bay is a National Wildlife Refuge, so make sure to review current refuge access requirements and obtain any required permits before heading out.
Recreational fishing for Bluefish is regulated in Virginia, make sure to review the state fishing regulations for seasons, creel and size limits before you head out.
Migration
Bluefish migrate northward along the Mid-Atlantic coast each spring as coastal waters warm and schools of baitfish become increasingly abundant. Their movements are strongly influenced by water temperature and the availability of prey, with Bluefish following Atlantic menhaden, herring, silversides, anchovies, and other forage fish. During the spring migration, schools can move close to the beaches of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, sometimes creating intense feeding activity within casting distance of surf anglers.
During the summer, many larger Bluefish continue northward into cooler waters, while smaller Bluefish commonly remain in Mid-Atlantic coastal waters, bays, and inlets. These smaller fish can provide consistent summer action along the DelMarVa coast, particularly where tidal currents concentrate baitfish. The distribution of larger fish can vary considerably from year to year depending on water temperatures and the location of their preferred forage.
As autumn progresses and coastal waters cool, Bluefish begin moving southward along the Atlantic Coast. Their migration often coincides with the fall movement of Mullet, Bunker, Spot, Silversides, and other baitfish along the beaches. Schools of Bluefish may pursue this forage directly into the surf zone, sometimes producing spectacular feeding frenzies. The timing and intensity of the fall run varies from year to year, making water temperature, concentrations of baitfish, and feeding birds valuable indicators that Bluefish may be within reach of DelMarVa surf anglers.
Water Temperature Tolerance
Bait
Finger Mullet
Finger Mullet are common throughout the DelMarVa bays, inlets, and shallow coastal waters during the summer. As water temperatures begin to cool in late summer and early fall, schools of Finger Mullet leave the bays and move through the inlets and south along the beaches of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. This annual bait migration can put them directly in the path of southbound Striped Bass, making fresh Finger Mullet an excellent fall surf bait. Fish them whole for larger Stripers or cut them into chunks to release more scent into the surf. They work well on either a fish finder or high-low rig when migrating Stripers are feeding along the beach.
Spot
As the water warms from the upper 50s into the 60s, Spot move into the surf, usually from late May into June, and remain through the warmer months. Stripers readily feed on Spot, making them an excellent natural bait when the two species overlap. They can be particularly useful during the fall migration as Stripers move south along the coast feeding on available baitfish. Chunks, fillets, and full heads are all good offerings, with larger pieces providing an excellent bait for targeting bigger Stripers.
Bunker
In early spring, Atlantic Menhaden, commonly called Bunker, begin making their way north along the coast and into the bays and estuaries of the DelMarVa. They make the trek again in the fall as schools move south for the winter, often attracting feeding Stripers along the way. Bunker is one of my favorite natural baits for Striped Bass, with chunks, fillets, and full heads all making excellent offerings. Bunker flesh is soft and falls apart quickly after death, so get fresh bait whenever possible. You won’t go wrong using bait thread to keep it on the hook, especially when using frozen bait or making a distance cast.
Rigs
The Fireball Rig is the classic Bluefish rig and has been around for decades. The rig is usually made from wire or high gauge monofilament to protect against bite offs which are common with this toothy fish. The rig includes a float, usually brightly colored red or yellow, on each snell to keep the bait off the bottom as well as attract the attention of the fish. Unlike Drum and Striped Bass rigs, J hooks are common for Bluefish rigs as gut hooking is less common. The rig works particularly well with Bunker, Spot, Finger Mullet. The rig is generally easy to cast and will hold up well in moderately heavy currents. Bluefish tend to strike bait from behind, so if you’re fishing whole Finger Mullet, make sure to hook your bait through the back. It can be very frustrating to get a hit only to realize that all of your bait except the head is gone.
The Bluefish Three-Way Swivel Float Rig is similar in concept to the Fish Finder Rig, but the leader and sinker are fixed in place at the three-way swivel rather than allowing the main line to slide freely. A large orange or yellow float keeps the bait suspended above the bottom, making it more visible to Bluefish cruising through the surf and helping keep it away from crabs and other bottom feeders. The leader is generally made from wire to prevent bite-offs from a Bluefish’s razor-sharp teeth and typically uses a larger J-hook and float than the smaller Fireball Rig. This is a classic surf-fishing rig that has been used for decades and remains an excellent choice when targeting large chopper Bluefish with cut bait in the surf.
