Reading water can put you on fish closer to the launch.

It takes time learning how to read water and sometimes it's just a “feeling” or a "hunch". Most of the time it is looking for something you have seen before. This is one of the reasons why 10% of the fishermen are catching 90% of the fish. They have awareness of the area and because of that awareness they are reading the water. Keeping a log and making a note of what worked when you caught fish on “that type of water” is another way of increasing your awareness and getting closer to the 10% group.

One way to learn water while you are in the kayak or on a boat is using your depth finder and gps or gps map. While paddling a new area I see water behave different than the surrounding area and it is a reason for this so I paddle over and use the sonar to investigate the bottom and a lot of times I'll see a big rock or a boulder field that comes up a couple of feet. Next time I see water behave that way I'll fish that area before paddling over to verify that this is same type of structure as I seen before. In moving water a rock the size of a car will create a change in 70 feet of water, the reaction will not be directly over the rock but on an angle away from the moving water. It's not going to be a big standing wave but if you pay attention it will show on a calm day with little or no wind.

What is your reaction when you see a big patch of weed in the area where you planned on fishing, do you move to a cleaner area or do you check out the edges while looking for sign of bait fish or feeding? A weed line is cased because of a change in the water and it's an area where you will find predators looking for bait fish using this as a cover. So fishing the edges can be productive and in August it is one of the places where I have seen Mahi-Mahi feeding and not spooked as easy. Another reason for the weed is a break created by change in bottom, change in tide or water moving at different speeds or a temperature break. Any change in the current help stack up bait fish and that will attract Stripers, bluefish as well as the more exotic fish like Bonito and False Albacore. With the right weather and some luck we may see tuna all the way into the beaches of Misquamicut. This is rare but can happen if a big eddy of warm water breaks off the Gulf Stream and heads toward the coast.

This is not supposed to be an be all or end all post, it's just some suggestions on your approach to kayak fishing. I'm not an expert but I have my share of “feelings” and hunches that have put us on fish whether it is in the kayak or from a boat. It is easier to get a feeling in waters you know and have fished a lot. This is because you have seen and maybe fished that stretch of water before. In the kayak you have to be picky when it comes to water you target for fishing. The luxury of gun and run is best left to boaters or you will be tired and sore after a day of chasing birds.

How do you approach new waters that you are fishing for the first time? What is your preparation, do you read charts or search online to get an idea of where to start? One way to research a new area is to stop in at a local bait shop, take your time and ask what would be a recommended way of fishing in this area if they have any plugs or bait that are unique to this area. If you are smart you don't ask where it's “hot” or where the fish is biting or if there is any god spots because most of the time you will be sent to the tourist spot. A better approach is to ask if there is any area you should avoid or stay away from while fishing. They are more likely to be honest when they tell what and where to stay away from than to burn a spot. This should have narrowed down the area you have to research and if you have time to fish a few tides you will learn how to read the water here. If I'm fishing a new area in a rented kayak I don't have a sonar to find structure so the first thing I do is to look for lobster pots. If there are lobster pots in an area there should be some structure there and I will troll or cast around the pots to see if there is any action there. When trolling or using a T&W in an area with lobster pots you need to check the buoys and make sure you paddle close to the face (part sticking out of the water) of the buoy. This will keep you on the downside of that traps line. Most lines are not straight up and down, the line has to be long enough to compensate for the tide variation.

Fishing in front of the beaches of Misquamicut and every time out there fishing I find a new piece of structure that I didn't notice before so reading water is not done in a day or a week. The larger breaks and humps should be easy to find, it is the small sudden changes that are harder to see and when you find them you may have your own “secret” spot less than a 100 yard from a known hot spot. I read online and in fishing magazines where a spot is discussed and for the next two to three weeks that area will be crawling with anglers who are reading the water from a magazine while cussing because there is no fish there. Fish is there, they moved to the lesser know “hump”, “structure” or spot that can be your “secret” spot.

