The Perception of Stripers Vs. Blues: An Oral Account from Respected Long Island Anglers

All Photos by James Manning (@theanglerslens)
Interviewees Highlighted below
Organized by Rich Nardo

Bluefish and Striped Bass are two iconic species that inhabit the waters around Long Island. They’re both top-tier predators integral to our marine ecosystem and prized targets for anglers throughout the northeast. Despite playing a similar role in the food chain, they are vastly different fish. I was lucky enough to speak with a handful of anglers that I have a lot of respect for in order to get a better idea of how blues and stripers are perceived by anglers and where the similarities and differences lie. 

Thank you to the following for taking the time to answer my questions:

James Manning (@theanglerslens) - James Manning is known for his stunning photos of marine species. As someone who enjoys fishing and photography, James’ Instagram is one of my favorites to follow and it’s an honor that he let me use his photos in this blog as well.  

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - Triton Charters operate out of Freeport, Long Island. Captain Mike has put me on the two biggest fish I’ve caught in my first few years fishing. They’ve also been on top of the tuna bite all summer. Highly recommend booking a trip on The Triton. 

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - Chris Paparo is an outdoors writer, lecturer and naturalist. I’m a huge fan of his work and I’ve learned a ton from his Instagram alone. In addition to his work as a writer and photographer, he also currently manages the new Marine Sciences Center at the Southampton campus of Stony Brook University. 

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - Tim Regan is a Surf/Fly fishing guide on the south fork of Long Island and a field editor for On The Water Magazine. His awesome drone footage has made his YouTube channel a favorite of Long Island anglers, and I follow his fishing reports religiously. We’ve worked together on two previous blogs: An Examination of the Importance of Bunker and A Look at Striper Fishing in The Fall Run. 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - Anthony Gucciardo is the social media and marketing manager for nyangler.com. It’s a great resource for all things New York fishing and Anthony is a well-respected advocate for the sportfishing community. 

Mike Mizvesky (@dekit_tristate) - Mike Mizvesky is the owner of Dekit Marine Products, one of the most respected companies in the northeast when it comes to non-skid boat flooring. He’s also a tremendous fisherman with an incredible knowledge of both the south shore and the Long Island Sound. 

Jacqueline Molina (@Jmolina319) - Jacqueline is an accomplished angler and hunter who is best known as a co-founder of Long Island Babes and Bucks. She’s a brand ambassador for Elite Archery, a Pro Staff member for Busted WhiteTail, and a valuable voice in the Long Island outdoors community. 

Victor Lucia (@BrooklynFishingClub) - Victor Lucia is the founder of the premiere fishing club in NYC, Brooklyn Fishing Club. I’ve learned a lot about the local fishing community (and fishing in general) through his posts and he’s also the host of my favorite podcast, Brooklyn Fishing Club Podcast. 

Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish) - Shane Etter is a mate on The Triton and one of my favorite Long Island wildlife photographers. We’ve previously worked on two blogs together around his amazing captures of the Owls and other Raptors that can be found on Long Island. 

Ray Smith (@blacksmithbreads) - Ray is the co-owner of Blacksmith Breads in Long Beach. He’s also a talented surfcaster who has been slaying it from the beach this summer. 

Keir Feiler (@KeirFeiler) - Keir is an incredible chef who works at Grotta di Fuoco in Long Beach. He’s also an avid fisherman, and uses his creativity as a chef to make amazing dishes out of catches that a lot of people consider ‘trash fish’. 

The Case for Bass...

There is a reason that the Striped Bass is the state saltwater fish of New York. They’re big, beautiful fish that don’t suffer lazy anglers. They fight hard, but the pursuit is usually what causes fishermen to spend most of the year looking forward to the legendary fall run. 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - The best part about striper fishing for me is the hunt. When you target these fish in the surf there is an incredible amount of variables that go into success. Finding your spots and learning what time of the year, tides, winds, bait presence, moon phase, and other variables produce the best results. 

