Moving boat while fighting fish?
- Thread starter EstevanPoint
- Start date
I am on the same page as Wolf. For me In a crowd there is nothing worse than trying to avoid a boat playing a fish with a lot of line out travelling away from his fish. I will typically slow right down try to angle my boat to stay close to my fish so I don't block off the whole tack and can avoid being cut off by someone who doesn't see that I have a fish on.
and therein lies the issue... Those who don't understand the variables and expect everyone to keep full speed ahead on tack with fish on are the problem. Respect the anglers around you and let them enjoy fighting and landing their fish. Get over yourself and give some room. Maybe a smile and a thumbs up. I never have an issue on the water with other respectful anglers. Some anglers are so uptight I wonder why they fish.
Last edited:
BC Coast Pilot
Well-Known Member
There's a lot of "passion" on this thread
RiverBoy
Well-Known Member
so this i have mixed feelings on. if you have a screamer and you turn out, that fish is going to be screaming or tightlining into other people’s lines, cables etc.
chinook are incredibly efficient fighters and generally pull directly away from the resistance, in this case the rod. if you keep your boat straight, the chinook will stay faithfully behind the boat playing tug of war with the rod holder.
Ppl who throw boat in neutral, esp in current and crowds need to have their heads examined.
BC Coast Pilot
Well-Known Member
That fish you describe right there usually runs right at you if you blink and ya can't pick up fast enough
InterMechanico
Well-Known Member
Well, I haven’t caught a fish yet, but when I do, I’m definitely backing up LOL
pescador
Well-Known Member
You know, one thing I know about fishermen is we don’t like rules, we don’t like regulations, we enjoy the freedom of what the ocean provides and we really don’t like control freaks who want us to comply with their demands to keep moving along while we’re in their private “Tac”. I don’t fish with the pack. It’s a big ocean. Lots of space out there for people to change course and cruise…..even in a pack.
It is so easy to move right or left or turn the boat right around if that is what is needed to avoid tangling with the guy that has the fish on. Wolf mentioned it earlier those actions might cause you to get a strike. If you can not make these manoeuvres , you do not have very good control of your boat, and who wants to tangle and have less time fishing.
RiverBoy
Well-Known Member
another reason to keep the motor in gear and accelerate rapidly
Drewski Canuck
Active Member
Most guides keep the boat moving to keep pressure on the hook as a barbless J hook has less chance of popping out if under pressure. However, it sure takes the fight away from the fish! If in a pack and there is a recognizable Tack on structure, best to slowly turn out and move away from the crowd anyway.
Ever notice that when you hook up, some US registered Boat just has to creep up on you and crowd you? Sometimes within 30 yards while you are fighting a fish?
8 Years of Begging at Hoise Point many years back gave a string of swear words to a Boat that had to get closer for a look while he was fighting a fish. The crowding boat then turned away. I have had this way too many times at Nootka, and best bet is to move away slowly from the line of Tack and if you want to, take it out of gear and leave the motor running, in case you have have to give chase.
To solve the problem of a hook being worked out of the jaw and popping out because of a change of angle, switch to a 5/0 circle hook. Rarely will a hook pop out on a fish that decides to suddenly turn and run toward the boat.
Funny part of fishing circle hooks for 25 years, every Guide I have fished with where I bring my own Tackle has never even heard of running Circle Hooks on Salmon Gear, and they simply do not understand the advantage. Instead, they insist on towing the salmon under power, taking alot of the fun out of the fight.
Drewski
Ever notice that when you hook up, some US registered Boat just has to creep up on you and crowd you? Sometimes within 30 yards while you are fighting a fish?
8 Years of Begging at Hoise Point many years back gave a string of swear words to a Boat that had to get closer for a look while he was fighting a fish. The crowding boat then turned away. I have had this way too many times at Nootka, and best bet is to move away slowly from the line of Tack and if you want to, take it out of gear and leave the motor running, in case you have have to give chase.
To solve the problem of a hook being worked out of the jaw and popping out because of a change of angle, switch to a 5/0 circle hook. Rarely will a hook pop out on a fish that decides to suddenly turn and run toward the boat.
Funny part of fishing circle hooks for 25 years, every Guide I have fished with where I bring my own Tackle has never even heard of running Circle Hooks on Salmon Gear, and they simply do not understand the advantage. Instead, they insist on towing the salmon under power, taking alot of the fun out of the fight.
Drewski
advTHXance
Well-Known Member
I keep the boat in gear, and help out with the throttle if needed. Nobody on the planet using a mooching reel can keep up with a big chinook that turns and runs toward the boat. Its easier to control the fish if you keep it behind the boat.
Its also a lot harder to double up when u pull the other side, and if you leave the other side down and put the boat in neutral youre bound to get tangles.
Of course there are no hard and fast rules in fishing, only guidelines. Sometimes I will take the boat out of gear and shut everything off if its a really good fish or the fish is nearly played out, or there are orcas circling, or sealions, or sharks.
In terms of successfully landing fish, keeping the boat in gear increases your chances to land a fish. That doesnt mean you need to plow ahead at 5kts, theres no sport in that and it takes away the fight - you may as well go c&r bottomfish at that point.
Its also a lot harder to double up when u pull the other side, and if you leave the other side down and put the boat in neutral youre bound to get tangles.
Of course there are no hard and fast rules in fishing, only guidelines. Sometimes I will take the boat out of gear and shut everything off if its a really good fish or the fish is nearly played out, or there are orcas circling, or sealions, or sharks.
In terms of successfully landing fish, keeping the boat in gear increases your chances to land a fish. That doesnt mean you need to plow ahead at 5kts, theres no sport in that and it takes away the fight - you may as well go c&r bottomfish at that point.