There is places I fish where kayak fishermen and boaters go right past me while I'm fishing because they have to get to the “spot” and that spot may be an hour paddle away while I fish less than 10 minutes from the launch. I try to launch as close to where I'm fishing as I can. I'm not there to kayak, I'm there to fish. I found this area by accident while coming back to the “spot” that everyone else is hurrying to get to and because of finding a spot so close to the launch I started paying more attention to the water and what it is doing at different stages of the tide. It made me aware and because I learned something from it I am looking for and have found similar structure with fish in a lot of areas that I used to paddle right by.

I know that my approach is not for everyone and I have gone to areas where I thought it should be fish and found none and other times I have caught fish where by all means there should be none.

Hope this will give you some ideas on how to “read”, “learn” and “fish” your local waters.

Nils

Great post Nils

Put it where it won't get lost.





When Nils comes with me on the boat I give him the keys and let him drive. He "reads" the water better than most and we usually go home with our limit. His hunches work too. I'm learning, from Nils, to watch the water because there aren't always birds to give up the location of feeding fish. I play a game with myself and try to locate telltales before Nils. I'm getting better at it, I even beat him once in a while.

Very good my friend...as you know we have spent a lifetime honing this skill and just when you think you understand it, you learn something new. I recently sent a PM out to someone on the subject, not just on structure but weeds, birds, etc...the sum of the whole, so not to steal any of your thunder, I would like to add some of my thoughts and observations on this subject as well.

Reading Saltwater
Saltwater fishing can be easy if you find fish feeding near the surface. Finding fish is the key, as there is so much ocean, that merely trying to cover the water with your lures is a fruitless proposition. Good saltwater fisherman are adept at spotting fish on shallow flats or the subtle ripple or different color a school of Bluefish make when they are near the surface. Many of these signs are overlooked by the untrained eye. If you are on your own, either on land or in a Kayak, you can look for clues that indicate good fishing. Striped Bass, Bluefish, Bluefin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Bonito, False Albacore, and other species that herd baitfish on the surface can be found almost anywhere. When they are near the surface, you may actually see the water frothing, with baitfish jumping clear of the water. Gulls and Terns are good indicators of this activity. If the birds are wheeling above the water without landing, there may be a school of baitfish present; when the birds begin to drop into the water to pick up dead and crippled baitfish, you can be sure that some potentially good fishing is nearby. Get to that spot in a hurry, because the school may sound as quickly as it came to the surface, this is especially true of Bluefin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, Bluefish, Bonita, and False Albacore. If the surface of the water is calm, look for protruding fins, ripples, or wakes that do not look like they are formed by the wind, or dark discolorations on the surface that may indicate a school of cruising fish. Along beaches and in shallow water, look for shadows from fish. Certain places will concentrate baitfish, so the quarry you are after will be waiting in ambush.

Tides and Currents
Other than the weather, tides are the number one consideration in my book. Tides cause water movement or current. Current may vary due to wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, barometer, and how high and how low the tide will be in a given length of time. Normally fish stop biting when there is no current. Why? Imagine a mouth of a river (estuary) at the time of the full moon when the tide is lowering. There would be tons of water moving rapidly from the estuary spilling into the sea. With all this water movement the river and sea floor is disturbed considerably. Food organism that live in or near the bottom then become part of this mass exodus of water that is moving out to sea. Small fish will feed on these organisms, bigger fish will feed on these fish, even bigger fish will feed on these fish. Fish like to have diner served to them instead of going after it. In this way they can sit at the mouth and have all the food wash past them.

