Though it does require staying up waaaay past my bedtime, night fishing is loads of fun – and often it’s even more productive than fishing during daylight. There is, however, a long list of additional dangers and risks that go along with fishing from a boat at night. That shouldn’t stop you from having a good time, but keep these tips in mind to make sure your evening adventures are good ones – and that you catch more fish.
- Check all your boat’s lights the day before the trip, so you have time to fix them if any aren’t working. Trust us, there’s nothing the watercops love more than writing a ticket for improper lighting on a boat used at night.
- Get an early start to you can see where you’re going in daylight. This is particularly important if you’ll be fishing in an unfamiliar area.
- Bring a submersible light to attract more fish. Green is the best color, and these things suck in fish like a magnet. Whenever possible, set up so the edge of your night light intersects with an already existing light-line where the light peters out into darkness, like that of a bridge with street lights. Remember that while bait swarms in the brightest areas, the predators usually hunt right where the light fades out into darkness.
- If at all possible, throw a cast net and catch the bait that’s coming to the light – match the hatch!
- Bring headlamps, not flashlights. Sliding bait onto a hook or tying on a new leader is virtually impossible while trying to hold a flashlight, but a piece of cake when wearing a headlamp.
- If your boat has spreader lights, leave them off while fishing. Otherwise the glare will ruin your night vision, especially if you have a white fiberglass deck. That said, when netting a fish you may want to flip them on if they illuminate around the boat as well as inside of it.