Bluefish in the surf

[DZ]

I generally don't target bluefish in the surf but generally catch them from time to time as by-catch through out the season starting in late May/early June. I took my very first bluefish of this season on August 24th. Until then I hadn't even seen one caught, and not had one eel or soft plastic chopped. This despite a good presence of forage in my Newport home waters. The boat guys seem to be picking them up but the surf seems a "no bluefish zone". Wondering how others are seeing this in their areas. I think in all the photos I've seen about the recent canal action none included any blues. Were they present in the canal at all?