Waterlands

Species guide · Georgia

Bluefish fishing in Georgia

Pomatomus saltatrix, a nearshore species also called blues, choppers and snapper blues. Listed for the South Atlantic region. Off season, about 2 more weeks.

Right now it scores best in Coastal waters from Altamaha Sound to Fernandina Beach FL out 20 NM at 35, one of 2 Georgia bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.

Season now

Off season
Where it's scoring nowAll Georgia waters

Season by month

From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.

South Atlantic

Off season, about 2 more weeks
  1. Jan: Shoulder season
  2. Feb: Shoulder season
  3. Mar: Peak season
  4. Apr: Peak season
  5. May: Shoulder season
  6. Jun: Off season
  7. Jul: Off season
  8. Aug: Off season
  9. Sep: Off season
  10. Oct: Shoulder season
  11. Nov: Peak season
  12. Dec: Peak season

Peak: Mar to Apr, Nov to Dec. In season (shoulder or peak): Oct to May.

Research notes, South Atlantic region

ASMFC places the winter population offshore between Cape Hatteras and Florida. Outer Banks surf runs of large blues come in spring and late fall; northeast Florida beaches and inlets see winter schools. Summer catches are mostly small fish.

Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.

Where it's scoring now · 2

Georgia bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's bluefish score this hour.

1
35Fair
Coastal waters from Altamaha Sound to Fernandina Beach FL out 20 NM

Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 12 AM (35) · 44 named spots

2
35Fair
Coastal waters from Savannah GA to Altamaha Sound GA out 20 nm, including Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (35) · Best day Wed, Sep 16 at 1 AM (35) · 26 named spots

How and where it feeds

Water temperature
Feeds from 55°F to 84°F, best between 64°F and 75°F.
Water depth
3 to 70 ft of water.
Structure
Rip, inlet, shoal, surf, point, jetty, pier and bay, in that order of preference.
Tide and current
Prefers moving water and outgoing tide, with strong current.Bluefish feed where current concentrates bait: rips, inlet mouths and shoal edges on a hard-running tide. The ebb out of inlets pushes bait to waiting fish. Slack water usually slows the bite.
Light
Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
Pressure
Little response to pressure changes.
Wind and sea limits
20 kt of wind and 5 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.

Tackle and technique

Bluefish travel in size-sorted schools and feed where tide pushes bait past structure: inlet mouths, rips, shoal edges and the surf line, mostly in water shallower than 60 feet. Look for birds and breaking bait and cast metal or poppers into it, or soak cut bunker or mullet on the bottom from the beach. Use a short wire or heavy leader because their teeth cut light line.

Methods
casting, surf casting, trolling, chunking, jigging, fly fishing
Lures
metal spoons, diamond jigs, topwater poppers, swimming plugs, bucktail jigs, soft plastic jerkbaits
Bait
cut menhaden (bunker), cut or finger mullet, live peanut bunker, squid strips

Regulations

GADNR CRD saltwater regulations Buy a Georgia fishing license License types

Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division. Synced with GADNR CRD Sep 16, 2026.

No reviewed bluefish rule for Georgia is on file yet. Check with GADNR CRD before you keep one.

Other Georgia species