Kayak fishing surprise

[mbhw]

I love the bay/ocean because you just never know whats going to hit.

I was tossing a white bucktail with a sand eel for weakfish yesterday when this bluefish decided to say hello. Wasn't expecting him, but it was a lot of fun. He just kept peeling line, it was a good way to break in my new Pflueger reel & GLoomis greenwater rod.

He actually towed the kayak for several hundred feet. Cajun style bluefish tacos tonight!

 

[JD7.62]

Ive always thoughtBluefish and Weakfish were the same fish. Then again I have also heard people call LadyFish Weakfish.

 

[mbhw]

Nope. Weakfish are also known as yellowfin, Specks, Speckled trout, sea trout. here's a pic of a weakfish from the web:

Weakfish don't fight as well as the blues, but they taste much better. I can't find any of my weakfish pics from last year, I'll do a side by side for you next time I catch one.

 

[JD7.62]

Youre right, Ive heard those be called weakfish too...dont you just hate common names. Where I normally fish we call those specks, trout, seatrout, and the big ones we call gator trout.

Have you ever used Gulp Alive Shrimp? KILLER in the bay on trouts, reds, and flounder!

 

[mbhw]

I used gulp sandworms for the 1st time on friday, they work well, but
I find gulp to be pricey, and since I live on the bay, I get plenty of free bait in my traps

 

[JD7.62]

Must be nice, everytime we set out traps the bait gets stolen

 

[---XR---]

i had one around 21-22lb on a charter in october of 06, a few pounds of the state record, any over 10-15lbs are Rarely caught.

IMO- horrible eating fish, not my thing for fish. But AMAZING fighters for there size. my biggest strained the heavy duty offshore fishing gear to the point where the dragged was all the way up, and he was still out pulling line.

Nice catch!

 

[JD7.62]

I agree, we dont eat bluefish. They are oily and make great chum/shark bait though!

Its amazing how some fish go in and out with popularity on their table fare.

For example, on the Gulf Coast you couldnt pay anyone to eat AmberJack and now its one of THE fish to eat!

 

[freeskier]

I agree, we dont eat bluefish. They are oily and make great chum/shark bait though!

Its amazing how some fish go in and out with popularity on their table fare.

For example, on the Gulf Coast you couldnt pay anyone to eat AmberJack and now its one of THE fish to eat!

you need to filet and soak the meat in seawater IMMEDIATELY. then it is delicious

 

[mbhw]

Bluefish certainly isn't my favorite eating fish, but if bled when caught and kept cool, the meat is fine. I also tend to eat a lot of smoked bluefish and heavily spiced bluefish. Also, cocktail sized blues are usually less gamey.

It's funny, I've caught hundreds of blues throughout my life, but when you tag a big boy in a small channel on light tackle, no wire leader, & a kayak on top of all that, it's actually a whole new ball game.

XR - a blue over 20lbs is quite a sight, I'm sure it was fun.

As far as table poularity for fish, if most folks knew what a monkfish looked like, they would scream. Taste great though. To me, sea robins are the best kept secret for saltwater eating, the only caveat being you need a good sized robin to get any meat.