Ok guys... What is the PROPER and POLITE way to fish a school when others are around? And trolling.. How far back and forward of other boats? I am pretty new at ocean fishing and want to know. But i don't want to be shy and miss out on the action. And i'm going out saturday. I am the Chuppacabra 19 ft Mako. On ch68.

I've always found it best to watch the other boats for a short period of time to see how they are doing things. Then you should be able to fall in line and join their round robin style approach to the schooling fish. Whatever you do don't cut through the school or it will spoil things for all, and most importantly remember that just because you're trolling doesn't mean that the "Rules of the Road" don't apply. Keep your VHF on 68 and you should be able to work things out with most of the local fishing boats.

I just wish everyone would pay attention.

paying attention is [B][SIZE=14][COLOR=red]#1


as slow as people "should" be trolling and by paying attention you should be alright. If the main group is trolling N/S fall in. E/W fall in.

Half the time the fish are schooled up better a short distance from the Cluster ^&** of boats.I never(hardly Ever)go into the thick of a large group of boats.Its like asking to get mad ,stressed out and have a prop full of mono.Fish the outskirts and look for birds nearby that is the best way to have a nice ,peaceful day of fishing.

Yup I agree with Mega.

I never did belive all the fish had to be under just that cluster of boats.

I think half the time everybody tries to get close to the guy who just caught one. I feel sorry for the charter boats who have a pile of boats right up their butt no matter what they're doing.

In cases where the schools are moving as stripers in the fall usually do, I try to get ahead of them and let them come to me. That's particularly good if I am casting because I can kill the motor and reduce the spook factor.

Yes,that works especially when you are Casting to them.