Drift Distance

[TBreezy]

Hey everyone.

I know this is probably different for different scenarios, but it would be interesting to know, for those of you that drift fish, what a typical drift looks like.

How long do you usually drift for before you decide to:
a) move to a different area
b) redrift the same line

How much either side of structure or contours are you drifting, if at all?

If you are in an area with little structure, what sort of depth are you paddling to before drifting? Are you searching for sign on the sounder before stopping to drift?

If you do find sign - is it a case of continuing to drift over that one patch, or just keep drifting around the same area?

Thanks! Happy drifting.

[AndrewRawlingson]

It depends. Always nice to start a drift on fish, but I often start in areas where I think it's highly likely there are fish based on previous experiences or birds etc. As for length of drift, sometimes I'm feeling lazy and just go with it. You often drift off one patch of fish and on to another. At other times, the fish are well localised and you have to keep going back to that same spot. No magic formula I'm afraid. I'll drift in anything from 5 to 100 metres. Don't get too obsessed with structure, 95% of the snapper I catch are over sand.

[DocProfit]

I'm a lazy drifter, I'll often just do one big drift for 3 hours, then paddle home.

If I find a good spot I'll do multiple drifts over it however.

[TBreezy]

That’s awesome, guys. Thanks for the info. I think perhaps I need to do some longer drifts!

DocProfit, you’re out off NN pretty much every day (maybe you took the last week off ) I’m picking you start at one end and go with the tide. It’s a hell paddle against that current. On the few occasions I have been out there I have found my drift speed really fast, made a good pass of the channel and not wanted to stop fishing because I’ve either caught sweet FA or just want to stay out. I’m using a chute but the tide doesn’t seem to care if you have a chute or not and before I know it I’ve covered a heap of ground. What kind of distance do you get from a 3 hour drift out there?

[pieterwithani]

That’s awesome, guys. Thanks for the info. I think perhaps I need to do some longer drifts!

DocProfit, you’re out off NN pretty much every day (maybe you took the last week off ) I’m picking you start at one end and go with the tide. It’s a hell paddle against that current. On the few occasions I have been out there I have found my drift speed really fast, made a good pass of the channel and not wanted to stop fishing because I’ve either caught sweet FA or just want to stay out. I’m using a chute but the tide doesn’t seem to care if you have a chute or not and before I know it I’ve covered a heap of ground. What kind of distance do you get from a 3 hour drift out there?

A chute will only slow the effect of wind pushing you around, not slow your drift through the current. I also found that when heading back, paddling at a 45deg angle towards shore is more effective against strong current, straightening out and heading more parallel with the shoreline once you get a bit closer, since you're out of the main channel and not fighting the current as much. Trying to avoid the stronger current definitely makes long drifts/long paddles home less daunting...and a good tailwind helps as well!

If you get your timing right I find NN is good for paddling one way just before the tide changes and getting a really long drift the opposite direction riding the current. I started a drift just out from North Head this weekend and started paddling back just before Takapuna beach. It's not miles, but was enough to pick up 4x very decent snapper around 40-50cm.

[TBreezy]

That’s awesome, guys. Thanks for the info. I think perhaps I need to do some longer drifts!

DocProfit, you’re out off NN pretty much every day (maybe you took the last week off ) I’m picking you start at one end and go with the tide. It’s a hell paddle against that current. On the few occasions I have been out there I have found my drift speed really fast, made a good pass of the channel and not wanted to stop fishing because I’ve either caught sweet FA or just want to stay out. I’m using a chute but the tide doesn’t seem to care if you have a chute or not and before I know it I’ve covered a heap of ground. What kind of distance do you get from a 3 hour drift out there?

A chute will only slow the effect of wind pushing you around, not slow your drift through the current. I also found that when heading back, paddling at a 45deg angle towards shore is more effective against strong current, straightening out and heading more parallel with the shoreline once you get a bit closer, since you're out of the main channel and not fighting the current as much. Trying to avoid the stronger current definitely makes long drifts/long paddles home less daunting...and a good tailwind helps as well!

If you get your timing right I find NN is good for paddling one way just before the tide changes and getting a really long drift the opposite direction riding the current. I started a drift just out from North Head this weekend and started paddling back just before Takapuna beach. It's not miles, but was enough to pick up 4x very decent snapper around 40-50cm.

Yeah I do this too. Only really works on long drifts though. Tail wind is definitely a bonus!