Ocean creatures have been timing their activities on gravity and the tides for millions of years. Additionally, tides had long been known to be an important factor in saltwater fishing success. As a matter of fact the majority of the record fish have been caught during a New of Full Moon plus or minus 2-3 days of which the New Moon is much better than the Full Moon for fishing. Tide play two key roles in the decision making process that I go through when I plan to go fishing. First, and what I believe to be the most crucial is, what are the effects of the tides on currents that will influence the fish to hold at certain locations. Is there a good sandbar in the path of the incoming tide that will hold baitfish tight to it allowing them to feed hard for a couple of hours? This is often the case on the inside portion of Sandy Point in the Little Narragansett Bay along the sandbar. I especially like to an incoming to be in parallel with a sunrise, a southwest wind, a dropping barometric pressure, and during a period that is either on the New or Full Moon plus or minus 2-3 days. This recipe set all the wheels in motion for a highly successful fishing trip. The only thing else is a good understanding of the area you intend to fish. What is the topography and bottom composition? Where are the eddies and rips? How does the current react as it crosses a point or enters through the narrowing under a bridge or Breachway? Being in the right place at the right time is the single most important factor of successful fishing. If you aren't where the fish are, you can’t catch them. Water level, water movement, and direction all play a vital role in where the fish will be located. The influence of tidal changes on a fish's feeding and migrating habits cannot be understated. They move with the tide and feed at locations that provide them either access to food or the ability to ambush food based upon tides. The saltwater coastline of Northeastern United States is veined with rivers and creeks coming through saltwater estuaries, oyster beds, and marshes to reach the Atlantic Ocean. These estuaries and marshes contain vital nutrients and are the very beginning of the marine food chain for all species of fish.

I believe if people knew a little more about the tides and fish habits relative to the tides, they would catch many more fish. I have places that I fish only on an incoming tide, because I know the fish will be there as the water moves in. I also have places I fish on an outgoing tide for the same reason. On a high tide, water will flood the marshes, covering acres and acres with as much as two feet or more of water. Crabs and small baitfish will follow that rising tide to feed on in the shallows. Larger fish will also follow that rising tide in to feed on these baitfish. As the tide begins to fall, the water coming off these flats begins to funnel into small channels, leading into larger channels and eventually into the creeks and rivers. Fish sense the dropping water and will move out with the tide to deeper water. These tidal outflows to deeper water are where fishing can be great.

Since the inception of time the Sun and the Moon have been used as instruments to measure time. The ancient Mayans invented a calendar of remarkable accuracy and complexity based upon the position of the various planets, the Sun, and the Moon. Our calendar today is based upon the same principles. All wild creatures still keep time by observing the Sun and the Moon both through sight and through gravity, and it is this gravity that has the greatest effect of fish behavior.

Tides are controlled by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on the Earth, of which, the Moon has the greatest influence on the oceans. The Moon is about a quarter of the size of the Earth giving it 1/6th the gravitation pull of the Earth and it is close enough to our planet to have major gravitational influences. The Sun has 2 million times the gravitational pull of the Moon, but due to its distance from the Earth, it exerts only about 1/3rd as much gravitational pull on the Earth as the Moon.

The tidal cycle is about 24 hours and 52 minutes long due to the cyclic rotation of the Earth and Moon, during this cycle, the Earth experiences two high tides, and two low tides, each occurring approximately every 6 hours. High tides occur when the Moon is directly overhead or directly under foot. When it is overhead it is called the “Spring Tide”, which is the highest tide and when underfoot it is called the “Neap Tide”, which is lower than the Spring Tide. The low tides occur 6 hours and 12 minutes before and after the high tides when the Moon is on either horizon. The tidal bulge of high tide follows the revolution of the Moon as the Earth rotates eastward through the bulge pulling the entire worlds oceans towards the Moon, creating high tides on both side of the Earth at the same time. In between the two high tides are the lows which at 90° away from the high tides.

The incoming tide is referred to as a flood tide, while an out going tide is called an ebb tide. While at the top of bottom of these tides, it is call stack tide. The time between these is about 6 hours and 12 minutes. Tides are more pronounced along coastlines and in bays where the tidal range, the difference between high and low tides, are increased due to topography. Tidal ranges can vary quite a bit. Here in Connecticut, we seen about a 2’ – 4’ change over the course of the cycle, while in Nova Scotia in the Bay of Fundy they experience the world’s greatest tidal range of 50’ due to the funneling effect of the land mass. The orientation of the Sun, Moon, and the Earth also controls the tidal range. Twice a month when they are lined up, tides are at their maximum, during the full and new Moons.