James Manning (@theanglerslens) - When targeting Striped Bass I love to sight fish for them on flats or just in shallow water. There's nothing quite like seeing them cruising, reading their direction and presenting a crab fly to them and they charge at it (or sometimes away from it)! It's incredibly challenging but the rewards are equally incredible. You have to do everything right to make it happen. The clear skinny water means they are going to respond to the slightest disturbance. The hard part is cutting them off with that crab and making them think it's real. I feel like they just get smarter when they are on the flats, turning down a lot of imitations and forcing you to bring your "A Game". The photography aspect is also great in the shallow water. I frequently put a polarized filter on a lens and photograph bass hunting in the shallows.

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - The challenge. A bluefish sees something move, and usually decides to kill it. A striper sees something, and goes to investigate before making the decision to eat. If your presentation isn’t realistic, the striper says no. 

Ray Smith (@blacksmithbreads) - I like the small intricacies in trying to find them. Navigating around what offerings seem to be working best. Drawing from past experiences in trying something new and then reaping the benefits of that choice is extremely rewarding. In a way, it’s a brief moment of connectedness between the mind of man and fish.

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - I would have to say the possibility that exists in every session to catch a trophy fish, possibly your best fish ever. 

The Case For Blues…

If bass are more cerebral, a blitz of blues is violence incarnate. In 1953, one of the founding directors of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute described them as “perhaps the most ferocious and bloodthirsty fish in the sea”. They’re built to kill and don’t hesitate to make use of that skill set. They may be easier to hook than stripers, but they’re going to make you fight for every inch you gain on them.

So what is your favorite thing about targeting bluefish? 

Keir Feiler (@KeirFeiler) - It’s like fighting a pissed-off teenager.

James Manning (@theanglerslens) - As far as Bluefish, I love to target the "Gators" mid summer mostly on top water. The aggressiveness and determination of a bluefish that's locked onto your topwater fly is quite a thrill. I typically use a 9wt fly rod and when you have a 15lb blue on the other end, you're in for a battle. I find the fight to be a bit more intense as well. Bluefish will dance, they have no issue breaching clear out of the water which can often lead to them shaking that fly out. This can also provide some great photography opportunities. Just like you have to lead a bass on the flats with your fly by knowing it's direction, you have to lead a breaching bluefish with your zoom lens if you want to get that airborne photograph.

Mike Mizvesky (@dekit_tristate) - Watching them slam topwater plugs and the fight that ensues. 

Jacqueline Molina (@Jmolina319) - Bluefish are strong, tough fish. My favorite thing about it is that I never set out to catch them, yet always do.

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - The adrenaline I get watching them blow up on surface presentations.

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - The fight they provide, and the topwater strikes. 

Differences When They’re On the Line

“Bluefish are a physical game, and stripers are a mental game.” - Tim Regan (@SouthForkSalt)

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - Striped bass tend to pull more, while a bluefish seems to be a more back and forth swimming pattern.

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - bluefish tend to hook themselves, they will likely eat anything moving that you place in front of them. Bass can be a little trickier, but a good hook set always helps. I don’t do anything too different from that point on. Keep the line tight, that’s rule #1. 

Victor Lucia (@BrooklynFishingClub) - Blues fight harder and hit harder. 

Ray Smith (@blacksmithbreads) - Personally, I feel that stripers put up a more educated survival fight.  Maybe it’s just what I want to think. To me, Bluefish are goofy. The struggle that stripers put up has a more determined energy. 

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - I think they have a similar amount of muscle. A bluefish has more energy and will fight you harder for a longer time. A striper has that bigger tail though, so its runs are going to be more sudden, and longer. A bluefish’s head shakes are pretty unmistakable. There’s no difference in my approach to each fight, the only difference is the fish’s approach. Stripers are typically smarter about using current and structure to their advantage.

Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish) - For two fish that are often lumped together when targeting the other, they could not be any more different in what they’ll choose to eat and how they fight. Both will consume bait (i.e - the snag and drop of live bunker) and both love the diamond jig. However, to me, bluefish are much more fun to fight. They are hard, gritty creatures that fight tooth and nail to the bitter end. Often times you think you’ve won, that is until the bluefish reaches the boat and makes yet another drag-screaming run for the bottom. Bass are powerful for their size; big muscular fish that make far and fast initial runs. Oftentimes, they tire themselves out and much of the fight is just reeling in dead weight. Bluefish have large mouths filled with rows of sharp teeth, so many anglers choose to use wire leader when targeting them. 

