Fishing for Blue Fish

Bluefish (Potatomus salatrix) is a tenacious saltwater fish that provides some of the best angling thrills on light tackle. They are mainly thought of as an Eastern United States fish, although they are found in most temperate waters throughout the world, except in the cooler waters of the northern Pacific.

Bluefish are schooling fish built for speed and power. They are a blue green shade along the top of the body near the dorsal fins, and have silvery sides and a whitish / silver underbelly. They have relatively large heads that feature powerful jaws and rows of very sharp teeth. Their tapered bodies end in deeply forked tails that allow them to be powerful swimmers and fighters.
The average fish weighs between 4 and 10 pounds, with any fish over 20 pounds being considered a real quality fish. The recognized IGFA record is 31 pounds, 12 ounce fish caught off the coast of North Carolina in 1972. Unconfirmed monster fish have reportedly been caught in the 40-pound range.

Population numbers of bluefish have been documented to follow cycles lasting about forty years. A recent disappearance occurred during the 1920s, and anglers are still enjoying a high for the fish which began in the 1970s. They are migratory fish, following schools of baitfish such as menhaden shad and mullet, heading north from Florida in spring, all the way to Maine by the end of the summer.

When fishing for blues, anglers should remember they are primarily schooling fish. Schools the size of football fields have been witnessed, with the fish creating a feeding frenzy of roiling water and leaping fish. Many anglers often troll for the fish, as this is one of the most consistent methods of catching bluefish. Once a fish is caught by trolling, anglers should stop the boat and throw out casts to try to locate the school. Putting a lure at the proper depth in areas where bluefish schools are hanging will usually result in large catches. Fish can often be caught on any type of fast-moving lure that resembles a baitfish, including metal spoons, jigs, and tube baits. Wooden baits are not popular because of the bluefish’s powerful teeth, which will quickly destroy wooden plugs.

Casting into a school of fish requires the use of moderately heavy tackle and wire leaders. It is important that black wire leaders and swivels are used, as the fish will often strike shiny leaders, weakening and in some cases severing them. Anglers casting into a frenzied school of bluefish can often catch a fish on every cast. Therefore, it is important to retie lures and leaders often, because they will undoubtedly become frayed. The best results are found by casting along the outer edges of the school, decreasing the chances of spooking any fish, and also preventing line breakages. Feeding bluefish have been known to even attack each other; it is not uncommon for a four-pounder on the line to be cut in half by a twenty pound blue.
Bluefish can also be caught from the surf at certain times of the year. Shiny spoons such as the Hopkins brand are consistent favorites for fishing in surf due to their visibility and enticing action.

Anglers that use live or cut bait, such as eels or fish, often catch blues from the surf or from piers simply by letting the bait sit and waiting for a strike. This method can be useful when there are no apparent schools of bluefish biting.
Flyfishing for blues has become more and more popular in recent years. Many of the same techniques and lures used for striped bass can be applied to bluefish. Bluefish of course require an extra-strong leader and mostly strikes larger flies which closely resemble the most popular regional baitfish.
Fly anglers often catch blues incidentally while fishing for stripers, but some fly and light tackle anglers target blues specifically, especially when stripers are absent.

Elk Hunting Tips

Article Highlights
• Elk are larger than deer and possess their own mating calls and annual rituals.
• Timing is essential to elk hunting.
• Hunters must become experts in the calls of the elk to have a successful hunt.

Dedicated hunters consider elk hunting to be one of the most rewarding and unique experiences around. Elk are larger than deer and possess their own mating calls and annual rituals. Elk can be aggressive towards a perceived threat or they can be quite docile. Avid elk hunters often have exciting stories of particular elk hunting trips, from close calls to surprise attacks. The male elk, called a bull, can weigh 700 to 800 pounds; so, their size alone can create excitement in elk hunting. Elk are also intelligent and aware of their surroundings, so elk hunting requires skill and patience to be successful.


