[dropcap]H[/dropcap]opefully the winds will lay down for us this month so we all can see at least a few days offshore. Sailfish should be eating in full force if we can get to them and the mahi will be mixed in too. The best bet to get hooked up will be to troll ballyhoo from 90 feet on out. If live baits can be found, such as big blue runners or sardines, they will improve your chances of hooking up with a sailfish or a nice mahi. If you pull a dredge or teaser in front of your baits, this will entice a deeper fish to come to the surface to check out your baits.
On days that the weather won’t allow you to get far offshore, there will be bluefish in the area to bend a rod. These are fun and exciting fish to catch and they will be from the beach on out to 2 to 3 miles. The bluefish cruise these waters in larger schools looking to eat anything that swims. Live baits are a good choice for these fish such as smaller mullet, small blue runners or pilchards. Lively, faster swimming baits will produce more bites. If you fish artificial baits for these fish, they will hit top-waters and sub-surface lures that are shiny with a fast retrieval. Another good lure to use is a silver spoon with a fast retrieval.
Light tackle setups are great for these fish. I would recommend a 4,000 size reel matched with 10- to 15-pound line. Watch for birds diving for a good giveaway as to where these fish can be located. Bluefish have razor sharp teeth so be careful and have a great start to the New Year!