Yeah Phil - those Blues are really fun to catch aren't they? It's too bad they don't show up more that far north.
My Son and I got into a big school of Blues feeding on the surface a few years back and started throwing big Rapalas at them, He
asked me how to fish the big Raps, and I told him to try and reel it like he was trying to take it away from them. You can't reel it too fast and when they hit - it is a shock to your arms and they just keep running like they will never stop. It really tests your reel drag. We caught over a dozen before the school went down, and man our arms ached and cramped for a couple of days after that workout. They were all in the 10 to 12 pound class. I think that was the most fun I ever had while fishing. I will never forget the big grin on my sons face.
Do you get the Cod and Haddock pretty close in to shore up there? We usually have to go out 26 miles or so to get to Jeffreys Ledge where the Cod live.