Beginner-Friendly Inshore Fishing | Victory Charters

Bluefish

Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) Fish Description

Bluefish is a common game fish that is known for its delicious taste. Bluefish is a warm-water migratory species living in the Atlantic Ocean from Nova Scotia to Argentina and Spain to southern Africa. In South Africa, the Bluefish is known as Shad or Elf; in New Zealand and Australia, it is called Tailor. Bluefish are seasonal visitors to Cape Cod waters, arriving in mid-June and remaining until mid-October. They spend the winter in warmer waters from North Carolina to Florida's tip.

The Bluefish has a moderately proportioned body; one of its distinctive features is its broad and corked tail and its spiny first dorsal and pectoral fins that are usually folded back in a grove. The Bluefish is generally grayish to blue-green in its dorsal area, whereas its belly and lower sides fade to white.

It is a voracious predator with a large mouth and flat, triangular teeth that are strong, sharp, and prominent teeth.

Bluefish Diet

As aggressively strong feeders, the Bluefish have a complex menu of prey. They can chase after schools of forage fish owing to their fast swimming speed. They usually go on a feeding frenzy by attacking these schools of fish even after having satisfied their stomachs. They especially like sardine-like fish, Menhaden, Weakfish, Grunt, Anchovy, Squid, and Shrimp. In return, the Bluefish serve as food for bigger fish like Dolphin, Billfish, Sharks, and Tuna, among others.

Bluefish Size

Commonly, the Bluefish can grow up to 7 inches; they weigh up to 40 lbs. However, most of the Bluefish population reaches only up to 20 lbs.

Interesting Facts About the Bluefish 

• The Bluefish is the only remaining living species from the Pomatomidae family. It used to be grouped with Gnomefish, but the latter were separated.
• Lophar miocaenus from Southern California is an extinct relative of the Bluefish from the Late Miocene Period.
• Bluefish are reported to live up to 9 years.
• The Bluefish are cannibalistic, and they sometimes eat their own young.
• The Bluefish are known for churning water like a washing machine, attacking schools in shallow depths. This is called “Bluefish Blitz.”
• Bluefish is a common host to many parasites; in particular, it is often inhabited by the parasite named Philometra saltatrix, which is found in the ovaries of the fish.
• Despite being high in omega-3, children and adult women are warned against consuming Bluefish due to its significant mercury content.
• When properly prepared, bluefish is extremely good to eat, with mild, flaky meat, though larger fish (those weighing more than 10 pounds) have a stronger flavor than their smaller brethren.

Bluefish — Fishing Techniques

To reel in lots of Bluefish, you can use the following harvesting methods: trawls, hook and line, and gillnet. Note that you can only use a circle hook and nothing else; recreational anglers can only capture up to three pieces of Bluefish per day (no minimum size). As for artificial lures or flies, you can use only up to a maximum of two treble hooks. Be careful when handling Bluefish since they can bite you, leading to some serious wounds. Oily fish, such as eels, make excellent bait for bluefish. However, almost any type of baitfish can be used. When learning how to catch bluefish, another option is to use cut bait. Try chunks shaped like a small lure.

You can best fish for Bluefish from tidal rivers, bays, and sandy harbors during summer. In late summer, small, juvenile bluefish known as "baby blues" or "snappers" can be caught in sandy harbors, bays, and tidal rivers. This is an excellent fish for young and inexperienced anglers to catch. Bluefish are frequently caught using gillnets in the commercial bluefish fishery, but they can also be nabbed using a hook, line, or trawl gear.

A permit must be secured to catch Bluefish in commercial fisheries. Some states also impose a specific catch limit for commercial and recreational fishing.

Bluefish Habitat and Distribution

As a marine pelagic fish species, the Bluefish generally inhabit subtropical and temperate waters all around the globe. Most thrive along the continental shelves of America (except in northern South America and south Florida), Australia, and Southeast Asia. Interestingly, the Bluefish is also not found on the north side of the Pacific Ocean.

Typically, anglers find school of Bluefish in various habitats, including brackish waters, estuaries, rock headlands, surf beaches, or above the continental shelf. From time to time, the Bluefish migrate to open waters in schools.

