Photo by Ron Sinfelt

The primary reason bluefish are attracted to different locations in Chesapeake Bay and the waters off Maryland and Delaware, is baitfish. The myriad structures provide cozy homes for schools of menhaden, butterfish and other forage species, a place where they can take refuge from various predators. Ironically, the bluefish themselves become prey for bluefin and yellowfin tuna and a half-dozen species of pelagic sharks. Therefore, when you're fishing the following locations, be prepared to battle everything from slammer bluefish to possibly a mako shark.

THE JACK SPOT
(GPS 38.05.00/74.47.50)
Located 25 nautical miles south of Ocean City, Maryland, the Jack Spot is a vast uprising from the ocean's floor that ascends to within 8 fathoms of the surface. The surrounding depths rapidly fall off to 17 fathoms, thereby the half-mile-long structure is similar to an oasis in the midst of the area's bleak, featureless bottom. Live coral, rocks and at least two wrecks comprise much of the bottom's content, an environment that makes up a thriving ecological community.

Slammer bluefish usually arrive here early in the season and hang around until the water starts to cool in the fall. If weather conditions are unseasonably warm, bluefish will stay until late fall, even past Thanksgiving during some years.

If you are fortunate enough to encounter these conditions, rig up a heavy-action spinning outfit with 12- to 15-pound-test line, and an 18-inch length of 50-pound-test fluorocarbon leader, or a similar length of coffee-colored 100-pound-test stainless wire. This will usually prevent the bluefish's razor-sharp teeth from severing your leader.

To the end of your leader you can attach a large topwater plug, such as a pencil, needlefish or even a small diamond jig like a size 007, depending on the size of the bluefish. Set the reel's drag, fire a cast along the edge of the school, and then crank the reel's handle as fast as possible. Most of the time your lure will only travel a few yards before a slammer bluefish takes up the chase.

The secret to success here is to motor upwind or upcurrent of the school, kill the engine and allow the boat to drift to the fish. Avoid dropping things on the deck, limit your movements and turn the VHF radio down. When the fish are feeding on the ocean's surface, they tend to be extremely wary because of their increased vulnerability to larger predators, such as sharks and tuna. It doesn't take much noise to send them scurrying toward the bottom and going off their feed. Additionally, unless the blues are actively feeding, do not cast into the middle of the school, as this, too, would be something unnatural.

Topwater action can occur at almost any time through the end of August; however, as water temperatures rise, chumming with ground menhaden is the preferred method of attracting large schools of slammer bluefish. This can be done from an anchored boat, or if conditions are favorable (light winds and slight tides), from a drifting boat.