Reading offshore currents

[Sean]

When you are fishing offshore, I've always heard that you fish on the upside of the reef in relation to the current. Without anchoring up how can you tell which way the current is moving, especially if there is wind? I get sick of anchoring and then having to pull the anchor up and move all the time. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Ron_Collins]

Hi Sean

Where do you do most of your offshore fishing and what depth to you normally anchor on?

Do the offshore reefs where you fish predominently run in a north-south line? Ron Collins.

[Sean]

Generally if I am anchoring up I am only fishing close in reefs off Ballina /Lennox Head these reefs mostly run N/S.

[mackmauler]

GPS

[Sean]

Yeah, you can see which way you are Moving useing a GPS but what if there is an average wind?

[mackmauler]

I just throw the line in and let it drift out while holding the boat over a mark, if it drifts south, current is coming from the north.

[banshee]

G'day Sean,I fish the same water as you (Ballina-Evans)and some days shifting alot is the only way of geting your bait to the fish.I've had it explained to me as wind generated top current opposing the true flow.All to hard for me,I just check other boats and come in to my spots on the same angle they were hanging,then shift accordingly.If there's no other boats I do a couple of drifts,check the GPS and come in on the bread trail.