Bluefish fishery management employs a bag limit for recreational fishing and an annual quota distributed to states for commercial fisheries to avoid overfishing.

Cobia

Cobia (Rachycentron Canadum) Fish Description

The Cobia is a dark brown fish with a lighter belly. They have a single dorsal fin, which makes them often mistaken for sharks. Juvenile Cobia has distinctive colorings with black and white stripes and orange, bronze, and green splashes. They are the only member of their family, Rachycentriade, in North America. 

The Cobia are able to reproduce when they are relatively young. Females mature at age 3, and males mature at age 2. Cobia spawning from June to August in the Southeast US and later, August to October, in the Gulf of Mexico. They spawn in coastal bays and estuaries several times throughout their spawning season. Females release amazingly up to 2 million eggs each time they spawn. 

Size and Weight

An average adult Cobia reaches 6 feet and 100 pounds. The largest cobia to ever be caught on a rod and reel was in SharkBay Australia and weighed 135 pounds. They live up to 12 years. 

Cobia Interesting Facts 

The Cobia, being excellent table fare, is prized for its firm texture and excellent flavor. It is a very important fish in the seafood industry. Cobia is usually a solitary fish and is not found in schools. Except for spawning, they remain spread out and don't concentrate together very often. Because of the Cobia's solitary nature, commercial fishing doesn't target them, and all fish used in the commercial food industry is farm-raised and fairly expensive in price. Cobia is strong, aggressive predators, mainly feeding on crustaceans but will also eat smaller fish and squid. Larger pelagic fish prey on young Cobia. The Cobia can inhabit a wide range of temperatures and salinities. The Cobia closely resembles its cousin, the Remora Fish(or more commonly known as Suckerfish or Sharksucker). However, its body is much more stout, and it lacks the dorsal sucker like that of the Remora species. 

Habitat and Distribution

Cobia can be found on reefs, wrecks, buoys, harbors, or other structural sanctuaries. While overwhelmingly pelagic (inhabiting the upper layers of the ocean), it can, at times, be found in estuaries and mangroves in search of prey on which to feed. Though Cobia is commonly found at depths of 30 feet or less, they can also be found in waters as deep as 300 feet, particularly in places like offshore oil rigs. 

Cobia Distribution Cobia is most abundant from Virginia to the Gulf of Mexico. They migrate seasonally. In the Atlantic, they move south and offshore toward warmer waters during the late fall and winter. The Cobia that is found in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico during the summer months moves to south Florida waters, including the Florida Keys. 

Cobia can be found in the warm temperate and tropical waters of the Caribbean sea, the eastern Atlantic Ocean, and off the coasts of Australia, the Indian Ocean, and Japan's Pacific coast.

Fishing For These Fish

During the spawning season and spring migration, fishermen normally target Cobia in the water depth around 30-70 feet. They are found generally by sight fishing, seeing the fish just below or on the water's surface. After the spring spawning migration, anglers target cobia reefs and other structures that they use summer haunts. Look for rip lines or current breaks created by the structure as well, as these are the places that will harbor the fish. 

Cobia can be caught on various lures such as crankbaits, topwater, jigs, and imitation eel baits. However, bucktail jigs are probably the most popular lure to target them, especially if they are holding around areas like reefs. The color really doesn't seem to matter despite what some anglers might think, and all colors will catch this fish. Jigs should be around the 4 to 8 oz. mark for weight, but don't be afraid to experiment with smaller jigs. 

Spanish Mackerel

Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) 

Often found both coasts of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, the Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) is a favorite fishing target for both recreational and commercial fishers. It can be easily identified with its long, streamlined body, silvery color with a dark greenish top, and yellowish oval spots scattered on its sides. They are speedy swimmers and can often be seen in large groups or schools. They also migrate from the northern part of the Atlantic coast to as far south as Mexico during winter. They can, however, be found in pretty much every ocean in the planet.