The Jury’s Out...

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - Bluefish get my adrenaline going, and stripers get my brain going. If I had to choose one fish to target for the rest of my life, it would be stripers, for that reason. I like catching bluefish more, for the crazy fight, high jumps, and delicious meat. Stripers just provide a tougher challenge, more often.

Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish) - Many prefer bass because of the eating quality of the meat but to me (someone who rarely eats fish) nothing beats bluefish fishing. Bluefish in the middle of a frenzy will hit almost any lure you toss at them, while bass can sometimes be finicky and picky about what they choose to swallow. Especially when there are large quantities of live bait around. 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - If I had to choose between the two, I’d choose Striped Bass. Although nothing beats a good topwater gator bluefish bite. 

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - Not really. For me fishing is being on the water, it really does not matter what I am targeting. 

Jacqueline Molina (@Jmolina319) - I don’t have a preference. I don’t really set out to specifically fish for bluefish, I usually end up catching them especially while fishing for fluke which is my favorite. 

Keir Feiler (@KeirFeiler) - I have a pretty laissez faire attitude when it comes to fishing. I aim to go after bluefish in the hopes of catching stripers. 

I came across the quote “Striped bass fishing is like a fine wine, to be appreciated on many subtle levels and appropriately savored. Bluefish are more like a shot of whiskey, providing a quick rush that can go straight to your head.” Is this a good way to sum it up? 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - This quote hits the nail on the head. Like I said before, the hunt for large striped bass becomes almost an obsession to some people. Dedicating large sums of money, taking week-long vacations from work to fish a certain moon phase, ignoring your spouse or girlfriend - all things that even I’ve done in pursuit of Morone Saxatilis. But when you are successful, it’s like having a bottle of high-end cabernet sauvignon from some fancy vineyard in California with a tomahawk steak. Getting into a good gator bluefish blitz is like slamming shots of tequila with your buddies at the bar (pre covid, lol). 

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - Well it ain’t drinking, it’s fighting; but if a shot of bluefish goes straight to your head, a glass of striper goes straight to your soul. To me, fighting a trophy bluefish is like hand-to-hand combat with a long-nailed crazy person who is shorter than me. I feel like I always have the upper hand, mistakes can be made, and I can potentially win on the next cast if I fail. Fighting a trophy striper is like going against Goliath: make one mistake and you lose, with no chance of redemption. That will haunt you forever.

Mike Mizvesky (@dekit_tristate) - I agree. It’s about changing tactics and presentation. 

Ray Smith (@blacksmithbreads) - I like that one a lot.  Given the nature of my career, I like the long game.

Victor Lucia (@BrooklynFishingClub) - Agreed.

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - I don't really agree with that statement and I feel it comes back to the first question. Fishing for me is about being on the water. Catching is always a nice bonus, whether it's a bass, bluefish or some other species. 

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - I understand the quote, but I tend to keep things a little simpler. A bent rod is a good time almost all of the time. 

Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish) - Completely agree, a bluefish will eat anything. A coworker recently told me that he and his buddies used to wrap snell hooks in tin foil and cast them into surfacing blues. He said one of the largest bluefish he’d ever caught came doing that. To me, that showcases perfectly my points on how bluefish will eat anything you can put in front of their faces. If you can find the bluefish, then you can catch the bluefish. Bass are more difficult to find and even when you find them it’s not always a guarantee that they will eat. Bass are more finesse, and blues are more fury. 

The Blitz

Unfortunately, both Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold seem to have trouble anticipating where pressure is coming from, but IDing a blitz is a little easier for an experienced angler…

Here are three ways to figure out if it's blues or bass hitting a bait ball.

1 - Surface Water
Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - A bluefish frenzy almost always makes the water look as it is rapidly boiling. Striped bass can feed like this as well, but if they are feeding on small bait fish or cinder worms at the surface, they will often slowly slurp their prey off the surface. 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - Stripers have a very distinct “slurp” when they are feeding on the surface. Bluefish are more reckless and will tear through a baitball. 

