Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
Also known as Tailor, Snapper, Baby blues, Choppers, Elfs
Culinary Profile
Rich, full flavor. The larger the fish, the more pronounced the taste. A strong-flavored, dark strip of meat on the fillet may be removed before cooking.
Coarse, moist meat with edible skin.
Bluefish are a good source of selenium, niacin, vitamin B12, magnesium, and potassium. As apex predators, bluefish can accumulate comparatively high levels of mercury and PCB contaminants. Limited consumption has been recommended in some states.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Bluefish are blue-green on the back and silvery on the sides and belly. They have a prominent jaw, with sharp, compressed teeth.
Biology
Bluefish live up to 12 years. They grow fast, up to 31 pounds and 39 inches. They are able to reproduce at age 2, when they’re 15 to 20 inches in length. Depending on their size, females can have between 400,000 and 2 million eggs. Bluefish spawn multiple times in spring and summer.
Where They Live
Range Along the East Coast from Maine to eastern Florida. Habitat Bluefish live in temperate and tropical coastal oceans around the world, except in the eastern Pacific. They gather by size in schools that can cover tens of square miles of ocean, equivalent to 10,000 football fields.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Fresh year-round, but varies by area. Not available frozen. Buy in season, and plan to cook within a day of purchase.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Massachusetts to Florida.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
In 2024, commercial landings of bluefish totaled 2.3 million pounds and were valued at $2.3 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . In 2023, recreational anglers landed over 13 million pounds of bluefish, according to the NOAA Fisheries recreational fishing landings database . Florida, North Carolina, and New Jersey account for the largest percentage of the recreational bluefish harvest. Peak recreational harvest occurs from May through October with over 70 percent of the catch in July and August. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Recreational fishermen use hook-and-line gear that has minimal impacts on habitat.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 106 Species
Where Bluefish ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B12 | 5.39 µg | 19 / 106 | 82% |
| Zinc | 0.81 mg | 26 / 111 | 77% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 252 mg | 29 / 104 | 72% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 519 mg | 30 / 104 | 71% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Phosphorus | 227 mg | 32 / 111 | 71% |
| Protein | 20.04 g | 33 / 111 | 70% |
| Iron | 0.48 mg | 70 / 111 | 37% |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Bluefish.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahi mahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away darker portions of the meat.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Reported to be quite tasty.
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Mild and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Rich-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the rich flavour profile of Bluefish, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
Almaco jack has a clean, sweet, rich, slightly nutty, buttery flavor.
Atlantic Chub Mackerel
Scomber colias
Rich, pronounced flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Salmon
Salmo salar
Buttery, rich taste.
Atlantic Sea Scallop
Placopecten magellanicus
Sea scallops have a sweet, rich taste that can be mild or briny.
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bluefish found?
Range Along the East Coast from Maine to eastern Florida. Habitat Bluefish live in temperate and tropical coastal oceans around the world, except in the eastern Pacific. They gather by size in schools that can cover tens of square miles of ocean, equivalent to 10,000 football fields.
What does Bluefish eat?
Bluefish live up to 12 years. They grow fast, up to 31 pounds and 39 inches. They are able to reproduce at age 2, when they’re 15 to 20 inches in length. Depending on their size, females can have between 400,000 and 2 million eggs. Bluefish spawn multiple times in spring and summer.
How much selenium does Bluefish provide?
A 100 g raw serving of Bluefish carries 36.5 µg of selenium, about 66% of the 55 µg daily value for adults.
How does Bluefish reproduce?
Bluefish live up to 12 years. They grow fast, up to 31 pounds and 39 inches. They are able to reproduce at age 2, when they’re 15 to 20 inches in length. Depending on their size, females can have between 400,000 and 2 million eggs. Bluefish spawn multiple times in spring and summer.
Who manages the Bluefish fishery?
NOAA Fisheries , the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council , and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission manage the bluefish fishery. Managed under the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan : Commercial fishermen must have a permit to catch and sell bluefish. Managers set an annual catch limit. The majority of catch is allocated to the recreational fisheries.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught bluefish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
According to the 2025 stock assessment, bluefish is not overfished - rebuilding and not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Recreational fishermen use hook-and-line gear that has minimal impacts on habitat. Commercial fishermen use a variety of gears including trawls, gillnets, haul seines, and pound nets, and the impacts vary by gear type.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries , the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council , and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission manage the bluefish fishery. Managed under the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan : Commercial fishermen must have a permit to catch and sell bluefish. Managers set an annual catch limit. The majority of catch is allocated to the recreational fisheries.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 19 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.