Blue Runner(Caranx crysos)

Quick Facts

  • Other Names: Hardtail
  • Size Range: Up to 8 pounds
  • Native Species?: Yes
  • Food Value: Poor

State Record

  • Louisiana State Record: 7.5lbs
  • State Record Date: 7/1/2006
  • State Record Holder Keith Bergeron

A blue runner is a slender-bodied jack that is silvery, bluish with elongated pectoral fins and sharply forked tail. Smooth skinned, these common fish are often found in large schools.

They are common throughout the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf waters. These fish congregate around manmade structures and natural reefs.

Runners are often caught to use for live bait for many other fish such as tuna and grouper. They may be caught on jigs and sabiki rigs. They are hardy baits and can be kept in dockside pens and fed bits of fish or shrimp. They are also a prized bait by tournament kingfishermen, who say the bigger the better.

Related Habitats:
Other Bait Fish Species: Gulf Killifish Golden Shiner Striped Mojarra Round Scad Atlantic Mackerel Atlantic Thread Herring Pinfish Gulf Menhaden
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Related Fishing Methods

Bottom fishing is normally about fishing bottom structures in order to target benthic or bottom dwelling fish. There are a wide variety of techniques, but the common element is the targeting of species who dwell around or hide in natural and man-made structures. Fish like grouper, snapper, amberjack and catfish would be considered bottom fish. It is very popular amongst anglers and success is often determined by the fishermen's ability to crank a fish away from the structure before the fish can duck into it and cut the line. Anchoring or drifting the boat over the structure is key to having success. There are many versions, and many of the bottom fish are prized eating.

Drift fishing can encompass a variety of fishing methods. Bottom fishing over structure is often done while drifting. Timing the drop of your baits as you pass by the structures below is the trick. Also knowing when you have drifted beyond the fish is a key element to being succesful. Anglers also drift while live bait fishing and chunking for bluewater pelagic fish like tuna. The use of live bait or chunks is a slower presentation where the fish are drawn to the boat by smell or vibration of live fish. Inshore you can drift along while casting for trout and redfish with baits or lures. One of the main benefits of drift fishing is that you can quietly cover ground while searching for feeding fish.

A versatile method of fishing for many types of fish in both freshwater and salt. A jig is a lure, normally a lead-headed lure with many various types of body/tail configurations made of rubber, hair and feather. Jigs are one of the most versatile of all lures and can be tipped with bait or not. Traditionally jigs are worked in variety of up and down motions, and can be fished throughout the entire water column, depending on the fishery. A modern form of jigs called metal jigs has taken hold and many varieties and shapes have been developed to work different ways. Made famous by the Shimano Butterfly Jig and now produced by many companies in many variations. If I could only have one lure to fish with it would be a jig.