2 - The Bait
Mike Mizvesky (@dekit_tristate) - Sometimes, when feeding on large schools of bait, bass seem to stay in the same area longer, bluefish often push the bait around moving the location from one area to another very quickly. 

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - If there’s lots of blood, it’s most likely bluefish. Bluefish stick their tails out in the spring, so you can see that forked tail, which is a dead giveaway. Both fish will breach, another dead giveaway. If the action is far out, and I can’t see the fish or catch them, I probably wouldn’t be able to differentiate.

3 - Visual ID
Victor Lucia (@BrooklynFishingClub) - Yes, from their tails. 

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - Sure. Bluefish and bass will breach the surface on a topwater feed. So, identifying them isn’t all that hard. Sometimes they will feed together. 

Perception

Striper fishing is something anglers often look forward to all year. Bass are planned for and pursued with vigor and research. Bluefish are loved, but catching one isn’t usually seen as treading on such hallowed ground. 

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - My personal opinion is this, striped bass are a trophy fish. Meaning guys will chase them relentlessly in search of the big one. Since there is the chance to score a 50lb striper either from shore or boat, this puts them well above the bluefish. 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - I believe striped bass are more revered by anglers for a few reasons. Historically, Striper fishing was considered a sport for the wealthy and upper-class folk. The “gamefish” mentality was passed down through generations. Also, a bluefish will top out at around 18-20lbs (if you’re lucky) while bass can push to the upper 50 and 60 pound class. The possibility of landing a fish that size gives the species a plus one over the hard fighting bluefish. 

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - Yes, I agree that is how most angler feel, but I do not agree with the sentiment. Why do they feel this way? Sometimes bass can be a bit more difficult to catch, while bluefish will hit just about anything you throw at them. Additionally, bluefish are less forgiving as a meal if you do not properly care for the fish once it is caught. They must be bled and iced. Additionally, if a blue thrashes around on the beach, deck of the boat, or in the cooler, the meat becomes bruised and even if you bleed the fish, you never get all of the blood out of the flesh. Because of this, many anglers feel that bluefish taste like garbage making bluefish less revered. Striped bass also benefit from proper care, but it has been my experience that you can be a little sloppy with the after catch care and still end up with a decent meal. 

James Manning (@theanglerslens) - As far as other anglers' preference between bass and blues, I think historically most would choose the striped bass.  In some ways, the bass can be more challenging as they will often take one swipe at a fly and not return whereas a blue fish may keep attacking it until it hits it's target. Stripers also get big, really big. People love to fish for big fish

Jacqueline Molina (@Jmolina319) - Stripers are beautiful fish, very majestic. But the fight a bluefish puts up is admirable. A big blue can easily pull more line than a striper would. Watching a blue jump during the fight is definitely an experience. 

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - I think the main factor is size potential. A striper can grow to be three times heavier than the heaviest bluefish. Also, nobody likes to get their lure bitten off. With stripers, you can conceivably catch hundreds of fish on the same lure. Bluefish just won’t allow that.

Keir Feiler (@KeirFeiler) - Bass are definitely more revered by anglers. Probably because people are more likely to eat the bass. 

Ray Smith (@blacksmithbreads) - It goes back to my comment above.  I see the striper as a more intellectual fish. There is both a learned and intuitive aspect needed when fishing stripers. I have only brushed the surface with them but, thanks to the help of a lot of more seasoned anglers willing to share their experiences, each application uncovers deeper understanding. From a culinary standpoint, you have two edible fish. One requires very little work to enjoy, the other requires a bit of finesse and care to bring to the surface the enjoyable qualities of it. I love a properly prepared bluefish but I have a much broader pallet with stripers in which to paint on. Perhaps some would say it’s a reflection of my culinary skill. Maybe so.

Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish) - In my opinion, bass are the more revered sporting fish for two reasons. One, the obvious quality of their meat as compared to that of the bluefish and two, the sheer sizes that breeding females reach. I believe that the NY state record bluefish is about twenty five pounds, while the state record Striped Bass is 75 pounds, nearly fifty pounds heavier than its blue counterpart. So when you fish for striped bass, there will always be that chance that you hook into a cow, or a fish of a lifetime. 

