Big ANGRY Fish On Topwater & Swimbaits (Best In Years?)

[@EliasVFishing]

Still giving away free trips to Costa Rica! Enter the sweepstakes following instructions in this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qp3Hq5qam8akn9k

[@eric1richards]

I am 44 and I grew in NH. Every summer we would charter a boat from Maine or Mass and fish for striper and blues. This was in the late 80’ and early 90s. 2 years ago I went to Wells Beach in Maine and hired a boat for a half day hoping to catch some inshore stripers. The captain told me that they had not seen a good run of blues in 10 years.

[@jonmenges2256]

Blues = the Jack Crevalle of the northeast 😂

[@karlvanhoesel4311]

Yup and hickory shad are the micro tarpon

[@GAFisherman]

With teeth!

[@michaelbyrne8860]

Caught Jacks in Galveston tearing into mullet pods! But have never seen jacks run fish onto a beach like I did at the OC pass in Maryland 80's while fishing for tautog on the jetties! Someone pointed the choppers feeding on butter fish birds swirling everywhere then a cloud? In the water about 500'-600' feet wide came racing towards the beach and next thing 6" butter fish flopping all over the beach! And the ones not on the sand were being brutalized by packs of chopper blues 2'-3' long! Eating and regurgitating them back up! People ran down to the beach with 5 gal buckets and filled them up with butter fish! I took a 9' surf rod with a Mitchell 402 and a large silver spoon cast it out almost as soon as it the water! I was on but the blue got off but the spoon got hit again and I reeled in the chopper but it made a run in the near ankle deep water, had the drag too tight and not in free spool, the chopper pulled so hard it snapped that surf rod in half right above the reel seat! After that I just walk the chopper into the beach! 33.5 inches and 19 & 3/4 lbs! And turn it into dinner for braking the surf rod! Like Jacks? Not sure about that! Those big choppers are the devil! And when in a feeding frenzy anything in front of them will be destroyed! You keep fingers, toes and any other body parts that they can bite! The fish that size wasn't the best table fare even after cutting the blood line out! But someone was going to pay my rod being broke! I took a picture of the & rod still have just to prove how badass those blue fish are!

[@kitchencarvings4621]

When I was really young, my Grandad would take me surf fishing at Rodanthe, N.C. and I remember Him and my uncle catching two at a time the size of the ones you caught. They would lay them out under the jeep to keep the sun off of them. He was in the coast guard in the 30s and 40s out of Chickamacomico station. He was a descendant of three Irish guys who were shipwrecked there in the 1800s.

[@nathanclark4674]

Dude! You're bringing back old memories of several ChrisCraft Invitational Bluefish tournaments in NH I fished 35 years ago, with those boiling schools of big choppers! Nothing lights up the blood pressure like a school of blues busting some bunker or herring. I laugh every year when catching Florida blues in winter, as they are tiny by comparison. Are you going to take a run to the Finger Lakes and bag some salmonids again? It's great to have you back in the area again!

[@bobthompson9890]

You took me back 20 years ago when I rented a boat out of City Island. I had my son out with me. After just a couple of hours we headed in because our arms were exhausted from the big gators. Great memories

[@kenangler8132]

I was there back then also.. my biggest was 19 and 1/2 pounds.. I wish Elias weighed his fish I'd like to know

[@mmddmm553]

I have been reading your comments and they are the same am going to post, brings me back 40 years here in Connecticut, the bluefish were so thick and plentiful they would chase the schools of bunker up on the beach . Great times 👍🏻

[@jaecaver1957]

“It’s like reliving a good childhood memory except with much better tackle” damn that was very well said

[@Awengate]

Nothing beats that good old bluefish workout, that old school Blitz will get your Adrenaline pumping..

[@benw2569]

Needed to see this. Those were my home waters for 41 years. Miss it everyday.

