Gear & Tackle

Bluefish

Bluefish Fishing in Maryland

Toothy, aggressive schooling fish of the Atlantic coast that blitz bait in the surf and bays.

Waters
2
State
Maryland
Water
Saltwater
Methods
Fly, Spin & Bait

Best Months in Maryland: May to Oct

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Bluefish
Image: Duane Raver, USFWS · Public domain

Licenses & Regulations

Most anglers need a Maryland fishing license; age cutoffs and exemptions are set by the state. Seasons, limits, and tackle rules vary by water, so check current regulations before you go.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Plan by Month

Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Bluefish

Month

4 picks for October.

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Rod & Reel

Bluefish Setup

Fly

9 ft 9 wt rod, intermediate line, wire or 40 lb bite tippet.

Spin / Cast

7 to 9 ft medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000 to 5000 reel, 20 lb braid with a wire leader.

Maryland

Where to Catch Bluefish

2 of 2 waters

Saltwater & Coast · Maryland

Ocean City Inlet

The inlet at Ocean City, where anglers work the jetty rocks for sheepshead and stripers, flounder hold in the channels, and mackerel and albies run close to shore.

Sheepshead · Flounder · Striped Bass

Saltwater & Coast · Maryland

Point Lookout

The tip of Maryland where the Potomac meets the Chesapeake, with a long state park pier and a lower Bay mix of stripers, red drum, speckled trout, and bluefish.

Striped Bass · Redfish · Speckled Trout

Maryland

Shops to Stock Up

Recommended

Gear for Bluefish

Jigs

Spro Bucktail Jigs

Durable hair jigs for stripers, fluke, and anything that eats baitfish.

Check Price

Reels

Penn Battle III Spinning Reel

A metal-bodied reel built to survive saltwater and big runs.

Check Price

Spoons

Acme Kastmaster Spoon

A dense spoon that casts a mile and flutters on the fall.

Check Price

Metal Jigs

Deadly Dick Deadly Dick Metal Jig

A small, heavy casting jig for fast-moving albies and mackerel.

Check Price

Bluefish Fishing by State

Massachusetts (5)New Jersey (4)Florida (4)New York (3)Rhode Island (2)Maryland (2)Delaware (2)North Carolina (2)Georgia (1)Alabama (1)Maine (1)South Carolina (1)Virginia (1)Connecticut (1)