Fishing Report La Jolla May 9th plus a sonar question

[seck66]

Originally Posted by exfactor

When you learn that the meter only shows you whats there, and doesn't mean that anything will happen from what you see, you'll slowly start piecing together how every day you put your bait down, only sometimes does anything happen when you do! I've learned that if i just use my meter to find bottom, and bait, the rest just takes care of itself

Agreed. I also like it to help me know when I've cleared the kelp. It took a little while to learn the difference between kelp and a bait cloud. The obvious difference is bait isn't attached to the bottom.

[vincentek9]

first 2 pictures definitely look like a big cloud of red crab.
third picture looks like a big something. i might even go as far as to say it looks like a solid seal.
lower part of third image looks like you were trying to bounce a bait and you were working it up.

my FF is used mainly for these reasons
50% find structure (rocks, kelp, wrecks, etc.)
40% find bait
10% actually look for big fish (fishing kelp paddies and under dolphins)

if i had to say the ratio of seeing good marks vs getting the hookup, i'd put it at a pretty low number. as Fourtogo said, entertainment till excitement happens.

[DDS]

Originally Posted by seck66

Agreed. I also like it to help me know when I've cleared the kelp. It took a little while to learn the difference between kelp and a bait cloud. The obvious difference is bait isn't attached to the bottom.

That has been the best use of my sonar so far...nice to be able to drop a bait near the bottom without worrying about it continually getting fouled in the kelp.