Photo by John Gribb

New England"s fabled bluefish fishery is coming back strong. Though we"re still not back to the glory days of the 1980s, most reports from last year showed blues smashing bait all along the New England coast.

Arthur Ganz, supervising marine biologist for Rhode Island"s Department of Environmental Management Marine Fisheries Division, could hardly contain his enthusiasm for the fishing in his home waters.

“Blues arrived on time, stayed late and blitzed everywhere,” he said.

MAINE HOTSPOTS
Bluefish generally follow schools of mackerel into Maine"s waters, but how far they progress up the coast is uncertain.

Robert Watts, a field staffer for the Maine Department of Marine Resources, said that the 2004 bluefish run was about normal, with fish coming into the Boothbay region and the mouth of the Kennebec River. The most popular spot to intercept them on the Kennebec is Popham Beach. The landing at Phippsburg off Route 209 about halfway from Bath to Popham is a good launching choice.

Surfcasters can drive down Route 209 to Fort Popham, just beyond Popham Beach State Park, and join the crowd on the beachfront. Even when the blues are not in, Popham is a productive surf spot, with lots of boat-anglers trolling just beyond the reach of the surfcasters" longest throws.

The best odds for finding Maine bluefish are from Casco Bay south, where the largest fish are often found by trolling around the offshore islands and rockpiles. Several landings in the Freeport to Portland region service the bay, with one on Route 88 in Falmouth Foreside offering a direct route east.

The next bay south, Saco Bay, especially the area around the mouth of the Saco River, is another perennial favorite. Walk-in anglers can park at Camp Ellis, while boat-anglers launch at the large state boat landing off Route 9 in Biddeford.

For more information, contact Maine"s Department of Marine Resources at (207) 624-9500.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOTSPOTS
Blues showed up last year in above-normal numbers at the usual New Hampshire hotspots, according to Doug Grout, a New Hampshire marine biologist. The Isles of Shoals, a cluster of small islands seven miles off Portsmouth, is the standard for consistent action, but the location makes getting there a problem. A seaworthy craft is a must.

A good starting spot is the back or east side of the island group. The Isles of Shoals can be reached from any landing along the New Hampshire coast.

To work the mouth of the Piscataqua River and Portsmouth Harbor, launch at the gravel landing in downtown Portsmouth"s historic Strawberry Banke area. Just beyond the Strawberry Banke headquarters building, turn left and cross the bridge to Pierce Island. The boat landing is across from the commercial fish pier. Other than the harbor itself, other popular spots include the rocky ledges along Odiorne Point on the south side and in front of Sewards Point on the Maine side.

Most years, the blues work into Great Bay and Little Bay, which are easily accessed from Dover Point Landing at Exit 5 off the Spaulding Turnpike. Searching along the north shore from the Bellamy River around to Adams Point will be productive.

Hampton Harbor, the scene of some good bluefish action last year, and Rye Harbor, have launching facilities for anglers who want to troll along the ocean side.

More information is available from New Hampshire"s Marine Fisheries Division at (603) 868-1095.

MASSACHUSETTS HOTSPOTS
The long Massachusetts shoreline, plus Cape Cod and the islands, present a wide array of possibilities for New England"s bluefishermen. Beginning in the north, the area where the Merrimack River meets the ocean is a popular destination. Launching at the state launching ramp at the Salisbury Beach Reservation on Route 1A puts boaters at the mouth of the river.

Beach-anglers may cast from Salisbury Beach and the small jetty, but the big jetty is too dangerous. Most shore action takes place on the Plum Island side on the riverfront beach, the south jetty and the ocean-side beach. Boat-fishermen work the channel, between the jetties or along the beachfront with bait or trolled lures. Larger boats can easily cross to Cape Ann and the consistent Halibut Point and Thatcher"s Island areas.