Some days are harder than others. The kind of day when you feel like the sea is empty and you've run out of ideas. It happens to me from time to time. In the end, it's probably during these difficult outings that you make the most progress. It's when you have to question yourself and come up with the paterne that will save your fishing session. In these situations, I opt for different strategies.
Fish known areas
Prospecting remains my favorite part of sea fishing. That said, sometimes I get lost and miss the whole thing. It's hard to hang up the line and save the day. To do this, I go back to known areas that I've mastered for a long time and where I know there are a few fish to be had.
These areas, often well known to many anglers, have a name in our jargon: "sauves bredouilles". They're a great way to keep your spirits up. The fish are often smaller and less numerous, but the pleasure remains the same!
Find an area rich in food
I sometimes chase fish all day long. The conditions seem right and the food is plentiful, but there don't seem to be any active predators. The sounder helps me in my search for forage fish. In such cases, I decide to insist on the area again and again, moving away and coming back from time to time to have a look. At some point, there's a very good chance that predators will become active.
Taking a step back
Sometimes, if you look too hard, you may miss obvious things like birds in the distance. Landing for a few moments, switching off the engine and listening can help you hear a tern calling in the distance, indicating a potential area of activity.
Voluntarily fishing upside down
I force myself to respect certain rules that usually work. However, on those days that are different and out of the ordinary, I deliberately do the opposite. For example, in areas rich in sandeels, I use shads. I deliberately fish heavy in shallow areas, fishing against the current, etc. These variations have enabled me to unblock a few situations.
Targeting other species
For want of blackbirds, we eat thrushes... Some days, you'll set off in the morning, head first, in search of a very specific species. Some days, however, you just can't manage it, and rather than being stubborn, target another species, on a different type of bottom for example. I often end difficult days looking for sparids.
In fishing, nothing can be taken for granted, and every outing brings its own lessons. Difficult days allow you to progress by questioning yourself and trying to adapt.
