Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix
Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix. Fish caught off the pier in Folly Beach, South Carolina, June 2015. Length: 46 cm (18 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Ryan Crutchfield, Tampa, Florida.
Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix. Fish caught coastal waters off Folly Beach, South Carolina, June 2018. Length: 92 cm (3 feet 0 inches). Catch, photograph, and identification courtesy of Josh Leisen (joshadventures.com), Gaylord, Michigan.
The Bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, is a member of the Bluefish or Pomatomidae Family, that is known in Mexico as anjova. It is the sole member of the family and sole member of the Pomatomus genus and in Mexican waters it is found only in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Bluefish has an oblong laterally compressed body. They are dark green to steel blue in color and transition to white or silver on their sides and belly. Their anal and dorsal fins are green with yellow tinges. Most fish have a dark blue pectoral fin base. They have a large head with a large oblique mouth that opens at the front; some fish have a projecting lower jaw. They have prominent sharp teeth. Their anal fin has 2 or 3 spines and 23 to 27 rays and is a little shorter than the second dorsal fin; their caudal fin is forked; their first dorsal fin has 7 or 8 weak short spines; their second dorsal fin has 1 spine and 23 to 28 rays; their pectoral fins are short; and their pelvic fins are inserted before their pectoral fins. They are covered with small scales. Their lateral line is straight and complete.
The Bluefish is a migratory pelagic species that travels in large schools. They are found both in inshore coastal waters and offshore at depths up to 198 m (650 feet). They reach a maximum of 1.30 m (4 feet 3 inches) in length and normally weigh between 500 g (1 lb) and 3.2 kg (1 and 7 lbs 0 oz). As of January 1, 2024, the International Game Fish Association world record stood at 87 cm (2 feet 10 inches) with the fish caught in coastal waters off Shrensbury Rocks, New Jersey in June 2013 and 14.4 kg (31 lbs 12 oz) with the fish caught in coastal waters off Hatteras, North Carolina in January 1972. They are opportunistic visual daytime predators that consume anchovies, crabs, croakers, mullets, sardines, and shrimp. They are preyed upon by sharks, swordfish, tunas, and wahoo. They have the ability to maintain their body temperatures as much as 4oC (7oF) above the surrounding water temperatures. They have lifespans of eleven years.
The Bluefish is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Caribbean.
The Bluefish can be confused with the Banded Rudderfish, Seriola zonata (oblique bar running through the eye), the Blue Runner, Caranx crysos (black spot on the gill cover), and the Greater Amberjack, Seriola dumerilli (oblique bar running through the eye).
From a conservation perspective the Bluefish is currently considered as VULNERABLE with a significant decline in global populations due to over-fishing. They are a voracious exciting game fish that make strong runs and frequent jumps; they are the Number One game fish among recreational anglers in many states along the East Coast of the United States. They are also a mainstay of pier fishermen and are found just outside the breaker line. They are considered excellent table fare when cooked on the day of catch. Historically they were a significant component of the commercial catch in the Southern United States, however, with the implementation of a ban on the use of gill nets in 1995 they have been in strong decline in the commercial fishery. Within United States waters they are currently heavily regulated.