bluefish

American  

[bloo-fish] / ˈbluˌfɪʃ /

noun

plural

bluefish,

plural

bluefishes

1. a predaceous, marine, bluish or greenish food fish, Pomatomus saltatrix, inhabiting Atlantic coastal waters of North and South America.

2. any of various fishes, usually of a bluish color.

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bluefish British  

/ ˈbluːˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. Also called: snapper.  a predatory bluish marine percoid food and game fish, Pomatomus saltatrix , related to the horse mackerel: family Pomatomidae

2. any of various other bluish fishes

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Etymology

Origin of bluefish

An Americanism dating back to 1615–25; blue + fish

Example Sentences

Menhaden are, Jackson announced, “the most important fish in the sea. They’re the linchpin that converts phytoplankton into a biomass that brings striped bass, bluefish, porpoises, tuna, and whales around.”

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2024

Alongside images and videos of humpbacks, hammerheads, dolphins, bluefish and many other species, he writes captions that range from childhood memories and research on the effects of fishing policy to explanations of animal behavior.

From New York Times • Sep. 15, 2023

For instance, water quality along Long Island has improved in recent years, letting bluefish and bunker fish flourish and increasing the odds that predators like sharks will seek them out.

From Washington Times • Aug. 10, 2023

When the bluefish were running and he’d caught enough, he was known to fire up his smoker and soak the blues in a closely guarded, top-secret brine that won awards at Martha’s Vineyard agricultural fairs.

From Washington Post • Jan. 6, 2022

From the menu the bellboy brought him he selected a luxurious breakfast—broiled bluefish, hominy, French toast, and hot black coffee.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers