That’s Dr. Ken Neill with a nice bluefish caught recently while fishing for trout and puppy drum.
Like many of us, Ken remembers the days when the toothy critters were so abundant that it was difficult to catch anything else.
This year has been more than a little whacky and it’s end is bringing with it a return to the past.
While the last weeks of 2024 are here, there’s quite a bit of fish ready to help with holiday cheer.
Hopefully the action hasn’t passed, but the last few weeks had seen a real uptick in catches of bluefish. Known as choppers because of their approach to a feeding frenzy, blues haven’t been making the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay their home for many a year.
But all that changed when blues – some weighing double digits – started showing up in good numbers. Plenty of smaller ones have also been thick in many places.
Bigger blue were showing in area tidal rivers, flats and inside inlets. Near-shore wrecks also are holding good numbers.
Blues are being caught by boaters running up on feeding schools or catching them while bottom fishing coastal wrecks and artificial reefs. Blues been decked on most of the mid-Atlantic piers and every now and then blitzes form along regional beaches where choppers chase other species onto the sand.
The action won’t last too much longer, as fish head south or offshore when shallower waters get too cold.
In the meantime, when blues are really feeding, they’ll attack just about anything thrown at them. No matter what lure you choose, it’s always a good idea to use a wire-line leader.
The time spent, no matter how short, help you forget about the hassles of having to beg Santa for more tackle for Christmas gear.
And one more day of bluefishing.
To read more of my work, go to: leetolliveroutdoors.com
