Bluefish....The New NJ State Gamefish?

[paco33]

The video---



My biggest one was last year. I was fishing a harbor area near dusk, using big 9" peanut bunker on the bottom. The bluefish had been coming in every night, and we were used to getting 10 pounders.
That night, it was almost dark, the water was calm, no sign of life anywhere. Good thing I was holding my pole. All of a sudden the baitrunner started screaming, I set the hook hard, the thing ran and I had trouble getting line in as there was some evil current coming out of the harbor area.
I thought I had the fish easy. He was deep, so I was hoping for a bass. As I started to gain line, the fish moved a bit so he was near some pilings. I thought it was all over, but he finally managed to tire out, and I brought him in. 16 lbs on the boga. As I said I thought he was a bass because bass usually stay deeper. I was still happy, he gave me one of the best fights I had from land.

[bababooey]

Great catch! That thing is a killing machine, if there were any kids swimming in the water I think it could have taken an arm or leg.
I got one about 17 pounds 3 years ago. We were fishing for bass with metal jigs, just drifting and jigging in the fall off of Manasquan. Most of the fish were in the 8-10 pound class, barely legal bass and smaller bluefish. Then my rod bent in half, and I too thought I had a nice bass because he wouldn't come to the top. When I got him up he tried to snap at my feet in the cabin of the boat. We had to use the ole billy club to put him out of his misery.

[jigfreak]

That is one fat bellyed fish. It looks like he just spend the last 2 hours constantly feeding.

Nice going!

[SharkHart]

The thing about blues is people always think they are getting heavier ones then they actually are. I usually use a boga for teeth purpose but you also see the weight. people always say they got 15 pound blues but to crack 15 or even 13-14 is tough. here is one that was like 14.5

[DarkSkies]

. people always say they got 15 pound blues but to crack 15 or even 13-14 is tough. here is one that was like 14.5

Shark has a point. Lots of times they look bigger than they are. A boga helps the honest fisherman, even if it's going back. I probably caught thousands of bluefish in my lifetime. I think my biggest is a little over 15, and that one broke an ugly stik as I fought it in current.

There is also a substantial difference between a 15 and 20# bluefish.

Anyway, I think a 20+ bluefish is a great catch. I would rather catch bluefish in the 12-15# class than 26" bass any day. But that's just me, to each his own.

[cowherder]

Wow that thing is a freak of nature!

[wish4fish]

The video---

i hate that dude from betty and nicks he is such a spot burning poser, lol. my biggest blue is 14#, a big ups to dolobacs.