The search for pelagic hunts
The size of the boat and its motorization are important factors when hunting. It is preferable to use a light boat, with a single engine and if possible 4 strokes. Four-stroke engines are generally quieter with the same power, especially when they are recent. On the other hand, boats such as RIBs, which are lighter than their rigid counterparts, cause less noise when traveling through waves at high speeds.
Speed is a necessary factor in approaching a hunt before it disappears, but it should not be overdone. To do this properly, the ideal is to reach cruising speed while actively searching for a hunt. You can also wait with the engine off and wait for a hunt to break out nearby, this is the passive search. You should only search for hunts passively when you have seen several hunts in the same area in a short period of time.
Determining the right approach distance
Each angler, equipped with his or her own equipment, has different casting distances from the others. It is important to know your own capabilities in order to properly approach a hunt. If you are able to cast more than 50 meters while fishing, you will need to place the boat as close as possible to your maximum casting distance. In this case, ideally, you should stop the boat at about 60 yards and let the boat travel the last few yards. Staying as far away as possible will not scare off predators and will give you a chance to make several casts in a row during the hunt.
Properly approaching the hunt
Once a hunt is spotted, you should obviously head for it as quickly as possible, while watching for other boats that may have the same objective. If the other fishing boats are fishing on the hunt correctly, you will see the various boats heading upstream of the hunt. This is the part of the hunt that is exposed to the wind or drift, allowing the boat to be placed at a safe distance and then drifting with the help of the wind and waves.
If you are alone and the hunts last a long time, take your time during the approach to lower the engine speed little by little. Once you are at a good distance, with the boat positioned so that it is pushed along the hunt by the wind, turn off the engine and, if possible, the depth sounder so as not to frighten the fish. Avoid running on the deck of the boat or dropping heavy objects, as the sound travels very quickly through the water and can frighten predators.
Remember that fishing on a hunt must be shared with other anglers, so be courteous. Avoid getting as close as possible to other boats that are already on a hunt and that could have fish fighting at more than 50 meters from the boat, under penalty of having their lines cut by your propeller.
