Bluefish
Bluefish (enchova) are a fixture of Brazil's southeastern and southern coastline, running from Rio Grande do Sul north to Rio de Janeiro. Commercial, artisanal, and recreational fishermen all target them.
They travel in schools along the continental shelf and push into estuaries and surf zones, making them accessible from beaches, piers, and small boats without venturing far offshore.
Scientific Name: Pomatomus saltatrix
Also known as Enchova, anchova, blue
- Grayish blue-green on the back fading to silver-white on the belly; dorsal, anal, and tail fins greenish with yellow tints; pectoral fin base dark blue.
- Stout, compressed body with a broad forked tail; large mouth with a single row of sharp, triangular, knife-edged teeth — unmistakable in hand.
- Most fish caught along the Brazilian coast run well under 10 kg; the species can reach 130 cm and around 14 kg, though anything over 9 kg is exceptional.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to the southwestern Atlantic; in Brazil, most abundant from Rio Grande do Sul north through Rio de Janeiro — more active reproductively south of Arraial do Cabo.
- A migratory, schooling pelagic species that moves along the continental shelf in temperate and subtropical waters, depth range from the surface down to about 200 m.
- Also found in estuaries and brackish water, and juveniles recruit to shallow sandy beaches — including the outer sector of Guanabara Bay — in all seasons.
Key Locations
- Rio Grande do Sul coast — the southern end of the core Brazilian range, where bluefish are most consistently present.
- Arraial do Cabo (Rio de Janeiro state) — research shows spawning activity is more intense south of this point, making the surrounding coast a productive stretch.
- Guanabara Bay outer sector (Rio de Janeiro) — documented juvenile recruitment site; young fish show up on sandy beaches here across multiple seasons.
Specific Spots
- Surf zones on open sandy beaches, where schools herd baitfish into the shallows — look for birds working the water or bait jumping at the surface.
- Estuary mouths and tidal channels, where current concentrates smaller fish and bluefish stage on the edges waiting for the tide to push food through.
- Nearshore rocky points and reef edges along the southeastern coast, where structure breaks current and baitfish stack up.
Bluefish FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Bluefish?
Metal spoons and chrome casting jigs are the workhorses, they cast far from the beach, sink fast, and flash like a wounded sardine or anchovy. Hard-bodied minnow lures (Rapala-style stick baits and swimmers) in silver or blue-silver work well when fish are feeding near the surface and you can see the school.
What flies work for Bluefish?
Clouser Minnows (which imitate baitfish) in white, chartreuse, or blue-and-white are the standard choice, they sink quickly and have the darting action that triggers strikes from schooling fish.
When is the best time to fish for Bluefish?
Autumn (March–May) and spring (September–November) are the main spawning periods, when fish are most active and concentrated along the southeastern coast. Summer (December–February) brings the strongest pulse of juvenile fish into shallow beach areas, offering consistent action on smaller fish.
How do you catch Bluefish?
Most anglers in Brazil target bluefish from sandy beaches and rocky points along the southeastern and southern coast, casting metal jigs or minnow lures into breaking surf or working estuary mouths on the tide.
What do Bluefish eat?
Primarily smaller fish, sardines, anchovies, and other schooling baitfish, which makes metal spoons, jigs, and hard-bodied minnow lures like Rapalas the go-to choices, as they mimic a fleeing baitfish.
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