From any location on the Earth, the Moon appears to be a circular disk, which, at any specific time, is illuminated to some degree by direct Sunlight. Like the Earth, the Moon is a sphere which is always half illuminated by the Sun, but as the Moon orbits the Earth we get to see more or less of the illuminated half. During each lunar orbit (a lunar month), we see the Moon's appearance change from not visibly illuminated through partially illuminated to fully illuminated, then back through partially illuminated to not illuminated again. There are approx. 13 Lunar Months in a calendar (or Solar) year. Although this cycle is a continuous process, there are eight distinct, traditionally recognized stages, called phases. The phases designate both the degree to which the Moon is illuminated and the geometric appearance of the illuminated part.

If the Moon is already up in the sky in the evening, when the Sun goes down, then the Moon is waxing. Every night it will rise a little later in the day, approximately 51 minutes each day, and look a little fuller. At Full Moon, it will rise almost exactly when the Sun sets. In the northern hemisphere, the waxing moon begins as a crescent on the right hand side of the Moon’s face; in the southern hemisphere, the waxing crescent is illuminated on the left side. This full and new Moon cycle can be further broken down into several phases. Following Waning Crescent is the New Moon, beginning a repetition of the complete phase cycle of 29.5 days average duration. The time in days counted from the time of New Moon is called the Moon's "age". Each complete cycle of phases is called a "lunation". Because the cycle of the phases is shorter than most calendar months, the phase of the Moon at the very beginning of the month usually repeats at the very end of the month. When there are two Full Moons in a month (which occurs, on average, every 2.7 years), the second one is called a "Blue Moon". Although Full Moon occurs each month at a specific date and time, the Moon's disk may appear to be full for several nights in a row if it is clear. This is because the percentage of the Moon's disk that appears illuminated changes very slowly around the time of Full Moon and also around New Moon, but the Moon is not visible at all then. The Moon may appear 100% illuminated only on the night closest to the time of exact Full Moon, but on the night before and night after will appear 97-99% illuminated; most people would not notice the difference. Even two days from Full Moon the Moon's disk is 93-97% illuminated. New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and Last Quarter phases are considered to be primary phases and their dates and times are published in almanacs and on calendars. The two Crescent and two Gibbous Phases are intermediate phases, each of which lasts for about a week between the primary phases, during which time the exact fraction of the Moon's disk that is illuminated gradually changes. The phases of the Moon are influenced by the relative positions of the Moon and Sun in the sky. For example, New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are quite close together in the sky. Full Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are at nearly opposite positions in the sky, which is why a Full Moon rises about the time of Sunset, and sets about the time of Sunrise, for most places on Earth. First and Last Quarters occur when the Sun and Moon are about 90 degrees apart in the sky. In fact, the two "Half Moon" phases are called First Quarter and Last Quarter because they occur when the Moon is, respectively, 1 ¾ of the way along its orbit from New Moon. The relationship of the Moon's phase to its angular distance in the sky from the Sun allows us to establish very exact definitions of when the primary phases occur, independent of how they appear. Technically, the phases New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and Last Quarter are defined to occur when the excess of the apparent celestial ecliptic longitude of the Moon over that of the Sun is 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees, respectively. These definitions are used when the dates and times of the phases are computed for almanacs, calendars, etc. Because the difference between the ecliptic longitudes of the Moon and Sun is a monotonically and rapidly increasing quantity, the dates and times of the phases of the Moon computed this way are instantaneous and well defined. The percent of the Moon's surface illuminated is a more refined, quantitative description of the Moon's appearance than is the phase. Considering the Moon as a circular disk, the ratio of the area illuminated by direct Sunlight to its total area is the fraction of the Moon's surface illuminated; multiplied by 100, it is the percent illuminated. At New Moon the percent illuminated is 0; at First and Last Quarters it is 50%; and at Full Moon it is 100%. During the Crescent Phases the percent illuminated is between 0 and 50% and during Gibbous Phases it is between 50% and 100%. For practical purposes, phases of the Moon and the percent of the Moon illuminated are independent of the location on the Earth from where the Moon is observed. That is, all the phases occur at the same time regardless of the observer's position.

