46 JANUARY 2018in a wide circle around a kelp paddy can also
prove effective, particularly for mahimahi and
yellowfin tuna.
With weed lines in the Atlantic waters off
South Florida, the choice many times boils
down to which side of the weeds to fish, says
Thomas. Weed lines form along the edges of
currents, which run north, and there’s often
a clean, blue side and a dirty, off-color side,
Thomas reveals. “We like to troll south along
the clean side,” he says.
Thomas trolls two small feathers, keeping
them close to the boat to minimize fouled lures
from loose weeds, while he scans for schools of
mahi from the tower. If he spots fish or they get a
hookup, he then drift-fishes with live bait.Bird activity serves as the most reliable
indicator that a patch of weed holds fish, the
captain points out. “Frigates and terns are
the best indicator birds,” he says. “Terns will
be right on top of the fish, while frigates hover
higher, waiting to swoop down on a flying fish
that pops up.”
The same holds true on the West Coast, but
frigates don’t reach as far north as Southern
California. Terns, shearwaters and jaegers are
prime indicator birds in this Pacific region.
Flocks of terns fluttering low around a paddy
serve as a sure sign of mahi or other preda-
tory fish. A circling jaeger also means apex
predators are feeding below. Small groups of
shearwaters sometimes sit on the water over a
deep school of yellowfin tuna, waiting for the
fish to push bait toward the surface, so don’t
discount these birds, even though they might
not be actively feeding.
HOW FISH RELATE
Different game species relate differently to these
havens. On kelp paddies, for example, California
yellowtail are frequently found just under the
weeds, using the shade to hide in ambush. If a
bait appears within striking distance, they will
rush out and attack. Schools of mahi, on the
other hand, tend to swim in a wider pattern
around a paddy, and seldom hover for much
time directly below the weeds. Yellowfin tuna
are often found far below the paddy, as deep as
200 feet or more.
Hence, it is not necessary to fish right next to
a kelp paddy. Letting the breeze blow your boat
away from the paddy while drifting live baits,
such as sardines or mackerel, at different depths
and chumming with chunks of bait can often be
more effective. Even schools of yellowtail will
venture away from the shade of a kelp paddy
to follow a chum line. Slow-trolling live baits
Top left: A stealthy
approach by boat can
help prevent fish from
scattering. Above:
Schools of mahi tend to
patrol the perimeter of
floating weed patches. In
the Pacific, kelp paddies
are often inhabited by
a species of sea chub
known as halfmoon.JASON ARNOLD / JASONARNOLDPHOTO.COM (TOP LEFT), AUSTIN DERRY (ABOVE)