SportFishing and Charters Forum - bottom fishing

what is the best way to determine ocean currents for bottom fishing .
I understand that ideal conditions for yellowtail is up wind and up current of the reef allowing your chum slick to drift over the reef .
anyone have advice on predetermining ocean currents.
I am assuming high and low tide are a major factor . please share advice


thank you

oh yeah I fish south florida

drift

I have a couple of these: http://www.suremarker.com/products.htm

Toss them over a interesting piece of structure and the flag tells you which way the way the current is going.

http://www.suremarker.com/images/Pro-Model.gif

what is the best way to determine ocean currents for bottom fishing .
I understand that ideal conditions for yellowtail is up wind and up current of the reef allowing your chum slick to drift over the reef .
anyone have advice on predetermining ocean currents.
I am assuming high and low tide are a major factor . please share advice


thank you

oh yeah I fish south florida

It's easy to tell what the current is doing. Check a nearby bouy, lobster pot marker, etc. Throw some bait over and observe. Look at the tidal charts.
At any location, currents can be screaming one day and calm on the next, depending on tides, wind, proximity of the gulf stream and moon phase. For YT's current and wind in the same direction is what you want.

I just look which way the chum goes when someone tosses their cookies. If you're not good at getting your crew to chum, you can chop up some fish and throw them in.

All good advice......I was actually hoping for advice prior to getting on the reef.

No accurate way to tell before getting there. The current can change quickly especially around the reef edge in S FL. Tidal influences, eddies off the stream and your location can change the current where you are trying to fish. The only way to know is to give it a shot and adjust gameplan from there

No accurate way to tell before getting there. The current can change quickly especially around the reef edge in S FL. Tidal influences, eddies off the stream and your location can change the current where you are trying to fish. The only way to know is to give it a shot and adjust gameplan from there

X2. There is no way until you get where you are going.

TooReel's advice is very good, :thumbsup: and is what I do - toss a buoy once you get to where you are going to fish, and then circle around and go back to it and see what the current is doing.

drift for a couple mins and zoom in your plotter look at your course

Thanks for the info