Spanish Mackerels are carnivores and usually prey on prey mainly on herring, menhaden, sardines, mullet, needlefish, and anchovy and, sometimes, even on shrimp, crabs, and squid. On the other hand, same as their close relatives like tuna and other mackerels, they are preyed upon by dolphins, sharks, and of course, humans.

The Spanish Mackerel is a highly valued fish for both sports fishers and commercial fishers because of its tasty meat that can be cooked by grilling, frying, baking, and even by smoking. It’s also a popular fish in Japan and other countries as it can be eaten raw as sushi.

Interesting Facts About Spanish Mackerel

• The biggest Spanish Mackerel ever caught measures a little over six feet long and weighs about one hundred and twenty pounds.
• Angler Doug Buhagiar with the help of his brother caught the humongous fish on the beach on Fraser Island off Australia’s eastern Queensland coast.
• Spanish Mackerels are one of the fastest swimmers in the ocean, clocking at about 5.5 meters per second on average.
• They swim in large groups or schools that can stretch up to 20 miles.
• They can live up to twenty-five years in the wild.
• As with other mackerel species, Spanish Mackerels are often caught for food.
• They can be cooked in various methods, including: baking, grilling, steaming, smoking, poaching, and frying.
• The Spanish Mackerel is also a popular sushi fish.
• They are a source of omega-3 fatty acids in human diet.
• High human consumption meant high demand for the fish, thus, led to overfishing and a significant fish population decline over the past few decades.
• Fishing restrictions were made to help repopulate oceans with this particular fish species.
• Annual catch limits are divided between the commercial and recreational fishers in both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
• Minimum size restrictions are also placed to provide the species time to mature and spawn.
• Since the regulations, Spanish Mackerel populations have significantly improved.
• Females can lay 500,000 to 1.5 million eggs throughout the spawning season.
• Their eggs float in the water because they contain oily drops.
• For fertilization, the eggs merge with sperm cells that are released by males.

Spanish Mackerel Average Speed and Size

Clocking in on average at 5.5 meters per second, the Spanish mackerel is one of the fastest and most agile fish species in the ocean. They can also mature and grow really fast, reaching their full maturity in just two years. An adult measures about one to two feet in length and weighs around eight to eleven pounds.  

Where to Find Them

Many successful anglers have caught Spanish Mackerels by trolling or drifting on boats. Others have also been successful fishing on piers, jetties, and beaches by casting spoons and jigs and live-bait fishing. They can often be found in large schools swimming near the surface of the water. Although, this fish live mainly in tropical and subtropical waters, it can sometimes be seen in temperate waters as well.

Spanish Mackerel Fishing Tips

If you’re going to be fishing offshore, look around structures in the open waters where schools of Spanish Mackerels are often seen. Just make sure to drift to the area where they are so as not to spook the school of fish away. For nearshore fishing, again check around structures in open waters, including flats and oyster bars. In a warmer weather, schools are often spotted closer to shores. So you might want to stay on land and fish in the surf, piers, and jetties when the water warms.

As for the gears you’re going to need, here are some of our recommendations:

Equipment

• Light to medium spinning tackle
• Medium 7 to 8-foot rod
• 12-20 lb. braided line
• 1/0-2/0 circle hook that matches bait size

Lure

• Heavy metal lures, shiny spoons
• Plastics with jig heads

Bait

• Live shrimp and fish such as sardines, minnows, mullet, and greenbacks
• Cut bait such as squid

Is Spanish Mackerel Good to Eat?

When it comes to delicious fish that is versatile in flavor and texture, Spanish Mackerel is at the top of the list. This fish is a great ingredient to cook with and offers many different options for tasty dishes. It has a mild flavor that is not too fishy. When cooking with Spanish Mackerel, it can be grilled, baked, or even smoked, which makes it an excellent choice for different cuisines. The texture of this fish is also quite unique, as it is both flaky and tender at the same time. Whether you want to fry it up for a crispy meal or use it in a stew, there are many possibilities when it comes to preparing Spanish Mackerel. 

Besides being a delicious and versatile fish, Spanish mackerel is also a healthy option for your diet. It is packed with essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and protein, which can improve heart health and provide energy.