During the first and third quarters of the Moon, the tides are at the lowest change. Also when the Sun and Moon are at perigee, or closest to the Earth, they exert greater influence, thus producing greater tidal ranges, normally the full Moon of June and a great time to go get those clams that no one has been able to get to for a year. Six months later, in December, we see the least amount of tidal range during the apogee. Some other interesting facts of tides are:

• The tides you experienced today will be the direct opposite next week, but much the same the following week after.

• Top and bottom of the tides are time late in estuaries that have small openings as opposed to the waters outside of these.

• There is almost a six hour difference between Napatree Point (Connecticut – Rhode Island boundary) and the mouth of the Connecticut River, thus giving an opportunity to fish any tide at any time of the day here in Southeastern Connecticut.

Currents in the Long Island Sound are confusing at first, but just think of a very big bath tub being filled and emptied twice a day and picture how the water would flow in and out of it. Note the speeds that develop through narrow opening such as the Sluiceway, the Gut, and the Race. These are the big rips of the Long Island Sound and can be very dangerous.

For tides to be a significant factor in creating exciting rough water conditions, they need to create a current of at least three knots. The Long Island Race and the reefs off Watch Hill are shallow, so when the tides run over this constriction, they accelerate, gaining energy. In the larger volume of ocean beyond, they decelerate, but the energy remains, creating waves. The biggest waves are immediately downstream of such constrictions, sometimes forming a standing wave that stays in place as long as the current is flowing. As you get farther from the constriction, the current continues to slow, the waves diminish and become chaotic. In large rips, the waves are rarely so well formed, and you end up with a large area of jumbled chaos crossed by multiple wave trains.

In a tidal fall’s you can approach the main current from an eddy, drop in next to the wave and accelerate the boat to catch the wave just below the drop. If your timing or boat placement are a little off you get flushed out. In wider rips, where eddies are less evident and the current differential less pronounced, you may need to use the more confused wave trains to make progress up through the chaos.

In an opposing wind and tide situation, i.e. confused seas, the wind waves proceed up from the slower moving water toward the faster water near the constriction. As the waves enter the faster water, the wavelength is compressed and grows in height. These wind-generated waves offer the ability to surf and progress against even very strong currents. Ocean swells come from weather out to sea and may appear when the local weather is calm. These waves need a coast exposed to deep water all the way out to the storm. For the Long Island Race and its reefs, ocean swells generally come from southern storms. The currents at the Race produce good action on the ebb and the flood. Most current charts provide velocities for the Valiant Rock area. Trip planning should be based on examination of these current tables. From the Connecticut shore, the most accessible playground is near Race Rock. The lighthouse provides a significant eddy that will let you enter the current near the rock, ride it for a while and then catch the eddy for an easier paddle back. Care is needed, as the eddy diminishes as you drift down current. When waves are really popping, an assisted rescue may be nearly impossible in the steep, breaking, chaotic waves until you have been flushed far from safety.

Rips
So what is a rip? It is an area where the water flows much faster across it than surrounding areas. This is caused by a funneling effect either due to the water depth changing very fast i.e. flowing across deep water into shallow water. Even though the water is attempting to flow across the area at the same rate, due to the decrease in volume because of the shallower depths, the water must flow faster to keep up, refer to Figure 14. Rips are also formed across points and jetties. Rips are some of the most important ocean currents to understand. Find a rip and you will find fish. A note of caution, rips can be very dangerous to fish in a kayak due to the extreme current speeds and the rough water often associated with them. You don’t need to get into the big rips, merely finding a point with current flowing across it will hold fish. Small rips can be spotted by looking at the water and it will almost seem as if there is a seam running through it with two different textures of water joining to form a line, these are often rips or indicators of a bottom topography transition. Here are some visual clues that a rip is present and how to work them:

• Rips are visible disturbances on the water's surface that appear as long, narrow bands of calm water bracketed on either side by rough water.

