Are Bluefish Dangerous? (Have You Seen Those Teeth!)

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Sharks are the usual culprit when most people think of dangerous fish in the ocean, but what about bluefish? 

Bluefish are a medium sized saltwater predatory fish that range around the world in tropical to subtropical oceans.

They can grow up to 40 inches or 25lbs and have very sharp teeth, so you may wonder, are bluefish dangerous to humans?

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Are Bluefish Dangerous?

Thankfully, bluefish pose little to no danger to humans. They are a migratory fish that feed on small baitfish, squid and shrimp and do not seek out humans or any large prey.

Are Bluefish Dangerous? (Have You Seen Those Teeth!)

However, bluefish are predators and have very sharp teeth, so there are some concerns about anglers handling bluefish or swimming near them during feeding frenzies. 

Do Bluefish Bite or Attack Humans?

Fishermen are most at risk of being bitten by a bluefish. Incorrect handling practices could cause you to get bitten, and an adult bluefish can easily bite a finger off.

Swimmers are less at risk, although bluefish attacks have been reported.

During large bait migrations and feeding frenzies, such as the mullet run, bluefish and other predatory fish will often attack anything that resembles a baitfish, shrimp, squid or other common prey.

These feeding frenzies can often happen right along the beach in the shallows, so swimmers should be cautious when swimming around baitfish.

What Are the Risks When Handling Bluefish?

Handling bluefish is really low risk. As long as you keep your fingers out of their mouth you are completely safe. The best practice is to use a landing net and long nose pliers to safely remove the hook before releasing or keeping bluefish for food.

Whatever you do, don’t try to ‘lip’ a bluefish like you would a bass! You might not get your thumb back!

How to Handle Bluefish Safely?

Bluefish can safely be handled with a Boga Grip. These metal grippers will keep your hands away from the jaws and will secure the fish in your control. 

But even without a Boga grip, you can still handle bluefish safely.

You can carefully grab bluefish by the tail with one hand and below the body with the other hand. This is an entirely safe and secure way to hold a bluefish.

Both these methods do not cause unnecessary injury to the fish, and they are appropriate for catch and release fishing.

Final Thoughts

Bluefish pose very little risk or danger to humans. Although they have sharp teeth, attacks are extremely rare, and usually accidental when swimmers are near a large school of baitfish.

The biggest risks when fishing for bluefish is handling the fish with improper equipment, that could result in a bite or cut to your hands.

Gloves, a landing net, a bog grip and long nose pliers are all common tools anglers use to keep themselves and the fish safe.

Thanks for reading, have fun!

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