Motor Running or Not When Fishing

[Intuition Gloucester]

Just beginning to throw some lures off of my new boat and I was wondering if it was best to turn off the engine and drift, putt along under headway speed, or just throw it in neutral. I will be in an area with some decent traffic, wind, and a sprinkling of lobster pots.

 

[rdny041285]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

all depends on where what and what....where ur fishing...what lures you are using and what ur fishing for.

 

[Intuition Gloucester]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

small striped bass, blues, and mackeral...spoons ands jigs

 

[Five O'Clock]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

I read somewhere that in depths of greater than 10 feet stripers won't be scared off with the engine running...


any truth to this iboat'ers?

 

[rdny041285]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

using spoons i would try trolling...with jigs just drift....if its a fast drift where you are get a driftsock or drift bag...depending where you are it might have a different name...for bass i would also try spinners while drifting or very slow trolling by trees and weeds...

 

[rolmops]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

Around Gloucester with all its rocks and currents you want to have your engine running just so you can get away from those nasty rocks when you get caught in a current or to turn your bow into a wave when a whale watcher or another Yankee fleet boat comes out and sends a 4 foot wave your way.It is always a nasty surprise to have to start your boat in an emergency and things don't work

 

[Intuition Gloucester]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

Sound advice that makes me feel better. Thanks.

 

[thurps]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

Mostly depends on the drift. If you are fishing a small feature leave it ruuuing to reposition yourself. If you are fishing a long slow drift, shut it off. If you have a fast drift you may want to kick it in gear against the drift to get your lewer/bait down.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

It Does and Does not matter if motor is running when fishing off of Cape Ann, Glousta for stripers. They will hit what you throw out there regardless if they are there.

On a good day(calm) no wind, paralel drift to the rocks or wind blows you toward open ocean you could shut your engine.

Always remember that your RUNNING MOTOR is your life line when fishing the rocks. Keep all fishing lines away from the motor.

When throwing lures for stripers, throw your lure as close to the shore as possible. Boat fishermen never seem to throw their lure or bait close enough to the rocks. Shore fishermen throw their lures and bait to far out. When fishing from shore throw your lure or bait diagonal to the rocks.

You have to discipline yourself to spend no more then 10 -15 minutes in any one spot if stripers are not taking your lure or bait, move on.

Very inportant on a calm day to sight fish for stripers, no sense in fishing where they are not.

 

[Flukinicehole]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

Like others have said it is a judgement call. I sometimes leave it running (when fishing Montauk and drifting the rips of inlet areas). Other times I turn it off (when in the open water drifting the ledges). If there are dangers or strong current around then leave it running it will not have any effect on fish catching.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

I generally agree with the others but there are times when it make all the difference in the word.

We have a lot of breaking fish that get a lot of pressure. Shut your motor off and you can typically drift through them. Get anywhere close to them with a running motor and they'll sound.

We also have a winter fishery at the outflow of a power plant. To fish the area you have to drift in the current of the outflow atop a huge rock pile that is maybe 200 yards long, 15 yards wide and between 12-15' below the surface.

Leaving your motor run during your drift doesn't seem to bother the smaller fish but will scatter the big fish in a heart beat.

 

[franco802]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

I get more luck with the motor off. But greatly depends on what your fishing for.

 

[tommays]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

The bigger outboards can get water in the cylinders when not running in bigger swells

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Motor Running or Not When Fishing

If anyone has ever fished the Tarpon Run at Boca Grande you know that you have to : A; Keep your motor running,and B; have a captain at the wheel to get you out of the way of the "fleet" bearing down on you with the tidal flow.
It seems as if there is an answer to all situations, mostly for safety sake a running motor will get you out of harms way a lot quicker than one that has to be started.