Need help with a bass VS Bluefish Research paper
 

Surfrats,
Need some help. Doing a research paper on the northeast marine life. Does anybody know some good ways bass and bluefish compete for territory? Anything alone those lines. im stuck on my 5th page now and need some help. i discussed the bait migration, there food sources, physical adaptations, the whole intertidal ecosystem but can't nail this one. Thanks in avdance!
Nick

I'm no expert but I think it would be interesting to look at the different ways they breed. They're almost opposite with blues spawning way out at sea and bass mainly in the chesapeake, hudson and delaware.

They both eat the opposites little ones :eek5:

I always thought they shared territory, and that their relationship bore a closer resemblance to a symbiotic one as opposed to a purely competitive type - I have no data to support my opinion.

I agree Joe - at least in my historical observations.

Nick,
Is this a true research paper? If so you will need to cite the sources of the info you gather. Not sure you would want to cite an online fishing thread? If you want some observations from surfcasters perspective shoot me a PM.

DZ

Biologically, bluefish are a pelagic species. Forked tail, high aspect ratio is built for steady swimming, more red muscle with higher myoglobin levels for aerobic respiration (also for constant swimming). They often come inshore to feed, though.
Bass have low aspect ratio tail for sudden bursts of speed (ambush feeding), whiter muscle for quick movements rather than sustained. Bass like to hang out in structure, pick off bait ambush-style, rather than chasing it down bluefish-style.
I hope this helps.