The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) is a highly migratory species found in temperate and subtropical coastal waters around the world. Known for their aggressive feeding habits and powerful nature, they are fierce predators that school in large numbers. The size a bluefish can attain is a common question, and the answer involves a distinction between the absolute maximum size and the typical growth progression observed in the population. This article details the limits of their size, their development over time, and the environmental factors that influence their growth.
Maximum Size and Record Holders
The absolute size limit of the bluefish is significantly greater than the average specimen encountered by anglers. While fish heavier than 20 pounds are considered exceptional, the maximum recorded weight is 31 pounds, 12 ounces, the recognized International Game Fish Association (IGFA) All-Tackle World Record. This record-holding fish was landed off the coast of Hatteras, North Carolina, a region known for producing some of the largest specimens. In terms of length, the largest reported bluefish have measured up to 51 inches (130 centimeters). The vast majority of bluefish caught are considerably smaller than these maximums.
Typical Size by Age
Bluefish exhibit a rapid growth rate early in life. The typical size for an adult bluefish ranges from 12 to 36 inches in length, generally weighing between 3 and 20 pounds. Researchers determine a bluefish’s age by examining calcified structures like the otoliths, which form annual growth rings.
In their first two years, bluefish experience the fastest growth, adding approximately 5 to 7 inches (13–18 cm) each year. They reach reproductive maturity quickly, typically between 1 and 2 years of age, measuring about 13 to 20 inches long. Younger fish around 7 inches are called “snappers,” while larger adults are often called “choppers” due to their powerful jaws and sharp teeth.
After the second year, the incremental growth rate slows considerably, dropping to about 3 to 5 centimeters annually in subsequent years. Bluefish can live for up to 12 years, but fish older than ten years are not commonly observed. The progression from a fast-growing juvenile to a large adult “chopper” is a gradual process.
Environmental Drivers of Growth
Variations in the size of bluefish of the same age are largely determined by external environmental factors that regulate metabolic function. The availability of food is a primary driver because bluefish are opportunistic and voracious feeders. Their wide-ranging diet helps sustain their growth even when local stock sizes fluctuate.
Water temperature directly impacts a fish’s metabolic rate, affecting how quickly they convert food into body mass. Bluefish respond to thermal changes through seasonal migrations, moving north along the Atlantic coast in warmer months and south in the winter to remain in optimal temperature zones. Consistent access to optimal water temperatures allows for higher feeding and growth rates over a longer period.
Geographical location plays a role, with certain regions providing the ideal combination of prey density and temperature to produce larger fish. For instance, the waters off North Carolina are often cited as a location where the largest specimens are caught.