Bluefish as bait

[colad]

So as my fishing season is over I am looking forwars to next year. I began shark fishing this year landing multiple blues, 2 makos and a thresher on the boat....

Bluefish has caught the Makos and Threshers and if I wasn't before I am now a convert to using it as a primary bait.

My question is how to store it. freezing fillets sucks for human consumption (I love fresh bluefish) but does it effect its uses as a bait? Should you freeze it whole or freeze fillets, if whole should it be gutted? any personal experience would be helpful.

My initial thought was load up on bluefish in May and June and then fillet many using the carcass to grind for chum.

Lastly if given the option would you use two month old Bluefish chum you made or store bought frozen bunker chum?

Thanks for any opinions...am already wishing the winter to be gone!

[ElMar2530]

When we used to fish the Montauk Tourneys in June, I would catch up the big guys in the fall and rig them with a stinger hook and freeze them that way. They weren't as pretty as fresh stuff but we stll got Threshers and Mako on them. Fresh bait is always better though but you take what you can.

[Parapapam]

Fresh is better than frozen. No question about it. But if I freeze them for chum (ground) or chunks (knife cut), I freeze them whole.... the bloodier and juicier the better. I don't bleed them or gut them.

I sure wouldn't eat them this way, but then again I don't chew on week old rotting whale carcass either.

As far as my 2 month old stuff versus store bought bunker.... I would definately go with my old bluefish unless you know the guys who made the store bought stuff.

Mike

[On The Edge]

Colad Welcome to Sharkin.
1st thing Fresh anything is better then frozen anything.

You can freeze blues whole or filets, it really depends on how you will be using them. If you are going to use a filet as bait then freeze it as a filet. If you are going to use a whole or butterflied blue then freeze it whole. I typicaly will freeze the smaller ones whole and the big boys get fileted or ground for chum.

Ideal bait for the day if you are going sharkin is try to catch a few blues on the way out. That way you have as fresh a bait as possible (Live or dead).

And in responce to your last question i like to use my own chum which usualy consists of ground mackeral i catch in the spring by the hundreds. So i would say my own chum over purchased bunker chum.

BTW if you ever need crew for a shark run, gimme a shout. Sharkin is probably my favorite type of fishin..

After all we are practily neighbors

[paul young]

i don't think you would be very happy with frozen fillets. they will be very mushy.

my favorite bait is a large mackeral, with 12" or so squid a close second. these you can catch in the spring and freeze whole with good results.

fresh blues are a great bait! catch a half dozen or so and slash their throats before putting them in a cooler. once you're done baitfishing and on you way offshore, fill the remaining space in the cooler with 20 lbs of ice and seawater. when you get to your spot and start your drift, pull the cooler up to a scupper and loosen the plug for a supercharged start to your slick. just let it trickle out over a 20 minute or so period.

you also will have nice firm fillets for bait!

tie the racks off to the side of the boat on some 20-30 lb line and every so often pull them up and scrape some meat off to sweeten your slick.

but , as i said, i would want to have a dozen or so each of frozen squid and mackeral aboard in case the blues are scarce that day.-Paul

[Wayward Sun]

I like to freeze my blues whole then I kinda use them as ice in the cooler to keep my other baits like squid an clams cold. As far as chum goes I sware by Bluefish chum for the makos I like making my own chum so it dont smell like every other weekend warrior
I was also curious?? 90% of the makos I've caught were my first shark of the trip has anyone else noticed that? I was wondering if the bluedogs get to the boat slower

[striper swiper]

Bluefish are soft if you freeze fillets you need to prep them right. First when catching them take a cooler or 5 gallon bucket fill with saltwater and 10#s of ice 1 box of kosher salt and a # of arm and hammer. Fillet and soak for the rest of the trip at least 2 hrs. Back at the dock empty the water slurry. You can make this or buy Bionic brine Mix 1 box of kosher salt and 1 pound of baking soda is the proportions cover each fillet till they are dry not just covered. Either ziplock without the air or vacume pack. Place in the freezer. There should be enough salt so they don't freeze hard in the freezer. If they freeze hard you need more salt next time. The nice thing is that this will go from freezer to hook without a thawing period. As has been stated they are not as good as fresh caught but it does work

[tmack92]

I was a first mate on a very well known Capt who is known for his shark fishing, we NEVER used frozen bluefish, always fresh and live. I have personally seen the difference frozen to fresh makes, we dropped 2 month old frozen fillets to sharks with not even a sniff, put a fresh fillet on and they were fighting for it.

Never though sharks were picky, boy was I wrong. Will you catch with frozen fillets, absoututley, but fresh will out fish every time...

[SaltyDog]

I dont think the freshness of the bait matters as much as fresh chum. Thats really is the key from my experience. Once you bring them in they will eat what you got as long its reasonable well presented. Spice it up with a little Berkley scent spray...

[ChumSlickRick]

Fresh everything, and live blues. It's not like going down to the pond chasin' bluegills and tommycods.