[@supervisorone5960]

I'm old school and I always loved fishing for blues to me stripers are just in the way and there good eating as a kid I used to fish at the jetty at shoreham powerhouse and fishing was good there for pretty much anything from the area. Later when they started running the plant they cut off the area and it also scarred the fish away but now yrs later I hear fish are back

[@thereader7776]

Yes sir out in Long Island that spot is awesome

[@grantd.5438]

Swim shads getting chopped by chopper blues under the Chopper ~ choptastic video back near your OG stomping grounds \^^/

[@markmacintyre3422]

Getting bit by bluefish that size would be NO JOKE! Your segment brings back happy memories of days gone by fishing for blues in So. Jersey: Point Pleasant/Manasquan/Mantoloking in the 60s & 70s ….We used to eat a TON of them, mostly broiled or grilled….wasn’t a fan of the dark meat….Blues NEVER GIVE UP!!!

[@theluvyoumake]

I miss your content from when you were in the Northeast you always had the best kayak fishing videos you should visit us more often you are very talented at catching fish in this area

[@Ranger830]

Hah! I’m from Florida and I know that light! Been by it many times! I was just up there in Glen Cove 2 weeks ago! Murdered the school bass on plugs! Had a blast,enjoy! About to go fish the big snook on the beach! Yeeew! For the dream!

[@corkycoursen-tv4wv]

Great time on the water. We use to fish blue’s blitzing from shore in the Outer Banks NC. It was a common thing back in the 70’s. It’s great to see them coming back. Thanks for bringing us along. Cheers

[@edryan5249]

Welcome back to choppertown, brought back some good memories for me too. Great video thanks for sharing

[@hunterm7624]

Liking that Atlanta Brave Spencer Strider mustache ya be crafting Elias !!! :))) Hammer Time @ incredible Fishery

[@mazzola930]

i love how you bust out the topwater and its instant mayhem. my favorite fishing gets the adrenaline pumping. keep up the good work!

[@tboyd303]

Awesome Video! Brought back memories of the late 80s getting into those big choppers out of Hempstead Harbor with my dad.

[@scottclausen4406]

Epic video! There really is nothing like getting into those gators. I've experienced nothing even close down here. Love the film work on this one. I imagine it's less pleasant from the shooters perspective using the head mounted camera, but the product is vastly superior to the chest rigs. The viewer can see so much more of the fight, and less of the shooters wrist. Best video I've seen in some time. Thank you Elias!

[@tomki6asp]

I remember fishing for blues in Cold Spring Harbor in summer of 1968. On an umbrella rig having three on at the same time was the most fun I ever had fishing.

[@DenisBurke-vb6vh]

Noise from the trucks on the bridge can be noisy. Nice to see those choppers back after disappearing for about 7 years. Heard last year was good also.

[@gus1954]

Elias - so appreciate your comments - yes, bluefish in clear water, Throggs Neck Bridge in background, helicopters flying - a lot of our younger years - had only come back in dreams.....and now in your videos. Thanks!

[@fishinmagician81]

Thanks Elias; Great nostalgia video Love those gator Blues,good to see a comeback with them ...Thanks for sharing

[@Obxhatman]

Comparing those bluefish to what we saw back around 2013. What a difference. The bluefish back then looked anorexic. Those bluefish you got look very healthy and it shows what conservation can do after a rough few years. The industry has rebounded greatly after that very cold winter we had that killed a lot of reds and specks as well as other species. Great vid man.

[@FastEddy1959]

These fish remind me of fishing with my D.O.D it the ‘70s. Good times I never thought would end. I’m in Florida now, but I think of him with every cast. Seize the day, everybody. Life isn’t long; it’s up to us to make it good!

[@wadeirwin7003]

I remember in the early eighties my buddy and I would slay big blues in the Chesapeake Bay when they started moving in to the bay in May. Huge schools and Hopkins lures would hardly hit the water when it was inhaled by really big bluefish.

[@wjstewdog]

With the shades and the stash you make a great fish detective. Thanks for the video

[@minniesfishies3024]

Awesome seeing those choppers do their thing! Reminds me of the 70's in the Chesapeake. Dare we dream of a resurgence?

[@rainershinefishing3311]

You truly appreciate the bluefish fishery on the island after you move away and come back. My wife's first fish ever was a 36" bluefish on a pencil popper out of the southshore!

[@philpotter6388]

Gheez, I'd love to get into those feeding blues with my 8 wt flyrod. Makes my day to see your videos, Elias. Hi to Meg.

[@michaelsiengo1]

I did it in Hatteras at Odens dock in the bay… some big ones on streamers. Damn, it was fun.