Tactics
I’ve caught Bluefish using a variety of tactics, and one of the things that makes fishing for them so exciting is how quickly the action can begin. A quiet stretch of surf can suddenly erupt when a school of Bluefish pushes bait toward the beach. Sunrise and sunset are often productive, but during the spring and fall migrations, actively feeding fish can appear at almost any time of day. Changing tides can also trigger feeding activity as moving water concentrates bait around cuts, sloughs, points, sandbars, and inlets.
Place your baits in cuts through the bars or in the deeper water of a slough, but don’t overlook the water immediately beyond the shore break. Bluefish chasing bait will often feed surprisingly close to the beach. Watch for diving birds, baitfish jumping from the water, nervous water, or visible surface strikes. When Bluefish are actively feeding, casting into or along the edge of the feeding school with metal lures, spoons, plugs, or other fast-moving artificials can be extremely effective. When fishing bait, fresh Mullet, Bunker, or other oily baitfish are excellent choices. Adjust the size of your bait or lure to match the forage the Bluefish are feeding on.
Bluefish have extremely sharp teeth, so your terminal tackle deserves special attention. Wire leaders are commonly used when targeting them and can greatly reduce bite-offs. Rigs incorporating floats can also help keep your bait above the bottom and make it more visible to cruising fish. Check leaders frequently because even when they don’t bite completely through them, Bluefish can quickly damage or weaken your tackle.
Once hooked, Bluefish are fast, powerful fighters capable of sudden runs and violent changes of direction. Keep steady pressure on the fish while allowing your drag to absorb its strongest runs. As the fish reaches the shore break, use the incoming waves to help bring it onto the beach rather than trying to overpower it. Once landed, take particular care around the mouth—a Bluefish’s razor-sharp teeth can cause a serious injury, and even a fish lying on the sand can suddenly snap its jaws.
Slough
Sloughs, sometimes called troughs, are the deeper water between sandbars. Bluefish use these troughs as travel and feeding lanes, often moving rapidly along the beach while pursuing schools of baitfish. There may be several sloughs off the beach, with the first starting immediately behind the shore break and additional ones between each sandbar. Often we can only see the first sandbar, with the outer bars hidden beneath the water. They are there. Place your bait near the middle of the slough, along the inside or outside edge of a sandbar, or just behind the shore break where Bluefish may be chasing Mullet, Bunker, Spot, and other baitfish. Don’t assume that longer casts are always better—actively feeding Bluefish can come remarkably close to shore. As you build your distance-casting skills, reaching the second slough provides another opportunity to intercept schools traveling along the beach, particularly when baitfish are holding farther offshore.
Rip Current
The Rip Current may be one of the most productive structures on the DelMarVa’s sandy beaches for Bluefish. A cut in the sandbars allows water to funnel back out to sea, carrying baitfish and other forage swept along by the surf. Bluefish frequently patrol this moving water, using the current to locate and attack baitfish concentrated in and around the rip. The head at the seaward end of the rip, the shoulders where the rip passes through the sandbars, and the center of the rip itself are all good places to present a bait or work a lure. Pay particular attention to diving birds, breaking bait, or surface activity around the rip, and work its different sections until you locate the Bluefish.
Length to Weight
Ever wonder how much that fish weighed after you’ve caught, measured and released it. Here’s a helpful dashboard for looking up your fish’s weight based on its length.
“He said to them, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”
John 21:6
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Tackle Shops
Captain Steve’s Bait and Tackle
Family owned and operated, this is the best bait and tackle shop when you’re fishing the Virginia Side of Assateague Island. Fresh in season bait as well as plenty of frozen bait, a full inventory of surf fishing tackle and brand name rods and reels.
Sea Hawk Sports Center
Located on Rout 13 in Pocomoke, MD just before the Virginia state line, this family owned and operated bait and tackle is a great stop on your way to Assateague Island, VA. Fresh in season bait as well as plenty of frozen bait, a full inventory of surf fishing tackle and brand name rods and reels.
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