Best Times & Seasons to Catch Big Bluefish (Complete Guide)
Bluefish are one of the most sought-after species of sportfish in New England and Mid-Atlantic coastal waters. Knowing the best seasons and times to catch these big bruisers is very important if you want to catch them.
The best time of day to catch bluefish is from late evening through about 2 o’clock in the morning under most moon phases. The best season is typically mid-to-late summer through early fall.
In this article, we will really dive deep into how tidal, moon phases, and seasonal fluctuations dictate bluefish behavior and how easy they are to catch. Bluefish are one of my absolute favorite fish to catch and I spent 9 summers straight off the coast of Cape May, NJ during my teenage years trying to catch as many as I could.
Best Time of Day for Bluefish
Early morning and dusk hours usually yield the best results. During night hours bluefish can be found at 90-feet and deeper. The moonlight has a certain influence on bluefish as well, driving them closer to the surface at times.
Fish are very temperamental about temperature, whether they are saltwater or freshwater. Trout in lakes feed in the early morning as well, before the sun starts hitting them too hard.
When you go fishing and you only get any fish in the morning or evening, you can rest assured that it is a temperature-driven phenomenon. The nice thing about early fishing for bluefish is that you get to beat the heat just like they do.
Big vs. Small Bluefish: Best Times
The best to catch smaller schooling bluefish is usually during the daytime with the morning being especially good. The best time for catching bluefish is at night.
Bluefish, as with many other species school by size, and often larger bluefish and smaller bluefish will not be found in the same places all the time. Smaller fish of any kind can be found where larger fish will have a hard time finding them.
Surf fishing usually yields different sizes and allows you to be able to fish coves and other areas that can be used as cover for smaller bluefish. While this is a problem with large bluefish, small bluefish also have very sharp teeth, and using a wire lead is usually practical.
The size of bluefish also affects table fare as well. Larger bluefish taste great and have a stronger flavor profile than smaller schoolers. Small bluefish are very popular for their neutral flavor profile.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic to create your combo.
If you want to learn what are the best fighting fish to catch to include saltwater and freshwater, please check out this helpful article I wrote. To learn how to catch fish at night, please check out this helpful article I wrote detailing which fish bite best at night.
Best Seasons
The best seasons for bluefish are determined by their migration. In warmer months they travel north and in colder months they head south. The maximum north for bluefish is usually Maine and the Fall and Winter southern areas are usually the coast of the Carolinas.
In terms of the best season, that depends on what the angler is willing to do, where he wants to go. Typically, bluefish fishing is always relatively good if you travel and play the seasons.
Bluefish activity may slow slightly during the winter months if the waters they are in fall below 66 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter. Bluefish are most comfortable in temperatures between 66 and 73 degrees.
Fall & Winter
In the fall you can expect the bluefish to begin their migration south but fishing will still be good as they leave. Typically for bluefish, South Carolina is the furthest south they will travel. Colder weather brings colder waters and fishing more southern will be beneficial.
Spring & Summer
Spring marks the beginning of the temperature changes in the Atlantic and eventually that change will bring with it rising water levels. These environmental changes are the indicators for a bluefish, telling him to travel north.
For a complete breakdown of the best time and season to fish in Cape Cod, please check out this complete guide I wrote. If you want to know the best times to fish in Ocean City, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Cape May, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Water Temperature for Bluefish
As stated above, water temperature determines most of the activity of bluefish as well as most other species in the world for that matter. Bluefish prefer a temperature of 66 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit but they can still be caught when waters are cold as well.
Similar to timing your trip to catch salmon on the Kenai River in Alaska, our knowledge of water temperature can help us determine when the salmon will come inland.
We can use this to travel there when the spawn is happening. Bluefish can be fished in transit to their southern waters and fishing them during this time may be different than fishing for them normally.
Seasonal temperature changes mean different things for boaters and shore fishermen. Shoreline waters usually heat faster than the ocean itself and because of this, bluefish may linger longer close to shore and give the surf fisherman a good time fishing.
Do Bluefish Bite at Night?
Bluefish are very active and ready to feed at night and can be found at 80 to 100 feet. Usually, simple market bait can get the bite going. The “frenzie” state we spoke of is what makes the bluefish so fun to catch, once that bite starts, you are in for one intense fishing experience.
Many carters know exactly where to go in their respective area, just make sure the seasons are correct for the migration. Night fishing is very good around shelves underwater as well, making these areas sought after by guides.
Water temperatures near the surface are cooler at night and the moon allows more visibility for bluefish, in a sense, the stage is set for the bluefish and they become hyper-aggressive.
The phase of the moon has a huge impact on the bluefish’s activities. A crescent moon may allow visibility and good fishing, but a full moon that allows maximum light will illuminate the depth the bait will sit.
You can experiment with depth and moonlight to see what works but typically, start at around 80 feet. Consider cloudy weather as well before heading out for night fishing. An extremely cloudy night might not provide what a clear night would.
Weather & Storm Impacts
Weather drastically affects fish of every species and can significantly improve fishing experiences. Weather changes, especially weather that changes pressures and temperatures drive fish crazy.
Fish are a fine-tuned machine that we take for granted sometimes. They really are a perfectly tuned machine. Pressure changes from weather motivate and stimulate activity in fish of all waters that they need to feed and in a sense, change their behavior.
This is why fishing a lake right before a storm front comes in seems to yield better results. Bluefish are no different and can tell when the weather will change. Fishing in bad weather off of the coast is a little more dangerous than a lake so care should be taken to monitor the weather.
Many bluefish anglers do not miss a chance to get on the water when the weather is about to turn bad. It is us simply taking advantage of an instinct that all fish have. After the pressure change has happened, however, do not be surprised when the bit “shuts off”.
Once that pressure variation has passed, the fish may be tired from the abnormal activity and be dormant for a while. After the fishing gets bad again, it may be a good time to turn in.
Tidal Impacts of Bluefish Fishing
When it comes to fishing a tide, they are all very fruitful and can yield awesome results, generally, though, high tide is the most successful for many species based on the amount of water that is available.
Some species such as barracuda are easier to fish during a low tide. Often, the low tide only leaves a very small amount of coastal areas that are deep enough to catch fish and you can narrow down these locations for barracuda.
Bluefish are similar and can be found in deep waters, regardless of the tide, lower tides make it easier to spot these areas but during a high tide they can be caught in most places off of the coast.
When Bluefish Spawn
Bluefish spawn multiple times in the spring and summer months. Fishing off of the southeast corner of the United States during the warmer months can be very fruitful as spawn will be happening in those waters.
Female bluefish can lay anywhere from 400,000 to 2 million eggs which seems like a large amount but many smaller offspring will not survive due to predation. This is very common in fish species as it is a way to assure the continuation of the species.
Bluefish are one hell of a fish, with razor-like teeth, large size, fast speed, and vice-like jaws. There are actually very few predators that the bluefish have, other than humans, the bluefish only need worry about sharks, tunas, and billfish.
Bluefish are rapid growers, and can achieve an adult size extremely quickly. When catching bluefish to eat, keep in mind that the giant bluefish you just caught may not be as old as you think.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Boston, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best time and season to fish Nantucket, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Long Island, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
