Captain’s Corner: Bluefish

The Tampa Bay Times

Neil Taylor, Strike Three Kayak Fishing

Seasonal opportunities:   One of the big options that exists in the dead of winter is the Florida Bluefish.    This year,some of the bluefish are close to ten pounds.    That’s bigger than I have ever seen here before.   Regularly, they are more in the five to six pound range.   They are only located in specific locations.    On the flats that are deeper or better yet, in troughs that are next to the grassflats, found easiest at low tide.   Where they are located, you will usually see the other mullet and baitfish upset.    You need to tackle up correctly.   Light leader is going to be cut easily.    On that note:   Keep your fingers away from them mouth.    They not only have rows of very sharp teeth they have the strongest jaws of any fish I have ever seen.    They could cut your finger clean off.      Not a bad idea to utilize pliers to help keep your fingers away from their mouths.   Topwater lures can connect big.    I usually throw shiny plastics, usually the 3 inch swimbaits in gold.  Moving lures steady to fast usually works best.    Keep your drag set light enough for them to take line.   They pull really hard.    
 I take them home, almost treating them like an invasive species.    They eat everything so I think keeping them helps the fishery.     They are easy to fillet.    I leave the skin on:  Then put the fillets in the smoker and leave them in there for two and a half hours, high heat and heavy smoke.     The fish spread I make with bluefish, I will go heavier on the other ingredients.