Bluefish

Season in Long Island

Peak months: Aug, Sep, Oct.

NY Sea Grant: first schools appear offshore mid-May to early June, usually in the NY Bight by the end of June along the South Shore; in July they go deeper (Sound fish stay at 60 to 80 ft except at night); best fishing August to September; bigger fish arrive last, October to November. OTW: no bluefish yet at Northport in mid-May 2026; gator blues in creek mouths and cocktail blues at Montauk in late August 2026. (Our inference)

Season by region

Where to find them

Along the South Shore beaches and inlets, creek and river mouths on the North Shore, and Montauk; in hot weather the Sound fish hold in 60 to 80 ft by day and come up at night, so dawn and dusk are best. Cocktail blues around local docks in summer.

Anywhere from the wash to well beyond the bar; blitzes drive bait into the trough.

What to look for

Birds working hard over bait, bait spraying, heavy splashes and oily slicks.

What to throw

Metal casting jig (diamond, Hopkins or Stingsilver style)1 to 2 oz, 3 to 4 in. Fast steady retrieve for mackerel; let it sink and rip it up for blues; jig near bottom for weakfish.

Got-Cha style jig plug7/8 to 1 oz, 3 to 3.5 in. Sharp upward rod-tip jerks while reeling fast, so it darts and flashes.

Pencil popper1 to 5 oz, Sized to the bait, from silversides to adult bunker. Slow and deliberate, speeding up when a fish shows interest; or hold the rod tip and bounce it hard while barely advancing the plug so it churns in place.

Silver casting spoon (Clarkspoon or Drone style)1/2 to 1 oz, No. 0 to 1 / 2.5 to 3.5 in. Burn it. Fast, steady, just under the surface.

Bait

Cut mullet, Cut menhaden. Float or fish-finder rig with a short wire leader.

Leader

Short single-strand wire (#4 to #5, 6 to 12 in) or a 50 to 60 lb mono bite tippet.

Common mistakes

• No bite protection on the leader
• Reaching into the mouth to unhook
• Slow retrieves when fish are blitzing

Landing

Keep pressure on and use a wave to beach it. Do not lift by the leader near your hands.

Handling

• Razor teeth; will snap after it is landed

Pin the fish with a towel or your foot on the sand side, unhook with long pliers, never put fingers near the mouth.

Keep or release

Best eaten fresh, bled and iced. Gaff or beach big ones (teeth shred nets); never let children unhook them (NY Sea Grant). Check the New York limits.

Recipes for bluefish

Typical: Snappers about 10 in; cocktail blues about 2 lb. Large: Gorillas 15 to 20 lb (local names per NY Sea Grant). NY record 25 lb (1998).

New York (marine waters) limits

• Minimum: none
• Maximum: none
• Bag: 5 per individual; 7 per angler aboard a licensed party/charter boat
• Season: All year
• No size limit; the limit includes snappers

Last checked 2026-10-17. A summary, not legal advice; the official rules win. New York State DEC fishing regulations.

Sources

• New York Sea Grant fish profile: Bluefish (Cornell, 2001) (Official source)
• On The Water: Long Island and NYC Fishing Report, May 14, 2026 (Angler knowledge)
• On The Water: Long Island and NYC Fishing Report, August 27, 2026 (Angler knowledge)
• NC Sea Grant Coastwatch: surf fishing species notes (2008) (Official source)
• NOAA NEFSC essential fish habitat: bluefish (Stehlik) (Official source)
• Gregg Holshouser Grand Strand fishing reports, 2019-2020 (mirror) (Angler knowledge)
• NYSDEC Marine Recreational Angler Records Program (Official source)
• NYSDEC Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations: size, possession limits and seasons (fish table last changed May 12, 2026; shark table last changed Aug 27, 2025) (Official source)

All the fish of Long Island