When bottom fishing on offshore reefs, what are considerations in achoring? Would you drop upcurrent to the reef and drift over the structure? My anchore has about 200’ of chain rode, and then 150 of rope bit. How do the experienced bottom fishers like to anchor over offshore reefs? Thank-you as always for your reply!
Here is a post by our admin. describing the the type “reef anchor” I used back in my offshore days:
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All Forums Articles Boating Reef Anchor Made Easy Forum Locked Send Topic to a Friend Printer Friendly Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic Admin Forum Admin2571 Posts
Posted - 03/08/2007 : 09:07:19 AM Show Profile Email Poster Visit Admin’s Homepage Send Admin a Private Message
As I was thinking about what to write about this week I have to admit I have sheepshead on the brain. A good friend of mine tried to talk me out of working today and playing hooky on the reefs, but I really had too much to do to break away. My thoughts kept going back to fishing all day long, spring fever began to set in and the next nice day we have I may find myself on the reefs. A question that comes up quite frequently is how to make a reef anchor. Here is an article that Tim wrote 3 years ago that explains how to make a reef anchor complete with pictures. Enjoy and we’ll see you out there.Reef Anchor Made Easy
Last year my father and I found a calm Saturday in July and decided to run to Capers Reef and try the Spadefish. We arrived at the reef with our jellyballs to find several other folks on the structure. We maneuvered around them to a spot just off the reef, or so we thought, and decided to drop anchor and play the tide and wind to drift onto the structure. The second the anchor hit the bottom it hung and my father and I both knew we had messed up. Evidently the tide was running a little harder than we thought and the anchor landed in the structure. After playing out all the anchor line we had, the school of fish were just beyond our reach. We eased the boat up on the anchor and attempted to pull it free by hand, but had no luck. I knew our only hope was to pull the anchor using the boat motor; however, with other boats in close proximity we did not want to
200 ft. of chain? Wow!
Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250
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200 ft. of chain? Wow!
No kidding! I hope that was supposed to say 20’, or he’s got a good windlass.
The way I do it is to pull up on the spot I want to be anchored over and stop the boat. Let the boat drift with the current and wind. Note the course of the drift on the GPS. I’ll usually make 2 drifts. Then run a reciprocal course back to the spot and past it the distance of the anchor line. Drop the anchor and fall back on the line until over spot and tie it off. Easy.
Try your best not to drop the anchor on live bottom, anchor in the sand.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
I remeasured. I have 150 foot of chain.
Why?
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
that much chain!!! don’t need the anchor:smiley:
just kidding;;what
size chain you using???
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author unknown
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Originally posted by skulldigger48I remeasured. I have 150 foot of chain.
Cut chain in lengths of your boat. Go buy 300’ of good quality rope, tie on the chain and a danforth anchor. Get a polyball. Go up current from the structure and drop anchor, drift over structure and drop bait.
Watch Sellsfish’s video on getting the anchor up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwiNDQW_r08
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
Cool video. It’s better to use horsepower instead of human power to get an anchor up!
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
What happens if you get your anchor hung up and have to cut the line with 150 feet of chain on the end! Man, that’s a lot of money you’re throwing in the water! I sure would hate to be the mate on that boat[:0]
Poor guy, must have arms like Pop Eye
I feel like we’re having a breakdown in communication somewhere b/c that’s an incredible amount of chain.
“Edaniel is a compromising liberal, according to past threads, so consider that info here too.” - mac daddy
I bet his anchor won’t drag!
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
I have 275’ of chain on our boat.
I don’t anchor over wrecks.
I never have trouble with the hook slipping either.
Never Satisfied
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Never-Satisfied-Fishing-and-Cruising/199406440221361
Kind of tough to cleat off chain in shallow water I would think. Not to mention what it would do to your gelcoat rubbing all over the top of it. Maybe I am missing something here. Must have a bow roller, windlass etc.
Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250
holy cow y’all drop a lot of steel links out there in the ocean. Is that much really necessary? what happens when that windlass stops working or your anchor wedges under the wrong rock? that’s a lot of capital to leave out there for the barnacles.
OP, also maybe some more information about your boat and anchor if you want specific advice on chain length/link size, rode, anchor size/type, lengths, etc.
Solution: cut the 200’ of chain into 8 equal sections. Keep 1 for yourself and give the other 7 to friends. Buy another 250’ of rope. With 400’ of rope you will be able to anchor pretty much anywhere people bottom fish here.
What in the world does anyone need 200 feet of chain for? I use 10 feet and a fortress anchor with no problem at all. Are you guys operating cruise ships or something? Get rid of all that chain and you’ll probably go much faster!
Capt. R. Killin
“Day Tripper”
Shamrock 20 cuddy
Ford 351W
I anchored head boats with 200lb+ anchors. 60’ of very heavy chain and a heavy chain swivel and almost never lost one. If I set the anchor at 000* I pulled it out at 180*. if it didn’t release I would try 10* right or left etc until it came loose. I did bend some very badly. When I lost one it was when the anchor was down a ledge and the rope was cut by the rocks. expensive!
iPilot. Click, Done.
Not that this helps.
10% of the people catch 90% of the fish.
Well I used to use a fortress anchor w/about 8’ of chain until I had to break it half to get loose one day on the reef. Now I have the homemade reef anchor with 1/2" rebar, same length of chain. 200’ of chain?..what in the world!? That iPilot would not work on my boat either unless it was awful calm. It would be out of the water half the time unless I had about a 6’ or more shaft under the water. I have to keep it light in the bow anyway to keep the waves from coming over too much.
Key West 196;150 Yammie
Life Is Good…Gotta Love It!!!