New technology will also require a new level of sportsmanship, etiquette and fair play.
It was a hot, late-July morning when I brought my charter to one of the fluke wrecks which had produced good numbers of fish on my past few trips. We started the morning doing a bunch of drifts on the four-person charter, using our Minn Kota trolling motor to orient ourselves, keeping the boat perpendicular to the drift line which helped to minimize tangles. Unfortunately the wreck where we started was relatively dead only producing two keeper fluke and was not enough action for my liking.
With the slower bite, I decided to hit another larger, broken-up wreck about a mile south. As we came upon the wreck, there was a vessel electronically anchored in position also known as “spot-locking”. The two anglers aboard the spot-locked vessel were jigging vertically for fluke, but were on the far, northeastern part of the wreck. In effort to stay out of their way, we motored and drifted the southwestern end of the structure keeping a 40- to 50-yard distance from the other vessel.
After repeated hook-ups and netting one or two keepers on each of the first half-dozen drifts, the crew on the other vessel must have noticed our action and motored directly into the middle of our drift lines, anchoring in place where we netted fish and essentially cutting us out of our drift. As I approached on my next drift reset, I slowed down and politely asked if they were spot-locking in that spot. The angler replied that he was and pointed out “you don’t own the wreck”.
At this point, I tried to let them know that it was fine for them to be drifting the area, and even to drift our same drift lines, telling them how my guys picked up six keepers. But I only asked if they’d consider not “anchoring” there in our drift paths. A barrage of obscenities followed with the ignorant angler claiming he didn’t care, and quote, “I can fish however I want”. I let him know that we would still drift the area, but that I would work around him.
We continued to work our drift lines moving past the vessel, keeping a 15-foot or more distance on either side. After two subsequent drifts, he asked if I was a charter and I replied “yes I was”. He then called me “unprofessional” and promptly left the area.
The Atlantic sandbox is pretty big, but there are a limited number of wrecks and reef sites depending on the area you fish, so a level of etiquette and respect should be used so we can all play fairly.
Rise Of The Machines
More and more vessels are employing the new technologies of GPS-based trolling motors with a host of companies in the market for saltwater anglers. The trolling motor revolution has hit the Northeast by storm and for good reason as the technology provides increased fishing opportunities to anglers via boat orientation, lure presentation and e-anchoring over wrecks, etc. But as with any new technology, a level of sportsmanship, etiquette and playing fair must be practiced so experiences or conflicts like the above-mentioned one doesn’t happen.
Trolling motors have been around for almost a century, with the first one developed for use in 1934 by O.G. Schmidt. He fashioned an old Ford Model “A” starter with a flexible shaft and a propeller for quiet operation of vessels on lakes. Fast forward to today and you’ll find electric motors carrying 36 volts of power to motor or keep vessels up to 30-feet in length on specific GPS locations by the push of a button.
The newer motors have shaft lengths from 48 to 120 inches with some even employing auto-stow and deploy technologies. The saltwater trolling motor revolution started in the southern states – Florida in particular – with a host of professional charter captains and guides employing the technologies. Within the past 10 years, the surge has traveled up the East coast to Maine with anglers using the motors for a variety of fisheries from wreck-based to drift-based… and everything in between.
Suffice to say, the saltwater electric trolling motor has been a true game-changer. But with any new technology, a host of issues can arise, making anglers more effective while leading to arguments over prime real estate on the fishing grounds.
On The Hook
Currently, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) does not have specific rules, guidelines, and language dedicated for trolling motor-based “spot lock” technologies. The USCG does recognize this “new technology” and advises operators to follow general rules of the road. After researching and consulting with the USCG, they advise to treat “spot-locked” vessels as anchored vessels.
So what does this mean? Essentially, it means that vessels should give way to the spot-locked vessel and treat as a vessel which has dropped the hook by maintaining a safe distance. But they also advise boaters to give precedence to fishing vessels or any boats that have already established a position or drifts in the specific area. In the above case at the start of the article, the vessel drifting was in the right and the vessel trying to spot-lock in the middle of the established drift paths was in the wrong. Unfortunately, there are no referees on the water and anglers have to try adhere to unspoken rules of courtesy and sportsmanship.
An “unwritten” nautical and angling rule is to be “considerate” and not to squeeze onto someone’s established fishing spot, especially if that vessel is already anchored. When wreck anchoring, I will often run the 8- to 12-mile radar as I’m heading out to desired piece of structure. If I see vessels on small wrecks for example, I will bypass these completely. Large wrecks and reefs present a different set of circumstances and anglers will have to be considerate as some wrecks can accommodate three to four smaller vessels. If you see a larger head-boat on the wreck, I would recommend staying away as these vessels providing access to their patrons have limited spots to fish due to their size. Dive boats are an absolute “no-no”, so if you see the dive flag, find a new piece.
Drifting on the other hand usually doesn’t present as much of a conflict, as long as the captains will keep a good distance between vessels. The use of the main engine or trolling motor allows anglers to work around each other and not impede the other parties’ drift paths. Again, the USCG advises vessels to give precedence to anglers with already established drifts. It would be very inconsiderate to drop a trolling motor and slow down your drift, so now of all the other vessels with “established drifts” would have to move to accommodate you and surely some friends would not be made.
Know Your Boat
In addition to the issues which can arise from an angler’s inconsiderate use of technology, knowing how one’s boat behaves also factors into “playing nice” out there. All boats are not created equal, especially ones with keels, which will drift slower being more effected by the current than the winds. Higher profile, keel-less vessels will tend to drift faster, especially when the winds pick up. Whether working wrecks, reef sites or bays, these types of vessels should wait and give ample time and space to other vessels when working similar areas.
Even if the fishing is red hot or a major blitz is going on, the last thing you want to do is drift into another boat, so keep distances spread apart the best you can. Trolling motors can help; if the wind picks up during the drift and your vessel starts getting on top of another, simply spot lock to allow the other vessel to gain space before proceeding with the drift.
The ocean is wide open and no one owns any particular spot or location, but when spots are occupied, working together via communication is the key. One of our charters this past summer was a perfect example on how communication works. When drifting a medium-sized wreck with my fluke charter, a 25-foot center console approached us with three anglers aboard. The operator asked us if we minded if he worked the same wreck, saying he would use his trolling motor to work around us and not mess us up. Communication went a long way and we ended up working together on the wreck, catching fish, and even exchanging fishing information out there. It’s best to have an open mind and remember, we are all out there to enjoy the waters and catch fish.
Ultimately technology does not stop, and it will only continue to emerge in the world of fishing, aiming to make life easier and fishing easier, (or more effective in terms of catching). Some “aged salts” may complain of the ease and unfairness of the newer trolling motors as anglers can simply anchor on a wreck or spot with the push of a button. Of course, sending two hooks out to place a vessel dead-on a wreck takes knowledge, skill and a lot of practice, so kudos to those skippers. But none of us are going back to using parallel plotters, dead-reckoning, and sextants either! GPS allows us to plot a course or find a spot with a push of a button. Technology has pushed our fishing to the most efficiencies.
Consider the fact that many commercial vessels have full-on desktop computers with software that allows captains to plot their sets, drags, or hi-fliers with deadly accuracy increasing their yields tremendously. It’s our responsibility as anglers to practice appropriate sportsmanship and stewardship.
A final word of advice to the trolling motor nation – if you see a head-boat or vessel double anchoring, avoid the potential conflict, go past and find another piece of structure. There are plenty of spots in the Atlantic sandbox to play nice.