• Rips form at or near temperature boundaries. These boundaries are called soft edges when the change across them is only 1/2°F to 1°F, and hard edges when the change is 2°F to 4°F or more.

• The rough water at hard edge rips is more pronounced than that at soft edges.

Game fish tend to gather along rips for several reasons:

• Plankton gathers along temperature boundaries, setting up a food chain that draws bait to the area. NOTE: Plankton tends to concentrate on the cool side of a rip. This is because coastal water has a higher nutrient content and lower salinity level than Gulf Stream core water. The higher nutrient content in coastal water provides plankton with a food source, and the higher salinity level in Gulf Stream water makes this water denser than coastal water, in effect creating a barrier that the floating plankton cannot cross. Because plankton (and the nutrients on which it feeds) clouds the water, sight oriented hunters like marlin and tuna will tend to stay on the warm side of rips.

• Floating weeds and debris will collect in the calm area of rips. Floating debris attracts bait, which attract game fish. The shade from floating debris also attracts some game fish, especially dolphin.

• Temperature boundaries, especially hard edges, can act as a "wall" when the temperature on one side falls within a game fish's comfort range and that on the other side does not. Game fish will tend to move along these edges when they encounter them instead of crossing them.

• The most productive rips are those over good bottom structure. These should be explored first.

• When you encounter rips along the edge of the Gulf Stream or one of its edge features (see figure below), it is often most productive to continue running perpendicular to those first rips, watching subsequent rips for better formed weed lines and/or signs of actively feeding fish, such as feeding birds.

• Concentrate on rips containing floating debris and/or bait. If there have been reports of weed lines in an area, remember that things are moving out there. The western edge of the Gulf Stream has its fastest current, which is north at between 2 and 4 knots.

• Weed lines that are not holding bait, seldom hold game fish. Always pull up to a weed line and check for bait before beginning to fish it.

• Lures should be trolled along the edge of rips. Because the Gulf Stream flows north, and fish tend to swim with the current, trolling from south to north along rips gives lures a more natural presentation when that rip is along the edge of the Gulf Stream. Rips along the western edges of fingers or warm eddies, however, should be trolled from north to south because the currents in these features move in a circular counterclockwise direction.

Birds
Birds diving and swooping the water is always a good sign. This is an indication of a “Blitz”. Bluefish, Striped Bass, and Tunaoids all blitz. The big balls of bait attract birds when they are forced to the surface by feeding Striped Bass, Bluefish, False Albacore, and Bonito. Birds can be seen working these bait schools from many miles away. A pair of binoculars is a big asset when an angler is scanning for flocks of birds. The species of predatory birds vary with the size of the baitfish. Terns and Gannets prey upon tiny fry and small herring, while Cormorants dive into the water after larger fish like Menhaden and Shad and sometimes game fish that fore mentioned fish also eat, such as Needlefish. Since the size of the birds indicates the size of the baitfish, it often provides a clue as to what size baitfish that the fish are feeding upon and therefore what size of lure to use to catch the fish. Never ever, give up a chance to cast into a blitz. If Terns are feeding and putting their feet into the water, then you can rest assure that it probably isn’t a Bluefish Blitz of more likely Bonito, False Albacore, or Small Blue Fin Tuna (SBFT). If that is the case, watch and see if you can’t figure out a pattern. Look for gray hounding fish; see if they appear at certain places at certain intervals. If so, you can ambush them. Chasing a moving blitz can be frustrating and most often unproductive, so if you can figure out the pattern, all the better. Even if it is a Bluefish blitz, there is a very good chance that a monster Striper is underneath them and feeding on the pieces that float down to them.

Flotsam
This is sea foam and other debris that collects along transitions such as weed lines, ledges, or two current coming together. This Flotsam provides protection from the sun and shelter for small baitfish, which ultimately means larger predator fish.

