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Mid-Atlantic Blues

After a long absence, big bluefish return to the U.S. East Coast
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Ric Burnley
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Perfect for Light Tackle

A light spinning rod makes tangling with chopper bluefish a challenge — and a lot of fun. Ric Burnley
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Follow the Bait

Look for schools of bluefish around the numerous schools of squid, menhaden or sand eels. Ric Burnley
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The live-bait setup uses the same tackle and line configuration as the jigging rig but is rigged with a fish-finder slide and an arm’s length of 80-pound mono leader. The fish-finder slide goes over the main line, and an 8/0 hook is snelled to the leader. Between the leader and the main line, a 200-pound-test swivel holds everything together. To encourage a live croaker to swim into the dark depths of certain doom, clip a 6- to 8-ounce in-line sinker to the fish-finder slide.
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No. 4 1/2 Drone spoons are best for trolling
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