Northern Puffer (Sphoeroides maculatus)
Northern puffer are a saltwater fish in the pufferfish family, Tetraodontidae, and the Sphoeroides genus. Sphoeroides meaning spherical, referring to their sphere shape when fully puffed up. Maculatus meaning stained or spotted, referring to the coloration of the fish.
Where to Find Northern Puffer
Northern puffers are a saltwater fish found along the Atlantic coast of North America. They prefer protected areas like bays and estuaries but can also be found surfside when conditions are calm. When stocks are high can be caught in very shallow water but more typically at depths in the range of 5-10 feet. Anglers have the opportunity from both shore and boat to catch them.
Their weaker locomotion compared to other fish has them favor calmer areas. This fact paired with their diet of invertebrates should give you enough ideas of where to try and fish for them.
Other Names for Northern Puffer
Other names people have used to refer to this fish include blowfish, sugar toad, sea squab, puffer, rabbitfish, swell belly, swell toad, and chicken of the sea.
When to Fish for Northern Puffer
Northern puffer are a seasonal target. There is a chance of catching them May through early fall but prime fishing doesn't typically start until the dog days of summer. Other than their spawning period of May to August, not much else is known about how they spend the rest of the year.
Fishing for Northern Puffer is generally a daytime fishery. Northern Puffer will head to the bottom and remain still during the nighttime.
What Tackle to Use for Northern Puffer
Northern puffers have small mouths, so a hook size from about 10 to 6 is preferred. They have a beaked mouth that can deliver a nasty bite, so some anglers prefer to use long-shanked hooks. The natural forage of northern puffers is small mollusks, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. In practice, they are not picky eaters and will eat just about any kind of meat. Ideally, your bait should be resting on the bottom or a few inches off of it.
One thing to consider about Northern Puffer is that unlike most fish which need to swallow their entire prey whole, is that Northern Puffers are able to take bites out of their food. If you are constantly getting your bait robbed off your hook, try downsizing the piece.
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