May is a great time to be a saltwater angler in Rhode Island. Striped bass have returned and larger fish are arriving each week in our bays and inshore waters. Although our beloved linesiders get all the attention this time of year, big bluefish also invade and wreak havoc on the days and weeks they are around. We seem to be in the midst of a consistent pattern of bluefish arriving around the middle of May. They run from 7 to 10 pounds, with some huge gators pushing 20 pounds. These marauders are attracted to the warming waters of Narragansett Bay and the rich menu it provides. They often bring lots of action, especially for daytime anglers. Seeing a 15-pound bluefish explode on a popper and the dogged fight that follows may be the most exciting memory of the spring.
Bluefish are a peculiar species in many ways. Their migratory patterns loosely follow that of stripers, but they are notably less predictable and inconsistent as to when and where they decide to appear. Consistent patterns often emerge over the span of a few years or even a decade, and then may completely change, seemingly overnight. This leaves many fishermen scratching their heads and wondering where all the bluefish went. However, this strangeness is nothing new. In fact, through the years, it has spawned many theories and explanations. Perhaps the most well-known is the 40-year cycle of bluefish presence and disappearance posed by surfcasters in the Northeast. Despite these theories, no one really knows exactly why these strange patterns seem to emerge and then disappear. Once the blues do show up, word gets around pretty quickly, both from frustrated surfcasters getting their eels chomped and daytime anglers excited at the return of such a formidable gamefish.
Bluefish tend to school by size class, meaning that if you connect with one gator, there are almost always more in the area. The good news is that once you find a pod of hungry gators, it becomes a matter of getting something in front of their faces. Locating them can be more of a challenge, but the answer predictably comes down to finding bait. Similar to bass, the larger the bait, the better your chances are for finding large predators. Schools of adult bunker are bluefish magnets when they are around, but blues are anything but picky. Really, any schools of bait from silversides to squid will be blitzed in late May across the bay and the oceanfront.
With the exception of terminal tackle, gear selection is nothing special. The shearing jaws of a bluefish will cut through braid and mono with ease. Heavy sections of 60- to 100-pound fluorocarbon stands up relatively well, but wire leaders are the safest option when after true gators. You can purchase premade wire leaders to save the hassle of tying your own. Having a section of wire connected to a barrel swivel and snap clip is the best option since it allows you to quickly add the wire to the end of your current leader when blues show up.
Although these fish usually aren’t picky, there is no arguing that topwater is the most exciting way to connect with the brutes. Everything from traditional pencil poppers, Jumpin’ Minnows, and spook-style baits all work well. Subsurface options can be anything from metals to minnow plugs, though look for ones that are tough and expendable. It also pays to use a single treble hook or swap the trebles for singles. The fight doesn’t stop once you get a bluefish to hand, and a flailing gator may put a stray treble into your hand faster than you can react.
If you have never connected with a big bluefish on a fly rod, I will be the first to tell you that you are missing out. Even if you aren’t an avid fly-rodder, it is well worth the effort. Plus, it is probably the least technical form of fly fishing on the planet. Once you get on some hungry gators, it is just a matter of getting a fly in the water and holding on tight. What ensues is an epic light-tackle battle that you surely won’t forget.
Use a floating line because it is the easiest to cast and lets you work flies on the surface. Leaders can be as simple as a short section of 30-pound mono to a 6- to 12-inch wire at the business end. You can buy premade wire-fly leaders or you make your own. Similar to plugs, flies should be selected based on durability and expendability. Simple surface flies like gurglers and crease flies fit this requirement nicely. Synthetic Clouser Minnows are also a must-have as they are easy to tie and hold up much better than the natural bucktail version.
It can be easy to get bass blinders on once the larger fish begin to show up in May, but you may miss out on some of the most exciting fishing of the early season. Blues get a bad rap for being soft-plastic-munching devils that destroy gear and get in the way of your bass fishing. Despite that, pound for pound, they are one of the best gamefish we have here in Rhode Island. And, with their history of disappearing seemingly overnight, take advantage of these yellow-eyed devils while they are around.