Reading Land Masses
When you first look at the coastline in an effort to figure out what the topography looks like underwater it can be overwhelming. The ocean is so vast and the coastline runs for ever, but don’t let this stop you. When I first scout out a new area I like to see it first at low tide, normally arriving about an hour or so before the bottom so that I can watch the currents. The low tide exposes rocks, sandbars, and weed lines that are normally submerged at other times. My second time out scouting is an hour or so before high tide, again, I am studying how the water flows, attempting to locate Rips and Eddies. I also look at the shoreline and try and picture how it extends out into the water. If the coast has a gentle slope, then it normally continues out into the water much the same as it did before entering the water. Should there be a sharp drop or cliff, then this also continues much the same as. Try and picture the land underwater as an extension of the land mass prior to it entering the water.

Points
These are prime areas, often stretching out for many hundreds of yards after entering the water. Rip Lines are often established across points during tidal flows. Never under estimate a good point, put your time in working these waters especially hard; just be careful around them, as the waters really do rip across them. Try working the incoming side first and then move to the back side. I try a get my bait or lure to travel naturally along the current lines, that is to say with the current. If that doesn’t produce fish then try going against the current.

Islands, Rock Piles, Reefs, Shoals, & Ledges
Long ago when I first moved here from the Pacific North Coast, I learned that if you mix rocks, water, and the Tube & Worm (T&W), you got Stripers. This recipe still works today very well. Fish slow and close to the rocks and let the T&W just gently roll over the rocks and boulders. Reefs and ledges are tremendous areas that hold tons of bait and provide breakwaters and holding areas for large fish. I like to fish the parameter of a rock pile fist, and then if possible, move across the rocks. These are also great places to drift eels at night, just pitch an eel against the rocks and free line him. I have picked up some very nice fish this way.

Harbors, River Entrances, Coves, Bays, Estuaries, & Flats
These contain some of the most productive saltwater ecosystems in the world. Their nutrient-rich waters support huge quantities of baitfish and crustaceans, and the constant flux of the tides move food in and out of channels and bays. Tidal water flows into the pocket waters in the incoming tide slower as a whole, but this flow in greatly increased by choke points.

Holes
These are often developed at the narrow mouths of these pocket waters, dug out from the constant flow of the tidal waters due to the increased flow across the small openings. One other notable observation is that along with the deep holes created at these openings, is that often times an eddy is also formed across from these holes due to the counter rotation of the water as the pocket fills. Water flowing into pocket water during the incoming tide not only flows into the pocket, but also out on the less-dominate side thus creating an eddy to drop a fat eel into. You will often find that water moves both in and out at the mouth of a salt pond, both on the incoming and out going tides.

Flats
These are perfect for fly or sight fishing, because the water is shallow enough to present a fly, regardless of where the fish are, and the fish are usually visible. I like early mornings with a high tide about 2 – 3 hours after sun up. This gives the fish the whole night to enter the flats undisturbed and establish their feeding patterns. The tidal push also moves bait into these areas and traps them against the sandbars setting up a regular feast for the fish. Look for swirls and tailing fish, along with birds to locate these prime feeding areas. Again, look on the outside or ocean side of the flat or sandbar during an outgoing tide, on the inside during an incoming tide for the bulk of the feeding fish. I remember fishing one such flat or sandbar early one morning with my friend Robert Hatcher. A Hurricane was due to pass off our coast about 08:00 AM, so launching at 05:00 AM, we paddled out to the sandbar knowing that the last nights incoming tide had deposited lots of baits fish inside the pocket waters. The skies were ominous, dark, and gloomy with the wind whipping around a bit. As we approached the sandbar, I looked over to him and said, this is either going to be one of the best days we will ever have fishing or the stupidest thing we have done in a long time. With the approaching storm and the dropping barometer, I knew that if we didn’t get blown off the water, it had the makings of a “Magic Day”. Needless to say upon arriving at the sandbar we find birds diving, bait jumping, and Bluefish busting everywhere. We sat amongst them for nearly 2 hours, catching one after another until the school started to move outside the pocket waters following the outgoing tide. We them focused our attention on another group of birds work some water across from us. Moving over to them we discovered Stripers had a bunch of bait pinned up against the bank and we feasting heavily upon them. We spend the remainder of the morning catching Bass on everything we threw at them. Robert look over with the biggest grin on his face and said, “this is the best fishing I have every done”.

