268 MARINE FISHERIES OF NORTH CAROLINA 



weighed 73 pounds. It was taken in Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts, on 

 August 17, 1913. 



* BLUEFISH 



Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus) 



Like the striped bass, this fish is a very widely distributed and very popu- 

 lar game fish. It occurs in nearly all temperate and tropical waters, moving 

 in large schools and appearing erratically. It is highly carnivorous and eats 

 quantities of fishes, crustaceans and worms. The larger individuals run in 

 outside waters; the smaller enter sounds and run up rivers. 



The bluefish is taken by trolling and still fishing and is very popular with 

 pier anglers. It is also caught by surf casting. It will bite savagely at any 

 bait and will include in the bite as much of the tackle as possible. Van 

 Campen Heilner recommends its fishing off any resort between New Eng- 

 land and Florida where one can get offshore, or in any inlet. He considers 

 July, August, and September the best months. Off North Carolina the fish 

 is present all year, but in some months the specimens available to anglers 

 are small. The larger fish usually run in spring and fall. Mr. Heilner reports 

 fine fishing at Cape Hatteras in May. The average size is from two to four 

 pounds. The "rod and reel record," a very old one, is 25 pounds and in all 

 probability was a handline catch. Popular as this fish is, the International 

 Game Fish Association seldom receives any claims for record size, showing 

 that there is seldom any great variation. 



Spawning is assumed by most ichthyologists to take place offshore in 

 spring and summer. The fish is known to spawn between May and July 

 off New York and southern New England. 



"bonito" 



Sarda sarda (Bloch). Common bonito 



Euthynnus alletteratus (Rafinesque). False albacore; little tuna 



Auxis thazard (Lacepede), Frigate mackerel. 



Anglers and commercial fishermen are usually capable of distinguishing 

 among these three fishes, but in speaking and writing of them, both classes 

 of fishermen are apt to use the term "bonito" for all three. Euthynnus 

 alletteratus is also referred to as "school tuna." Therefore information on 

 the bonito is extremely difficult to assign to any one of the three genera. 

 It appears to apply most often to Sarda sarda. All three fishes are gamey 

 fighters, and are also valued as bait. 



Bonitos (probably S. sarda) occur offshore off North Carolina in summer 

 and fall, coming in from the ocean to feed. They congregate around wrecks, 

 and are reported in quantity off Pea Island feeding on minnows, and about 



