Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

A sharp-toothed coastal predator of temperate and warm seas, famous for fast schools and aggressive attacks on baitfish.

Key facts

Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) is a carnivore animal classified as Fish · Perciformes · Pomatomidae.
Primary habitats are coast · open ocean, with a range across Atlantic Ocean · Indian Ocean · Pacific Ocean · Nearctic · Palearctic.
Activity is cathemeral, sociality is herd, and conservation status is VU (Vulnerable).
A sharp-toothed coastal predator of temperate and warm seas, famous for fast schools and aggressive attacks on baitfish.
Occurs in coastal and offshore surface waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and southern Pacific oceans, moving seasonally with temperature.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Occurs in coastal and offshore surface waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and southern Pacific oceans, moving seasonally with temperature.

The body is streamlined with a blue-green back, silvery belly, large mouth, and prominent sharp teeth.

Fast schools chase prey near the surface, sometimes scattering baitfish violently. Juveniles use estuaries and surf zones.

It eats sardines, herrings, squid, and crustaceans, using strong jaws to slice prey.

Adults release floating eggs offshore in warm seasons. Young grow in coastal feeding areas.

Also called tailor in some regions, bluefish populations can fluctuate strongly by area and decade.