River Entrances
I treat river entrances much the same way as I do the mouths of coves, bays, and estuaries. One side or the other will be dominating to the incoming and out going tides. That is to say one side will have faster moving water then the other. This is the side that normally contains the hole. The same is true in river bends, one side the water will speed up and dig out a hole, while the other side is much slower and deposits silt and sand forming bars.

Bridges
Bridges are one of my favorite places to fish along with quite a few of my fishing buddies. While most of the inshore waters are homogeneous, with wide expanses of shallow flats and grass beds, baitfish are attracted to bridges because they offer shelter in the form of shade, a place to stay out of the current and a place to hide from predatory fish like striped bass. Bait schools can sometimes be seen at the surface near bridges. However, they can also be spotted with a depth finder when they are below the surface. Here you will often find a deep hole with a fat cow waiting for an eel.

Man, you boggle the mind!

--Oilcan

Excellent post Nils. Well though out and clearly presented without allot of fluff! Some reenforcement and some new stuff to think about. Hopefully I can think about it in the morning from my yak!

Great information. When trolling, I have noticed that fish won't hit one direction. I know when it's high tide trolling an area will onlt produce when going south. Weird. You will ctach more fish if you understand the environment.

Boner the stuff you come up with?? It would take me a week to type that much information. Course I dont have that much information!!

Its not that hard if you cut and paste alot

So what your saying is "There are actually fish in that thar water?" Hmmm.

It's been no different in the Big boat....except...it is way to easy to burn gas moving from spot to spot. I am focusing more on my local area and trying to use my electronics to their fullest potential. If I am fishing a deep water hump, my goal is to only drop if I am marking fish. I got adventurous recently and started fishing deep for Fluke 80-100 and using up to 14oz. I have been using the lobster pots as a guide. I have been catching fewer Fluke but nice size keeps. Going where the fleet ISN'T, has been more of my motto but harder to practice as I am still learning the area. Between work, family, weather, etc...time is limited on the water. It is hard to be patient learning the ropes. It is refreshing to hear some of the old salts are still putting the puzzle pieces together.

Don O and I have fished the deep water for fluke the last couple of weekends. Big fish in 70 to 100 feet of water as long as there is any kind of structure. I have 2 of my reels loaded with 20lb power pro that get me down there with 4 to 6oz of weight. 4 weeks since we fished south side of fishers and that day the tide died off after 3 fish and the rest of the morning was skate heaven.

Good luck exploring new areas that are off the beaten path because I think we get into paterns fishing where the fish was or where the fleet are. Just because it's a lot of boats there don't mean the fish is there. A lot of people who don't know an area tend to look at others while driving by, if they see a bent rod they stop (Don't matter if it's skate or sea robin, you got fish). 2 boats in the same area will stop another , and another and soon you are in the middle of the fluke fleet.

Move away again to an area where you are all by yourself and watch the fleet inch up on you. What is real fun is when you find a hole or a pile that are holding several fluke and you start doing short drifts over the same spot. We have seen people pull up ahead of us and behind us to get on the same drift because we have fish on every drift.

Nils

All those other boats don't have the "Norse Nightmare" on board. Nils can find fish in a bathtub, he gives my boat the advantage.

LOL

Excellent post guys. As someone who doesn't get out there as often as I'd like, it's great to have a "refresher course" or learn something entirely new. The "articles" within some recent posts have been fantastic. Maybe you should combine these articles into one comprehensive booklet and offer it for sale to help fund the site.