|
|
|
|
|
ANCHORING... It must be a well kept secret that precise anchoring is the key to really successful bottom fishing. I see guys search all over the place, find a likely spot, throw a buoy and then anchor 100’ from it. If the buoy is dead on the mark and they are anchored 100’ from it, there is precious little likelihood of catching many fish. As far as I am concerned, if you aren’t anchored exactly right, you may as well not be fishing. Choice of anchor style and size is important for anchoring in a gale but for general fishing, a smaller anchor is usually fine because we aren’t going to try to fish in horrible sea conditions. I have a huge Danforth with lots of chain and 5/8” line for a storm anchor. My fishing anchor is a large home made Grapnel with 10 feet of heavy chain on 3/8” line. With the heavy chain, I can get by with minimal scope (ratio of length of the anchor rode to the water depth) on most days. I prefer my Grapnel because I can easily bend the hooks if I straighten them in rock or coral. Most other anchors get hung easily and are not easily retrieved. Several times this past year, on days when the wind and tide were not cooperating, fishing was mighty tough. With a west wind and an out going tide, it can be a bear to get anchored properly. This is especially true when both are having the exact same effect on the boat. You can steer the boat with the engine, outdrive, or rudder to move the boat a little starboard or port. Trimming down one or both trim tabs can give just enough drag to move the boat a little too. Additionally, on some boats you can change the anchor line to different chocks. I don’t have this capability on my boat so I have another ploy that I sometimes use. A 5 gallon bucket tied to one or the other stern cleats can give the tide (current) enough purchase on the boat to overcome the breeze and swing you to the side. If none of the tips in the last paragraph are helping enough to get you anchored right, get everything to a neutral position, rudder amidships, anchor line straight ahead, tabs up, etc. When the boat settles out, check your compass course. This should give you a general idea of how to anchor. One or a combination of some of the tips above should get you on your mark. Changes in wind speed or direction will make you swing as will tide change. On days when you absolutely can’t get anchored, your best bet is trolling. I don’t troll during the summer very often but trolling is an option when your best attempts fail.
|
© Copyright 2002-2003 Fishin Mission Inc. All Rights Reserved. It is illegal to copy, reproduce or publish
any information contained on this site without express written permission from Fishin Mission Inc.
SportFishingFlorida.net