Description:
The bluefish is an oblong, laterally compressed and streamlined predatory species that reaches 3.3 feet in length.  The head is large with the mouth set obliquely.   The lower jaw projects beyond the upper and has a row of long, unequal teeth on each side.  The tongue, vomer, and palatine bones of the head all have bands of needle-like teeth.  Body color is bluish to greenish dorsally, fading to silver ventrally.  The only obvious markings on the body occur at the bases of the pectoral fins, which are each blotched with a small dark patch.  Ctenoid scales cover the opercule, cheek, and body, but not the top of the head or a ridge that runs above the cheeks.  The spinous portion of the dorsal fin has 8 – 9 spines and is separated by a notch from the soft dorsal fin, which has 24- 25 soft rays.  The anal fin reflects the soft dorsal fin, though it originates somewhat posteriorly and has 2-3 small spines and 26-28 soft rays.  The pectoral fins are set low on the body, with the pelvic fins set directly inferior to them. Bluefish can be harmful and are reported to bite when handled.

Habitat:
Bluefish are a migratory, pelagic species that are dependent on both continental shelf waters and estuaries for spawning and nursery areas respectively.  Adults are found at depths of 6.6 – 219 feet.  In inshore areas, they tend to be most common along high energy beaches, but can also be common in estuaries and, sometimes, in brackish water areas.  Small fish are common in shallow coastal waters where depths exceed 6 feet.  Fishes of similar size tend to aggregate together in small schools. 

Similar Species:
None.

Range:
The bluefish has a nearly worldwide range in temperate and tropical waters around continental shelves and estuaries.  It is absent only from the northern and central Pacific Ocean.  In the Western Atlantic, it occurs from Nova Scotia south through Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, including Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and northern Cuba