i fish a lot downon the gulf around mobile Al. and i was wondering what is the best way to catch a bluefish. I usually do good with silver spoons when they are feeding but are there other ways?

Well.. Up here in where I fish in jersey for them I use a few things. Most of the time silver spoons work wel. also rigged mullet or bunker pieces work well.

If you hit a school of blues in a frenzy you could throw an empty hook into the water and they'd hit it - and I'm not kidding. We've had bucktail jigs worked down to a dented, tooth-scarred piece of lead with a hook on it by blues and they were still hitting it.

If you're onto the snapper blues, I've had good luck with a small bucktail jig. People often use too large a lure for the loner snappers around jetties and piers. They'll hit small stuff pretty well though.

if you fishing from a boat and can't find them just throw in some ground bunker (chum) and a chunk on a hook, don't forget the steel leader 6-9" should do.

For you southerners, bunker is also called menhaden (pogie, LYor alewife down south).

Heres a couple good producers;
I used to fish off a Coast Guard Station(pre 911) at mouth of bay that met ocean almost exclusively at night. Boy I miss that place - best salt water fishin from land I've EVER experianced! We outfished most boats in the area.

Anyway - when the blues,stripers or sometimes trout were up I would tie a 3/4 to 1 oz rattle trap in silver with blue or black back. Hold on tight cuz they will try to tear the pole outa your hand. Gettin the trebles out can be a chore without gettin any exposed flesh tore up.

Funny - as occasionaly the blues would come up and school during day. I would tie on the old rattle trap and - Wham Bam. The coast guard guys in the tower were always scanning the inlet. There would always be couple guys come down to wall and ask what the hell are you using! Rattle Trap

Another great rig is 1/2 oz to 1 1/2 oz in line sinker(weight depends how tide is running) with 18-24" leader tied to 1/8 oz lead head jig dressed with small 1" white curly tail grub(small is the key). Cast out and let sink to depth of fish,let running tide drift the rig until - Wham. Gotta have a light drag. That rig has produced hundreds of fish when guys all around were gettin skunked on live bait or pitchin 1 oz bucktails or spoons. Boy I sure do miss that place[&o]