Bluefish pack a mean punch for Maine anglers
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
On occasion as a teenager, my father, grandfather and I went deep-sea fishing on one of the several charter fishing boats between Portland and Boothbay Harbor. We'd head out before dawn, usually before the fog burnt off, and return eight hours later. As a young man, the initial draw to the ocean was mesmerizing, always thinking I may hook into a monster shark or even a whale.
After a few trips out, the fantasy of catching "the big one" finally faded, with our party generally boating cod and pollock, and much to the skipper's dislike, an occasional sand shark. As years passed, I grew more interested in sport fishing than catching a finned monster.
I've since continued this tradition, now fishing with numerous friends. I'm fortunate enough to have a wife who enjoys the ocean, too. I'd never fished brackish tidal water, until a friend and co-worker invited me to fish for bluefish one day.
Launching his 18-foot Corson fiberglass boat in Bath, we headed south down the Kennebec River. Shortly after, he spotted several baitfish in a feeding frenzy along the river surface, and with a sly grin, we motored toward the hungry school. Slowing down to a crawl, he shut the motor down and mentioned I should grab a rod and cast a lure where he was pointing.
The water exploded, and hefty blue latched onto the lure. It was a tremendous battle — one I had never felt before.
My partner picked up a rod and flung a lure in the same direction and caught another fish in a flash. Within minutes, other boaters surrounded us like predators moving in for the kill.
Before I had the opportunity to land what would be my first bluefish, there were boats all around us and everyone fishing had a blue on. I boated my first blue, a 14 pounder, and realized I had just caught the hardest fighting fish I ever had on the end of a line.
Bluefish are unlike any other fish. They travel in very large schools and are fierce fighters. During a feeding frenzy, the fish will actually bite each other when hunting down prey. Bluefish are strong, possibly the most powerful fish (pound for pound) I have ever fished for in Maine waters. Their flexible jaws are similar to the jaws of a shark and can inflict an incredible bite. Blues come equipped with large, sharp teeth and extreme caution should be taken when they're handled alive.
Bluefish follow their appetites and are constantly in search of baitfish. Once baitfish move upstream into coastal rivers, blues are normally close behind. Several years ago, an influx of menhaden — a small baitfish —brought on the blues big time.
While fishing inside a harbor in Stockton Springs, I spotted blues chasing massive schools of menhaden. During the feeding frenzy, the water literally exploded into a wall of water resembling a tidal wave. It was nothing I had ever witnessed before. I wasn't even sure what was happening, but I liked it.
Once blues are located, they will generally latch onto anything in the lead. Bluefish typically move into Maine coastal waters in early June, but can be caught far into August. This season, fishing for blues has been fantastic. We've caught blues throughout the Kennebec River, near Phippsburg and several more fish in and above Bath. We have also contacted blues the mouth of the Kennebec, near Popham Beach, and New Meadows river region.
While I have contacted a few fish in the 16- to 19-pound range, the vast majority of them have been, and continue to be, around four to 10 pounds.
While bigger is always better in my book, every bluefish is an amazing fish, no matter the size or weight. They all fight hard. Larger fish produce an incredible tug-of-war battle, and I take great pleasure watching a novice angler set the hook into the jaws of a big blue for the first time.
This is a banner year for bluefish — one better than I have seen in several years. If you can find these fish, a few hours of hot fishing action will certainly provide a lifetime of memories and fishing stories. Have fun and be safe!
Jeff Zimba is a registered Maine Master Guide, Licensed Tidal Water Captain and Outdoor Writer residing in Fairfield.