The conditions were optimum A light prevailing wind from the northwest added a slight ruffle to the surface, and the overcast conditions gave the water that quiet serene look. We were roughly west of Pedro Point slightly beyond the 25 fathom depth line, and although everything had that right look, the first 20 minutes of wetting our lines proved so far to be uneventful, that is until I noticed a subtle color anomaly on the surface.
About 50 yards off our bow, I could make out a compact shaded spot that was basically a dark brown to slightly purplish hue.
Appearing more like a passing shadow it was in fact a classic meatball, or tight school of anchovies that had been forced to the surface.
When bait schools form into these defensive balls, they stand out readily against the blue green water, and it can mean only one thing…
The bait school was about the size of the your typical suburban lawn. As we made the approach instead of plowing through its center and crashing the party I setup our trolling pass so that our lines would skirt its outer edge. We also brought up our three lines to the 25 to 35 foot range.
Rigged with cut plug herring we stayed on the outer edge of the bait school and as I slowly turned the boat to starboard following the schools inward curve both our back rods began thumping with hard strikes. To fat and sassy Chinooks responded violently to the bite of metal and took off on long hard runs. Fortunately, for us the hooks held.
Both my brothers Angelo and Julius went to work and eventually things became more hectic as the battle drew closer to the boat. To make things more interesting we had only one net. Making a slow inward arch with the boat and to the port side I turned in on the fish. Luckily both salmon were on the same side and the maneuver put them closer to the net.
Waiting for my opportunity I scooped Angelo’s fish and then Julius’s fish, making it a quick double scoop. Thirty pounds of thrashing salmon came over the side and high five’s quickly followed.
Picking up on what took place, we proceeded to visually hunt for additional bait schools that were pushed to the top. All of us were wearing polarized sunglasses, and it wasn’t long before we spotted additional schools spread out over a quarter mile stretch.
And so it went. Spot a bait school and then circle it. Granted some schools produced nothing, but others did, and within an hour we finished up with limits of shiny fish. It definitely made for an exciting day, and what made it so fascinating as well as rewarding we went on the visual mode to locate our fish
Technology in its many forms has certainly made our lives easier, and has given us the edge. That technological advantage has been used with great success especially with sport anglers, and it’s a rare ocean vessel that is not equipped with radar, depth finders, or some type of GPS.
And yet at times there is a great irony to all these electronic gizmos. We have become so infatuated with these gadgets that as we spend more time looking at that blinking screen, we lose some of the basics and forget to slow down and look out the window. And in the process a lot of folks miss that obvious sign that can lead you to fish.
Case in point, several boats that blasted ahead of us missed the topside bait schools, but we saw it because we took the time to use our eyes and read what we were seeing. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating you get rid of the electronics. I use them extensively myself, but I also learned a long time ago to balance that with using one’s senses, especially one’s eyesight. If you take the time to slow down and look, the ocean will readily reveal its secrets, and in the long run that will save you time and fuel, and put more fish in the cooler.
What To Look For
One small individual fish is impossible to see unless you have the eyes of a pelican. But when it involves the collective mass of thousands and thousands of siblings massed together it gives off color. Of very unique interest when a bait school becomes highly aroused or frightened due to predator attack it forms into defensive balls. When this occurs near the surface the color of the school itself will become more intense as it can change from a light brown to a very dark brown or a tinge of purplish shade.
Changing Shape
If the bait school is under repeated attack as game fish strafe its outer edges, the school will expand and then contract, or it will appear to have ragged edges. Anytime you observe this behavior, its time to move in and drop the lines.
Bird Behavior
On many occasions when these bait schools are pushed to the surface it can happen without the huge flocks of sea birds, or in other instances a single hovering tern or gull will be your only indicator. If that single bird is repeatedly false diving without hitting the surface, it is responding to bait fish being pushed close to the surface by game fish, but just out of the target range of that bird. Again it pays to keep those eyes alert for any type of subtle read.
Krill
Although this crustacean is very small collectively it forms a vital part of the food chain, and like bait schools massed topside, it will readily give off color that can be spotted on the surface. When forced to the top and under attack krill schools will appear as reddish brown blotches with ragged edges.
Polarized Sunglasses
Quality polarized sunglasses are invaluable tools because not only do they protect the eyes they greatly reduce surface glare allowing one to spot or locate targets below the surface, and it also highlights what you’re looking for.
Is It The Real Deal?
Some anglers upon seeing that dark spot for the first time may have problems trying to distinguishing whether it’s the real deal or the shadow of a passing cloud. Well that one is easy to figure out. If you have clouds and there is prevailing winds, if that shadow happens to be moving in the opposite direction, than you know it’s a bait school.
Working Bait Schools
Regardless of the game fish when their collectively feeding on a bait or krill school they’ll attack from the outside strafing the edges. Any individuals that become injured or crippled and drift away from the protective mass or bait ball are quickly singled out and picked off as they drift away. Predatory game fish are very quick at targeting baitfish that do not appear normal or our giving off any distress signals.
For that basic reason when either trolling or mooching, or jigging, and again I’m visually targeting a bait school I don’t go through its center. For one thing you put the action down if you do, and you’re bait or lure does not become the focal point of attention. When you analyze what is actually taking place there’s just too many targets there for a game fish to single out, and your offering is basically lost in the crowd.
But when you cover the outer edges of that bait school, you’re working that zone where the game fish have designed their attack, and your offering appears injured and thus is more readily visible, and more prone to being hit.
Fishing color not only represents another exciting dimension to fishing, it can be highly productive for the angler who learns to slow down and use the eyes.
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