The Diamond Jig is King

If you ask ten anglers what their go-to lure/bait is, you’ll likely get more than a few different answers. Their responses will also likely be dependent on time of year, what bait is in the water, the tides, whether it's from the surf or boat, and what time of the day you’re fishing. That being said, one lure seems to show up in the ‘producer’ column more often than any other. 

Victor Lucia (@BrooklynFishingClub) - Diamond jigs. (regarding stripers or blues)

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - Diamond jigs. (regarding blues)

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - In the spring, I prefer to troll mojos in areas I know are holding fish for whatever reason. Fall is different and nothing beats a good jig bite. Can’t lose with an old school diamond jig.  (regarding bass)

Ray Smith (@blacksmithbreads) - Off the beaches here in Long Beach, I can’t seem to get them to hit anything else but the Diamond Jig during the day.  Sunset and evening it’s all Needlefish.  They seem to love the 6.5” Super Strikes but I'm hoping to get some bigger ones on the 7.5” as the season progresses.  The darters get bumped but I haven’t pulled one in on them yet. (regarding bass)

Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish) - Well, I can answer this question in two ways. The first being what works best from the boat. Aboard Triton Charters we always have luck using the classic diamond jig. Any color, and any weight will do. Just make sure it's heavy enough to reach the bottom. The second way I can answer the question is what works best from the shore. While the diamond jig also works well from the shore, many times it becomes snagged on rough bottom or structure. I’ve found most of my success with slot sized stripers or from jetty always comes on the Daiwa six inch SP Minnow, in the classic “Bunker” pattern. (regarding bass)

Keir Feiler (@KeirFeiler) - Diamond jig or the super strike. (regarding blues)

Mike Mizvesky (@dekit_tristate) - Diamond jig or popper. (regarding blues)

Ray Smith (@blacksmithbreads) - Deadly Dicks, Diamond Jigs are number one but I’ve got them to hit on this little Mag Darter I have with a reflective gold bottom.  (regarding blues)

While it’s good to have a diamond jig ready to go, don’t discount the value of having a wider arsenal available. 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - My most consistent producing lure for striped bass under a ton of different conditions would have to be a minnow plug like a Rapala XRap or a Daiwa SP Minnow. Just swap out the hardware! Bait wise, a striper will never pass up a live eel if it’s in front of its face. (regarding bass)

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - Bucktails (regarding bass)

Mike Mizvesky (@dekit_tristate) - Bucktails & Shad or spoons & mojos on the troll (regarding bass)

Jacqueline Molina (@Jmolina319) - Right now I would troll on a boat and use an SP minnow, diamond jig, buck tail, and clam bellies. Also would use top water popping plugs (super strike little neck in yellow or parrot color). I would do the same for bluefish, too. (regarding bass and blues)

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - My most consistent bait is mole crabs. I use a lot of bucktail jigs and bucktail flies as well. Soft plastics on jig heads get honorable mention. Single hooks are by far the best approach. (regarding bass)

Keir Feiler (@KeirFeiler) - Super strike white with red nose. (regarding bass)

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - I like to throw poppers just because the strikes are so awesome to watch, but you can use anything from a swimbait to a bucktail and have it be effective. (regarding blues)

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - For bluefish, I’d say similar plugs are used just as much, but 9/10 times a popper will come out of my bag if the blues are around. There is nothing like watching a teen sized bluefish demolish a pencil popper in a calm surf. (regarding blues)

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - Blues love metal lures and surface lures. In the spring, for a topwater bite, I’ll switch between a spook, a pencil popper, and a regular popper. Flies- I’ll throw a gurgler or crease fly for topwater. Crease flies tend to last pretty long.  (regarding blues)

From Dock to Dish…

There is no shortage of people that are more than happy to take home a striper and make a meal for their family, but bluefish are better eating than they’re given credit for. 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - I enjoy eating bluefish, but I usually don't keep anything over 5-6lbs. I find the smaller fish are less oily and taste better. I usually bake it in the oven with breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs and olive oil. 

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - Yes, all the time. Broiled, baked, fried, smoked, and my favorite is served as ceviche. 

