From fishing in 8 inches of water for tailing redfish to deep-dropping for swordfish in 750 feet of water, knowing and understanding what is down below is crucial on a fishing trip. Anglers need to invest in a high-definition sounder to produce clean images of the bottom to fully appreciate the possibilities and of course, catch more fish.
In extremely shallow water, a high-definition sounder is overkill; however, anglers cruising into waters deeper than 6 feet will value a clean depiction of the bottom below the boat. From seeing structure types to actual fish, the high-definition picture gives the angler a major advantage over their prey.
For fishing the Little River jetties in the late winter or early spring, locating the submerged rocks away from the exposed boulders is crucial. Redfish will hang exclusively on that structure. Knowing exactly where the structure begins and ends is a major factor in fishing success.
Knowing where the outside or deeper edge of the rocks is important for anglers targeting redfish. All available baitfish will hold very tight to the rocks; the only protection they can get is among the irregularly shaped granite bounders protruding from the sandy ocean floor. When not gobbling up a straggler baitfish, redfish will find refuge among the rocks from the wrath of marine mammals.
The best way to catch redfish around the jetties in March is to float live and dead bait over the tips of the rocks. By using a high-definition sounder, the depth of the water at the tips of the rocks is easy information to gather, and anglers can adjust their slip corks to the desired depth.
The days of fishing blind are long forgotten. From Lowrance and Raymarine to Garmin and Hummingbird, there are many on-board, high-definition sounders available with crisp imaging that can produce lifelike reflections of the ocean floor.
Be the first to comment