Blues and Greenfish
Bluefish have a couple of names based on their color. Blues, a shortened version of bluefish is one of them. Greenfish is another. The fish are greenish blue with silver sides and black dots behind their pectoral fins.
Snappers and Choppers
Think of the bluefish feeding habits and you'll remember their nicknames, "snappers" and "choppers." Bluefish are carnivorous and often feed in a frenzy. Anything that can fit into their mouths is potential prey. They will even chop other fish in half, first biting off the tail to ensure the rest of their meal can be swallowed in one fell swoop. Snappers is usually a name reserved for smaller bluefish, while choppers can refer to those of all sizes.
Fatbacks
Bluefish generally have fatty flesh, making the name fatback easy to recall.
Other Common Names
Bluefish are also called taylors, slammers and skipjacks. The latter is usually reserved for young blues. They are also known as Hatteras blues since they are common in Cape Hatteras off the coast of North Carolina.
Pomatomus Saltratrix
The bluefish's scientific name is Pomatomus saltratrix. They are from the Pomatomidae family, but are also the only member of that fish family that has not become extinct.
Article Written By Ryn Gargulinski
Ryn Gargulinski is a writer, artist and performer whose journalism career began in 1991. Credits include two illustrated books, "Bony Yoga" and "Rats Incredible"; fitness, animal, crime, general news and features for various publications; and several awards. She holds a Master of Arts in English literature and folklore and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing with a French minor from Brooklyn College.
