Wondering how much luck you guys have fishing for blues from the surf on artificial. I love catching them because they put up such a great fight and I also think they taste pretty good contrary to popular belief as long as you make them bleed as soon as you catch them and put em in the cooler. Anyways, I’m wondering how you guys go about catching them from the surf. Do you use gotcha plugs? I always believed those work best when you are above the water i.e pier or boat. If not gotcha’s then what kind of lure? Most of what I have been able to find is always on how to catch them from piers or boats but not from surf. Any info would be helpful. Also where do you have the most luck with blues? I’ve caught a handful from IOP and none the few times I have gone to Sullivan’s. Would you also find them in troughs or should I wade out to the sandbar. Sorry for the bombardment of questions just looking to learn.
I personally don’t catch them too often. But, I do catch them pretty good in April in the surf. They are big, too. In the 10-15lbs range. But I only see them in good numbers in April personally.
I catch tons of blues in the surf. However, I have not tried to catch them with artificials (except from a boat). In the surf I use standard two hook bottom rigs with size 2 hooks and bait them with one inch cubes of finger mullet. Blues love it. During the summer I mostly catch very small blues, but I have recently been catching blues around 14". My largest in the surf this year was an 18" fish. If you want to catch blues you are more than welcome to join me.
Big Country did you catch them with double drops or with artificial? If artificial mind sharing what you were using? Biggest I’ve ever caught is about 3 pounds sadly enough. It seems like up north is where you need to be to consistently catch the big ones but it seems like that may not be the case. From shore at least. TideRunner that sounds like a plan at some point. Right now I’m still trying to chase those reds but when I’m fishing on the sandbar at low tide I always wish I brought an artificial to sling around! I saw on another post you also target reds (but really who doesn’t on this forum) so we should meet up one day if possible. I’m from Columbia but I have been trying to get out there every weekend when weather permits so far this year. I’ll be out at IOP or Sullivan’s this Friday so if you are able maybe we could meet up and hit the surf.
The big ones I catch are on heavy surf tackle while doing early season sharkin’. I normally have a large chunk of whiting on for bait. I don’t use artificials, but that is only because I suck with them. You could probably look into what they use up north for blues. That should give you a good idea of what to use. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Hey svdrumline. Back up in Boston we used a few different lures depending on how they were feeding. If we saw a school busting bait any 3-5 inch popper that mimics local bait is good. If you just want to cast and cover water silver spoons work great. Crippled hearing spoons in blue w/ silver are a personal favorite. Plus you can cast them a mile. Hope this helps.
End of Sullivan’s by breaches inlet was full of em today
keith mcpherson
Wilderness systems ride 135
1996 key west explorer 1520
Cbeck thanks a lot! I’ll pick up some spoons so that on slower days on the surf I can go out and do some casting and see what I can catch. Redfisher we nailed them at IOP yesterday around sunset as well. Wish it was Mr. Red taking my cut bait but any fish is better than no fish. We caught maybe 20 in 30 minutes.
I’ve been out to Sullivan’s island twice this week and plan to go
again today. In front of the lighthouse at station 19. Tons of bluefish between 16-21" as well as nice 16-18 inch whiting and a few jack crevalle as well. Few baby rays here and there but conditions have been nice all week with tons of mullet running. Also
Caught a lady fish on Friday. Tried for some reds with cut and whole live mullet but the blues were relentless all week. Still really fun to catch!