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For the text editor, see Bluefish (text editor). The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), called tailor in Australia, is a species of popular marine game-fish found in all climates. It is the sole species of the Pomatomidae family.
Description The bluefish is a moderately proportioned fish, with a broad, forked tail. The spiny first dorsal fin is normally folded back in a groove, as are its pectoral fins. Coloration is a grayish blue-green dorsally, fading to white on the lower sides and belly. Its single row of teeth in each jaw are uniform in size, knife-edged and sharp. Bluefish commonly range in size from seven inch (18 cm) "snappers" to as much as forty pounds (18 kg), though fish heavier than twenty pounds (9 kg) are exceptional. Distribution and habitat Bluefish are migratory marine fish, found worldwide in tropic and temperate seas, except for the eastern shores of the Pacific. On the western side of the Atlantic, their range is from Argentina to Nova Scotia. They are found off Africa, and in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Bluefish are generally found in bays and sandy bottomed near-shore waters. Migrating fish may be encountered in as much as 200 foot (60 m) depths. Depending on conditions such as water temperature and atmospheric preassure, bluefish may be found nearly anywhere in the water column, from just above the bottom to just below the surface. United States migration patterns Bluefish are found off Florida in the winter months. By April, they have disappeared, heading north. By June, they may be found off Massachusetts; in years of high abundance, stragglers may be found as far north as Nova Scotia. By October, they leave New England waters, heading south. Life history Bluefish larvae are the size of zooplankton and are largely at the mercy of currents. Spent bluefish have been found off east central Florida, migrating north. As with most marine fish, their spawning habits are not well known. In the western side of the North Atlantic, there are at least two populations, separated by Cape Hatteras in North Carolina. The Gulf Stream can carry larvae spawned to the south of Cape Hatteras to the north, and eddies can spin off, carrying the larvae into populations found off the coast of the mid-Atlantic, and the New England states. The bluefish population is highly cyclical, with abundance varying widely over a span of ten years or more. Feeding habits Bluefish are voracious, predatory fish. Depending on area and season, they favor menhaden and other sardine-like fishes (Clupeidae), jacks (Scombridae), weakfish (Sciaenidae), grunts (Haemulidae), striped anchovies (Engraulidae), shrimp and squid. They should be handled with care due to their ability to snap at an unwary hand. In July 2006, a 7 year-old girl was attacked on a beach, near the Spanish town of Alicante, allegedly by a bluefish. Luckily, even though she was seriously mauled and left in critical condition, her life was not at risk. * Bluefish are cannibalistic. For this reason, bluefish tend to swim in schools of similarly-sized specimens. Gear and methods Bluefish are an important recreational and commercial fish. Sport fishing Sport fishermen prize bluefish for their fighting ability and cooperativeness, plus the fact that they make tasty table fare. When hooked, bluefish display their dogged strength by making numerous fast runs and an average of 5 acrobatic leaps. Baits Bluefish eagerly take a wide variety of fresh baits. Live or cut menhaden, mullet, mackerel, spearing, killifish, eels, squid, shrimp, ladyfish pieces, or similar baitfish are all productive, especially when matched to whatever bluefish may be primarily feeding on at the time. Bluefish eagerly take artificial baits as well. Either trolled or cast with a fast retrieve, shiny spoons and the full range of bright-colored plugs, jigs, plus fluorescent-colored tube lures are all effective. Noisy surface lures at dawn or dusk near a sharp dropoff or in shallow water are also productive, which many fisherman find adds to the excitement as a bluefish attacks their lure on the surface. Bluefish will occassionaly "skyrocket"--leap out of the water before landing on and attacking a top water lure or live bait fished at the surface--a spectacular sight for most fishermen. Little skill is needed to hook a bluefish when a school is in a feeding frenzy. They will ravenously strike any natural bait or shiny lure--even a shiny coin tossed into the water. Tackle Medium-light to medium weight spinning or baitcasting rigs are standard. 8 to 12 pound test line is common when targeting bluefish in the 1 to 3 pound range, while 20 pound test and larger tackle may be the choice when targeting larger specimens such as pictured above. Fishermen typically present natural baits on a size 3/0 or 4/0 hook, sometimes followed by a smaller "stinger" hook, attached to a wire tippet followed by 2 to 4 feet of 50 to 80 pound monofilament leader. Larger hooks are appropriate for larger baits and bluefish. Some instead choose a heavy monofilimant leader and long-shank hook, which usually avoids the bluefish's sharp teeth. Artificial baits are presented similarly. Some adventuresome anglers target bluefish with flyrods tipped with large, brightly-colored and tinsel-lined streamers or surface poppers. Due to their schooling and feeding habits, bluefish are among the easier ocean-faring targets for those sporting heavy fly tackle. Commercial fishing Commercially, bluefish in the one to two pound range are taken with gill nets at night over sandy shallows. Edibility Although a commercially important fish, bluefish are somewhat oily and strong flavored. To minimize any "fishy" taste, they should be gutted, iced promptly, and eaten fresh. If the fish is not quickly taken care of in this way, the meat will rapidly deteriorate, becoming soft and mushy and assuming a steadily greyer pigmentation. Younger bluefish are actually the best for eating. Whatever the size, the dark red meat which is more strongly flavored may be filleted out, leaving the grayish-blue hued white flesh behind. Larger bluefish are often smoked, which is also the generally prefered preparation method for bluefish of all sizes in the northeast. As a migratory fish near the top of the food chain, bluefish can accumulate many toxins in their system ranging from PCPs to mercury. As with most fish of such nature, they should not be consumed by pregnant or nursing women. Other uses Bluefish are often caught and used as live bait for tuna, shark, or billfish. Similar Species Bluefish are the only members now included in the Pomatomidae family. At one time, gnomefishes were once included but these are now in grouped in a separate family Scombropidae. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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