They are largely absent from the Bahamas and West Indies. In the western Atlantic, they range from Nova Scotia, Canada south to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Ocean birds feed upon juvenile bluefish.īluefish are widely distributed throughout the world’s temperate and subtropical waters. Sharks, tuna, and billfish are among the only predators in the ocean that are large and fast enough to prey on adult bluefish. They can have a voracious appetite, going after anything they can catch and eat. This species exhibits a feeding behavior known as “bluefish blitz” where large schools of adult bluefish will attack bait fish near the surface, churning the water. The newly-hatched fish will migrate towards estuaries and bays, where they remain and grow until they reach around three pounds in weight.īluefish eat squid and fish such as menhaden and silversides. A variety of factors can determine when the eggs hatch, but it usually occurs within two days of fertilization. During spawning, females will release their eggs which are fertilized when males spread their milt. Bluefish will spawn offshore several times during the spring and summer. Females can release between 400,000 and two million eggs over their lifetimes, depending on their size. Bluefish begin reproducing at two years of age when they are about 15 to 20 inches in length. The species grows relatively fast and can reach up to 31 pounds and measure over three feet as adults. This species has a prominent extended jaw lined with razor-sharp teeth that allows it to ingest large parts of their prey.īluefish can live for over 10 years. Bluefish have forked tails, along with spined and rayed anal and dorsal fins. They have a straight lateral line running across their bodies. Bluefish are greenish-blue to dark blue on their backs and a silvery color on their sides and belly.
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