In order for elk hunting to be successful, several factors come into play. Timing is one of those factors. The best elk hunting occurs during the fall when the elk are mating. In addition to seasonal factors for elk hunting, avid hunters also consider the time of day. At certain times throughout the day the elk are more active than other times. One additional factor, temperature, can also play into successful elk hunting. Those new to elk hunting should partake in a guided excursion until they learn the subtle factors associated with the sport. In addition, a guide will be able to direct hunters the best locations to ensure a successful hunt, as well as give welcome tips regarding elk hunting.

During mating season, bull elks bugle to attract the females, called cows, and to call other bulls to a spar. Consequently, hunters have learned how to bugle to attract the males into range. Elk hunting requires a special instrument for the bugle to be effective. Before utilizing the call, study the manual or other audio recordings. Only if the call is used properly will it be effective while elk hunting.

Cows also have their special mating calls to attract the bulls. Thus, in elk hunting, hunters can mimic the cows' calls to lure the bull into shooting range. Again, the call of the cow must be well rehearsed and done properly or else it will not work. If the hunter does not vocalize the call enough or vocalizes too much, the bull will not be lured. Practice, good technique, and thorough education is the only way to successfully recreate the calls of the elk for elk hunting.

For a great thrill and a special challenge, elk hunting may be the perfect option. The elk meat is also quite tasty too. The elk hunting tips should help you have a successful hunt and a lot of fun in the process.

By: Rick Ross

Duck Hunting

Duck hunting is the practice of hunting ducks for food and sport. commercial hunting is mostly prohibited, and duck hunting is primarily an outdoor sporting activity.

Many types of ducks and geese share the same habitats and are hunted using the same methods. It is not uncommon to take several different species of waterfowl in the same outing.


Wild ducks have been hunted for food, down, and feathers worldwide since prehistoric times. Ducks, geese, and swans appear in European cave paintings from the last Ice Age, and murals in Ancient Egyptian tombs show men in hunting blinds capturing swimming ducks in a trap.

By the turn of the century, commercial hunting and loss of habitat lead to a decline in duck and goose populations in North America. The Lacey Act of 1900, which outlawed transport of poached game across state lines, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which prohibited the possession of migratory birds without permission (such as a hunting license), marked the dawn of the modern conservation movement.

In 1934 the US government passed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, better known as the Federal Duck Stamp Act. This program required hunters to purchase a special stamp, in addition to a regular hunting license. Revenues from the program provided the majority of funding for duck conservation for many decades and funded the purchase of 4.5 million acres of National Wildlife Refuge land for waterfowl habitat since the program's inception.

Duck hunting season is generally in the winter and fall. At this time of the year, the birds have finished raising their young and are migrating to warmer areas. There are three elements used by almost all duck hunters: a shotgun, a hunting blind, and decoys. The decoys are used to lure the birds within range, and the blind conceals the hunter. Once the birds are within range, the hunters stand up in the blind and shoot the birds before they are frightened off.

The most commonly used guns are 12 gauge shotguns. In many areas, buckshot and larger shot is illegal to use for taking migratory birds. Ten, 16, and 20 gauge shotguns are also used. Taking birds with a rifle is illegal due to the inherent danger of shooting long-range bullets into the air.

Duck hunting with lead shot, along with the use of lead sinkers in angling, has been identified as a major cause of lead poisoning in waterfowl, which often feed off the bottom of lakes and wetlands where lead shot collects. In the United States all shot used for ducks must not contain any lead. Steel is the cheapest alternative to lead but steel has a much less effective range than lead because of its lower density. 30 to 40 yards is considered the maximum effective range for duck hunting.

Although steel is the most used shot, many hunters do not like its shooting properties. Steel is less dense than lead, therefore, its effective range is decreased due to a faster decrease in velocity. Many companies have improved steel shot by increasing muzzle-velocity and making more consistent 'shot' or pellets. Within recent years, several companies have created 'heavier than lead' non-toxic shot out of Tungsten, Bismuth or other elements with a density similar or greater to lead. These shells have more consistent patterns and greater range than steel shot.

