catalog Pomatomidae · predator

bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

SeaEstuaryIUCN global: VU · vulnerable

The winter fish of the South and Southeast. It hits jig and sardine hard, jumps, and has teeth that cut line.

Also called: anchova, enchova, anchovinha (jovem), anchovão (grande)

forecast for bluefish where found

common size: 40–60 cm
maximum: 130 cm
common weight: 0.8–3 kg
record/max.: 14.0 kg
depth: 0.5–60 m
ideal water: 16–22 °C

overview

who is the bluefish

The bluefish is the winter fish of the South and Southeast. A fast predator, it moves in schools that chase sardines, manjubas and young mullets in the surf zone, at inlets and around islands and ledges. It comes inshore with cold water, mainly from May to September in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, and follows cold fronts. It hits bait violently, jumps, and has razor-sharp teeth that cut line and the hand. The big ones, over 5 kg, are called jumbo bluefish. It is a fish of jetties, beaches, rocky shores and boats. The meat is oily and tasty, excellent over coals, but it spoils fast: bleed and chill it right away.

fun facts

It is the same species as the bluefish of the United States and Australia.
It hunts in a frenzy: sometimes it kills more fish than it can eat.

how to recognize it

identification

Elongated, sturdy body, blue-green back, silver flanks and a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Large mouth with sharp triangular teeth and a protruding lower jaw. First dorsal low and short, second long. Difference from crevalle jack and blue runner: bluefish has no bony scutes on the lateral line, a more fusiform body and cutting teeth. Versus Spanish mackerel: Spanish mackerel has yellow spots and finlets behind the dorsal fin.

how bluefish fishing looks

Loading the next 7 days…

Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.

distribution

where found

open on the large map

From Espírito Santo to Rio Grande do Sul, with the best season in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul in winter; also important at Cabo Frio, the islands of Rio de Janeiro and the São Paulo coast.

Habitat: Surf zone of beaches, jetties and inlets, rocky shores, islands, ledges and coastal offshore reefs.

coast

Southeast CoastSouth Coastcoastalshelf

states

Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul

famous destinations

Arraial do Cabo and Cabo Frio Angra dos Reis and Ilha Grande Ilhabela and São Sebastião Channel Laguna and Florianópolis — mullet and snook Patos Lagoon — Rio Grande Cassino Beach to Chuí — surfcasting Tramandaí — northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul Bombinhas Rocky Shores — Bombinhas

calendar and clock

when to fish

best season

time of yearbest: May–Aug

JanFebSeaAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Winter is the season: in the South, from May to September, peaking in June and July. In the Southeast it shows up from autumn to spring, more so in cold-water years. In summer, coastal fishing drops off a lot.

best time of day

Daytime, with peaks at dawn and dusk. Strikes are strongest at dawn and dusk; at night it also bites on the beach and at the jetty.

weather, water and behavior

what affects the bluefish
sensitivity The little bars show how much each factor affects this species. Five full: it feels it a lot.

cold and cold fronts

Cold-water fish: cold fronts bring bluefish to the coast. Unseasonal heat delays the season.

atmospheric pressure

After the front, with south wind and the sea going down, it's usually excellent.

moon

Spring tides move bait at inlets and jetties.

rain

Rain doesn't hurt; very muddy water at the inlet drives it off.

water level

Heavy surf prevents fishing at the jetty and rocky shore; two days later, with greenish water, is the time.

noise

Moderate; a school feeding at the surface tolerates a boat, but a motor over the school makes the fish sink.

wind

A moderate south wind helps; a strong northeast wind and warm water shut the bite down.

tide

At inlets and jetties, the ebb concentrates bait leaving the estuary, and it's the most cited tide. On the beach, the flood and mid-tide with foam produce. At slack tide the school scatters.

depth

Surface to 15 m inshore; down to 60 m on the offshore reefs.

technique, gear and bait

how to fish

Rocky shore Beach fishing Mid-water casting Surface casting Jigging Trolling Natural bait on the bottom

rod: rocky shore and beach: 10 to 13 ft, 60 to 150 g; from a boat: 6'6" to 7'0", 20 to 40 lb
spinning / baitcasting reel: spinning reel 5000 to 8000
line: braided line 20 to 40 lb
leader: short crimped wire leader (10 to 15 cm) or fluorocarbon 50 to 60 lb
hook: long-shank hook 2/0 to 5/0; treble hook on the jigs

lures

metal jig 30 to 80 g
colher
popper and zara on the rocky shore
mid-water

natural baits

whole sardine
live small mullet
manjuba
lula

accessories

long pliers (never your hand near the mouth)
knife for bleeding
insulated cooler with ice

tip from an angler

At the jetty and rocky shore, cast a metal jig far and retrieve it fast with jerks. When one strikes, cast again in the same spot: it's a school.

ready-made kit

rocky shore (sargo, snook and bluefish)

Walk-in fishing on rocky shores, with natural bait on the bottom and artificial lures in the foam, always in calm sea.

guide

how to read the beach and rocky shore

Find troughs, sandbars and rip currents, choose tide and time, and fish the rocky shore without risking your life.

guide

how to work artificial lures

Zara, prop bait, popper, jerkbait, shad, jig, spoon and spinnerbait: the right movement for each and how to adjust the rhythm to water temperature and fish activity.

what the law says

rules for the bluefish

Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the national list of threatened species (Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667/2026).

Federal minimum size (35 cm) in the Southeast and South

35 cm (TL)ESRJSPPRSCRSSoutheast CoastSouth Coast

It is banned to fish for, keep on board or land bluefish under 35 cm total length on the coast of ES, RJ, SP, PR, SC and RS.

Source: Instrução Normativa MMA nº 53/2005 (Annex II), MMA

Closed season for bluefish (anchova) on the southern coast (PR, SC and RS)

01/12 to 31/03PRSCRSSouth Coastconfirm with the agency

Article 4 prohibits, every year, "the catching of bluefish (anchova) on the country's southern coast." The rest of the rule covers authorized vessels (coastal purse seine and surface gillnet), which may only start fishing from Apr 1. During the period, transport and sale are allowed only for declared stock or for bluefish caught as bycatch in other authorized fisheries.

Source: Instrução Normativa Interministerial MPA/MMA nº 02/2009, art. 4º

Minimum size: 35 cm

ESRJSPPRSCRSSoutheast CoastSouth Coast

Source: IN MMA nº 53/2005 (coast from ES to RS; total length)

catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.

Use pliers: the teeth cut deep. Hold firmly by the body, release quickly and avoid touching the gills.

in the kitchen

Dark, oily and very tasty meat, good grilled over coals, baked or smoked. Bleed and chill right after catching.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

total length (cm)

Length-weight relationship W = a·L^b (a = 0.01072, b = 2.97; FishBase (estimativa bayesiana, comprimento total)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.

estimated weight

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sources and references

The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.