Blues and Spanish mackerel frequently follow the same movements and feeding patterns along the North Carolina coast and are available from spring through fall. But the blues are able to tolerate lower water temperatures and usually arrive a few weeks before the macks make their first appearance of the season.

Bluefish and Spanish mackerel travel in schools sometimes mixed together. Both can be aggressive, vicious predators, frequently chasing harried baitfish in a frenzy of slashing and crashing surface activity. Spanish are rarely caught on bottom fished natural baits, but bluefish will readily take a piece of fresh mullet presented on a bottom rig.

Two-hook fireball rigs, when baited with pieces of fresh mullet, are deadly for small bluefish. (Joe Malat Photo)

Two-hook fireball rigs, commonly called bluefish rigs with brightly painted foam balls in front of each hook, are the best bet for anglers who want to fish with natural bait. These are fished on the bottom; the bright colors and movement attract the interest of feeding blues, and can be especially productive on those days when the surf is rough and cloudy. Standard two-hook bottom rigs, with snelled hooks size 1 to 1/0 will also work. Summertime blues are small, rarely weighing more than a couple of pounds, but pre-snelled wire leaders on the bottom rigs may be desired to eliminate any chance of bite-offs from the toothy blues.

Any type of fresh fish, cut into strips or chunks, will tempt a bluefish but oily menhaden and mullet are the local favorites because the blues often use their keen sense of smell to locate food in dirty water. Strips of fresh spot or croakers, commonly caught from piers during the summer, will also catch blues. The key is fresh bait.

While Spanish mackerel rarely fall for a piece of natural bait, the most effective and exciting way to catch these “run and gun” feeders is on artificial lures. Their sleek shape, pointed snouts and deeply forked tails enable them to pursue prey with amazing speed. In the blink of an eye, a clear calm ocean may suddenly erupt into a frenzy of feeding mackerel! And they can move out as quickly as they arrived.

When feeding on small baitfish such as silversides, anchovies or mullet, bluefish and Spanish will eagerly attack lures. Surfcasters catch them on small silver spoons, but pier anglers prefer a jigging-type lure that will move up and down in the water column as it is retrieved. Got-Cha jigs are the runaway Outer Banks favorite. This lure resembles a thin plastic tube, with a heavy-pointed head, armed with two sets of gold finish treble hooks. Exact color may vary from day to day, but it’s tough to beat the red head, and neon green body combination. Got-Chas are most effective when retrieved with an erratic, up and down or sweeping motion of the rod tip.

Both species have a mouth full of very sharp teeth, and choice of terminal tackle may vary from angler to angler. Some will add a short piece of black, braided wire in front of the lures, while others opt for a similar length of heavy monofilament, tied directly to the line with a Uni-knot. I feel the mono leader will draw more strikes.

Got-Cha plugs are the runaway favorite, but on some days, small lead head jigs in the 3/8 to 5/8 ounce range, dressed with Fin-S or Gotcha soft plastic tails will do fine for the macks and blues. The single hook on these lures that makes unhooking the fish much easier and avoids having to deal with two sets of needle sharp treble hooks attached to a wildly flapping fish, but the soft plastic tails can be sliced to shreds after a few fish.

Many anglers will have two rods rigged for Spanish and blues. One might be a stiff-tipped seven to eight foot-spinning rod, mated to a reel filled with 14-pound monofilament. This is the outfit that’s used for fishing with bait, and the rod should be stout enough to handle up to three ounces of weight.

The other is a seven-foot spinning outfit, with 12-pound test line, used only for casting artificials. The rod can be lighter than the bait fishing rig, but extremely soft “buggy whip” sticks should be avoided. A rod that’s too soft will make it difficult to pull a thrashing, two-pound fish out of the water, and hoist it over the pier rails.

Clear water is the best condition for throwing artificials. Depending on the stage of tide, availability of bait and wind direction, blues and macks may appear at any time, but early and late in the day are usually peak times for the best action. Early is my favorite time of the day, especially during the summer as water temperatures pass seventy degrees and fish tend to be less active under a blazing hot sun that’s full in the sky.

The fish may also be caught anywhere from just outside the breakers to the deeper water at the ends of the piers. These fish are always on the move, but Spanish frequently show themselves by feeing on the surface or jumping several feet out of the water.

Just a quick word about handling both of these fish. Both have teeth that will bite you, but the teeth of a Spanish mackerel are pointed and as sharp as any surgeon’s scalpel. I always use pliers to remove the hooks, even on the smaller macks.

Bluefish and Spanish mackerel can add some spice to the sometimes lackluster doldrums of summertime pier fishing, and they are always welcome guests at my dinner table. I like them broiled or grilled, with a dash of salt, lemon pepper and butter, but be sure to throw them on ice immediately and clean them as soon as possible.