This month we talk with Capt. Chuck Jones of Salty Siren Fishing. The topic: thinking like a guide the next time you leave the dock.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your mindset as a guide—what's your number one mission?
A: The safety and comfort of my crew, absolutely. If we can’t run a trip safely and within a reasonable comfort level, we simply don’t go. Before every trip I’m checking weather and wind apps. My go-to apps are Windy, Navionics, NOAA, and the Weather Channel radar. I’m watching wind speed and direction, tides, currents, precipitation, air temps, and water temps. I start checking several days out, then again the night before, and once more the morning of the trip.
I also want to get key information from my network. I’m looking for patterns over spots—water clarity, depths people have been catching fish, what baits were working well, whether fish were scattered or schooled up, and even if someone got skunked. Any information is good information.
Q: Naturally you'll go where the fish are, but beyond that, how do you decide on a destination for the day? Any special considerations as you map out the route?
A: Wind direction and tidal current are my biggest deciding factors. If the water isn’t moving, the chances of catching drop significantly. Current is everything. Wind direction also determines where we can fish comfortably. A hard south wind makes fishing a northern shoreline pretty miserable when it’s getting blasted by gusts. That goes back to client comfort—and the reality that trying to fish in three-foot waves in shallow water just isn’t productive.
As far as routes go, I try to make every move count. I’m hitting as many ledges, points, structures, and transitions as possible on the way out and back. If it doesn’t make dollars, then it doesn’t make cents.
Q: How does the weather forecast influence your decision-making?
I run a topless, bare-bones 26’ Composite Yacht. It’s an absolute fish slayer, but weather definitely plays a role. I try not to run trips in the rain or unsafe winds. Over the last few years we’ve had a lot of windy conditions on the Bay, so adapting has become part of the job. On tough days, our trolling motor and protected shallow water become our best tools.
Q: How about the tides?
A; My favorite tide is a high outgoing tide for shallow-water fishing, while in open water almost any moving tide can produce. On the open Bay the current speed is often more important than the actual tidal stage, so paying attention to when the water really starts moving can make a big difference. When all those pesky skates show up in late spring and start crushing bait in your favorite spot, try waiting it out once and see what happens when the current speed changes a bit. You may be surprised. They may push out and be replaced by breaking fish.
Q: What if there’s been a spell of tough weather and intel is short? How do you decide where to go?
A: I start by looking for clean water. Some areas get more runoff than others, and shorelines that have taken the brunt of heavy wind can get stirred up. Clean water plus bait dramatically increases your chances of success. It also pays to watch where the bad weather hits while it’s happening, because that often tells you where the better water will be afterward.
Q: Open mic—what haven't we talked about that anglers out there need to know?
A: Let me step on the soapbox for a second. Fishing should always be about having fun, challenging yourself, and learning something every time you leave the dock. Never lose sight of that and pass that mindset along to anyone who fishes with you. Being a good steward of the resource and helping the next generation of anglers is important. Catch-and-release is an ethical and sustainable practice, but there’s also nothing wrong with keeping a fish for the table. And if you really want to shorten the learning curve, book a trip with a local guide—you might be surprised at how much you can learn in a single day on the water.
Thanks, Capt. Chuck! To jump aboard visit Salty Siren Fishing or give Capt. Chuck a text or call at (410) 353-0589.