[@lukegermanakos1917]

Love seeing you back in NY... good stuff

[@tylerl1633]

Big blues in the mid Atlantic/ northeast never gets old! Electric action

[@traumahawk517]

Elias you are the Man! No one on YT can do it like you Bro! Tight Lines man.

[@ReggieandMiloTheCat]

Awesome trip back in time, all we need is the red yak, the tiny apartment, the hip friends, and the bad haircut and we’ll be back at the beginning.

[@josephbrogna3646]

Great video. That area is still lit up with monsters

[@fishingcostarica]

You just reminded me of many years ago in Boston Harbor. Big Blue fish. We had an old frig converted to a smoker. Man did that fish taste good with a King Snedley Beer. Good times.

[@keithwest6859]

Really enjoyed the video! Thanks for the filming!

[@gregorymelia6564]

Brings me back. Nothing like a gorilla blue blitz!

[@jasoncapecod]

nice seeing ya fishin by the whitestone....back in the day you could fill a boat up with giants...hope they are back

[@covile41]

Love your content you keep it simple.

[@tommycarroll4431]

Being from Jersey brings back memories thanks Elias

[@BIGYAKRFISHING]

Love those big blues, so much fun. I usually get them on the eastern end of Long Island, mid May timeframe.

[@jamesryan5034]

Loving this northeast trip. Great stuff.

[@chrisfloden2535]

Love the northern videos... like old times 🤙🏻

[@AOMilvado]

Nice video! How do you get bluefish to bite the paddletail? What type of retrieve? On the surface or off the bottom?

[@lee8287]

That pink Elias shad is my favorite jigging soft plastic to use.

[@myself4530]

That style of beard looks cool on you. Keep it.

[@Striperbass2]

Great action! I think blue fish are pretty good eating; bleed them n ice right away, and use them asap. They def don't store/freeze well at all. As for the blitz, that's special. Last one i encountered was in an inlet in S Jersey, w/ some friends off the jetty. The water was super clean that day, and you could see them chase the lures. Pretty soon, the game was to try NOT to catch them....what a blast, and they were gator size too. Thanks for the vid!😁

[@kurtengstrom3174]

I was waiting for the bluefish "war" story! If you catch enough of them, you are going to lose some blood!

[@JD-dm4lo]

Yeah - Been fishing central NJ for 60 years. Been about 20 years since I was in a blitz like that. Hope they're back before I go. We would have a good blitz every two to three days 80s & 90s Sept till Thanksgiving.

[@kkatzburg]

Nice to see you back on the old stomping grounds ...

[@clarenceelliott9009]

That reminds me of my trips to Montauk! The light house!

[@allseasonfishing4030]

Crazy bluefish action. Send them to Brooklyn 😂😂😂🙌🎣

[@nickbaer6584]

Man, I wish the blues down here in Florida get even half that size, so jealous!!

[@boogerdog5247]

That white topwater, if not a knockoff, is a Heddon Zara Spook...our favorite topwater snook plug in west coast central Florida. "Walk the dog."

[@michaelgorman4142]

This year's class of LiS bluefish is wild, snapped a tuna rod on one that decided to go wacky on me

[@jcic6000]

I'd wonder if any of those seagulls lose a foot diving on blue blitzes like that haha

[@EliasVFishing]

Old timers told me they’d find them in bluefish stomachs occasionally.

[@toraman81]

I can watch bluefish fishing videos for hours.

[@JohnKolb-iq3gw]

Smaller Blues fillet on the grill with mayo !!

[@markreaves5331]

Fun day E! Good to find a blitz.

[@timbryant2663]

@EliasVfishing I’m on a bigwater 132 PDL, what extra gear do you typically take offshore that you wouldn’t have on an inshore trip?

[@leroyboy5228]

You may be the best fisherman on KZbin.

[@mazzola930]

when you called him green i could have sworn i heard the fish say 'kiss my blue ass' as he splashed lmao

[@kevinstogner9477]

Brah, you landed right on top of 'em. Big, Strong Fish.

[@EricStonehouse]

Wow man, those Blues are huge compared to anything I’ve caught in Swansboro

[@douglasebert4542]

Blue fish are my favorite fish to catch. When you get into a good blitz you'll be tired out after 5 fish or so

[@captrockh2055]

You know in the OBX Taylor Blues are a dime a dozen,with a Gotcha plug- at the end of a pier.

