Saltwater Fish of Connecticut
Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
Also called: Blues, Chopper, Snapper Blue
Identification
Silvery, stout fish with a forked tail and a mouth full of sharp, triangular teeth.
Habitat
Coastal beaches, rips, and estuaries, May through October.
Behavior
Voracious schooling predator that churns the surface in blitzes.
How to Catch
Cut bunker, live eels, metal lures, and topwater poppers; use wire or steel leaders.
Notes
Aggressive and toothy; handle with care.
Where to find Bluefish in CT
- Barn Island Wildlife Management Area Stonington
- Bluff Point Coastal Reserve Groton
- Calf Pasture Beach Norwalk
- Compo Beach Westport
- Griswold Point Old Saybrook
- Gulf Beach Milford
- Hammonasset Beach State Park Madison
- Harkness Memorial State Park Waterford
- Lighthouse Point Park New Haven
- Lighthouse Point Park New Haven
- New Haven Harbor — Long Wharf New Haven
- Niantic River — Smith Cove East Lyme
- Ocean Beach Park New London
- Penfield Reef Fairfield
- Penfield Reef Fairfield
- Pine Island Causeway Groton
- Rocky Neck State Park East Lyme
- Savin Rock West Haven
- Seaside Park Bridgeport
- Sherwood Island State Park Westport
- Short Beach Stratford
- Silver Sands State Park Milford
- Thames River Norwich