Originally, a duck call was a very simple woodwind instrument. It had a barrel, a sounding board and a reed. Hunters would grunt into the call while saying "hut", "quit" or "ut". With the improvement of calls and calling techniques the best callers are able to use no voice. The most prevalent and hunted duck in the United States, the mallard, makes the well known "quack" sound many associate with ducks. Other species make many different sounds, ranging from high-pitched whistles to very low, grunt-like quacks. There are calls for almost all species of ducks. Pintails, teal, wood ducks, diving ducks and other ducks including the calls of both the male, or drake and the female, or hen.

In many species, the call of the drake is different from that of the hen. Mallard drakes make a lower pitch, longer quack than the hen mallard. This call is often used while feeding and when a mallard drake is landing. The quack of a mallard drake requires voice and is replicated by humming into a special whistle-like call. This whistle is often called a 6-in-1 whistle, due to the fact that it can replicate six different duck species sounds.

In teal, the drakes make a call of short bursts of a high pitch whistle. The "teet! (pause) teet! (pause) teet!-teet!" or any other order of repetition. This call can be made by blowing short bursts of air into the "6-in-1" whistle.

The majority of duck sounds people have heard and are familiar with comes from females, or hen, mallards. Hen mallards are very vocal and this is probably why the number one call for duck hunting in North America is a hen mallard call.

There are numerous types of structures that qualify as duck blinds. Blinds can be temporary or permanent. They are very effective at concealing hunters and making their movements un-noticed. For hunting over water, the types of blinds are almost unlimited. Many of these permanent blinds look like a small shack with an opening that faces the water and a portion of the sky.

Often creating a temporary, natural blind as a method of concealment is a hunter's best bet. This is done by using native grasses or vegetation and natural material and simply hiding in a tree, clump of grass or a shrub. More sophisticated natural blinds may have large logs or branches leaned together or tied together using rope. Temporary blinds are common in protected and public areas where a permanent blind is not allowed. Temporary blinds can be very simple and usually require a three dimensional enclosure to conceal hunters from circling flocks.

With the growing popularity of boats in duck hunting, many have chosen to use boat blinds. Boat blinds are used to conceal a hunter when hunting out of a boat.

Duck season takes place in the fall and winter where the weather can be harsh. Waterproof clothing is critical to duck hunting. Most duck hunters hunt over water, and they stand in water or in a boat. In order to stand in the water and stay dry the hunter must wear waders. Waders are waterproof pants that have attached boots and are completely waterproof. Typical waders are chest high, but waist high and knee high waders are sometimes used in shallow water. Duck hunting can be a very cold sport and the hunter must be well insulated from the cold. Ducks also have great vision which requires the hunters clothing to be well camouflaged.

Duck hunters often use a dog to retrieve downed birds. Most often hunters use retrievers, and sometimes spaniels. The use of a dog provides a number of advantages. As duck hunting often takes place in cold wet locations, the use of a dog frees the hunter from having to wade into cold water to retrieve the bird. This can be dangerous for the hunter, but is managed by a trained dog easily. It also allows for the recovery of wounded birds that might otherwise escape.

Duck hunting is highly regulated. Hunters are required to obtain a hunting license and face limits on the number of birds that can be taken in a day (bag limits) and the total number of birds a hunter can possess (possession limits).

In the United States, hunters must also purchase a federal duck stamp and often a state stamp. It is illegal to shoot ducks from a motor vehicle, a moving boat, or to shoot sitting or swimming ducks. Many practices that were once common in commercial duck hunting before the turn of the century are now prohibited. In most areas, shotguns that can hold more than two or three shells must be modified to reduce their magazine size. Legal hunting
is done "in-season" only. It is also considered good sportsmanship to make every attempt to retrieve dead or injured waterfowl the hunter has shot.

Many states require hunters, including duck hunters, to complete hunter safety courses before they can obtain a license.

By: Keith Grable

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