These are black sea bass, they hang around rock piles in deep water (50-120') and eat almost anything that comes by. I think you have blackfish/tautog in mind, they hang around rocks in shallower water, green crabs/asian crabs or hermit crabs are their favorite meal. Both species are top notch table fare.
Agreed, both stripers and blues can be a blast on topwater lures. Personally, not a big fan of either for eating, but many people drool over the stripers. The only way blues are palatable for me is if they are well bled.