Singing the Blues - New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

Labor Day, beach anglers can roam the coastline,watching for schools of blues and stripers. A goodpair of binoculars helps, if you like to scout fromyour vehicle in “run-and-fish” mode. You canalso just watch for gulls hovering above the frenzy.Move fast, though, and keep your gear at theready. Once there, fish the edges of the mass ofsportfish and baitfish. Back when I was learningthis game, I’d cast right in the middle of it, andsometimes spook the entire school.Boaters can work the edges of this mayhem thesame way.Know too, that while we are talking blues here,stripers will be in the mix—often beneath theroving blues, chowing on the falling bits of bluefish-chompedbaitfish. So, if you just want blues,fish with topwater plugs and retrieve them fast.Consider wire leaders to avoid cut-offs—or not.Classic Rapala offerings still work. If you want amixed-bag of stripers, too, fish fast-sinking luresor weighted baits. It’s all good.Fly Fishing for Fanatics“Are you crazy? Bluefish on flies?!”Fly-fishing rods and reels need to be matchedfor durability and balance, as casting to bluesmust be done quick-off-the-mark when blitzes arespotted, and once the fish is on, your tackle willbe tested.Weight-forward lines will let you cast into theteeth of an onshore wind. Presentations aren’tnearly as delicate as freshwater offerings on smalltrout streams. Want to fish on top? Fish poppingbugs on floating lines. Sinking tips can be used onbaitfish-mimicking patterns. True sinking linescan work for blues (but more likely stripers), andforce you to tote many options in your sagging flyvest.Where reels are concerned, backing rules—lots of it. A football field of it will do. Blues loveto run and muscle you during the ensuing fight,and you have to be ready.continued on next pageGluttonous blues willbite at almostanything whenthey’re in a feedingfrenzy. Some lures totry (from left): big jigwith attractor/spinner; floatingminnow bait toimitate local foragefish or baitfish;crankbait, pogiestyle.Length: 39 inchesWeight: 21 poundsWhen: August 23, 1975Where: Great Bay, DurhamAngler: Henry KrookA.K.A.Tailer, slammer, chopper●●●●●Live eelsMackerel (chunks)Pogies (menhaden)SquidHerringBluefish sport a nasty setof needle-sharp teeth. Wireleaders are an important part ofthe angler’s arsenal.The Atlantic silverside is one ofseveral species of schooling fish thatthe bluefish targets for a feeding frenzy.© VICTOR YOUNG ILLUSTRATIONSWILDLIFE JOURNAL 11