Offshore School Drift
I fish a few spots offshore where fish really stack up on a very specific cast. They are 6-12ft and basically clean hard spots created by current on the upstream side and top of humps. When they are stacked the bite is generally best within the first hour after daybreak. I’ve pulled up and caught 12-15 on exact consecutive casts on some days and on other days maybe only one or two. There almost always at these spots but my problem is how do you combat or address the issue of the school drifting towards the boat after catching a few fish. Some days you can catch 8-10 or 15 before you actually see another fish following a fish I’m fighting. The next day out you may hang one on the first cast and a dozen come to the boat with it and never catch another one off that spot until a few hours.
Thanks!
Wow! I want to come fish this spot with you. It sounds amazing. Hare are a few things I do when dealing with a school like this and keep them biting. One of the things that can be helpful sometimes is to keep the fish you catch in your livewell. When you release a fish back to the school, this can often have a negative effect on the school and cause them to become inactive or suspend. I don't keep them for very long, just long enough to catch a few out of the school and then I release them. Sometimes the school will use you boat shade as cover and follow your boat. I have been successful from time to time by fishing directly under my boat for these fish. I also recommend that you change color and size of you lures. Schools of fish quickly become educated to a particular lure, but changing colors, size and noise on your lures can keep them biting.
I also pay special attention to water and weather conditions. If your bite has stopped, I'll leave and come back if the wind picks up or clouds take over. An change in weather or current on the areas you are fishing can activate a school of fish.
