Food of Bluefish (Pomatomus Saltatrix) from the U.S. South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico

Stomachs of 4,841 bluefish were collected from five areas in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. south Atlantic. Bluefish were primarily piscivorous with Sciaenidae, Clupeidae, Carangidae, and Mugilidae as important components among food fish. Bluefish most frequently consumed species that were normally schooling coastal pelagic fish and supplemented this diet with shrimp, squid, and crabs. Stomach contents varied by area, size of predator, and season of capture. local abundance and availability of prey items seemed to be the controlling factor in prey secection.