Even the Blues Get the Blues

Peter Graeber, General Manager of Middletown's Saltwater Edge Fishing Co., says the fishing has been slow for big bluefish this year. 

Whether the customers he sees in the store had been fishing for bluefish, or out for striped bass, the reports all tell us bluefish were barely encountered. 

Some seasons the blues arrive early, in big numbers, and generous sizes.  However, according to Mr. Graeber the bluefish season is cyclical and abundant years vary.  I've heard that off-shore fishing trawlers take the baitfish that would normally enter the bay and fuel the bluefish schools.  No doubt the size and number of blues that find their way into local waters are affected by baitfish.

Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), aka "Pogy," are a common food for bluefish and peanut bunker-baby menhaden, have not been seen in great numbers this year.  They are also a primary source of fishmeal, used as chicken feed or food for aqua-cultured salmon.  While the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission reports say the Atlantic stock of menhaden is abundant, the Chesapeake Bay Program lists their fisheries stock of menhaden as troubled, due to overfishing, high predation, or poor water quality. 

Regardless of challenges to the fishery, large bluefish schools are not unheard of in recent years.

So where are they this year?

Fishing for blues is opportunistic at best.  Schooling blues, known for their piranha-like feeding frenzy, are unpredictable, affected by the incoming and outgoing tide and abundance of bait.  Fishermen looking specifically for schooling blues can sit for hours waiting to catch sight of the distinctive splashing accompanied by diving seagulls.  Much of the fishermen looking for blues are weekend warriors, who are less likely to spend long evenings fishing for stripers, a species demanding more effort to catch.  Often to their annoyance, striper fishermen will catch bluefish incidentally.

The talk in the tackle shop soon turned to the bluefish as an underrated food.  Steve, one of Peter Graeber's co-workers, said that he liked to cook skip jacks (a pan sized bluefish).  A regular visitor who wanted to remain nameless said that he enjoyed the taste of smoked bluefish, arguably one of the most popular methods of serving large bluefish, even bluefish pâté was suggested as a good way of preparing the oily and gamey fish.

Now if only one could catch them.

Peter Graeber does not count the season over.  A late season "blitz" by large bluefish, more likely to arrive in late summer, may save the season for fishermen still looking to hook into the menacing jaws of the bigger blues. 

Suggested areas to wait for the blues to come in are: the Sakonnet River, Third Beach, Ocean Drive, and the west side of the island such as Brenton Point.

About this column:

Middletown's coastline offers great game fishing. Columnist Ray Dutra looks closer beneath the surface. Do you have a fish tale to tell, or know where the fish are biting? Email Ray.