Top Single Condition for Fish
 

For me, it's the presence of baitfish, but I may be oversimplifying, because something had to have got the whole thing started by attracting the baitfish in the first place.

So if you had to pick one, under what single condition do you most oftentimes find fish?

moving water

I too like moving water, esp. any area that a large body of water flows out thru a smaller cut into the main body of water.

FISH:laugha::laugha::laugha:

Solitude::rollem: I always seem to catch good fish when I'm alone.
(Go figure - it doesn't help with my "You should have been there" speech the next day.)

Seriously, I would say bait. Not massive schools, as it may interfere with you ability to get fish to hit your offering, but just the presence of bait.

25+ NW wind in my face

Baitfish is the easy answer, birds certainly do the trick, but I too am a fan of the moving water, stripers love current....

Free time

because I still can....

Heresy perhaps, but my experience is that while stripers are easier to catch in current, the biggest fish come out to prowl and are more accessible during slack water (or barely moving water).....not that they usually have any interest in what I'm throwing.

Exact-a-mundo!:uhuh:

:uhuh:...most definatly, big bruisers are lazy, most of my bigger fish ( over 40lbs) have come from quiet slow moving water...

3rd night of the new moon in August. :lasso:

bait

A bass' willingness to bite what I'm throwing.

DZ

when its Flat A $$ Calm ::: I,ll take that 24/7

:cheers:

.....and dark with the wind @ my back.

Presence of bait is the lowest factor for me. People make way too big a deal out of it. In fact, its completely meaningless to me whether bait is there or not. This isn't to say presence of bait doesn't often coincide with presence of fish, bbbbbbbbuttttttttttt......

.......most of the things they like to eat(like crustacenans) are difficult to detect.Bigger fish are primarily solo and sometimes in small pods. They are bottom grubbers for the most part.

Yup!
My biggest this year came in the slop, but most consistent is under these conditions. I think it's all about presentation. This is easier done when it is FAC then 20kts NE in your face.

Moving water.
An hour or so into the east has been very good to me...

Shore.... a flooding estuary on a moonless night, late Summer.
Water.... any forming rip inside sheltered waters.

yup, when i say moving water, i'm talking more about a sweep or minor rip, not raging current

Okay, so far we've covered the gamut . . .
bait is important
bait isn't important
FAC
moving water

I can see why now it all comes down to putting your time in and having the time to do same.

absolutley right tamer.... with all the conflicting information out there, it comes down to u fishing if u want to be out there. cause ya kno there are gonna be countless nights when u get skunked.

At night near an outflow with big rocks present. Some of you probably know an area like this. :)

I like current and bait but the single most important thing for me is the wind.

Wind at your my back equals very long and unproductive casting for me. I would much rather have the wind in my face. I can't cast as far but it is always more productive for me (even in the canal). I know a lot of people don't think it makes a difference in places like the canal but i'll fish whatever side of the canal puts the wind in my face if any is present.

In my limited experiences it depends on the time of the season. Spring and fall when I'm on my skiff I'm clueing in on birds. Summer time I'm hitting spots that hold fish with no clear visible signs that they are actually there but rather going on previious experience and knowledge of what they like. Personally I love getting to a spot and not seeing anything until WHAM they hit your plug or sluggo and the game is on.

live (moving) water

Depending on where I am fishing, there is not one single factor
structure, moving water, and bait. I try not to over think but never it happens. just get out and fish

100% agree with you mike. Big fish setup in locations where they can scrounge weather it be lobsters, juvenile tog, scup, crabs etc... Deep water with nearshore reefs, boulders etc are my favorite. Wind to me means nothing other than the fact that if it is blowing more than 10knts in my face im going to sleep or finding a spot with the wind at my back.

I'm big on the reliable food concept too.

Big fish seem to hang where food is reliable, in any form. If a school of something tasty like bunker comes by, so be it, they take advantage. But otherwise all they have to do is wait for nightfall and they go on the prowl and enjoy what's around.