Blue's Prediction?

[JimK]

There were a lot of blue fish around last year. Do you think this year will be the same?

When will the bluefish be able to be caught from shore in the south cape beach area? Last year it was about may 9.

[John B]

I feel we are but 2 or 3 years away from the superb bluefishing of the early and mid eighties. For this season, I expect a large number of 1-4 lb fish to reside in most of the areas frequented by small bass. Larger fish will continue the steady increase in numbers seen the last 2 years. The recruitment levels of the last two seasons have been suberb. I am sure many of this board have seen the big schools of snapper sized fish that were kicking around in the harbors last year. I have not seen numbers like that since '82. All in all, prospects look good for those that love the fight of a bluefish.

John B

[Slamdance]

I would say by the 15th there will be good numbers of blues around South Cape Beach. I got a late night report last night from a very reliable source on the Vineyard who said they were taking a few blues off the beaches near Wasque.

[bwana]

About bluefish. I can only speak about my experence on Nantucket. They should show up around 2-3 week in may. Probably a week or so eariler on Cape.Numbers have been down the past few years[my guess about 50%] from 10+ years ago. Surf fishing is really effected, but you still find plenty with a boat.

[JimK]

For some reason it seems the bluefish show around the south cape beaches first. Maybe it's the squid and the shallow water that warms quickest.

The blues usually don't show up around the westport area until memorial weekend or later. Once in awhile they'll show earlier. I fish from the beach so I don't know if they show earlier off the shore.

[dchurbuck]

<FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>I agree with Jim. South Cape gets blues early. I'll bet there are some off Cotuit/Poppy right now. Wait until the young flood, ballistic missiles, they'll either hit this weekend or by Wednesday if it gets sunny&nbsp; and warms the flats. They hang on the flats and cruise to the deeper parts of the Sound to snack on squid. Least that's what they barf up when they get in the boat. Big too. The first ones are usually lean, long, and mean.</FONT>
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<P><FONT color=green face="Bookman Old Style"><STRONG>David Churbuck</STRONG></FONT></P><PRE><A href="mailto:dchurbuck@forbes.com">dchurbuck@forbes.com</A></PRE>