Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix

How they feed

• Water60–80°F, best near 70°
• TideIncoming
• MoonEither
• DepthUsually 5–50 ft

Scored against their own temperature range and tide preference first, then wind, weather and warnings. Solunar periods only break ties. How the score works

Season by state

• MarylandMay–Oct
• FloridaYear-round
• North CarolinaApr–Nov
• VirginiaMay–Oct
• DelawareMay–Oct
• New JerseyMay–Oct
• New YorkJun–Oct
• South CarolinaApr–Nov
• MassachusettsJun–Sep
• ConnecticutJun–Oct
• Rhode IslandJun–Oct
• GeorgiaMar–Nov
• New HampshireJul–Sep

The Maryland, Delaware and Virginia months are the Chesapeake-region season. Everywhere else it is carried over by water temperature: a month counts at a spot when its usual water is in the range that marks the mid-Atlantic season (61°F and warmer), from the spot’s own gauge where it has one and an estimate from air temperature where it doesn’t. Each state lists the months that hold at half or more of its spots. Where the water temperatures come from.

Keep or release

• Connecticut3 a dayNo minimum size. 3 fish a day from shore or a private boat, 5 on for-hire vessels. Open all year. The federal limit rose to 5 and 7 in 2026, so check CT DEEP before keeping a fourth fish. From the CT 2025 marine rules (last updated May 23, 2025); check CT DEEP for 2026 changes.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Delaware tidal5 a dayDelaware tidal waters: no size limit; 5 a day from shore or a private boat, 7 from a charter boat or headboat. Open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Delaware tidal5 a dayDelaware tidal waters: no size limit; 5 a day from shore or a private boat, 7 from a charter boat or headboat. Open all year.Tidal delaware waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Florida12" minimum · 3 a day12" fork-length minimum, 3 per person a day in Atlantic state waters.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Florida12" minimum · 10 a day12" fork-length minimum, 10 per person a day in Gulf waters, including Monroe County.Gulf waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Georgia12" minimum · 15 a day12" fork-length minimum, 15/person/day. Open May 1–Feb 28.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Maryland tidal8" minimum · 5 a dayMaryland Atlantic coast and coastal bays: 8" minimum; 5 a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on a for-hire boat (up from 3 and 5 in 2025). Open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Maryland tidal8" minimum · 5 a dayMaryland Chesapeake Bay: 8" minimum; 5 a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on a for-hire boat (up from 3 and 5 in 2025). Open all year.Tidal bay waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Massachusetts5 a dayNo minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• New Hampshire5 a dayNo minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• New Jersey5 a dayNo minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat; 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• New Jersey5 a dayNo minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat; 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.Tidal delaware waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• New York5 a dayNo minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• North Carolina5 a dayNo minimum size. 5 fish/day from shore or private boat; 7/day on for-hire vessels.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Potomac River Fisheries Commission8" minimum · 5 a dayTidal Potomac main stem (PRFC): 8" minimum; 5 a day, 7 on a for-hire boat. Open all year.Tidal potomac waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Rhode Island5 a dayNo minimum size. 5 fish a day from shore or a private boat, 7 on for-hire vessels. Open all year.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• South Carolina5 a dayNo minimum size. 5/person/day (7 on for-hire).Atlantic waters · verified Oct 21, 2026 · source
• Virginia tidal (VMRC)5 a dayVirginia marine waters: no size limit, 5 a day, including on for-hire trips.Atlantic waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Virginia tidal (VMRC)5 a dayVirginia marine waters: no size limit, 5 a day, including on for-hire trips.Tidal bay waters · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source

Rules change, and they differ by state and often by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water. Bluefish are fished at spots in 13 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia.