So, this was my first year on the water with a boat.
I kept a spreadsheet detailing key stuff like weather, tide, location and what I caught fish on.
I got out 21 times, for various amounts of time and ended up with 117 trout, 26 redfish, 9 whiting, 3 flounder and a shark. I kept maybe half a dozen trout, everything else went back.
Being that this is my first boat I def had a steep learning curve at the start of the year with basic ‘seamanship’ stuff. Real, real basic stuff like launching and getting back solo, getting the boat to hold on the anchor(thanks Stump for the anchor and advice about extra chain) and other stuff. Here are my top lessons I learned as a rookie:
Keep moving - If you aren’t catching fish or getting bites move
Explore at low tide to see and find fish holding areas
If you run aground make sure you put some decent shoes on. First time I ran aground I cut my feet to all get go, boat looked like a horror movie with all the blood.
4)Oh, dont try and put a top water lure hook in the hook retainer with any tension on the line as it is very easy for the lure to spring out and impale your thumb.
5)If you have a spot that usually holds fish and you aren’t catching spend some time around that area, upstream or downstream
move boat so you can cast across the current or upstream for better presentation
7)I try and think if i was a fish where would i be, where could i get the most food with least effort. I know that sounds crazy but it worked a couple of times.
Have fun, even if you dont catch a fish or a lot its still beautiful being out there and you usually learn something
My GPs Minn kota really changed and improved the way i fish. Super easy to keep on the move, go up a bank looking for fish, hit the anchor feature when you get a hit. This is the piece of eqpt that made the biggest difference for me.
Most important advice I can add in case you haven’t leaned it yet: Don’t advertise where you catch your fish!!! People that are beginners to the experts will capitalize on your success based on a landmark in your pics or you blatantly giving away your spot. What I call my Kid Holes are top notch fun for my kids as well as any grown adult because the action is fast paced and action packed. Keeping these spots concealed has been a challenge but I still have them. Good luck on increasing your success for 2018
“If you can’t fix a woman, chase some tail with fins and fur!!!”
2008 Sea Pro 1900cc w/115
(2) Daughters that make the boys cry
(1) wife that makes her husband take the kids outdoors to chase their dreams!
Once you figured out the basics you no longer have to focus on those things and. its easier to learn new things to add to your skill set. I try to remember to loosen my drag when I store my rods or bait on my rod, it reduces your chances of breaking your rod if your line or hook hangs on something the drag pulls and it alarms you. If your a detail guy and keep good data your gonna advance fast and it will help you a ton when fishing or dissecting a new area. I see good reports in your future. Lol
Don’t forget to write down the details when you don’t catch fish. This helps me more than when I do catch them believe it or not. Doing this reduces the days you get skunked. Most of the time I get skunked now is because I don’t have enough time to fish or some big marine event like molting crabs and I am fishing mullet.
Keeping a log is huge. Simply no way to recall and assimilate all the info over a few months much less several years. Yes, there is a lot to learn, which keeps it interesting.
Drterry it sounds like you did pretty good to average 5 trout and 1 red, on your own. The advise to a beginner is often to go with a guide and get years of experience in a half day. Which is a great investment, no doubt. But after that, finding your own places and figuring out stuff on your own, is the real fun. Good report. Good luck in this year.
Funny how we all seem to learn the same lessons, at one time or another. Maybe someone could compile them into a large book?
Thanks guys for the comments. Epres, your comment is a good one, and actually it skews my numbers as i did not record days i was skunked, and there was a few of them. It was too depressing filling out my log with zeros, but I’m gonna record skunked days this year.
Split tail, thats good advice,i must confess that i saw a pic here and recognized the spot and went there a couple of times… sorry…
I did get out with a couple of guides, went out with Fritz and also Mike Able very kindly took me out to show me the ropes in some super skinny water.
cheers guys, hope you all have a good 2018 in the water.
I “hate” trolling.
However I noticed that when I get skunked I wasn’t where the fish were and not trying new techniques, doing things differently. I am staying in the same water column doing what I always do.
I tried something I normally don’t do…trolling. I get bites.
Now when I get skunked or can’t find a bite, I now troll.