[@stansmith7118]

I wish we had blues that big down here in NC. I did try a blue I caught earlier this year. Bled it and put in an ice bath. Cooked it on the grill for supper. I thought it was dang good.

[@EliasVFishing]

Smaller ones can do well on the grill. These big ones I'd 100% pass on.

[@wadeirwin7003]

@@EliasVFishingsome old timers used to tell me that you could cook the cheeks and they were like scallops. Never tried them but the bluefish would blitz the lower Chesapeake in the late 70s , early 80s. Man , you got into one of those schools it was nonstop catching on every cast. Haven’t seen anything like it since then. Great day on the water Elias!

[@davidbulanowski1091]

We used to go out on the party boats out of Brielle and Belmar, and by 11-12 o'clock we'd be tired of catching the blues. That fishing held up for most of the spring, summer and fall. It hasn't been like that in a few years now. Hit or miss at best. This year they're back a little bit, but most of the trips ive only seen small fish. Most of the time they switch over to bottom fishing or mackerel after a couple hours of hunting for blues. I miss the old days. Those suckers would wear you out like nothing else around here.

[@EliasVFishing]

Hopefully that part of the coast gets them back next.

[@Wills420913]

pumped to see you making some long island videos again!

[@EliasVFishing]

Was a great visit 👍

[@michaelsiengo1]

The last time I saw them here in North Carolina it was about six years ago Easter Sunday. We caught them all night long and all day on everything and then they were gone. Biggest one was 14.

[@leenichols907]

That was an awesome trip and video

[@CostalRunner]

The mustache goes hard, lol!

[@icarus8471]

Brings back memories of the big Bluefish runs. Supposedly it is cyclical, with accounts that they had disappeared for years then reemerged in old surf fishing accounts. But who can say. Could just as easily be overfishing or environmental changes.

[@DeeMonee2]

Bro, I love the 70’s porno star moo-stache! Hope you had a nice time back in the ol’ Hood

[@wbarney59]

Thanks Elias

[@ivycroake6611]

Being from long Island I miss Smoked Bluefish.

[@nolanminor6761]

Man you could have had a RIDICULOUS thumbnail and title involving that helicopter and it wouldn't have even been a stretch

[@trevormiller9416]

Would love to see what Mario could with bluefish ... maybe change some opinions... the lake trout smoking video were awesome

[@wishinone]

Now that was an epic freaking day

[@jjm4643]

Those are legit Slammers> Great words " Don't take these fish for granted and respect the fish" . AMEN. More words of wisdom " you don't want two sets of trebles with Bluefish"

[@davidwatson6472]

Towards the end of the video I realized I had turned blue, it wasn’t hypoxia, must have been the fish. Thanks as usual great video

[@daleockert6222]

Those ate some serious blues

[@Bearacooter]

One of the best eating fish there is down here in nw fl I wish ours got that big

[@MackBolan1]

So well said. Never take it for granted. Well done crushing barbs and removing trebles. You’re always fun to watch !

[@andyshumate4753]

Doesn't get more fun than that!!

[@ronkrauser1543]

Fun to watch!

[@BreezeLifeTV]

I have never seen blues this big.

[@ronaultmtd]

We used to catch big blues by the dozens in the Tidewater region of the Bay......

[@brunobarks6544]

Always good stuff 👍

[@Qcefer]

Them are some big azz blue fish!

[@Captain_Kdawg]

Lol I was just about to comment get to the choppa. Then you said it 😂

[@tjeffjenkins6226]

...the helicopter bite!

[@eleanorkuriakose6221]

Really enjoyed the video ❤

[@josephfoglia9646]

I miss fishing city island waters i moved to Georgia and theres no were to fish over here it sucks 😞

[@robgrubb420]

that first cast with the topwater was SICK!

[@oldmanfred8676]

I found a White, walk the dog, lure like that one hanging from a tree limb in a creek in the Ouachita Mountains!

[@dizzious]

There's actually a commercial fishery for bluefish now. Some company is making cat food out of them.

[@sandersjones1577]

I’m in Texas Gulf coast we catch blue fish too, but I don’t think we eat them are they good eating?