Jacqueline Molina (@Jmolina319) - I’ve done bluefish fillets baked in a tin foil wrap. Mix in a lot of lemon, butter, herbs, salt and pepper. I pair it with risotto and asparagus. I don’t eat it often, but when I do make it, that’s how I prepare it.

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - Oh hell yes. Catch a 4-8 pound fish and cut its gills IMMEDIATELY. Hold it by the tail in the water and let it bleed out for a couple minutes. Cut nice fillets. Remove the skin. There are three sections of meat going long-ways. Cut along the dividing lines so that you have three long slivers of meat. Cut the red meat off the bottom corners, cut the bone sections out.

Now you have three clean slivers of meat. Cut them into a bunch of small chunks. Have three bowls ready: one with flour, one with scrambled egg, and one with spices/bread crumbs. Dip each chunk in each bowl, making sure to cover them thoroughly with each ingredient. Deep fry the chunks in a pot with some oil. Heat tortillas on a pan. Make guacamole, preferably with some mango/pineapple. Make slaw with red cabbage. Combine. Consume with Corona and lime.

Keir Feiler (@KeirFeiler) - Definitely eat them. I cook for a living. So sustainability is always in my mind. 

Mike Mizvesky (@dekit_tristate) - Just got a smoker, it’s fantastic. Making Dip is a new hobby.

Ray Smith (@blacksmithbreads) - I do. I will soak them in buttermilk for 24 hours giving them a fresh buttermilk bath after 12.  My preferred cooking method is smoking it and letting more of that pungent oil drip out.  A fun thing to make with the carcass is to heat it in milk after the smoker.  The acidity will curdle the milk, strain in and you’re left with a fun smoky ricotta.

But not everybody is sold...

Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish) - No, I do not eat bluefish. Everyone that eats them will tell you they have the secret to making bluefish taste “less fishy” or “less oily”. Whether it's smoking them, making ceviche, or soaking the filets in milk overnight. In my opinion, none of it works, it's all disgusting, just let them swim off. Unless you’re using the for shark bait, that is. 

Victor Lucia (@BrooklynFishingClub) - Catch and Release blues. 

And if you don’t have a favorite way to prepare striped bass, here are some pretty damn good options. 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - I definitely prefer eating striped bass, although I will usually only keep a fish around 28-30 inches. Again I find the smaller fish taste way better. I prepare it a number of different ways, but I recently tried stuffing it with crab meat and baking it, and it was fantastic.

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - I spread soft butter along the top of a steak/fillet. Put minced garlic on top, plus salt and pepper. Broil for a few minutes. Squeeze some lemon on top and eat!

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - I typically bake striped bass and if they are on the smaller side, sashimi is another favorite. I actually prefer fresh bluefish over striped bass.

Jacqueline Molina (@Jmolina319) - I actually follow this Martha Stewart recipe for striped bass! It’s grilled lightly brown on the outside, then drizzled with lemon juice, thyme, oregano, garlic, pepper. 

Keir Feiler (@KeirFeiler) - I’m less likely to do a whole lot to bass than bluefish. It’s a super subtle white flake fish. Whereas bluefish has a higher oil/fat content. Currently working on a bluefish tikka masala. 

Mike Mizvesky (@dekit_tristate) - Have fun with it or classic oil garlic and lemon. I always butterfly filets to make them like this where appropriate. 

Ray Smith (@blacksmithbreads) - I don’t think you can ever go wrong with a crudo served with chillies, citrus and good olive oil but if i’m going to cook it i’m simple.  Brown butter all the way.

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - Pan fried. I usually heat a cast iron skillet hot with a lot of butter, garlic, and herbs, then place the fish skin side down, cook hot until its nice and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. My personal favorite. 

Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish) - Not a huge fan of the way striped bass taste either. BUT any fish fried can be delicious. I like to cut the smaller filets into even smaller pieces, dip them in a homemade beer batter, and fry them. Otherwise, can’t go wrong pan searing the filets in butter and lemon. Simple, yet always delicious. I find its best to not try and reinvent the wheel while cooking fish. 

