Log XLIV - Anchored Fishing

Other than Drift Fishing which was discussed in the previous post, anchored fishing is the other common type of boat fishing method. Usually the captain can be more relaxed when the boat is anchored, hence I prefer this type of fishing over drifting. However there are a few things for the captain to take note too while relaxing. Some of the points are repeated from the drift fishing post but discussed here in the context of anchored fishing.

1) Choose suitable spots

Examples of suitable spots for anchored fishing are ship wrecks and drop-offs. Bait fish likes to hide in wrecks and predators will ambush them there. Pelagic likes to hang around drop-offs together with the reef fishes. However these spots are usually confined to a small area. Hence the position of the boat has to be quite accurate in order for the anglers to present their bait right where the fish school is.

Yellowtail Fusiliers often hang around in schools around wrecks and drop-offs.

2) Position of the boat

Positioning the boat exactly at the spot where you want it to be is the hardest part to master. There are two main factors to consider - current and wind. And each factor has two variables - magnitude and direction. The final position of the boat is the resultant of the magnitude and direction of the current and wind combined. Hence it is up to the captain's judgement and experience to estimate the final position of the boat after dropping the anchor.

Diamond trevallies are leader shy. However when the bait is presented well into the school, you will be expecting a frenzy.

3) Bait presentation

During positioning of the boat, the captain will also have to consider where the lines will be blown to by the current. When the current is strong, the bait will be blown away from the boat and will not be presented into the fish school if the boat is positioned directly on top of the school. Hence this leads us to the next point.

This coral trout was caught when the boat was positioned just at the edge of a reef and the bait blown into the reef.

4) Use suitable sinkers

In most cases, the boat after anchored will be facing against the current flow which means, the bait will be blown to the stern of the boat. Anglers with heavier sinkers should fish at the bow and anglers with lighter sinkers at the stern. This is to prevent the fishing lines from drifting from the bow of the boat to entangle with the lines at the stern.

Batfish likes to swim around the boat when it is hooked. The lines will get entangled if they are not spaced out properly.

5) Be aware of the surroundings

An anchored boat will not drift into the path of a container ship but you might anchored in the path of an unseen incoming one. Though the boat is anchored, it does not mean there is no chance of collision. So the captain still have to be aware of the surroundings. It is a good practice to check the position of the boat once a while to ensure that it is still stationary because sometimes the anchor might lose grip when the current or wind gets stronger.

Being aware of the surroundings also helps us to spot top water surface actions by predator fish such as this needlefish.

Feel free to drop your comments below if you have any tips on anchored fishing. Good luck and tight lines!

Log XLIII - Drift Fishing

Drift fishing is the most effective way to cover fishing grounds and thus increases the anglers' chances of passing over a school of hungry fish. However there are a few pointers for captains to take note to make the drift fishing experience a more enjoyable and fruitful one.

1) Position the boat perpendicular to the direction of the drift.

The boat's drift direction is a resultant of the wind and current. Identify which direction the boat will drift by putting the engine to neutral and observe for a couple of minutes. Once you know the direction, position the boat perpendicular to the drift so that anglers can fish along the full length of the boat.

A golden trevally fights hard by swimming around the boat. If the lines are not spaced apart, the anglers will be in for a hard time untangling the bird nest of lines.

If the boat body is in line with the direction of the drift, all the fishing lines will either be swept to the bow or stern,  increasing the chances of line entanglement among the anglers.

2) Drop the lines on the correct side of the boat

After the boat is perpendicular to the drift, remind the anglers to drop their lines on the side where the lines will be swept away from the boat instead of being swept underneath the boat. In most circumstances, it will be on the side facing the wind direction, unless the current is much stronger than the wind, then it will be otherwise.

A diamond trevally initial run is power and fast. If the line goes under the boat, there is a chance that the rod might break if the rod is not handled well.

It is easier to fight a fish when the line is away from the boat, and it also prevents the lines from getting entangled with the fixtures underneath the boat such as propellers and rudders.

3) Choose suitable spots

Though drift fishing can cover more fishing grounds, not all areas are suitable for this type of fishing. For example if you intend to fish over a wreck which is resting on flat sandy seabed. The strike zone is usually around the perimeter of the wreck, and the snag zone is directly on top of the wreck. This means there is only a small window period of less than a minute for your bait to drift within the perimeter of the wreck before reaching the snag zone.

Though drift fishing at wrecks is not easy, they are groupers'  favourite hideouts and sometimes still worth a try.

If the angler is not fast enough in adjusting the length of his fishing line to adapt to the profile of the wreck, the line will likely get snag and break. Therefore wrecks are generally not easy to fish while drifting.

Drift fishing is suitable for huge stretch of coral reefs where you can scan the seabed by knocking your sinker or jig on the reefs to lure predators out of their ambush.

An emperor nose snapper caught while drifting over a stretch of reefs

4) Target the correct species

You can catch any species with drift fishing, however certain types of fish can be hooked up easier using drift fishing compared to other methods. As a general guide, drift fishing is more effective for targeting lazy fish such as groupers, that do not swim around a lot to look for food. You have to present your bait or jig in front of them to entice them to open their mouths.

An orange spotted grouper caught by knocking the bait on the reefs using a madai

5) Be aware of the surroundings

As the boat is in constant motion, it might drift into the path of an incoming container ship or come close to shallow waters or rocks. Of course the captain has to be aware of the boat's drifting route, however he can also remind the anglers to help to keep a look out for any ships that might cross paths with the boat. This is especially important during night time when visibility is limited.

A deep sea barramundi caught while drifting in container ships anchored area. Notice all the ships in the background?

Please feel free to share your experiences on drift fishing in the comments below. All the fishing captains will greatly appreciate it. In the next post, I will share some pointers on anchored fishing. Tight lines and fish safe!