When it comes to figuring out what family a fish belongs to, the job can become quite tricky. Yes, you can check the physical appearance and the size, but those can vary a great deal from region to region. Moreover, the murky water conditions will further complicate the identification process.
So, what can you do? Well, you can guess (obvious right?). Still, guessing the type of fish and trying to figure out the family it belongs to is never a surefire method. Yes, you can get lucky and make educated deductions, but even experts struggle to figure out the exact family or fish type.
What we recommend is that you test out some better goggles. Now, you might ask “how can goggles help you identify fish?” Well, the answer is simple! The polarized fishing goggles will help you limit the glare and get a better look at the fish.
When it comes to figuring out what family a fish belongs to, the job can become quite tricky. Yes, you can check the physical appearance and the size, but those can vary a great deal from region to region.
Moreover, the murky water conditions will further complicate the identification process.
So, what can you do? Well, you can guess (obvious right?). Still, guessing the type of fish and trying to figure out the family it belongs to is never a surefire method.
Yes, you can get lucky and make educated deductions, but even experts struggle to figure out the exact family or fish type.
What we recommend is that you test out some better goggles. Now, you might ask “how can goggles help you identify fish?”
Well, the answer is simple! The polarized fishing goggles will help you limit the glare and get a better look at the fish.
Bluefish vs Blue Runner:
| Fish | Bluefish | Blue runner |
| Length | Up to 39” | Up to 8” |
| Weight | Up to 31 lbs. | Up to 6 lbs. |
| Age | 9-12 years | 10-11 years |
| Popular for | Eating, healthy meat | Bait |
| Environment | 50-84 degrees (F) | 62-82 degrees (F) |
Bluefish
Bluefish are the only extant species that are from the family Pomatomidae. These are marine pelagic that can be found roaming around in subtropical and temperate waters. Most of the variety is found near the Northern part of the Pacific Ocean.
Though, you will notice that these can also be found near Australia and New Zealand. The main reason behind this is that bluefish have been spreading quite quickly to other regions.
Several factors make these fish an amazing option to go for but understanding them carefully can be important.
The first and most important factor includes the taste and features of meat found on the fish. This is known to have some of the highest levels of protein which can be quite helpful for people looking for healthier substitutes.
Bluefish are the only extant species that are from the family Pomatomidae. These are marine pelagic that can be found roaming around in subtropical and temperate waters. Most of the variety is found near the Northern part of the Pacific Ocean.
Though, you will notice that these can also be found near Australia and New Zealand. The main reason behind this is that bluefish have been spreading quite quickly to other regions.
Several factors make these fish an amazing option to go for but understanding them carefully can be important.
The first and most important factor includes the taste and features of meat found on the fish. This is known to have some of the highest levels of protein which can be quite helpful for people looking for healthier substitutes.
You should note that mercury continues to increase over time.
This only happens if you leave the meat as it is which can be quite dangerous. If the mercury increases too much, then it will start to become toxic which is why you should consume the meat as soon as possible.
Getting to the size of this fish, bluefish can grow up to 39 inches and 31 pounds. This is quite large, and the fish can easily live up to 12 years. The variety starts reproducing once they reach the age of 2, after which the females start laying eggs.
These can range between 400,000 to 2 million eggs.
Bluefish are known for migrating from one area to another depending on the temperature of the water. This is why these are known as seasonal migrants.
The fish are often hunted down because of their fighting spirit and the optimal water temperature for them is around 68 degrees.
Most people will notice that the fish don’t come out if the temperature starts rising above 84 degrees or goes below 50 degrees.
This is because these temperatures are not liked by the fish and there is a high chance that they might have already migrated before this.
This is why if you are thinking about catching the fish then you must keep these factors in mind. These will help you in finding the perfect spot to find all the bluefish and then catch them without any issues.
Blue Runner
Blue runner is a fish that is also often known by the name blue stripe jack. Depending on the region you find the variety in, they might also be referred to as hardtail jack, Egyptian scads, and hardnose.
These common species of moderately large marine fish are classified in the jack family, named Carangidae.
These fish usually grow up to 2.8 kg while they are adults but the fish you catch might be a little lighter than this. This is because the size of the food depends on how much they feed.
Talking about this, the diet of this variety consists of smaller fish that include shrimps, crabs, and other similar invertebrates.
The blue runner fish might also hunt down smaller fish found in inshore waters, depending on how hungry they are. When catching these fish, people need to understand that there is a limit to how many fish can be caught.
The rules vary from region to region but keeping them in mind can be essential.
For instance, Florida laws prohibit people from catching blue runners in large quantities. The maximum number of fish that can be caught is limited to 100 per harvester.
This information helps people in understanding how many they can catch as well as in staying cautious during the process.
Aside from this, the meat on the blue runner is similar to bluefish as both of these are quite healthy. The nutritional values are similar but there are also some differences between these varieties.
People can mostly tell them apart when comparing the fish side by side.
Comparison
Additionally, another thing to note about these varieties is that none of them are considered to be gamefish.
This is why if you are not thinking about eating the meat on these fish then the only reason why you would want to catch them is to use them as bait.
Luckily, both varieties work great as bait as they produce tons of vibrations that allow nearby varieties to get attracted. Their small size is another factor that helps in baiting larger fish easily.
Hopefully, you’ll have a clearer idea of how to figure out how to set apart Bluefish from Blue Runner and vice versa.
These pointers will do you well when you’re talking about identifying this correctly. So, be sure to have these details in mind, and you’ll surely be able to identify Blue Runner from Bluefish.
However, if you’re still confused and can’t seem to accurately identify one fish from the other, then you need to get help from the locals.
Spending a few hours with an expert will help you figure out the movement patents and the behavior of these fish on the water. So, you will not be confused!
On the other hand, if you keep trying to figure out everything on your own, then you’re bound to spend hours of your time.
So, be more efficient and have an expert guide you through the unique detail that will be much better for you when it comes to figuring out the type of fish you’re dealing with.
Wrapping Up
Depending on the type of fish you are trying to catch and what you want to do, the required steps might vary.
These fish have tons of varieties, each of which requires unique steps to capture them. This is why having this information beforehand can be essential.
Bluefish and blue runner are two fish that are quite popular. These are mostly hunted down for their delicate meat that can be quite delicious. On top of the taste, the meat is also equipped with tons of nutrients that can keep people healthy.
Though both of these varieties are quite similar, there are still some differences in weight and size.
So, if you’re struggling to set apart Blue Runner from Bluefish and vice versa, try going through the details here. That way, you will not be confused as much when on the water.
Will your accuracy increase to a 100 percent? Probably not. However, you will still be able to accurately identify Bluefish from Blue Runner more than 80 percent of the time.
So, go through these details, and get some polarized goggles. Hopefully, that will be enough to help you out.
Lastly, we will also point you towards the local experts. While it is common for people to hesitate at first, you should try and expand your knowledge.
Otherwise, you will just be holding yourself back and the performance from this system will be suboptimal to say the least.