Sonar Tactics from Top Anglers

If you’ve ever asked a bass fisherman for advice, their answer usually sounds something like, “You gotta use a Bug Whacker buzzbait on 14-pound fluorocarbon and crank it with a Winchmaster 7 to get the ideal retrieve rate.” It takes just a second or two before you realize that you got marketing-speak, not pure fishing advice. Foreground --- White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan --- Opaque Semi-Opaque Background --- White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan --- Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window --- White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan --- Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Default Monospace Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Sans-Serif Casual Script Small Caps Defaults Done But when I dialed up jackpot-winning billfish captains who compete for tens of thousands, sometimes even millions, of dollars and asked them for some sonar tricks to find more fish, I came away thinking they might have just helped me become a better fisherman. Ray Rosher, Miss Britt Miami, Florida Electronics: Raymarine eSeries, Airmar B275LHW When chasing sailfish and dollar bills in South Florida tournaments, Capt. “That means I’m spending a lot of time up in the tower. Once they are spotted, Rosher keeps an eye on the GPS and sonar. “I don’t want to lose them, so I need a bright display so I can see GPS coordinates at a glance. He sets his sonar to the white background to maximize contrast “so, in an instant, I can register depth and note the GPS coordinates. “I do a lot of live-baiting, so I don’t move as much, and marking bait is primary. Threadfin herring don’t always make a heavy mark. But the bottom line is that more contrast and detail on a bright screen makes targets easier to identify.