Respect and Conservation

A lot of attention was paid to recent adjustments to the bag limits for striped bass, but issues with the bluefish fishery also led to limiting keepers. Is it due to the fact that stripers are so revered that these new rules flew under the radar? 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - There are a few reasons why there was so much commotion around the recent striped bass bag changes. A lot of for-hire vessels (party and charter boats) rely on this fishery for a majority of their income. A bag change was not in their favor. Also, the release mortality rate of striped bass is an issue for both the recreational and for-hire sectors. Improper release techniques can kill a large “out of slot” fish. The bluefish bag limit does raise an eyebrow to a possible depletion of the species locally over the past few seasons. 

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - To me it seems like most anglers feel they did not do enough for bass and were too strict for bluefish. 

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - Yes. Everybody wants a piece of the striper pie: commercials, charters, and recreational anglers all become boisterous over bass. The striper is a lucrative fish to target. Bluefish, not so much.

Ray Smith (@blacksmithbreads) - Most of the fishermen that I actually talk to around here seem to be struggling to get anything to bite their ‘set-it and forget-it while I drink beer’ rigs so I don’t think they actually care all that much. The guys I know out on the east end are all ecologically moral individuals and can see the bigger picture. We all agree that these limits are to offset an imbalance in our fisheries that maybe should have been looked at much sooner.  Perhaps if there wasn’t that finesse I spoke about earlier in preparing bluefish more people would be happy to enjoy them and maybe a bigger fuss would be made.

Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish) - Of course, like I said before many people don’t consume bluefish. There is an industry for striped bass meat. However, I must side with the changes. In seasons past, you’d always come across the gruesome photo of a charter boat deck layered with bloody striped bass. What people tend to forget, is that most of the large striped bass caught are the female ‘breeders’. So many of the fish that were responsible for carrying on the next generations of striped bass were being taken. I personally thought the slot limit was genius. Much like the southern states do with redfish, it protects the larger fish from being taken. PLUS, it takes striped bass YEARS to get that large. A 35 to 55 pound striped bass is anywhere from 15 to 30 years old. I always found it a shame to kill a creature that had survived longer in the wild than I have in capacity. In the ocean, nonetheless, a very unforgiving place.

Closing Thoughts

Being able to survey so many anglers that I have tremendous respect for to make this article was an honor. The fact that so many of their closing thoughts included notes about the need to respect both species made getting their opinions that much more valuable to me. 

James Manning (@theanglerslens) -  I'm definitely not against people legally harvesting fish but I would urge anglers to educate themselves on the diminishing numbers of these species we value so highly. It's incredible to hear the stories from the older generation, stories of 30lb bass chasing crabs around the flats. Stories about a fishery that seems completely different than the fishery we have inherited now. 

Anthony Gucciardo (@theny_angler) - Both of these species are highly targeted by anglers all over the Island. If there is one thing I could say, only take what you will eat and allow the others to go back unharmed. With the increase of people fishing over the last few years, It’s important we are responsible in order to preserve the future of our delicate fishery. 

Chris Paparo (@fishguyphotos) - One thing we all need to learn is to respect all of our marine resources, not just the bass and blues. Take from it (the resource) what you will reasonably use and release the rest (even the “trash fish”). And realize, just because it swims away does not always mean it will survive. If a fish is to be released, take the proper time needed to revive the fish before it’s release. Don't simply kick the fish back into the water so you can make another cast before the blitz ends. And forget about getting the “amazing” pic for likes on social media. Live in the moment and safely release the fish for tomorrow’s dinner or fishing experience. 

Mike Mizvesky (@dekit_tristate) - Both species are fantastic targets for anglers, providing both fun on the rod and reel and technical challenges. Each fish has its own distinct characteristics that should be appreciated by all who target them. 

Victor Lucia (@BrooklynFishingClub) - I love them both equally. But I’d rather fight a gator blues on light tackle than a jumbo striper on light tackle. 

Captain Mike Alfieri (@triton_charters) - In the end, treat a bluefish the way you treat a striped bass and vice versa. Fishing is pretty simple. Have fun and respect the water. 

Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish) - Let em go, let em grow. 

Tim Regan (@southforksalt) - Please treat them both nicely!